As the snow continued to fall from above and the sky turned a darker shade of blue, a calming effect settled over the scene. Trees surrounded them, swaying mildly in the wind. Mr. Fool lifted his gaze to Bob and Dipull and said,
"If I may, I have an offer if you are interested."
Mr. Fool's voice was bright and enthusiastic. Bob, however, was still suspicious of Mr. Fool. He didn't trust him, particularly because he wasn't from the East. Bob thought, "Maybe he will try to hurt Dipull or me, but I should not just say no. That would bring even more problems."
Meanwhile, Dipull, intrigued by the offer, responded in a natural tone, "And what is this offer?"
Dipull looked at Mr. Fool with a neutral expression as Mr. Fool turned his amused gaze to Dipull. Clapping his hands together, Mr. Fool spoke in a serious and formal tone, "I can guide you to a city where the people are having a special celebration tomorrow. How does that sound to Mr. Dipull and Mr. Bob?"
Curious about their response, Mr. Fool waited. Bob eventually said, "I accept."
"Excellent!" Mr. Fool smiled brightly, clapping his hands together again before turning around and starting to walk. The mild wind blew as Mr. Fool led the way, with Dipull and Bob following closely, and Vlad walking behind. Bob remained cautious, sensing Mr. Fool was hiding something from them. After walking through the snow for many minutes, Bob and Dipull grew tired. Noticing this, Mr. Fool stopped, turned around, and said in a mellifluous tone,
"Oh my, are the two gentlemen getting tired? May I suggest we take a small break?"
"Well, I think it's good to take a break now. What do you think, Dipull?" Bob asked, glancing at Dipull with a natural look in his eyes.
"Yeah, sure," Dipull replied in a natural tone. The four walked a bit further until they found a small spot under three trees. The wind had calmed, and the snow continued to fall softly. They sat on the ground, Bob and Dipull under one tree, Mr. Fool under another, and Vlad resting peacefully. Bob's face turned slightly uneasy.
"Is something bothering you, Bob?" Dipull asked.
"No, I'm good," Bob said in a natural tone. In reality, he was still thinking about how to deal with Mr. Fool. His strange personality and unpredictability were worrisome, like an uncontrollable weather pattern that could turn from clear skies to a thunderstorm at any moment. Mr. Fool stood up and, in a slightly high but neutral tone, asked,
"Are the gentlemen also getting cold? May I suggest we start a fire? I can gather the firewood if that is okay."
Bob felt unease again, sensing something might happen. He looked up at Mr. Fool with a relaxed and calm demeanor and said, "Yes, you may, Mr. Fool."
"Thanks very much, Mr. Bob."
As Mr. Fool walked away, the sky darkened further, making it unclear which path he took. The moon slowly rose. Bob glanced at Dipull with a worried expression.
"Dipull, I need you to follow Mr. Fool and see where he went."
Dipull tensed up, feeling a mix of fear, curiosity, and excitement. Composing himself, he gazed at Bob and said, "I will do it if that helps relieve some of your worries."
Dipull stood up, brushed himself off, and walked towards the path Mr. Fool had taken. The snow grew heavier, and the wind turned harsh and rough, making Dipull's body feel slightly numb. Each step made his fingers more numb, and his breath grew colder. As the sky darkened further, Dipull saw a shadowy figure. He stopped, hid himself, and observed.
"It's almost time, so do not worry, my lord," the figure said.
The figure pulled something out, but it was unclear what it was in the darkness. As the moonlight shined, Dipull glimpsed the figure's hands, which bore a symbol: a pentagram with an eye in the center, the pupil a pillar of flame.
End