Jest/Relationships

Jest had a playful and affectionate relationship with his wife, marked by humor and mutual understanding. He had noticed subtle changes in her pregnancy that others might have overlooked, highlighting his attentiveness to her. Jest had enjoyed teasing her about how pregnant she looked, as she was usually one of the few who appreciated his genius sense of humor. However, during pregnancy, she had seemed to lose that appreciation, responding instead with well-placed punches—ones that carried both weight and purpose due to her being an Awakened. Jest had reflected on how this change in humor had also happened during her previous pregnancy, attributing it to "probably hormones", showing both his amusement and acceptance of her shifting moods.^[1]

His wife had entered the Seed of Nightmare (Third Nightmare) and never returned.^[2]

In Chapter 2155, he was described as a four-year-old little rogue and had mischievous sparks in his innocent eyes. His innocent demeanor was misleading, as he was a real menace, causing Jest to feel a mix of despair and pride at his mischief. In Chapter 2159, he failed to conquer his First Nightmare, prompting Jest to kill the vessel of his son.

His second son turned fifteen in Chapter 2162. Two years after his wife's disappearance, his remaining son became Awakened in Chapter 2163.

Warden had been Jest's closest friend and benefactor. It would not have been a stretch to say that everything Jest had was because of Warden, as Jest would not have even been alive if not for him.^[3]

Both Jest and his wife had been part of the initial group that had conquered Bastion with Warden and had been among his most loyal and powerful followers. Warden chose to challenge the Third Nightmare with Jest's wife, leaving him behind. He left Jest behind because he had not been in the best shape and because there was no telling how long the Third Nightmare would take. With Jest's son being fifteen, Warden had believed that at least one of his parents should be with him if the Spell called. Furthermore, Jest had played an integral role in building the world Warden had envisioned, and someone trustworthy had been needed to keep it all from falling apart in his absence. Lastly, Warden had wanted someone to watch over Anvil and Madoc, as despite being Awakened, they had still needed protection in a world full of sharks.^[2]

Jest's relationship with the King of Swords, Anvil, is marked by a mix of camaraderie and veiled tension. Jest frequently jests at Anvil, calling him a brat and referencing their shared past, where Jest claims to have taught Anvil to be heartless. Despite his playful demeanor, Jest shows hints of sentimentality, expressing subtle concern about Anvil's intentions and the weight of war. However, Anvil dismisses his remarks with characteristic coldness, reinforcing their dynamic of respect tempered by Jest's irreverence.^[4]