Mark of the Fool 4 Quotes

“You lifted how much?” Thundar gaped. “What… no… that can’t be right.” “Hey, man,” Alex grunted, lying in bed while his body recovered. “The numbers… don’t lie.” “No, that can’t be true. That’s impossible!” the minotaur cried, sounding a little hysterical. “It’s okay,” Prince Khalik patted him on the shoulder. “Being second strongest in the cabal is no shame.” His grin was perfectly evil. Thundar gave him a flinty look. “I hate you.” Khalik’s smile grew wider. “Oh, I know. And that? That pleases me.”
― J.M. Clarke, Mark of the Fool 4

“his strength had shot past Khalik’s, much to the prince’s horror. “This is it…” Khalik sat on the floor of the gymnasium with his head cupped in both hands. Alex had just pressed four hundred and fifteen pounds. “The natural order of the universe is undone. Up is down. Red is blue. Cats are hyenas, worms are dragons… This is the end.” “It’s not the end, buddy.” Thundar patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t take it so hard. Third place in the cabal ain’t too bad. I mean, Alex was in third place a coupla days ago, and now look at him!” The minotaur burst out laughing while Khalik slowly looked up. Thundar’s glee faded. The look on the prince’s face was flat, like he was seeing a dead body. “Wh-what is it?” The minotaur’s eyes darted back and forth. “You’re looking at me like I was in my coffin or something.” “Mark my words, Thundar, son of Gulbiff,” Khalik pronounced like he was an oracle predicting the very doom of the world. “What has happened to me can happen to you.” The minotaur glanced at Alex who’d sprung up from the weight bench, stretched his chest, and was scurrying over to the kettlebell stand like an excited child. There was indistinct muttering coming from his mouth, and a wild look in his eyes as his biceps flexed when he rubbed his hands together. Thundar looked at those thick arms. “Humans can’t get that strong… can they? Not without life enforcement or some crazy magic or something, right?” Khalik glanced at Alex, who was swinging a massive iron kettlebell like he could pitch it clear across the room. “Does he look crazy to you?” “Yes,” Thundar said without hesitation. “Is he using magic to make himself stronger?” “I-in a way.” Khalik grinned evilly. “Then prepare yourself, because soon, it will happeeeeeen to yoooouuuu—Argh!” Thundar pushed the prince over.”
― J.M. Clarke, Mark of the Fool 4

“mean, think about it: imagine how insane the first person to make cheese must’ve seemed? Like some ancient barbarian saying to his friend⁠—” Alex deepened his voice. “—Oh yeah, not worry, Urgtog! Gorgor’s plan be big smart! Me take milk from goat and cow and me leave milk in dark place to go so bad it solid. Then it real good to eat! Try some, Urgtog—Why is Urgtog trying to stab me with sharp rock?”
― J.M. Clarke, Mark of the Fool 4

“Take a final piece of advice, my young friend. Should you choose to extend your lifespan… ensure you know what you are doing. If you are not careful, then you might find that the things you love have a terrible habit of turning to dust.” His beard-clasps clinked in the light wind. “And most mortals are not terribly fond of dust.” The two wizards and the golem stood for a time. Two watched only empty space. The third saw something else. Someone who had left his world long, long ago.”
― J.M. Clarke, Mark of the Fool 4

“As for your question of power… the hunger for it,” Baelin said. “I would advise you to embrace it, but before you do, codify your ethics to yourself. Make mental notes, write them down, or do whatever you must. Keep in mind what you are willing to do. What you are not willing to do and why, and under what circumstances those ethics might have to be readjusted. In essence, if you are mindful of yourself, then you shall be less likely to lose yourself. A Proper Wizard wields power. They do not let it wield them. Understand?” “Right…” Alex said. “And if you truly are concerned, keep your friends and loved ones close, use them as a compass to remain the person you want to be. But do not balk. Power will change you. And—if you manage it correctly—it will change you for the better. That said, there might come a day when you will need to go against your loved ones. In that case, again, check your ethics. Check yourself. In the end, if you keep on track, the greatest expert on yourself… is indeed, you.” There was a lot of sense in Baelin’s words. Ethics and boundaries, but also the ability to challenge them. Support from others, but also having the backbone to stand up to them.”
― J.M. Clarke, Mark of the Fool 4

“Now here—” the lizardman extended a copper wire from the bottom of the funnel’s spiralling tube “—hold this wire.” Alex eyed the wire with mistrust. ‘I really need to stop taking suspicious things from suspicious wizards,’ he said. ‘Actually, if I stop doing that, I’ll probably have to drop out of school…’ He took the wire and felt a small jolt from it. Mana current was already running through it, which quickly faded. “Hah!” Val’Rok laughed that high-pitched laugh of his. “Forgive the prank. I was just running a little electrical magic through the wire. You really ought to stop taking suspicious things from suspicious wizards.” Alex looked past Val’Rok at a small window that led to a drop hundreds of feet below. For a few heartbeats, he calculated whether he could pick up the professor fast enough to throw him through the window before the Mark stopped him.”
― J.M. Clarke, Mark of the Fool 4

“Why do you do that?” Selina frowned, looking down at the heading circled in Alex’s notebook. “Do what?” “Give everything big, dramatic names?” “Because I’m also big—” He flexed a muscular arm. “—and dramatic.” “Ugh,” she groaned, much to his amusement. He fought the urge to grin. His little sister was now at the stage where a lot of his clowning made her cringe since she was trying to be more serious and grown up. Which only made him want to clown her even more.”
― J.M. Clarke, Mark of the Fool 4

“C’mon, show me. I’ll tell you if it’s nothing or not.” He turned his cards toward her. Her smile faded. “Yeah, that’s a whole lot of nothing, alright.” The Champion swore, tossing his cards on the table. “This game is dumb.” “Aaaaah, my friend.” Khalik smiled. “Only those who do not taste victory curse the game. You should not be so small-minded! Now, who’s next? Tyris! Show us what the mighty master of Vesuvius has to offer?” “Cold Iron, Dexterity—” she started. Khalik’s grin widened at the redundant cards. “—Tempest, Frost and Lightning!” Tyris cried, slamming the cards down in front of her. “Hah! Expert of the Sea Storm! Read ’em and weep! The saltier the tears, the better!” Khalik’s smile faded. Snorting with disgust, he tossed his cards away. “This game is dumb.” “You’re a hypocrite, Khalik. That’s why you lost.” Thundar cackled with glee. “Laugh now.” The prince gave him a flinty look. “I will enjoy watching you fall. Reveal your cards.” The minotaur’s grin was outright evil. He laid them down one by one: “Dexterity, Strength, Wisdom, Vitality, aaaaaand⁠—” “No,” Khalik murmured. “—Presence! Paragon of Mind, Body and Soul! Hahahaha!” There was a round of cursing from everyone at the table,”
― J.M. Clarke, Mark of the Fool 4

“an event during the clean up nearly caused Professor Jules to have an apoplexy. “We have extra protective equipment,” she said, her eyes like flint behind her mask. It was clear that her voice was coming through clenched teeth. “We have masks, gloves, aprons, boots and coats. It would be no trouble for you to wear one, young man.” “Oh, bah!” Cedric waved his hand, his muscles flexing across his shirtless torso. “I fight like this all the time! Blessin’ o’ Uldar keeps the disease away. Just a little prayer and I’m good to deal with all kinds o’ nasties.” Professor Jules’ eyes bugged out of her head within the lenses of her beaked mask. “It is always good protocol to have redundancies in protection. There are spells that hedge out gases, but a mask is very effective at ensuring your safety, as is a coat. Safety is no joke, young man!” Cedric laughed as though she had in fact made a joke. “I fight terrible beasts near every day, missus. I think I’ve been in worse spots than dealin’ with a bit o’ dried blood.” She threw up her hands, muttering to herself and leaving the Chosen to his ways. Cedric blinked. “Was it somethin’ I said?” The wizards nearby chose not to answer, busying themselves with sample collection.”
― J.M. Clarke, Mark of the Fool 4

“It’d look pretty suspicious if make-up started running from under your illusionary patch… Hey, wait a minute, that’s not half-bad as names go. This spell’s called Disguise Self, but it’s gonna be so custom that it doesn’t make sense to call it that anymore. So, what about Illusionary Patch? It’s an illusion that covers a specific area, like a patch in a cloak. I think it sounds pretty good.” “Hmmm, I was already thinking of a name for it, though,” Alex said. Thundar gave him a grim look. “’Kay. What kinda name were you thinking about, Alex?” “Localized Illusionary Flesh Alterer,” Alex said proudly. “It says precisely what it is, since⁠—” Thundar held out a hand, like he was trying to ward off evil. “Alex… no. Just no. This is why we don’t let you name things.” “You all just don’t have good taste,” Alex sniffed. “Yeeeeah, if everyone around you ‘doesn’t have good taste,’ y’ever think it might be you who doesn’t have it?” “Let’s just get into the spell.” “Wait… are you sulking?” “I am not! I’m just getting focused!” “Riiiight…” Thundar rolled his eyes.”
― J.M. Clarke, Mark of the Fool 4

“Welcome, once again. I’m glad you have an interest in blood magic, Mr. Roth.” “Yeah, well, hopefully, it’s a good fit,” he said. “Blood magic is a better fit for more wizards than many think,” Professor Hak said. “After all, we all have blood. And we all have magic.” There was a long pause before Alex realized that she’d made a joke.”
― J.M. Clarke, Mark of the Fool 4

“His grin was perfectly evil. Thundar gave him a flinty look. “I hate you.” Khalik’s smile grew wider. “Oh, I know. And that? That pleases me.”
― J.M. Clarke, Mark of the Fool 4

“Oh, by the Traveller, power really does change you.” He laughed. “Oh well, ethics and all that. I’m sure someone will stop me if I go mad with power. And speaking of power.”
― J.M. Clarke, Mark of the Fool 4

“Alex, there’s got to be another—” “For science!” Alex, Thundar and Khalik toasted “science,” before chugging back the booze.”
― J.M. Clarke, Mark of the Fool 4

“Then it’s perfect!” he said, rubbing his hands together. “I’m doing this to test Cleanse Flesh. It’s either this, poison, or some horrible combination of both.” Theresa sighed. “Selina, talk some sense into your brother.” “Nooope,” his sister said, heading to her and Theresa’s room.”
― J.M. Clarke, Mark of the Fool 4

“Alex looked past Val’Rok at a small window that led to a drop hundreds of feet below. For a few heartbeats, he calculated whether he could pick up the professor fast enough to throw him through the window before the Mark stopped him.”
― J.M. Clarke, Mark of the Fool 4

“fortune.”
― J.M. Clarke, Mark of the Fool 4