“And what I whisper in your ear is the secret to making you like me more,” Gilbert leaned into Carter's ear to whisper his secret. No one else heard it, but Asher had to make a comment. “Turkey,” Asher said, his pupils dilating like the iris of an autofocus camera, opening and closing. Asher grabbed onto the braids of the Arabian flying carpet, jerking slightly as the rolled carpet followed Carter out. "I think it's time to tell Gilbert why he's here, Trunk," Orson said. "Not until he gets some food. When he sees what he's up against, then we can tell him why he's here," Gilbert considered Trunk, as Trunk spoke to Orson. "And my friends, my parents...? I know why I'm here, to fight. Right?" “Yes, all of this will come. Although there is much more you need to be aware of before that happens. I understand how difficult it is for you right now. I promised to help you find them. Please let me and Trunk let's do just that and wait for the right time. I know it's hard to wait. It's the hardest thing you'll ever have to face. Orson held his bundle of clown clothes under his arm, like a prized possession I was once a unicorn and now I'm human?" Gilbert's finger counted the crests of the horn in his pocket. He said the numbers without saying them, stopping at eight. "Not to scare you Gilbert, but this is the easy part. tough is yet to come. Yet you have the strength and power to do anything. We have seen a champion. You have no idea how much more you can do, but you will see it soon... very soon." Trunk led him out of the courtyard where the novices and apprentices were busy moving through the mazes while using their magic to counter and make their way through the obstacles. H... middle of the paper...rds. “Ah, but this is where you differ from young Foster… you and a few others look no further than a homeless man, or anywhere else, when asked for a flyer. Not you, you care. You give easily without thinking of anything in return. For some it's automatic while others turn the other way and forget that person ever existed." "How sad." "Yes, it is. For Peomags, discarded people are as serious as losing your soul. It's as easy as selling your soul. As easy as wishing for it." “I don't understand this part. I understand that discarded people shouldn't be seen that way and should be helped in any way, but the soul thing, I don't understand…” “Let me try this approach. Wanting is easy, right ?" "YES. We all want it." "Well, it's just as easy to lose your soul." “So if I want something bad enough, instead of working for it, and getting it without putting in that kind of effort, it's like losing your soul?”