‘Did any believe the common man more needful then I? Did you ponder once I sip, it would be there’s no longer? Has truth and justice fallen to selflessness? Is there no loyalty even in royalty? No, especially not in royalty’ the King spoke in truth, still waiting, not one, but many cups of youth. ‘Use their rules and let them ascend to the rank of fools’ quoth the Sword, now is the time for reward. ‘Commander. Jester. Drink from the Cup, relish in my selflessness it may be your last’ the King ordered. Quest for Divinity, Quest of Truth, here awaits the seven cups of youth.

In truth, greed be the same as need, just one starts as the seed, it will bloom into a need. The cup shall set you free. Laughter, is the key. ‘I implore, you first Commander’ the Jester spoke, this was no joke. Swiftly did he swig, softly did he laugh. Death, was his last breath. Swiftly did the dead Commander’s soldiers follow, with a swig they drank, a laugh their heart quickly sank. Death, was their last breath. Not one but many cups of youth, is this the truth? One final Cup, the King’s eyes flared up, the Jester was the last mortal yet to drink, not once did either blink as a man who had been half asleep spoke.

‘All of them are poisoned’ he quoth. ‘It is your turn. Fool.’ Both Sword and King’s voices ring. Greedily gulping gratuitous amounts from the Cup, the Jester spilled the clear liquid onto the floor. ‘Don’t waste it!’ The King screamed. So softly did the Jester lay the cup back on it’s pedestal the King nearly failed to notice. Epiphany. The Jester roared a laugh but did not fall his laugh continued in high pitch, that of a squall. So quick to trust the King did as he must, grabbed the cup and savored every drop. In truth there were not seven cups of youth, nay, they were the seven cups of life.

An irony the Jester now understood. Heartily did the King laugh, as he to made a realization, the Jester had not sipped, only spilled. As does the heart wither, the soul becomes bitter, the King clutched his chest, not his heart, for he had none. As he lay dead, and most of the kingdom, the Jester still laughs. Epiphany. In truth, not seven cups of youth, but cups of life, ironic was the message, so was the effect. Strange as it be, it seems only a lie can reveal truth, not one, but many cups of youth.