𝙄'𝙈 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘿𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙍 !

you have finally lost your senses.

this venture is impossible.

the only way to achieve the impossible is to believe it is possible.

that kind of thinking could ruin you.

the nightmare, again?

do you think i've gone around the bend?

you're mad. bonkers, off your head.

if you get frightened, you can always wake up.

doubt they'll notice if we never arrive.

who's to say what is proper?

to me, a corset is like a codfish.

i'm sorry. i'm tired, i didn't sleep well last night.

it's always the same, ever since i can remember.

don't most people have different dreams?

there. you're beautiful.

there. you're beautiful. now, can you manage a smile?

at last. we thought you'd never arrive.

[ name ] is waiting to dance with you.

i hope you don't think i've taken advantage of your misfortunes.

do you ever tire of quadrille?

i think you'll do best to keep your visions to yourself.

i was wondering what it would be like to fly.

[ name ], meet me under the gazebo in ten minutes.

but now you've brought it up, you have to tell me.

everyone went through so much effort to keep it a secret.

i don't know if i want to marry [ name ].

shall we take a leisurely stroll through the garden, just you & me?

what an odd thing to say.

i couldn't be more interested, but you'll have to excuse me.

i think i'm going mad.

i don't know. i'm confused, i need time to think.

me? but i'm not the one who's sneaking around.

i think i ... i need a moment.

i am not convinced.

how is that for gratitude?

who are you, if i might ask?

the question is, who are you?

what do you mean by that? i ought to know who i am.

wait, this is my dream. i'm going to wake up now & you'll all disappear.

that's odd. pinching usually does the trick.

did you steal them?

it looks like you ran afoul of something with wicked claws.

well, i'd better have a look.

i'll be fine as soon as i wake up.

what do you call yourself?

all i want to do is wake up from this dream.

i was obliged to kill time until your return.

we simply must commence with the slaying & such.

all this talk of blood & slaying has put me off my tea.

what happened that day was not my fault.

you ran out on them to save your own skin.

what's wrong with you, [ name ]? you used to be the life of the party.

would you like to join us? you're late for tea!

i'm not slaying anything. i don't slay, so put it out of your mind.

wait! you can't leave me here.

you're not the same as you were before.

you were much more ... muchier. you've lost your muchness.

it's not a pretty story.

that is not foretold.

i've been told what i must do & who i must be.

i'll decide where it goes from here.

i make the path.

i've come to you, hoping you would understand what it's like.

and who is this lovely creature?

you're too soft.

the trees seem sad... have you been speaking with them?

rest now. you've done well.

is it not better to be feared than loved?

i'm frightened, [ name ]. i don't like it in here, it's terribly crowded.

you're entirely bonkers. but i'll tell you a secret; all of the best people are.

that's better, you look like yourself again.

why is it you're always too small or too tall?

i don't take orders from big, clumsy, galumphing—

why haven't you mentioned this?

i believe this belongs to you.

i thought we'd settled this.

i suggest you keep a sword on hand.

it is far better to be feared than loved.

it's against my vows to harm any living creature.

here i am, still in one piece.

i would have regretted not seeing you again.

you know what tomorrow is, don't you?

still believe this is a dream, do you?

this has all come from my own mind.

i'm afraid you're just a figment of my imagination.

you would have to be half-mad to dream me up.

i'll miss you when i wake up.

you cannot live your life to please others. the choice must be yours.

when you step out to face that creature, you will step out alone.

nothing was ever accomplished with tears.

don't go. i need your help, i don't know what to do.

i can't help you if you don't even know who you are.

you're just as dim-witted as the first time you were here.

it wasn't a dream at all ... it was a memory.

the sword knows what it wants. all you have to do is hold onto it.

i know what you're doing. you think you can blink those pretty little eyes & i'll melt.

it is MY crown! i am the eldest!

sometimes i believe as many as six impossible things before breakfast.

so, my old foe, we meet on the battlefield once again.

you are banished. no one is to ever show you kindness.

majesty, i hope you bear me no ill will.

i do not owe you a kindness.

i'll be back again before you know it.

of course i will, how could i forget?

good lord ... are you alright?

i love you, but this is my life. i'll decide what to do with it.

i'll find something useful to do with my life.

shall we speak in my study?

“Should not a ruler work harder than his people? Though truthfully I think you misjudge me. I accomplish very little compared to others.” So much of his time was spent alone and useless that for anyone to assume he worked too hard seemed baffling. 

Because still his people suffered. And yet here he sat in a castle. Unable to protect them. Unable to save those who needed it most. Because he was the one they needed protection from.

But Boothill does not need to hear about his private nightmares. 

Slowly he sinks back down into the chair, his fingers closing over the book like it was the only comfort he had in the world.

“I find architecture to be quite fascinating.” Even in the darkened light of the room, his eyes sparkle. “This particular book is one which examines a rare strain of gargoyle design which was was short lived even at its peak. There are but a few examples left of this particular method of craftsmanship that have been discovered in the entire world.”

He carefully flips through a few of the pages, taking care not to damage the weathered paper.

“Most of them were found along the tops of towers and along the walls of fortresses so they naturally withstood much more strain than would be expected which explains why there are so few of them left. This book in particular is so old as to have been written during the years of - “

He breaks off suddenly, looking up to lock eyes with Boothill.

“If you have an interest in the subject, you are free to read whatever books within this castle that you wish. There are a great many regarding the subject in my private library.”

Such fancy towers and buildings were few and far in-between from where he lived in the distant corner of Briar Valley. The grasslands stretch as far as the eye can see. Clear lakes and rivers you can see the bottom of the sea bed. A simpler time, but peace cannot last forever.

" ... S-Sure, why not? " He's encountered stranger hobbies with past affairs, albeit fleeting as soon as it came. The engagement is merely an announcement in writing, but it wouldn't kill him to know Malleus, gargoyles or not. He takes a peek on a few pages, and his eyes already squinting at the small text and technicalities. Yep, gargoyle hobbyists can only understand this —

Wait.