The Ringmaster fell to one knee, breathing labored. "I... cannot..." He shook his head weakly. "I... will not... let you pass..." His voice broke through clenched teeth as tears ran down his face. "I must not... fail him." The flames that surrounded them surged upwards as if renewed by Lin's indomitable spirit despite his deteriorating condition.

"You haven't failed anyone, my boy," Smolkie stepped forward with a wary smile, sweat dripping from his brow. He knelt down before the Ringmaster and brought his pocket watch to bear. "You fought hard, but it's time to rest - rest, I say. Allow us passage so that we may help Io achieve whatever it is that needs doing, hm?" Channeling his mystical power into the watch, Smolkie slowly pressed it against the young man's forehead.

"You have struggled against this most malignant of foes long enough, I think!" The hypnotist nodded and with conviction, cried out: "Debilis tenebrae animus!" Lin gasped in pain as strands of shadow shot out of his body and swirled to where the watch met his skin. The others watched in morbid fascination as Smolkie thrust the watch away and drew with it the corrupt energies that had tormented the young man for so long.

---

Laughter would always come from his room, and little Lin was to thank for that. He was a blessing not just to his ailing father, but to all the nurses and doctors who he would make smile with his acts of wonder even then. One day as they were conversing, the father made an appeal most cryptic to his dear son.

"Could I talk to you about something of seriousness for a moment, my sweet boy?"

Lin grinned big as he shuffled a pack of cards, "Of course, da! I'm just a kid, so I dunno if I can do anything big, but ya know I'm here for you!"

His father smiled while laying a frail hand atop his head, "I know, sweet boy. You know what awaits me, don't you?"

Lin stopped the sway of his legs and instead looked down at his feet, uncharacteristically quiet for a brief second. An almost indiscernible second. Then he looked up and nodded, radiant grin ever present. "I know you'll have to go away soon, but that's a-OK! Ya know why?"

"Hmm... is it because you can take on anything as my son?"

"Nope!" Lin drew a card from the deck and flashed it: one of the Major Arcana, the World. "Cuz Io tells me uhm... we are each the center of our own world, and within me exists everyone I know and love! That means you, da, Io, and all my friends at the orphanage!"

"Ah, you both are so wise for ones so young. If only your da's family could see the world with that same light. Come close, sweet boy, for I wish to tell you of my will."

Lin's father would pass not long after that, peacefully, and little Lin would see himself at the center of a struggle for power. His father was a wealthy man who gave back to the community with many things, but the orphanage Lin frequented was one of his favorite ventures. Lin spent a great deal of time there building true relationships.

Thus when the day came that a meeting was held to finally decide who would claim him as their son, and subsequently, gain access to his father's wealth, Lin had only one answer for them.

"I'll be living with my friends at da's orphanage," he spoke into the mic, face barely peeking up past the podium. "Thass all! Thank you for coming today," he hopped down off the box he was standing on as a stunned silence fell over the room.

"W-wait, you can't do that! You're just a kid! What about the money?!" A nobody shouted, outraged.

Lin glanced at him with a smile, "I can and I did! It's in the will. If you gotta know, I'll probably use it to better the orphanage... and then? Hmm, I've always been good at tricks! Maybe I'll start a circus?"

"A... a circus?!" Another cried. "This is ridiculous! I didn't spend so much time on some snot-nosed little brat just to have him-"

Lin had already left.