#oc ramos

The Hunter yanked her hand back before the metallic snap of her trap claimed it. It was sunset in Poteria, and Eterie Ranieri was just laying down a snare when it happened. It was a strange feeling, really, the feeling that something monumental just occurred. There were flashes of memory, no, facts that played out in her mind, yet instead of confusing, it emboldened. Rani spared but a moment for the memories, for she had work to do. If the Shining One trusted her to keep working despite this interruption, then she would.

Unlike Ranieri’s more withheld memories, Hiroshi Nolastname was permitted to remember just a little bit more. They awoke in their grove, with the image firm in their mind of a young teenager punching them in the gut!! How STUPID and RUDE!!! Don’t they know who they are?!? They’re HIROSHI! GOD of WISHES!!! 

And it was about then that Hiroshi realized, with extreme befuddlement, a pomegranate pie was sitting on the stump next to them. How it got there was anybody's guess.

***

One day, two astronomers started arguing. One argued that the stars should be shared with all people, while the other argued the stars are too dangerous to be shared so easily. The two agreed to disagree, and that was it. 

But over time, this question turned to debate, which turned to argument, which turned to conflict. Conflict fermented into fear, and from fear, mistakes grow with an unstoppable fervor.

***

Polaris snapped awake with fear gripping his heart tight, before slowly relaxing as his beloved Muenos rises to reassure him. No sooner had the one named after a star relaxed into the other's arms, did the third, Wren, raise his head to complain about his disturbed sleep.

The three varied in their memory of that night. Polaris knew the least, believing the experience on the cliffside was in some parts real, and some ways fictitious. He remembered madame, the saviors, and some of these adventures, but for his own safety, other details he remembered not.

Muenos and Pitch, due to the discovery of the latter, remembered more. The two remembered the caves, and talks, and the innermost struggles they survived. There were other memories, yes, but they were locked away by friends yet to be met, and forces yet to be discovered.

Wren, by contrast, could not have his vision clouded. The mere act of withholding such memories would spur him to seek them out, and in the process, cause more harm than good. It was for this reason he remembered what passed that night, with an understanding of subtlety imparted on him upon his awakening. 

***

In an act, regretted by all, fueled by anxiety and fear; the people of the Island wished to be isolated from the outside world. No more careless outsiders prying into their craft. No more contrarian moths trying to corrupt their Guides.

To forget and be forgotten, that was what the people wanted. Or, more truthfully, what some thought all wanted.

***

The city of lights and dreams was abuzz with activity. Despite the efforts of both Twilight and Dreams, such an event as the night of nightmares was impossible to hide from the people of the Sun. The experience was fresh in the gut of each and every follower, even if the memories were wiped clean; forgotten, yes, but the impression remains.

Of these followers, there was one who felt this theological crisis most of all. Widow, judge, jury, and executioner, knelt down in her home and looked upon the twilight sun. Was her guidance wrong? Or her dreams misinterpreted? Was her faith misplaced? Or. . . Or maybe faith had been misplaced in her.

***

In the end, the people of the stars got their wish. 

To forget and be forgotten. To throw away the outside world. 

A pity, then, that they forgot the stars along with everything else. 

***

It was with a cold sweat upon which Eden rose from sleep; the fear gripping his heart strong enough to break bone. But, his hands were now claws no longer, and his fangs were teeth once again. Humanity, it seemed, clung to him even now, despite the innermost feelings of disgust still present.

In spite of this, he was coaxed back to slumber by one who was spared the rod of the One Betwixt, Gina, and returning to his arms quickly settled both to sleep again. The doctor would not remember the night of nightmares, as would many other innocent bystanders. Even though the drug-leiden-Dragon would remember only bits and pieces, the fact that he still had a hopeless crush on a certain historian refused to leave his mind.

***

Once upon a time, there was a king.

A king who cried endlessly for a land lost to history, a home always present at the fringes of his memory. A king who wished to return home, or save another's home from the same fate. A king who refused to forget the stars like his countrymen so carelessly did, and mourned its loss every day.

***

The birth of the Twilight One was a boon to all gods; it was a chance to right wrongs that could not easily be fixed. It was a rare gift, being able to mend one's toys in such a way. But one individual, neither plaything nor player, was simply set aside. She was one that did not and never will belong to this toybox.

Vixul Pollana, the lost soul with no home of her own. She could only watch with a thinly veiled envy as the gods did their work. She shouldn’t be bitter, she knew, since this was just the cycle that she’d long ago surrendered herself to see over and over. A hero, or heroes, save the world from eternal darkness again and again, and she could only watch and wish the same could have happened to her and her home. Instead, she sat here, alone.

But she wasn’t alone, the Universe said, for she’s already done so much and saved so many people. Her journey may be long, and full of dangers yet to pass, but the Universe knew that one day she too would return home. 

***

One day, the King got his wish.

As the ground beneath him froze to the touch, he knew not the gift he’d been given. Time was in the palm of his hands; the planet's paralysis within his grasp. He could do so much, and that which he did do was simple. He would save this country from being forgotten as his home was.

What a fool he was. It was only when the chosen Housemaiden of Change reflected his own curse back at him did he realize the true gift he was given.

***

Antoine the beautiful one roused from slumber with a sleepy smile on his face. He did not awaken in the middle of the night, no, they awoke with the morning, after a night most well rested of all in Dormont. They got up, dressed, fed, and walked to the House of Change, where in the highest room of the house, sat a King. 

The Universe asked Chiron, for that was his name, if he wanted to live. Chiron answered honestly, with the full truth within his heart; He wished to return to the dream, the stasis, the frozen moment where he remembered his home.

And so, he did.

***

Once upon a time, there was a couple.

One was a historian, tempered by authority and hardened by lies, who rejected the path emplaced to forge one of his own making. A man who could not trust, a man too smart for his own good. But his story is one well told by now.

***

The ones who called themselves Knights were lucky to be returned to the fold almost unchanged. Despite the bitter enemy they had made, a God has to abide by the Rules, even now. Regardless, all memory of that night was stripped from their minds, save for the nightmarish visage of a Knight clad in Crimson. This, the Twilight One reasoned, would help curb the power these Enlightened few were massing.

However, there were two who reside here that recalled that night perfectly.

With a thud, the not-so-late Squire Aptenia fell from her bed onto the floor gasping for air. While the world may have felt numb to her, with the experience of death on her mind, she was lucky. For the full extent of her expiration was withheld for her own sanity. 

But that was not all her luck brang, for The One Betwixt had seen the reality, growth, and doubt of one within the Avalon halls, and permitted him to remember these events also. By the time the next bell had rung, a certain Knight held Aptenia close, regrets bleeding from his mouth.

***

The other was an Astronomer, loyal to the stars, yet was tilted by their peers. The words that she spoke would be twisted askew, the warnings; ignored, and faith; tested. A servant most humble, who gives guidance and knowledge, to never want in return. Tasked with Wishing where others could not, tasked with Wishing where others fear not.

Until one day came to pass, on a day ordained by chance. On a day like any other, the Astronomer left to visit a friend far from home. It was then when it struck, it happened, it vanished.

***

In a port town in Poteria, a watchman of the guard was preparing for her nightly patrol, before freezing where she stood. In a blink, Aurola had memories that did not fit before, or. . . No, not that, she had memories from a time that did not happen, a time undone, in a way. She remembered a castle, and a white haired soldier, and mint-infested knights. That memory in particular made her shudder.

One memory stuck out. Less a memory, more a promise. A promise that they would meet again, and this time, properly.

The shadow in her mind raised its head, and she continued her preparations. Aurola would have time to pursue this later. For now, she had a job to do.

Across the border, in a city not too far away, the white haired soldier known as Ark sat wide awake, staring down at her bonded partner with a mix of concern and relief. The horrible nightmare of memories was but a dream to her now, but still, it made her fear the worst for Thai. So to see them alive, safe, and oblivious, was a boon most welcome.

***

Once upon a time, there was a traveler.

A traveler, lost with no home, no memory, no one. A traveler who went from one town to the next, never remembering, always forgetting. 

Until one day, one became four, then four became five.

Then five become none.

***

The Siffrin who called themself Loop opened their eyes to white void. They blinked, and looked down at their hands, and then their body.  Their body, ever so slightly familiar, with a star mark on their chest. They wore a vest- no-sleeve shirt -and shorts. For a time, they simply stood there in awe and befuddlement. (Where am I?) They thought, (Why do I look like this?).

But their thought process was cut off by a missile in the shape of a worried little kid.

“S-Sif!!!” Squealed the kid. “You’re okay!!!”

The words died in Loops throat, and before they could try to talk again, an older, authoritative voice spoke up. “Now now, Siffrin does not like to be touched, remember?”

“Uh, isn't that the OTHER ‘Frin?”

“No, that's our Siffrin.” Said a third voice. It was familiar, strong, a Housemaidens. “But that's alright!! If you're not okay with being touched please let us know, okay??”

The absolutely befuddled Rogue was frozen like they were caught in a lie. Moments later, the strong figure of a fighter entered their vision. “Uh, Sif? You there? Everything alright?” He was followed soon after by the researcher, housemaiden, and kid.

(Wh- what is going on!?) Thought Loop. [Who-!? Who are these, t-these people?!?] thought Saffron, even though he knew very well who these people are.

“They are in shock. Just give them time.” Said the bespeckled researcher. 

The fighter, unassured, tried not to show it. “Yeah but. . . Y'know, they've gone through a lot already.”

(Am I dreaming?) Thought Loop, as saffron wished to ask [What's going on?!?]. Kyros worried <Are we dead?!?>, While Horizon, ever the logical one, spoke through tears soon to flow. “P-please touch us.”

No sooner had the words left its lips than the kid, housemaiden, and fighter embraced them in a hug. They gasped, and flinched, but held tight at the first sign one of them was going to retreat. The tears started to flow, and soon after so did the incoherent babbling. Although the flood of cries was incomprehensible, one question rang clear; are you my family? 

“Yes!!” Said the housemaiden, “Oh Change, Siffrin I'm so sorry! If only I noticed what was going on or that you needed help, then--”

“We could spend the rest of our life lamenting things we didn't do,” the researcher sighed from the sidelines, “or we could also; not.”

Loop tried to talk, and after dozens of attempts they gave up, simply surrendering to the embrace of their party. The fighters' strong hand pat their head. “There there, it's aaaaall alright, Sif.”

“Big baby.” Teased the kid, still hugging them. “Big dumb baby.”

The rogue gave up at this point, surrendering to sobs and the comforting embrace of their allies, friends. It was warm and reassuring, solidifying, even. After several moments, Loop tried to talk again.

“. . . H-- how. . . ?”

And the Universe answered. “They are remnants, Siffrin.”

Loop turned to the speaker, ready with a thousand questions more, but they found themself mute at the sight of the Universe. It was all, and nothing, and thus there is no reason to describe it. 

“When the star reached your mouth, the Everything that is Anything returned to nothing, and started again. The bodies and minds start their journey anew, with none but gods to remember them.”

“But there was an error; an oversight. You remembered. You remembered your party as they were, not as they became. While their bodies were gone, the selves they are still were. They existed, but only to you, and later, our Bladeheart.”

Loop looked back to their party. THEIR party. The people they wanted to, wanted to, wanted to. . . “

“This was one of hundreds of errors in the Everything that is Anything. With the birth of the Twilight One, we have a chance to right this and many more like it.”

Saffron felt fear, and had to ask. “B-but, are they. . .”

“When this moment has ended, you must let them rest. A life tied to one who remembers only bits and pieces is no life at all. . .”

Is was a weight both lifted, and applied with renewed fevor. Siffrin, tears welling up again, embraced their party, and held onto them for just a little but longer.

Loop won't forget their old family, of course. They would remember the family that no longer is, but with this final goodbye, they could at least let go.

***

Once upon a time, there was a traveler.

A traveler, lost with no home, no memory, no one. A traveler who went from one town to the next, never remembering, always forgetting. 

Until one day, one became four, four became five, and then eventually, five became seven. A teen, a housemaiden, a defender, a researcher, a carpenter, a trainee, and a traveler. Allies, friends, and family numbered seven.

Well, seven-ish.

***

Siffrin was roused from sleep by an anxious Suzilla shaking them like crazy.

“YOU'RE OKAY!!!” She exclaimed, before turning to yell into the woods around them. “SIF’RIN’S OKAY!! THEY'RE OKAY!!”

Siffrin was still waking up from the strangest of dreams. In it, he had been torn into pieces. His guts, bones, and muscles were all in a big pile, and a colony of rabbits were picking over it, grabbing their bits and piecing them back together. 

The rogue looked at Suzilla with a confused, half-asleep smile. Suzy smiled back, then hugged them tight, as if he was about to disappear. 

Not twenty minutes ago, The Bladeheart bolted awake fueled with the terror of not knowing the condition of their family. Despite the twisting in their gut and the bile in their throat, they didn't feel any dangers. The surge of power that felt constant not moments before was now that of a steady stream. Still, Suzy did not have time to dwell on this; she had stars to follow! The first companion I led her to was Odile, then Isabeau, then Siffrin.

As if on cue, Odile and Isabeau appeared, having sprinted to keep up with the anxious teen. The Defender cheered and whooped seeing his darling was still alive, and wasted no time in scooping the rogue up into his arms. Suzy got out of the way just in time. 

“Where to next, oh navigation master?” Odile asked, pointedly ignoring the worrying and doting Isabeau in the background. 

“Uhm. . .” Suzy closes her eyes, and looks up to the sky, a question on their lips. 

“A-are the others okay too?!? Have you seen them?!?” Isabeau asked the rogue as the Bladeheart did their thing.

“I saw Rosmarinus, a-and. . . A, few I didn't recognize.” Siffrin responded awkwardly. “I, I haven't seen Loop, or anyone else from their subsystem.”

“O-oh crab--”

“Oh dear.” Odile winced. “Do you have any idea if they are alright?”

“I think. . .” Despite the evidence clear in their mind, Siffrin had to think about this for a long, long time. “I. . . I think they’re okay.”

“What does that mean-!”

“Got it!” Suzy interrupts. “Follow me!!!”

Without a second thought, they were off.

***

Once upon a time, these stories came to a close.

Not the end, mind you, but a close. Just because this story of lovers, family, and trust has reached its conclusion, doesn’t mean there’s not more to tell; or questions that need answering. I, for one, have many questions. Where am I? Who am I? And am I real at all? Was all this real? Or not? If it’s not real, and simply a story, then how do I talk about it since it was real to me? When did this story turn from fiction, to a memory of fiction? What do we make for dinner? How will we come out to our mum? And why does my back hurt this morning?

I don’t know, and that’s okay. We are all in this together.

***

(Loop) [Saffron] <Kyros> {Horizon}

“. . . -Frin!”

(. . . Huh?)

(You’re awake?)

“Siffrin!”

[And SOMEONE is calling your name! Well, the name you USED to use, anyways. Go on, little guide, open our eyes? Pretty please~?]

(Fine! Fine. You blink open your eyes, and squint to adjust to the light. You’re laying on your back with soft grass against your skin. The sky is clear, with hints of the morning sun lighting clouds above you. You blink, and yawn. Your body is aching, but not as bad as it USUALLY does.)

(All of a sudden, that BLINDING TRAINEE pops their head into your line of vision.) “Siffy!!! You’re awake-!!”

(Without a second thought, you punch them on the nose! O-oh!)

[Whoopse!! Better cover yourself, Loop~]

(Stars above! You sit up.) “Oh Ramos I’m sorry, you scared me!”

(Ramos rubs their jaw, looking a bit hurt for a moment before those silly little eyes light up again.) “. . . L, Loop?!?”

“Yes? What, do you want a medal?!” (You roll your eye.) “Oh look, everyone! Ramos could tell who- oh come on what’s with that face?!”

“Y-you’re back!!!” (Ramos yelped, then scooped you up into a hug.) “Oh crab I was worried you- just, what happened?!?”

(You scrunch your face up, what?!? ACK!! You try to escape.) “Get off me you rat!!!”

(They let go, but still were wearing that stupid smile.) “S-sorry! Sorry! Uh, are you okay?!?”

“Stars above Yes!!” (You get to your feet properly.) “I know I was gone for a minute but really! I’m better than ever~”

(They stared at you, blinking with some expression on their face, before letting out a breath of relief.) “O-okay, okay! If, uh, if you’re sure. Just. . . A-a lot’s happened, so. . .”

 “Oh I’m sure it has~!”[What a moron! Ah you wish you could reach out and shake them~ You huff, and look around.] “Now, where is everyone?”

(You’re in a grassy clearing in the middle of the woods, and you can hear ocean waves in the distance. There was another noise, too, one that sounded almost like. . . Is that, sobbing?!?)

“I dunno, uh. . . I, think everyone got scattered around?” (Ramos rubs their head.) “I woke up nearby and found you and uh. . .”

“Me and. . .” (You squint at them.) “Who?”

(They shuffle on the spot, then turn and point across the field. You squint, having some trouble with the further blobs of shades, damn eyes. . . Stars, you can’t make the figures out. You grumble, then set off towards it.)

(As you get closer, the sounds of crying grow louder and clearer, and you start to make out other sounds alongside it; chattering and hushed reassurances. You glance to see Ramos following you, and walk a bit faster.)

<I-is, is it them?!?>

[Oh if it is, you’ll have some WORDS!!]

(You ignore them, fully focused on the source of that obnoxious wailing, until finally, you knew who it was. You grit your teeth, and clench your fists. Of course, it couldn’t have been anyone else! Of course it was Perci who was crying loud enough to wake the dead! What an idiot. He looked as he ever did, vest, dark hair, tailored pants, and. . . And. . .)

(The world shifted slightly as you got closer. The sky a bit clearer, and the ground a bit more full; Percival's body changed, too, as if a veil was lifted. Now he had a body reminiscent of your old one! A lightless body, with a head halfway between a human and stars. Planets floated around his head, and he still had a tail and scythe-like arms. He was taller than a human, but much shorter than he was not too long ago.)

[How do you know that?!]

(The other figure was. . . Was one you never would have thought to see, or remember, ever again. With a white cloak, white hair, and dark skin, the astronomer sat across from Perci, talking to him in a tone reserved for children. You slowed as you approached, halfway between disbelief, bewilderment, and annoyance.)

<S-should you, con- confront?!? N-no no you shouldn’t! Right?!>

[No!! We should let them know who’s boss, obviously! Who knows what could happen with those two around!]

{Oh Saffron dear Saffron, how silly you are! Cycle along cycles, yet you propagate? No!}

(Oh stars above shut up already!! Percival’s burying his head in Merlons arms, still crying hard enough to rival a monsoon. You cross your arms and tap your foot impatiently, and Ramos, awkwardly, waits next to you. Eventually, Percival looks up at you.)

“. . . .” (His face is. . . Surprisingly human as he wipes his tears away with an arm, then embraces Merlon yet again.) “. . . M-mimi. . .”

“It’s alright, Cici.” (Merlons voice is hoarse, distant, and disconnected. Yet, it still carried a care to it that was undeniable.) “Take your time. Loop and Ramos will still be here.”

(You sneer, tch! What does SHE know?! You could’ve been Siffrin! Or Kyros! Or maybe even Null!!  Stars, they're not even LOOKING at you! . . But it’s true that you’re not exactly leaving anytime soon.)

“I-I- I need- I-I need to---” (Perci wallows.) “S-sorry I. . . I need to, a-a, ah. . .”

(He quieted down as Merlon rubbed his hair. Or what you assume is hair, anyways. UGH, you were getting frustrated by the mushyness of it all. . . After several more seconds of waiting, Perci slowly looked up at you again.)

“. . . A-alright, okay. . .” (He gulps down a breath, then mumbles his next words.) “Just. . . Just please, a few minutes more, then you can kill me.”

“WHAT?!?”

“H-HUH!?!?”

“PERCIVAL!!!”

“B-but that’s-” (He looks back up, wide-eyed.) “That’s what you want, yes?!? A-and what I, I deserve?!?”

“Stars above can you be any more dense?!?” (You grip your hair.) “After all that work?!?”

“But-”

“I woulda’ thought you'd've gotten the message already!” (Ramos puts a hand to their head.) “Nothing’s gonna get better if we keep trying to kill eachother!”

“But I, I-I, I’ve--”

“Shhhhhh. . .” (Merlon put a finger on his lips, then turned to look at you. Their face was. . . Unchanged. You think. You’re almost sure it’s unchanged, but something about their eyes was. . . Stars you don’t know.) “Thank you, Groundskeepers, Nebulae, and. . . I’m sorry, for all the trouble we have caused.”

“Er. . .” (Nebulae?!? Is that supposed to be you?!? You cross you arms.) “Well, you’re not forgiven! Far from it!”

“Yeah, uh. . .” (Ramos sighed, arms behind their back.) “We’ll, cross that bridge later. Right now I’m just, tired.”

“I expect nothing less. Much has happened, and we have much to be held accountable for, and there are many questions too, I imagine.”

“Well I’ll start with one!” (You squint.) “How are you here?!?”

“Oh.” (Merlon smiled innocently, and closed their eyes.) “I came home.”

“. . .”

“. . .”

“. . . Oh blind it all-!!!”

“THERE THEY ARE!!!” (You jump on the spot and spin around. At the edge of the woods, was a very familiar teen pointing at you.) “I TOLD YA’ I’D FIND ‘EM!!!”

“Alright! Alright! HEY THERE!” [Petronillé follows right after, and waves to you. You wave back. Soon after, the carpenter was followed by Mirabelle, Madame Odile, Isabeau, and--]

(?!?!??!)

<O-oh. . .>

[On, Isabeau’s back, is you. The Rogue. The copycat, second fiddle, replacement. Siffrin. They were tired, yet looked the same as they ever were. He’s looking at you with the same shock you had. A beat later, Odile, Isabeau, Mirabelle, then Petronillé, start looking between the two of you, confused.]

“Ooooh Change.” (Ramos pokes your side.) “That’s- s-stars, Loop uh, are, you. . .”

“Please don’t ask me that.” (You grit your teeth with a very fake smile.) “PLEASE don’t ask me that right now!!”

“Siffrin.” (Odile looked between the two.) “Is this what you mean by ‘Loop’s okay’?”

(Siffrin nods. STARS you want to kill him!!)

“Loop!!” (Mirabelle goes right up to you and takes your hand in hers.) “I-it’s you right?? I’ve been so worried- we’ve all been so worried!!! A-are you okay?!? W-what happened-?!?”

“If I said I’m fine, would you believe me?” (You smirk, she makes a face.) “No? I thought not.”

“Let’s shelve that question, yeah?” [Nille pat Mirabelle's shoulder, then gave Ramos a hug. You try not to be jealous.] “Change it’s good to see you guys alive, though.”

“Y-yeah uh. . . Yeah.” (Ramos awkwardly glances at you, then at the Monets. Suzy’s standing over them.) “. . .”

“. . .”

“. . . You gonna do anything stupid?” (Asks Suzy. Perci shakes his head.) "Good.”

“. . .”

“. . .”

(Isabeau taps you on the shoulder. You glance at him, he’s holding out a hand. You take it. Siffrin’s still gazing at you, smiling like an idiot. After a few more moments, Isabeau speaks up.) “. . . So uh. . . Welcome back, Merlon?”

“Thank you, Isabeau.” (She responds.) 

“. . .”

“. . .”

“. . .” (Odile sighs.) “We should get going.” 

“Y-yeah.”

“M-mhm.”

“I’m exhausted, let’s go.”

(You could do with a good rest. With a moments hesitation, you turn to go. But you’d only taken a couple steps before Petronillé’s voice cut through the air.)

“Hey! What, gonna just sit around all day?”

(You turn back, as does the rest of your family. Perci and Merlon were both still sitting in the grass, the former looking at Nille, perplexed.) “I. . . W-what?”

“I was bein’ serious, Perci!” (Petronillé laughs.) “C’mon, let’s get some grub and a nap, THEN we can figure all this out.”

[Greeeeat.]

<I-it’s, probably a good idea.>

(As Merlon slowly helps Perci rise, you have to, begrudgingly, agree. You’ve had more than enough fighting for two lifetimes.)

(It’s time to move on.)

(You had arrived in Bambouche far past midnight, having pushed to get there now instead of tomorrow. You felt exhausted when Nille unlocked the little shack on the hill, you just needed to sit down for a minute. You also didn’t want to be in anyone's way, so you sat on the ground outside.)

(You were falling asleep when Isabeau, who you guess was coming to check on you, spoke up.)

(You yawn, massage your neck, and rub your eye.) “What’s wh-” (Another yawn.) “-what?”

“Over there, by the bay.” (He crouches down to your level and points towards the crescent cove that Bambouche was built upon. You shook your head, and squinted at the cove.)

(. . . . . There’s. . . . . Tiny lights. . . . On the water.)

(Strange. The ocean and night sky blended together so well here, you didn’t even notice that there were stars where there shouldn’t be. But, no. If they’re not stars then. . . What are they?)

“I have no idea. . .” 

[[Well, it looks pretty, at least.]]

(Oh yeah because looking pretty always means something’s not dangerous. You shake your head.) “Wanna check?”

“Uh. . .” (He looked down at you, then chuckled and ruffled your hair.) “In a minute, Sif, I gotta help unpack, okay?”

“O-okay. . .” 

(You watch him go, then turn back to the lights on the water. . . Hhhhh you should be in there too helping them unpack, stupid, stupid. . .)

{Forget them. You are resting.}

(H-hey! Mean!)

{. . .}

[[. . . Stars, what ARE those lights, anyways?]]

(No idea, a-and, you would like to find out, but-)

{Go down.}

(H-huh?!?)

{They will be fine. Go down and look.}

[[Ha! I’m with the antimatter on this one! Go on, Stardust~]]

(O-okay. . . You stand up and stretch, then start walking down to the cove.)

(. . . You only get a few meters away before stopping. Stupid, stupid, stupid! You’re being stupid again wandering away from your family for no reason. When will you LEARN, stupid!!!)

[[. . . . Right, now?]]

(Oh ha ha. You shake your head again and walk back up the hill to the shack. Once at the front door, you pause a second, then pop your head in.) “U-uhm. . .”

(There’s stuff EVERYWHERE. Stars, you’d be overwhelmed here anyways. Isa was chatting with Mira as they unpack. He looks up.) “Oh hey Sif! I was just telling Mirabelle about those lights.”

“W-well, I, wanted to go look.” (You smile up at him.) “Please?”

“Oh alright Siffrin. Just be careful okay?” (He blows a kiss at you.) “I love you.”

“Have fun Siffrin!!” (Mirabelle adds, waving.) 

“T-thanksloveyoutoo--!” (You quickly reply, blushing, before closing the door and speeding back down. STARS.)

[[You. Are. A. Mess.]]

(S-shuttup--)

[[No??? I shall NOT?!? Stars, you could NEVER have gotten his lips against yours without me egging you on~ HA!!!]]

{I beat you.}

[[SHUT. UP.]]

(Heheh. You take a deep breath of the cool and crisp sea air as you walk through the small town. Every light was off, and it was as silent as a cat stalking its prey. You squint, it might be getting foggy also.)

[[Ah good, fog was ALWAYS my favorite.]]

(As you walk, you eventually spot a faint light in the distance, and then a figure leaning against a post underneath it. Getting closer, it turns out to be a few lights in sequence, lighting up one of the piers. Then you start to make out the dozens, hundreds? Of lights on the water.)

{You feel a tingle on your spine. Be careful.}

(Y-yeah, you know. You keep a steady pace as you approach, your heeled boots making a soft thumping sound on the wood beneath you. Getting closer, you started to hear the snoring. It was soft, interrupted, occasional. It was the snoring of someone who was trying very, very hard to stay awake. You soften your footfalls.)

(Getting closer still, you could begin to see details. Dark pants, shirt- no, a vest and a shirt, dark hair, a glint at the ears-)

[[NO!]]

(You let out a gasp.)

“The lights are just, a part of, a part of my bondeds culture, please g-” (Percival pauses, and yawns, eyes still closed.) “G-go home, they don’t want to be interrupted, thank you.”

(And with that, he’s back to slow breathing and the occasional snore.)

{. . . . . . . . Why. Is. He. Here.}

[[You, stars you need to get the others. They have to KNOW about this!!!]]

{Stab him. It would be easy. Stab him once in the arm, sever the muscle, he cannot swing a sword then.}

(NO?!!?!?)

[[Wonderful idea! Then you could--]]

(SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU!!! You’re, you’re not going to fight!!! Y-you, you already agreed to that, alright?!?)

[[Like the void we did! Just get it over with and kill him!]]

(NO! And that’s FINAL! You squint your eyes shut, hard, then huff and look right up at your antagonist.)

“Percival.”

(The response was delayed. He grumbled, yawned, and started trying to form a sentence as he opened his eyes. Once he saw you, his eyes bolted open and he started flailing, ending with him losing balance on the post he was leaning against and falling back on the ground.)

“Wh- what are you doing here?!?” (He scrambled to his feet and put a hand on a sword.) “Did you still follow us after that?!? What part of ‘may we never meet again’ do you not-”

“Bonnie lives here.” (You respond flatly, cutting him off. For good measure, you added,) “Idiot.”

(His eyes were as wide as dinnerplates, and now that you could see him properly, the bags underneath them had only worsened. He hesitated, then released his grip on his sword.) “. . . Right, of course they do. It wouldn’t be that simple, would it. What a wonderful coincidence.”

“Don’t lie, I know you’ve seen their memories so you had to know about this!”

“Half-true.” (Perci sighed, and rubbed his eyes.) “Pétronille I only skimmed while at the inn, and I refused to look at her memories when we saved her. Ah, and we both know I can’t read Bonnie's mind.”

“Sure. I totally believe you.” (You pout, looking out over the water.) “. . . What are you doing here, anyway.”

“. . . It’s. . .” (He glanced up the pier, and bit his lip.) “. . . Blood, I suppose it’s the journey home.”

“What?” (You slump down, confused.)

“It’s the end of the hero's journey.” (Perci explains.) “Once the hero has overcome the great evil, they go back to their normal life; the journey home.”

“. . . That, still doesn’t explain anything.”

“Eugh, Blood.” (He sighs, and looks back at you.) “What I’m saying is, Siffrin, after tonight we’re leaving Vaugarde.”

“. . . Oh.” (You look back to the lights, then to him.) “. . . As well as leaving all this, island stuff too?”

“Or trying to.” (You watch his gaze go from the lights, to up the pier.) “She promised me to try, at least.”

“. . . Can I talk to them?” (You ask him, staring down at the floor.) “Please?”

(He glances back at you, looking you up and down, pauses. . . . And sighs.) “Yes, fine, as long as you don’t do anything stupid.”

“Okay.” (“No promises” was what you wanted to say, but, time and a place.)

(The wood makes soft cluncking noises as the two pairs of feet cross. Looking to each side, you could see the lights on the water, and eventually, how they float too. They’re paper boats with a tiny candle in them. There’s hundreds of small, paper boats.)

(It was a strange feeling, walking onto the foggy pier, surrounded by lights on the water and stars overhead. It made you. . . . . . . As you approach the end of the pier, you start to make out the figure that’s crouched on the floor near the water. Then you hear the folding of paper and a soft muttering.)

“. . . My love?” (Percis words get Merlon's attention. They turn.)

(If they looked surprised to see you, they hid it well. You, however, could not hide your surprise even with the best acting classes in the world! And stars knew you had a class put on by the Universe itself.)

(Merlons body was covered in writing.)

(Long, intricate, small printed sentences littered every part of her body you could see. Their fingers, arms, legs, neck, face, even their eyelids! It was a sight to see, and it left you stunned.)

(The Astronomer let out a mix between a sigh, and a huff.) “. . . Please, sit.”

“Do you need anything, my love?” (Perci cooed into her ear.)

“Only for you to go back to the inn and get some proper sleep.” (She leans up and kisses him.) “Please.”

“No, I think I’m fine right here.” (He chuckles as he responds, stepping back while keeping his eyes firmly planted on you. You didn’t need to be a mind reader to know what he was thinking.)

(After a moment's hesitation, you walk to Merlons side, and sit. At first, no words were exchanged, and you silently watched as she started folding another paper boat. Curve over curve, fold over fold, until the little ship was finished with a candle, and set on the gentle waters just a few inches away.)

“968.” (You hear them mumble.) “That makes 968, which is one more than 967. . .”

(And you watch as they start on yet another boat.) 

“. . . So. . .” (You look back out to the water.) “. . . Should I ask?”

(They paused for a moment to reply.) “If you want.”

“Okay. . .” (You glance down at one of the boats, at the flittering candle, up the water, up to Merlons arms and body and the words that adorned them, and then up and up, to the stars. . .) “. . . So, this is a wish, isn’t it.”

“Correct.” (They reply flatly, focused on folding.) “My Magnum Opus, my last great wish as an Astronomer. . .”

“Last?” (You look over at her, confused.) “Y-you’re, not going, to. . .”

“Oh no! No, I don’t plan on ending my life anytime soon.” (She doesn’t look up at you, but touches the star pendant that joins their cloak at the neck.) “. . . But if this doesn’t work, I shall throw my clasp to the sea and. . . A-and, try to move on.”

“. . . You don’t sound too sure of yourself. . .” (You look down.) “. . . Let’s just, hope it goes well?”

“Knock on wood.” (Merlon and you both knock on the wood of the pier in sync.)

(. . . You gesture to the paper.) “May I?”

“Go ahead. This is all preparation, still.” 

(You take one of the sheets of paper, and start folding it. Your fingers move faster than your brain, as if you had always known how to do origami. But you don’t know how to do origami, right? You’ve never done it before, you think. . .)

(There was something meditative about it, though. It made you feel calm.)

(After a minute of silent folding, you had a boat. Merlon handed you a lit candle, and you gingerly placed it inside.)

(You stare at the boat, and sigh.)

“Something on your mind?” (They called in a soothing tone.)

“. . . Just. . .” (You gently place the boat in the water, then turn back to Merlon.) “. . . What if. . . What if the wish doesn’t work?”

“Then I shall live with the consequences.” (They reply, flatly.)

“It might kill you, o-or trap you in some loop like it did me! It’s, it’s not that simple.”

“I know.”

“W-what about Perci?!? You might be able to live with it but-”

“We talked about it already, Siffrin.” (Percis' tone was wavering. Looking up, he had turned away from you both.) “I. . . I am, going to accept whatever happens, and try to live, even if. . .”

=You turn back to Merlon, horrified. They, they don’t care. They don’t care if it hurts her or anyone else. They, they need the island back. Stupid, of COURSE they need the island back. The King was fanatical and nearly froze the country, but Merlon was someone who devoted her entire life to the stars, to the Universe! Having all that ripped away. . .=

(But then, wouldn’t they know? Wouldn’t she know that doing this is, is just something that doesn’t work? You can’t undo a wish, so. . .)

|No. That just means she’s ready to try. She has all the tools.|

(You stand and turn to the side, refusing to look at either of them. You close your eyes, and wrap your arms around yourself. . . What. . . W-what, do we do?)

|. . . If. . . If you intend to try and stop them, they will fight. But. . . You, y-you can’t let them repeat a history that was so recently put to rest. Stop them.|

(Are you sure? They’re so devoted to going home, you don’t think you should stop them, even if you could. . . It, it hurts, but, you should just walk away.)

{No. You miss your home, you miss it. You miss it so much it burns. You wake up and think of home. Think of what you missed. But you can’t go back. You can NEVER go back. Stop them.}

+Let them make their own decisions, make their own mistakes. And when something goes wrong, we can be here to help, right? Just walk away.+

<They’re being foolish, and their actions will cause SOMEONE to suffer here. But then again, it’s not your ship, not your crew. Just walk away.>

=. . . You’re overthinking it. They don’t need someone butting in and being annoying, they need a friend. Just, just let ‘m do what they gotta. Just walk away.=

(. . . You can hear voices in the distance- oh. It's your family calling your name. Two for stopping them, four for walking away. And, Loop? What about you and the others?)

[[. . . . Stardust.]]

[[I envy you.]]

(What?)

[[I envy you for your innocence, for you confidence, for your. . . You-ness.]]

[[You don’t understand what a wish can do. Not truly, even now. You think you do, but you don’t. Stars, we’re sharing a HEAD and you still don’t know!]]

(. . . R-right. . . I’m sorry.)

[[Sure you are. You’ll be saving them from the worst mistake they’ll ever make. Stop them.]]

[(You wouldn’t wish that looping hell on anyone. Anything, anything but that. Stop them.)]

[<There’s thousands of things that can go wrong even with a small wish! Stop them.>]

[{You honestly don’t care about them at all. Stop them.}]

(. . . . . . . . Loop-)

<I change my vote.>

(NULL- stars. You, you’re right. You’re right. It, i-it doesn’t feel right, but, you’re right. You breathe in. . . And out. . .) 

(A cool wind blows past, and the voices of your family grow closer and closer with each second. You don’t dare look at either one of them.) “. . . I’m sorry.”

“. . . No, you’re not.”

(You don’t know who said it, as the next few seconds happened in a blink of an eye. You reached for your dagger and spun on your heel just as Merlon stood and waved a backhand at you. Before you could do anything, a blast of force threw you down the pier. You landed on a knee, but quickly stood.)

“SIFFRIN!?!?!” (Mirabelles voice makes you glance to the side, she, Ramos, and Isabeau were running towards you.) “W-WHAT’S GOING ON?!? ARE YOU OKAY?!?”

“It’s-” (You gulp down the words you don’t want to say, and quickly look back to the Monets.) “. . . I-I’m sorry-”

“Sorry? Why?!?” (Ramos and Mirabelle stood between you and them, brandishing their weapons as Isabeau checked on you. Then, Ramos noticed who it was.) “Why are they here?!?”

“I-I don’t know?!? Just, M-merlon she’s, t-trying to make a wish, a-and, and. . .”

“Ramos, go get the others.” (Isa commands, now sure you’re not about to pass out.)

“What?!? Why me! I can counter the mind craft you should-”

“You’re the fastest! Please, we’ll be careful.”

(Ramos blinks back at Isa, then nods, and sprints off.)

(You move to Mirabelles side, with Isabeau on the other. Up until now, the Monets had stayed at the end of the pier just looking at the two of you. But now, you see Perci turn to his bonded and place a hand to their forehead and whisper into her ear. A moment later, Merlon was back to her work, and Perci started walking towards you.)

(As he walked, the fog seemed to close in behind him. He placed a hand on his head, and you could see his walk change from an exhausted stumbling to an energised stride. He wipes his head, draws one sword, then the other.)

“Isabeau, Mirabelle.” (Percival looks at you all, then sighs.) “Blood, I can’t even trust my enemies to take their victory and walk away.”

“I can’t just walk away!” (Mirabelle grips her sword tighter.) “Not a-”

“Siffrin struck first, lady Mirabelle.” (He talks flatly and glares at you, cutting through questions before they’re even asked.) “No, I did not goad him into attacking for an excuse. No, I’d rather you all turn around and leave us alone. No, we aren’t doing anything that would harm the people of Bambouche. And yes, Siffrin was of his own mind when they attacked. In fact, they had a vote on it, as one big, happy, constellation.”

“I-” (Mirabelle was stunned by the response, and you could only look away and grit your teeth.)

“That’s, not the whole story!” (You insist.) “Merlon’s making a wish, a strong one, and-”

“-It will wind up killing her or destroying me yes you told us already” (Perci impatiently tapped his sword against the wood.) “But no. That will not happen. Merlon has been shaping this work for years, and now we have finally found the piece of the puzzle that would complete it! All thanks to the Saviors of Vaugarde no less.”

“What do you-” (Isabeau started.)

“The King remembered! He remembered the island in his last moments!” (He chuckled, and shook his head.) “I never had a chance to read a frozen person's mind, it’s like looking at a stained glass picture with an infinite level of depth. One image that contains the entirety of the person's past, present, and future. But what’s important is that he remembered!!!”

“. . .” (Mirabelle looks between you and Isabeau.) “. . . I, I don’t know. . .”

“What is there to know, Housemaiden.” (Perci lets out an exasperated breath.) “This is our life, not yours. I’m warning you, it would be better if you just run along already and watch my bonded bring your friend’s home back.”

“It won’t come back.” (You step forward, and ready your dagger.) “You can’t just fix a wish with another wish. It’s gone. Its name is gone. My name is gone. My parents' names are gone, and it, i-it hurts. But, it won’t come back.”

(Silence fills in for the words that were unsaid. The unreplied retorts, the unspoken scoldings, the unwitted insults. . . Instead, all that remained was a slow, heavy breath from the Monet.)

“Once again the wolf bites the outstretched hand. . .” (Perci crouches down, his eyes burned with passion and contempt and control.) “This is your Second warning. There won’t be a third.”

(You look to your allies, friends, family, and with a nod they were ready with their weapons.)

{This time, you don’t wait. You sprint at Perci with your dagger and slash at him relentlessly. He blocks your blows with one hand, the other looking for a time to strike.}

{Mirabelle’s next. You jump up in time for her to dash underneath you and stab at the Historian. He dodges cleanly, but you’re already coming back down with your dagger-}

(!!###############!!)

{The sound echoes in your head. You shut your eye tight and blindly slash down with your dagger. You hear a yelp and hope you hit true.}

“Siffrin!!!” {Your eye shoots open to see Mirabelle bleeding in front of you. You stand there, frozen for a second, before you feel Isabeau pull you from behind right as a blade shoots by your head.}

{In a blink, the image of a bleeding Mirabelle disappears, replaced with the reality of Percival, still perfectly healthy, rushing at Mirabelle next. Stars, how did he get into your head!}

<There’s no time to worry about that now. You feel Mal already rushing to stop his craft spread further, and your grip tightens on the dagger.> “Isabeau, strength.”

“GOT IT!!!” <Isabeau flexes triumphantly [WE! WILL! WIN!!!]. You feel energy rush through you, and in that same turn you swoop in with your dagger to force Perci to back off.> 

{You slash through the sea of grass. Where is the backdoor. Where is it. WHERE IS IT! You need to make sure he stays out of your mind. Why is it so hard to find!}

<You block a swipe with your dagger. Call Loop.>

{You make the motion with your hand, you wish to talk to Kyros.}

[<AH!!! You shake and stumble down from the tree, what, what now what’s going on what- >]

<Isabeau rushes past you and tries to uppercut Perci, he misses by an inch and the historian is able to ram his shoulder back into Isabeaus chest. He stumbles back.>

“Shield!” <You order, diving under Isabeaus arm and trying to capitalize on the opening. The clap of Mirabelles hands and the warmth that coated you made you smile.>

{Backdoor. Mind craft.}

[<H-HOW!?!? N-no time, NO TIME!!! You fly high, up, high! Where, where is it!!! Your eyes scour the surface of your mind, the grass, the waves, the sand. Where Siffrin?!?>]

(H-here still, too much noise--)

[<NEED the noise! Need the help!!!>]

<Your blade is inches from his chest when time seems to slow down for you. You see his swords coming from above. . . No, no he’s letting go of one of the swords. You divert your dagger swing into a twist to slash at his arm as he tries grabbing you.>

<Time resumes. You feel his hand grab your cloak before immediately releasing it. In a twist and a jump, you were back, and his blood was on your dagger.>

+You needed me?!?+

[<Mind craft! WHERE!?! HOW?!? He never touched us. Never, n-never got to us!!! How how HOW?!?!?>]

+I, I-I don’t--+

“SIFFRIN!!!” <Mirabelles voice, you turn, only to get a large fist in the gut for your trouble. Looking up, it was ISABEAU who struck you. You could see his face, see it contorted in anger, and then confusion, and then terror.>

“S-sif--” <He starts, but before he can say any more you’re both shoved back closer to shore. Twisting to see, Mirabelle had put herself between you and Percis blades. There was steel poking out of her side.>

“Ah.” [<Perci grimaces.>] “That, was not intentional.”

<Get BACK IN HEADSPACE! You’re needed!!!>

[<B-but, Mirabelle hurt!>]

<She’s a healer! She knows what she’s doing!! You see her wince in pain and put a shaking hand to her abdomen.> “I-it’s, it’s okay. P-pull it out on three?”

“Agreed.” <He doesn’t take his eyes off any of you. You get to your feet, but stay low as Isabeau rubs his head.>

“One, two. . . Three!” <You hold your breath as Perci retracts his sword, and you see sparkling discs of healing craft encircle the wound. She stumbles back to your side.> 

“Nothing mortal?” <Perci asks flatly.> 

“N-no.” <She glares at him harder.> “Not this time.”

<You hear the stomping of feet rush up behind you, and you turn just in time to see Ramos zoom past you and strike with both Tonfas, yelling as they ran.> “PEEERCIIIIIIII!!!!!”

<Heh, finally. You stand, and quickly join Ramos on the assault, going to strike his flank while Ramos distracted- >

<Ramos disappeared as you rounded his side. And the Historian was swinging down with his sword.>

|You feel the metal on your flesh and you yelp, staggering back, hand to your shoulder. It was another illusion, of COURSE! The strike knocked Null out of front, and thank the stars it was you who took his place.|

+THAT TEACHER!!!+

[<What?!?!?>]

+When he got into our head! He must have left a backdoor!!! Yes Merlon killed him but maybe even though he was dead the backdoor remained and that’s what Perci’s using!!!+

[<He found it and refashioned it in his own way!!! That, t-that backdoor was in- you flap your wings hard and fly up the favor tree, through the branches, and into your own little corner of the mind.>]

“I got you, Sif, I got you.” |You feel Isabeaus hands on your side. You wince, expecting a tingling of mind craft, but no. Isa turns to Perci, and practically growls!| “At least you’ve stopped pretending to play fair now!”

“I have.” |Came the reply.|

[<THERE! A hold in the canopy with some strange rabbit sitting at the edge!!! You dive down to grab at it. You need to KILL IT!!!>]

{Why are you so afraid?}

[<W-what?!? WHAT?!?!>]

“Siffrin! Isa! Mira!!!” |You turn to see Ramos and the rest of your party running up the pier. You open your mouth to ask if they’re real but before you get a word out Ramos grabs your arm.|

[Where? You land on the island headspace with a thud. Where’s the trapdoor?!]

[<UP! UP HERE! You’re a few feet in front of the rabbit, staring, strange, afraid, what is it, doing?!?>]

[You start to climb.]

{You all stare at the bird, curious. Will they attack? Will they run? No, they will cry, as they did for a world that never existed.}

[<N-NO!!! QUIET, QUIET!!!>]

“ASSHOLE!!!” |You stay unmoving, but watch with a smile as Pétronille runs down the pier with her hammer and swings it at Perci. He dodges, but not for long.|

“CRABFACE!!!” |The second sibling joins the first and catches Perci by surprise, coming in from low down and swinging up with The Tenderiser. Your ace in the hole, your wild card. Your smile graduated to a grin.|

[You get to the treetop and see immediately what’s happening. You rush in with your pen. Kyros, MOVE!!!]

[<Y-you, can’t!!!>]

{The invader runs at one of you, and you are stabbed through. No sooner had that one died than another you screamed and ran from the warren onto the tree. You dive at them, and bite.}

[STARSDAMMIT WHAT THE HELL?!?!?]

|You can’t focus on the outside. You feel something in your hand. You hear craft magic, yelling--|

“‘FRIN!!!!!” |You hear a chime and a rhythm, and a warmth flows through you as Bonnie casts their [Stardrop Inkantation]. You stumble and gasp as Ramos yanks their hand back. You open your eye just in time to see a figure flying through the air.|

|The figure landed in the water and started struggling to stay afloat, it was Bonnie! Nille, her hammer on the pier, had already jumped in after them. Your sword was in your hand, and with a clear mind you glanced over the battlefield. Mira had taken a step back, Isabeau protecting her. Perci was running past them and towards madame Odile, who’s own blast of craft had been deflected into the water.|

[[You explain the enemy. Percival, Lv.94, he will do anything to protect his bonded. You’ll have to kill him to stop him, but then there goes any talking to Merlon. And by the time you can get him in restraints that would work it may be too late! You’re in a no-win battle~]]

(There has to be SOMETHING!)

|You rush in with your sword, intercepting Perci before Odile could get hurt. After your deflect, Ramos joined with their own assault, aiming low for the legs. They got the message.|

|You and Ramos worked in tandem. They would strike with their weapons, drawing Perci’s attention, then you would look for an opening to strike low, at the legs. With his mind reading advantage now being disrupted by Ramos’ own craft, the two of you were leveling the playing field.|

|That’s when you hear a powerful whooshing and crackling noise. Odiles [Craft Break Δ] flew past you and struck Perci in the chest. The Researcher’s commanding words reached your ears.| “SIFFRIN! GO NOW!!!”

(In a blink, you dashed forward. By the time Perci recovered from his shock, you had almost closed the distance between the two of you. He tried to swing a sword to stop you, but he was sluggish, weakened, and wasn’t paying attention to Ramos, who had a fist with his name on it that collided with his gut.)

(You got past him.)

“NO!!!”

(Percis words were left in the wind, as you were confident your family could keep him from catching up. You sprinted down the pier and into the fog, slowing down to a jog, then a walk as Merlons figure, now standing, became clear.)

(You stopped a few feet behind them. The sounds of conflict echoing and fading in the distance. You tuned the chaos out, until all that was left was your breathing, her breathing, the wind, and the waves.)

(No Percival. No Ramos. No Isabeau, Mirabelle, Odile, Bonnie, or Pétronille.)

(This was between you, and her. Two orphaned children of the Universe.)

“. . . Siffrin. . .” (They don’t turn to look at you.) “. . . Why?”

“Because. . .” (You hesitate.) “. . . Because I don’t want you to die.”

“. . . That’s. . .” (She turns her head to you.) “Not the answer I was expecting.”

“It wasn’t a question I was expecting either.” (At any other time you’d be making a joke out of it. But you couldn’t, not now. You take a step.) “Listen, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for not talking to you, I’m sorry for being just so, so stupid and ignorant and ignoring you and Percis attempts to just, not fight, but. . .”

“But you’re still going to fight.” (They turn away again.) “Aren’t you?”

“. . . I’m, trying to make things right.” (Another step.) “The King froze the country because he wanted Vaugarde to never be forgotten. I. . . I trapped myself, reliving the same two days one-hundred and seventy-six times, a-and-”

[[They don’t respond. Stardust. . .]]

[[. . .]]

[[Do it.]]

“. . . A-and, and I had help.” (You look down, choking on the words as you step forward.) “I had Loop, and Loop had lost their family, friends, world, history, even their own name because of a wish. T-that’s. . . Merlon, you, y-you can’t just. . .”

“But you did it.”

(Your head bolts back up, Only a couple feet separated the two of you.) “Wh, what?”

“You did it.” (They turn and walk towards you, lean down, and put their hands on each of your shoulders.) “You did it. You saved the country. You rewound time. It hurt, but you did it. Now look where you are, with your family, your home, your people. It hurt, but it was worth it, wasn’t it?”

“. . . I-I. . .” (Oh no.)

“I know what I’m doing, Siffrin.” (Looking up into Merlons eyes, she’s crying, smiling.) “I’m ready for whatever happens. I’m ready for whatever I need to go through, and I know that whatever it is, it will be so much easier if I had help.”

(. . .)

“There’s something special about you, Siffrin.” (They take a hand and place it on your chest.) “Something no-one else has, something that makes time become your plaything, something that ensures that you’ll always have a way home.”

“. . . I-I’m. . .” (You look down at your chest.) “. . . M-my, my heart? My family?”

“What? No I don’t mean m-” (Merlon stops themself, sighs, and straightens again, hand outstretched to you.) “It doesn’t matter. Siffrin, please, will you help me go home?”

(. . . . . . . The words hit you like a truck.)

(But. . . . . Your answer stays the same. You can’t look her in the eyes.)

(. . . Their hand drops.) “. . . Fine.”

“. . . I’m so-”

(The words had no sooner left your mouth then you noticed that the stack of paper was gone. The candles were gone. Your head snapped up to see Merlon, a hand outstretched with a candle burning brightly in it.)

“N-NO!!!” (You run at them.)

“I’m going home, Siffrin.” (They turn their hand, and the candle falls.) “I’m going h-”

(Ramos) [Alex] <Altiare> |Jasmine| {Nihil}

(The sudden blast of heat and wind sends you flying down the pier. You land on your feet, but stumble onto your back a second later. What was that?!? What WAS that?!??!?!)

[Whatever experiment it was, it must have failed. Stars above your head hurt.]

“. . . ISA? SIFFRIN? MIRA?” (You shake your head clear and sit up.) “ODILE? BONNIE? NILLE?!?”

“Over here!” (You turn at Mirabelles voice to see Isabeau a few feet back, and a moment later for Mirabell to roll him onto his side and sit up.) “W-what happened?!? What WAS that?!?”

“No idea!” (Your head hurts, and you taste metal on your tongue. Change. . .) “Are you okay?”

“I am, I-isabeau’s coming round too!” 

“THE CRAB WAS THAT!?” (Nilles voice was accompanied by boots on wood.) “We were just getting back and see a crabbing EXPLOSION!?!”

“No idea-” [You bolt up, and look around. Nille had Bonnie on her shoulders, Isabeau was waking up with Mirabelle, and, and. . . There! You run to the side of the pier and start shaking Madames shoulder.] “Odile, Madame, professor wake up!”

[She lets out a grumble.] “. . . Don’t want to see me when. . . I’m cranky. . .”

[Stars. You put a hand on her head and send a sound her way; the time you helped ring the Wolworth bell when you were standing right next to it. Instantly her eyes snap open and she sits up.] “GEMS ALIVE!!!”

“Sorry Madame. You can discipline me later.” [You say with a chuckle, and stand up. No time, you start walking down the pier.] “SIFFRIN!!! HEY SIFFRIN YOU THERE?!?”

[After a few steps, you almost trip over another figure, but righten yourself. Oh, it’s Perci. You give him a-]

(NO! Come on Alex, no time to be petty!!!)

[Just one kick?]

(NO!!!)

[Fine. You keep going down the pier, the others joining in calling for Siffrin. You’re getting impatient, and nearly miss the bundle of white smashed into a crate. You rush over, it’s Siffrin.]

“FOUND THEM!!!” [You waste no time and put a hand on his head. . . Ah, completely knocked out. Possible concussion? You can deal with that. Everyone is okay, just, out right now. Nothing weird, nothing strange. You let out a sigh of relief.] “HE’S KNOCKED OUT, BUT OKAY!”

[Looking back down the pier, the fog was slowly clearing. The rest of the gang was already on their way down, Mirabelle running ahead. Isabeau was limping, Bonnie seemed out of it, but the others seemed at least okay. Perci groaned, and started to slowly move.]

“Oh thank Change.” [Mira let out a breath of relief seeing Siffrin. She quickly got to work with her healing craft.] “W-what about their mind??”

“Nothing weird that I can see.” [You shake your head.] “I guess Perci didn’t bother setting any traps.”

“I guess so. . .” 

“Is Sif okay?!?” [Isabeau had been rushing to catch up despite the limp.] “Is he dead?!? Are they in a coma?!? Are t-they-”

“They’re fine you big sap!” [You roll your eyes.] “Y’think one little explosion would kill them? I don’t think ANYTHING can at this point!”

“Change knows Perci’s tried.” [Nille joins you both, soaking wet still.] “What’s his problem anyway?”

“Better question, what happened to Bonnie?!?” [Isabeau reaches out to Bonnie to check in on them.]

“Shock, I think.” [Nille made a face.] “They have some occasional issues with water but nothing this bad. . .”

“Give them a few minutes, Pétronille.” [Odile pats her shoulder.] “We still have that historian to deal with.”

“CRAB YEAH WE DO!” [Isabeau pumps his fists together, and all of you turn back to Perci.]

[He had gotten to a knee, and had a hand on his head. You chuckled at triumphantly.] “Who knows, maybe he’ll get the message this time.”

[Isa chuckles.] “I doubt it.”

[You look down at the pathetic man who’s been your enemy. You watch him stumble to his feet, a hand on his head. His vest was tattered with tears, his pants were ripped, but his earring was as pristine as ever. He looks up at you.]

“How ‘bout it, Perci!” [You grin, arms crossed.] “One on seven rematch! Maybe you’ll win this time!”

“I’m SO ready to put you back down.” [Isabeau grinned and flexed.]

“Gems, if he’s smart, he’ll give up.” [Odile sighs, and looks at Perci as he sloppily walks forward, then looks back.] “His plan failed, and I’m sure he’s exhausted.”

“That’s what he gets for getting in other peoples business!” [Nille spits.] “HEAR THAT! NO-ONE ASKED YOU TO GET IN SIFFRINS BUISNESS!”

“It’s their home, their history, their choice.” [You shake your head.] “Maybe he should go out and ask some OTHER islanders about. . . If. . .”

[Something’s off.]

“If?” [Isa turns to you.] “If, what?”

[Before you can reply, Perci breaks into a sprint towards you. You brace for an attack until you realize he’s dropped his swords. He runs right past you all, and down the pier.]

“What’s he doing?” [Mirabelle rips herself away from her work at the noise.] “There’s nothing back there for him, right?”

[Nille shakes her head.] “Nope, I don’t think so anyway.”

“Wait.” [You rub your temple, trying to think.] “No, no there’s something, missing.”

“Huh?” [Isabeau turns to look down the dock.] “Missing how?”

“A ‘Siffrin Things’ type of missing, isn’t it?” [Odile held her glasses and closed her eyes.] “Hmm. . . No, there is something missing. Who was here?”

“You, me, Isabeau, Pétronille, Bonnie, Mirabelle, Siffrin, and Perci.” [You tap your foot.] “That’s. . . No, no we’re missing someone- wait!” [You snap your fingers and look up.] “Why didn’t Perci attack us in Wolworth?”

“Uh, just, because?”

“W-wait! No!” [Mira perked up.] “He was waiting for something! O-or, someone?”

“Oh yeah!!!” [Isabeau slammed his fist into a palm.] “And what about when we fought off that guy! Don’t you remember who beat him?”

“It was. . .” [You scrunch your face up.] “. . . Stars, it wasn’t me, it wasn’t you, and I don’t think it was Siffrin, so, who. . .”

(SNAP.)

[The loud snap made you jump. Wait, no, it wasn’t quite a sound, or a thought, or a feeling, or maybe it was all of those at once. It was like glass, cracking under pressure. A sheet of ice splitting underfoot. It sent shivers up your spine.]

(You look down the pier, the fog clearing away more and more. You start walking forward.)

“Leave.”

(You could barely make out the bundle of fabric. It took every ounce of willpower to even focus on it. Percis smile, you can’t read a thing about him except that you felt a deep pit in your stomach.)

“Now.”

(. . . You look behind you. Everyone was just standing, staring at the scene just as you were. Isabeau was carrying Siffrin, his face a painting of internal conflict. Nille stood there too shocked to do anything else. Odile had put herself between the others and Perci, and by her glare she wanted you to back away from him. And MIrabelle, she had her hands in front of her mouth, the fear clear on her face.)

(The silence continued. When you turned back to Percival, he had turned away from you. His head was down, focused on. . . On something. You didn’t dare move.)

(. . . You heard two pair of footsteps behind you walking away. After a few minutes, another pair joined them. You wait a couple minutes more before turning, and walking to who remained; Mirabelle and Isabeau. You guess Nille carried Siffrin home.)

(Once you were side by side, the two joined you in silently walking off the pier, up the boardwalk, and through the town back home.)

“. . . I. . .” (Mirabelle took a shaky breath as she tried to talk.) “What, do. . .”

“I dunno. . .” (Isabeau had lost the confidence in his voice.) “I, want to help but, how. . .”

(Any possible followup in the conversation was cut off by an agonized wail that echoed through the town.)

(There’ve BEEN maps of the labyrinth; dozens of them at most! But they weren't being shared with you guys ooooh no. That would be just too easy, wouldn't it! Hell, Galahad had his OWN map that he's STILL not sharing! Something about how it’d look bad for him if he did, crabface)

(What also looks pretty bad is the state the Groundskeepers are in after that attack.)

(Ramos) [Alex] {Nihil} <Altiare> |Jasmine| +Arrin+

{Arrin the scout?}

+Yes. Reasoning? Unsure. A scout, hunter in the woods, runner, ranger, unsure. One memory holds, a lone ant, running from place to place, a little explorer on our windowsill.+

{You understand. So small in a world so large. A spec of dust, bravely exploring. Not nothing, not nothing.}

+And what of you, bug? A Sadness. Void given form, emptiness incarnate. Tame, they say, yet I saw you bear your fangs, your claws, your nail. To hurt one of us? Is this tame?+

{. . . It is hard to stifle ones nature.}

+To stalk our fear? To hunt?!? To wound with claws of nihilism and regret?!? You may resist to pluck at the rose, but pluck you did! A pulled strike is still strike nonetheless, and as she mourns over a LIE no less! Do you see? Do you understand the pain you cause?!?+

{. . . Yes.}

+And is that all that is to say?!? Is that IT?!?!+

[Please stop, you two.]

+. . .+

{. . .}

[. . .]

+. . . My apologies.+

{I am sorry, Alex.}

[. . . . . Accepted. Now drop it, please.]

+You do not see why you should, after what it did.+

[What does whatever YOU see have to do with this?!? This isn’t an issue for you to barge in on, alright?!? Stars, you barely even KNOW Nihil, and I have NO idea who you even ARE!!!]

+Your mind is our mind, our mind is our body, our body is YOUR body! What happens to you, happens to all. We can feel it, the effects, the influence, the sorrow, doubt, scepticism. It seeps into our mask, trailing a blood for any with a nose to sniff!+

[Is that why you’re being a blinding asshole right now and shoving yourself where it doesn’t belong?!? Do you want me to tell you it DOES hurt?! Want me to tell you all about how I’m NOT HANDLING THIS WELL AT ALL!?]

+Yes.+

[STARS I hate you.]

[Fine. Look, I know I KNOW. Okay?! I know they were lying, okay?!? I know they were just trying to fuck with me and it WORKED! I was an idiot, OKAY?!? I let their bullshit words get in my head and it fucking broke me down!!! I KNOW that now! I’m not an idiot!!!]

[But that doesn’t BLINDING MATTER!!! It doesn’t!! It doesn’t matter what I tell myself, what you tell me, what our friends tell me! Those asshole already planted that FUCKING doubt in our head and it’s gonna be NAGGING at me until I finally go dormant!!!]

[Oh and then here comes Nihil the sadness! Oh how cruel and heartless is it, RIGHT?!? NO!!! I got a taste of what it’s like for Nihil, y’know, the temptation to give into its damn stupid nature?! Passive influence, I blinding guess, but I felt it! It felt like waves of compulsion folded between slivers of glee and delight, roasted over the flames of adrenaline, and that STILL isn’t an apt description!!! Nihil twisting its words like it did to try and be encouraging WAS a kindness! A really BIG fucking kindness!!!]

+. . . . . . . .+

[THERE! Happy now?!?]

+No, but thank you. You are leaving, now, to host.+

{. . .}

[Un-fucking-believable-]

(Suzilla) [Crux] {Crimson} <Eight> |Ember| 

(You slowed down as the group was passing a hallway; Mir-again was down it, standing against one wall. She was tapping her foot, and rubbing her chin. She didn’t seem to notice you, yet.)

“Something up, Bon?” (Your sis stops, and looks down the hall, too.) “Something down there?”

(At Nille’s words, Mir-again looked back up and saw you. She was waving energetically- oh! Did she need something? You shrug at your sister's question.) “I think I saw something.” (And before she could protest, you were off.)

(Mir-again looked relieved when you started running over. Or at least, you think she does? She starts talking really fast, before remembering why that wouldn’t work, and deciding to wait for you to actually get there. Once you did, she leaned down to get closer.) “-e --und-----frin! Othe--looki---or you!”

“‘Frin?!” (Your eyes lit up. You couldn’t make out the other words, but that was Siffrin, right?!? You try to keep your excitement contained.) “D-did you find them?”

(She very, VERY clearly nodded, and pointed to the door next to her. You barge right on through without a second thought.)

“SUZY-!” (Your sister was yelling at you, but you didn’t have time for that!! Looks like you’re in some common room, fireplace, balcony, spiral stairs in one corner, and a big sadness in the center.)

“[Rule Buster!!!]” (You slam a wave of craft energy into it and it’s dead!) “WheredoI-!”

(You see Mir-again run past you, flickering in and out of reality as always. She runs up the stairs, and you sprint after.)

“I SWEAR TO CHANGE SUZILLA!!!” (You wince, bats, sorry sis.)

(You go up the stairs two at a time, and at the top is a landing with a few different doors to go through. Mir-again phases through one of them, and you follow, busting the door open, almost off of its hinges!)

(You’re in a bedroom?  It’s a pretty crabbing nice bedroom, though. Big bed, bookcase, closet, and a desk, too! Biiiig windows, and some fancy art. Mir-again ran through what looks like a solid wall? Weird, and even weirder is there’s another ball of light here already.)

(You can hear your sis approaching, but that’s fine. Whatever. You’re just going off and making everyone worry again, ugh. You reach out and grab the light.)

“Really? You, Percival? Out of every candidate?! I’m shocked!” Professor Hersh, Sir Gornemant,  tugged my head up by the hair, forcing me to meet his cold gaze. “You're the top student! Predicted to be one of the strongest of us, and all of that not halfway through your third year!! And yet you do, this?!?”

My mouth failed to form words. My mind, stuck in a fog as razor thin wire spooled itself through my mindscape. In the flesh, I had no wounds, no bindings, no signs of struggle. But internally, I was trapped. 

“What was it, Perci? Was it the heckling? The jabbing? The competition?! Pah! You've handled the other students and their antics wonderfully, so what was it?!?” He tugs at my hair again. “I've always been in your corner, Percival. I was ready to help, to teach, if you needed it. So what is it?!?”

I- I couldn't, I couldn't tell him, it's-

“Stop acting like a brat!!” He slaps me, it stings. “You walked for two miles to get back into my office because we CARE about you! I care about you! So why are you being difficult!!”

Of course, mind traps. Think about running, it gets set off. Get too far away, you trigger a trap that makes you walk back. Try and fight, or flee, or-

“Skad that's it!” He grabs my neck and forehead. “I can't believe you're making me do this, Percival.”

Something- something's wrong, something's- 

GHHHYAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

“SUZY!?!” (You startle and spin around- O-OH! Bats, your sis caught up with you.) “What are you doing?!? You can’t just crabbin run off like that!!”

“U-uh, s-sorry I just-” (You glance around, but Mir-again is nowhere to be seen.) “I, I-I just got this feeling that uh, u-uuuh we should go this way!”

“Uh-huh.” (Nille crossed her arms, and looked none too pleased.) “You just randomly think you know where to go for no particular reason??”

“Uh, yeeeeaaaah?” (You lie.) “I just uh, y-yeah! I-It’s like that weird feeling on the back of my neck a-and uh, uh. . .”

[A-are we gonna. . . Talk, about that memory?]

(Later! While you and Nille were talking, Ramos’ mystery headmate had pushed past the two of you and was inspecting the room. He looked over the walls and window, then got down on all fours and inspected the bed, furniture, floor, and anything else out of place.) “. . . . . No danger. Why this one? Why here?”

“Because I said so!!” (You pout and stomp to one side. Everyone was coming in now, Mirabelle, Isabeau, Odile, and finally the two losers. Aptenia wasn’t really focused on the mapping, and Galahad was looking around all confused, or amazed?) 

“. . . No. . !” (The Knight let out an amazed laugh.) “Bards bosom! This is Percival's old room!”

“It is?!” (Mira turned to him, then to you.) “Bonnie h-how did you- Huh?!?”

“Window facing the dawn, the well worn desk he spent time refurbishing,” (Galahad inspected everything closely as he wandered around the room.) “There’s even that stain from when. . . Aah, those were the days. . .”

“As interesting as this is, we still need to find a route forward.” (Odile tapped her foot, bored.) “Any ideas?”

(Nille rolls her eyes.) “What, are we just ignoring the door?”

(What?) “You wanna go back??”

“What? No!” (She looked real confused.) “The door with chains and locks on it?!?”

(This time, everyone just stared at your sis, confused as hell.)

“. . . Is this, another perception thing?” (Mira asks.)

“I guess?!?” (Nille rubs her head, then points to the far wall.) “Do y’all really not see it?!”

“To me, it looks like a blank wall.” (Odile hums.) “If our theory stands true, then Percival may hold you in very high regard, Petronillé.”

“What?! After all-” (Galahad made a face, but quickly reset it to look normal again.) “No, no. He’d have his reasons.”

“Wow I wonder why!” (Annoying smug face ACTIVATED! Heh, heheh.) “Some friend you are.”

“I’m just wondering why her is all.” (Galahad responds ANNOYINGLY calmly.) “Do you have any ideas, Petronillé.”

“Well, uh. . .” (She pauses, looks at the wall, then walks over.) “Maybe. . .”

(Ramos) [Alex] {Nihil} <Altiare> |Jasmine| +Arrin+

+Curse that insidious weed of a Knight! You stay close to Petronillé as she approaches, then digs around her pockets. You do not trust him. Never will. Tch. You wait until Petronillé finds what she is looking for. A rabbits foot? She holds it close, then towards the wall. Isn’t that the rabbit from Perci?+

+There was a glow, then warmth, then a flash. It was comfort, like a resonance, a soft song that washed over your skin. It faded, and now you could see the hidden door. With grey, foreboding wood, chained closed with locks of all kinds. Locks of keys, code, openphrase, and more. You hear a click, they all unlock.+

“Fascinating.” +Odile steps closer+ “A theory; it’s not you that Percival trusts, but the that trinkets er. . . Previous owner.”

“That’s. . . Kinda sweet?” +Mira rubs her arms.+ “I-in a weirdly morbid way?”

“Yeah, I feel like we shouldn’t dwell on that.” +Isabeau shrugs with awkwardness.+ “Hey uh, Galahad? You have any idea what this is?”

“. . . Unfortunately, yes.” +He lets out a sigh, shaking his head.+ “You can all assume at this point that our organisation is obsessed with secrecy and control, yes?”

“Yes.” +You hiss.+ “Not assume, we see it day to day. Cruelty in control, and commanding students with a word. Yes, we follow.”

+Your allies nod, Galahad continues.+ “Well. . . Percival had many attempts at leaving, and was caught each time. His superiors wanted to. . . Make his views align with their own. By any means necessary.”

“I hate the sound of that.” +Petronillé glares at him.+ “So, what should we expect?”

“If only my words were enough preparation." +He walked to the door.+ “Allow me to look first-”

“No.” +You hold an arm out in front of him, and give him a glare.+ “I will. You stay in your station.”

+A glare shared for a half-minute, he relents.+ “Then by all means.”

+You wait for him to back up. Petronillé was a step behind you, others getting ready also. You reach for the doorknob, grasp it, and freeze. It felt, ice cold. No. Numb. It was pained, fearful, like the begging of an old voice. You turn the nob, and push the door open.+

+The room in front of you was the epitome of cruelty. It was cold, damp, dark, with walls that lacked detail but seemed to be slabs of stone. A door was on the far end, and lights hung from the ceiling, piercing the darkness despite lacking a source. 

+Coming soon after the sight of the room, came the aura. Everything felt stuffy, airy, too much, and too little. You had trouble breathing, yet your lungs were full. Your balance was gone, and your vision, a blur. You felt the clothes on your skin, the tongue in your mouth, the eyes in their sockets. You felt the blood in your veins and the heart in your chest, and none of it felt right. Sounds were too loud, yet agonizingly far. Thoughts came too fast, yet were dipped in a fog. You stumbled, leaning against the doorframe.+

“K-kkhrrr--” +You controlled your breathing.+ “Gh-- khah. . .”

“Rams!” +Nille, running to you, her touch made you stiffen, but she stumbled next.+ “Ha- W-what in Change?!?”

“I warned you.” +The Knight sighed.+ “It’s not dangerous. Try to center yourself by focusing on one thing.”

“Easy for you to say!”

“It's alright! Let me help.” +Isabeau approached, stumbled, yet powered through.+ “T-there! Not so- not so bad, right. . ? Crab okay that sucks--”

“Woah.” +Suzy voice?+ “This place feels weird.”

“Suzilla for the love of Change leave the room right now-!” +The older sister ordered, you smelt  incoming rebellion.+ 

“I'M FINE, SIS!!! LET ME HELP!!!”

“SUZ-! I'm---”

“I-I think she's asking more for herself, Suzy.” +Mirabelle, hesitant to join, but good with words.+ “s-souhm, please?”

“Oh, uh, okay. . .” (She sighs, and goes back-- huh? Why am I here now?! Why does EVERYTHING SUCK?!?)

+Don’t distract! You breathe in, out, in, out, in, and out. . . You are focused, now, and stand on your own power.+ “Let, me check, first. +You keep low to the ground and walk more into the room, glancing at the items as they come into focus.+

(S-stars above--)

+Chains. Ropes. Tweezers. More knives than you could count. Hammers. Saws. Tools you had no name for. Yokes? A forge with hot irons and brands. Metal restraints. Pins. Barbed Wires. Whips. Syringes. An iron chair. Hooks on the walls, ceilings. Water and bucket. A rack. The scent of blood stains the floors, screams baked into the stone. There was another door at the far wall, locked.+

(Oh Crab, oh crab oh crab-- y-you, you didn’t think this- this, i-it’d be this, this bad! You shiver with your next breath. Galahad mentioned Re-education, b-but, but you d-didn’t think-- You want to throw up. Calm down. Calm down. CALM DOWN-! You double over and gag.)

“H-hhehhh-hhhehe-” +A new voice?!? You look up, who?!+ “H-hehh- hhhe--hh- hhheelllloo????”

(Wait. WAIT. You get up, where did the voice-?!?) “W-who- where are you?!?”

“H-hhahe--- he- h-hheeere-!” +Sounds panicked, pained? Coming from the rack.+

(You waste no time and run over to the other side of--) “SIFFRIN!!!”

(Your heart leapt into your throat, and your emotions scrubbed your brain clean! It’s, it’s SIFFRIN! Siffrin! Your Siffrin! Your beautiful, wonderful Siffrin!! Their cloak was wrinkled, but untorn! Their old scars were still there, but you didn’t see any new ones. They were tied down, shaking, eye wide and full of panic, but, he’s alive.)

“A-AHA--!” (He yelps and starts to hyperventilate.) “H-HA, AHA-!!”

“S-Siffrin?!?”

“‘Frin?!?”

“Sif’s here?!?”

(You look back to your friends.) “Y-yeah!! Yeah they’re here! They-” 

{Please, quiet your voice.}

(You spin to your left- A Saudade?!? You grab your weapons. Wh- what the crab!? What do you want!! Why did you start attacking us!!!)

{We are sorry. It was not for you, but for the company you keep.}

“SIFFRIN I’M HERE I-!!” (Isabeau came rocketing to your side, fully focused on making sure your mutual starling was safe. It was only a second later he noticed the sadness, and stood protectively between it and Siffrin.) “WH--”

(But the noise only made Sif panic more!) “A-AHA-- HAA- AAH--”

{They are your friends. Your friends. You told me of them? Remember?}

“M-MY, MY, MY. . . .” (Their breathing gradually slowed, until they could think.) “My. . . . . I. . . I-Isa. . ? Ramos. . . ?”

(Your heart flips over for a second time in so many minutes, your stance relaxing, face softening. Isabeau was beside himself with relief, and leapt to undo the bindings keeping them there.) “Y-yeah it’s me! Sif, Siffrin, Siffaroni, it’s me, Isabeau, y-yeah? Remember?”

“I-Isa?” (His vision was trained on the burly defender as the others made their way over.) “Are, a-a-aare you, r-re-real?”

“I’m real! I’m real I promise I’m real!” (One arm done, you help with the other.) “Ramos’ real too! A-and there’s Mirabelle, Odile, Nille too!”

“Siffrin!” (Mirabelle was already getting a healing skill ready.) “Oh thank Change it’s- S-siffrin I’m so glad you’re okay!!”

“Gems alive what sort of torture chamber is this?!?” (Odile, understandably, kept a few steps back, glaring at the instruments of pain in the room.) “Galahad?”

“The most terrifying kind.” (Odile’s ice cold words dug into the Knight who was walking around the room's edge.) “One that’s not restricted by physical limits.”

(Quivering words came from near the door, Aptenia their speaker.) “S-sir, may--, may I, p-please--.”

“Go.” 

(Wordlessly, Nia bowed, bumping past Suzy to quickly exit the room. Suzy themself were still in the doorway looking intently towards your group. You know that if you were in their shoes, you’d want to see that Sif’s okay. After a second, though, they turn away to, you assume, talk to Nia.)

(You and Isabeau were able to get Siffrin off the rack, but they were so frazzled, stunned, sensitive, overstimulated. Stepping back, a shiver running down your spine, you directed your words at Galahad.) “. . . What did he do to Siffrin.”

“Oh nothing, it looks like.” (Came his blasé reply.)

“Wh- what do you mean nothing?!?”

“I mean exactly that.” (Galahad shrugged.) “This room is designed to enhance the senses to an uncomfortable degree; siimply staying in here is torture enough. If I had to guess, Percival is quite angry at your friend here, but is showing an impressive amount of restraint.”

“This is restraint?” (Odile scoffed, but paused.) “. . . You may have a point. Maybe he wanted to keep Siffrin in a secure place, somewhere they couldn’t leave without help. Maybe he wanted to hurt them, get revenge, but could not go through with it.”

“That’d explain the Saudade.” (You grumble, turning back to it.) “What were you doing here anyw-”

(But the Saudade was gone. You don't know if it died or left, but, it’s gone. Odile hummed, thinking.) “. . . Where was it standing, Ramos?”

“O-oh! It was, just over here?” (You walk over to the spot.)

“Thank you.”

(You step back, and let Odile think- Wait! Idea! You softly walk over to Siffrin and kneel down. He still looks frazzled, but having both Mira and Isa there seemed to be helping. . .) “Hey, Sif? You there?”

“Hhuuu. . .” (Their eyes were glued to the floor.) “Y-yyeaaah. . . ?”

“Do you. . .” (Choose your words wisely, Ramos!) “Was there ever, uh. . . Someone, else, in here? Before we got here?”

“Someone. . .” (He stays quiet for several moments, slowly closing his eyes, then opening them again. It took a few tries, but they eventually responded.) “Was someone. . . . Soft. . . . . Kind. . .”

“Soft?” (You glanced up at Isa and Mira.) 

“Got. . . . Scared.” (Sif took a slow, shaky breath.) “Would. . . W-would share, memories. . . Nice ones. . .”

“Huh. . .” (You slowly stood back up.) “Thank you, Sif.”

(You rub your chin, trying to parse the information. They shared memories? Why? Why was the Saudade kind? It sounds like he was getting COMFORTED by it! Was he talking to the Saudade!? Why!?!)

(Stars, you don’t have TIME for this! Isabeau and Mirabelle were taking care of Siffrin, Odile was investigating the room, and Petronillé was staying close to the entrance. You wanted to help Sif, but, they’re already pretty overwhelmed.)

(What about the exit? Yeah you can check that out! You walk over to it. It looks similar to the first. Thick, sturdy, locked and chained shut. If it's anything like the first, Nille’s rabbits foot will open it, and you're pretty sure once you get past here, you'll find Percival.)

(Just a little bit more to go!)

(You hear the entrance slam shut.)

“WHATTHE--” 

“HUH?!?”

“What’s going on?!?”

(Petronillé tugged at the doorknob, then banged on the door, then slammed her whole shoulder into it!!!) “SUZ- HEY!! HEY!!!” 

(Galahad clears his throat, and you feel a cold breeze wash over you.)

“. . . You. . .” (You slowly turn towards him and glare.) “You fucker-!”

“Now now, let’s not be hasty.” (He holds his hands up oh so innocently.) “We don’t actually need to fight, you see.”

“Oh yeah, sure, I could tell.” (Isabeau stood up, and put himself between Galahad and Siffrin.) “That’s why you waited to lock us up in the scary torture room!!”

“Call it ‘balancing the negotiations’.” (He smiles, and you HATE it.) “Don’t worry, I’m not asking for much. In fact, you’re likely getting the better end of the deal.”

“I highly doubt that.” (Odile sneers, getting in step beside Isa and you.) “‘Balancing the Negotiations’? Really? Galahad, you’re scared of Suzilla and you know it.”

“Isn’t it natural to fear something that can hurt you?” (He squints at the Researcher.) “Wouldn’t you know, Madame?”

“T-that’s enough!” (Mirabelle snaps back, rapier at the ready. By now, she and Petronillé were grouped up with everyone.) “Just, just what do you want!”

“Simple. I want to pay my old friend a visit.” (He held out a hand, and his gaze slipped from Odile, to Nille.) “But the way there is locked, and you, Petronillé, have the key.”

“I--” (She recoils, before gripping her hammer and baring teeth.) “That rabbit's foot?”

“That’d be the one~” (He mused.) “Now come on, hand it over, and you may all leave safe and sound.”

“Fat chance!” (She spits.)

“Oh come on, no need to be like that Drake.” (Galahad's words came out disgustingly smoothly.) “I’d hate for you to come to harm after all you’ve done for you dear little sibling.”

(Nilles face drops.) “H-how do you-” 

“Rude!!” (Mirabelle makes a face.) “You’re not supposed to give away people's old names!!!”

“Really? I never would have guessed~” (He chuckles.) “Drake is such a lovely name too. Tell me, did you choose to change it? Or were you pressured into it. We all know how much a tyrant the Vaugardian religion is, it’s why I felt so bad for Perci~”

“Y-you-!!”

“Mira, don’t-” (Isabeau starts.)

“You know, I actually heard a rumor not too long ago.” (He shifts his weight onto one foot.) “A rumor about you, Mirabelle.”

“I-I’m not listening.” (Mira lowers her sword, and looks away.) “I’m not, I’m not!!”

“Oh please, I feel sorry for you, Mira.” (He’s smiling, relaxed.) “After all, having your own god treat you as nothing but a doll? It’s, well. . .”

“I-I’m, not, listening-!”

“It’s exactly what I’d expect from that lazy tyrant.”

“S-SHUT UP!!” (Mirabelle steps forward.) “You, y-you have no idea what--!!”

(In a blink Galahad grabbed Mirabelle by the face, swept her leg, and threw her across the room behind him. She landed with a thud.)

“GRAH!!!” +You lunge at him and strike, but you hit air as the Knight dances back out of the way!!+ “I’ll KILL you!!”

“Doubtful.” (Galahad huffs, and draws his sword. The blade slithered out of its sheath like a whip, linked in a chain with blades built around them, before straightening into a single blade.) “One last chance, Nille.”

(She hesitates for a moment longer than you’d think she would.) “. . . No, I can’t do that.”

“Dissapointing.” (He sighs, then assumes a combative stance.) “Come on, then, let’s make this quick.”

+You swoop at him, keeping low, and focusing on your footwork and jumping at the last second! Keep him off guard, stay surprising! He blocks, you follow up with a second, blocked, kick off, and land!+ 

+Isabeau pumps you up, [WE! WILL! WIN!!!]. Petronillé strikes with her hammer, he dances away, you swoop in, forcing him to move! Now’s the time, Odile uses [Paper α V], gemstones strike at him, dead on! DEAD ON!!!+

“[Holy Care Shield]!”

(With a flash, Odile’s craft bounced off of Galahad like snowflakes on stone. He kept on smiling as the scene played out, eventually he started to to chuckle.)

“What-?!?” (It’s getting harder to breathe, what just happened?!) “W-what’d you do?!?”

“Aaahahahaa. . . You know. . .” (Galahad clicks his tongue, and your eyes widen in horror as Mirabelle stands up, rapier brandishing at you all.) “That always was the one thing Percival had over me.” 

“Oh you fucker-!!” (Nille spits, and glares even harder at him.) “What, respect?!?”

“Ha! No.” (The Knight and Housemaiden move back to back.) “Restraint.”

+Galahad rushed at you, he swipes! You block, twice, thrice, quadrice, quince! On the sixth block, his sword slackens into chains, whiplike? It coils around your tonfa, and in a flash, he yanks back, stiffening the sword!+

+Your tonfa was ripped from your hand, and flew into the far wall. No time, coming at you again! You dodge, what a strange weapon, but smart! Isabeau’s coming to help, runs right at Galahad, swings, hits air as Galahad ducks, then jabs his gut, fingers extended.+

+Isa recoils, doubled over, then swings at nothing?!? N-no, NO! You lunge at Galahad, he moves, slices at you, and you feel a sting of metal!! N-no no time no TIME!!! You dodge, back up, dodge, coiled links of metal death, designed to disarm, to catch off guard! Another dodge back, can’t! Have to block!+

(Your weapons strike, and just like before his sword coils around and rips away your weapon- his free hand! You’re moving too slow, you’re sluggish, you try and move--)

(Petronillé)

(Glancing over, you couldn’t help but wince at the sight of Galahad grabbing Ramos’ face and slamming them into the wall. A moment later, your friend went limp, and collapsed to the ground! Oh crab, oh CRAB!!!)

(You see movement out of the corner of your eye, and deflect Mirabelle's thrust with the handle of your hammer. You did NOT have time to worry about that!!!) “ODILE? ISA?!?”

“He’s-!” (Madame’s voice was panicked and quick; she casts [Slow IV] on Mira.) “Cutting-- He’s confused, just focus on Mirabelle!”

“Kinda hard NOT to!!” (You wait for her to strike again, and with her more sluggish movements, you’re able to kick her in the chest, wincing as you do.) “Crab, sorry Mira.”

(She stumbled to a knee, then quickly stood back up and cast [Pretty Buffy Friend]. Change that STUPID Knight!! He’s so CRABBING ANNOYING!! You slam the ground in front of Mira with your hammer as she comes at you again, and she stumbles! Once she’s down, you pin her neck between your hammer’s handle and the ground. Okay, OKAY!!! ONE DOWN!!!) 

“GOT HER!” (You turn back to Odile.) “MISS I GOT HER PINNED-”

(Odile was knocked out on the ground, Isabeau standing over her, looking at you with those same, vacant eyes.)

“Oh dear oh dear!” (Galahad chuckles from the wall he’s casually leaning on.) “It’s a shame to see such good friends turn on each other.”

“YOU BATFACED CRABFUCKER!!!” (You stare at him, malice in your eyes.) “I’LL SMASH YOUR CRABBING SKULL LIKE A COCONUT YOU FUCKING CRABHOLE!!!”

“Such language!” (He dismisses you with a wave of his hand.) “Isabeau? Be a good boy and deal with her, will you?”

“FUCK YOU-” (Isa runs at you and you use your hammer's weight to throw yourself out of the way of his punch.) “FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU!!!”

“Tut tut!” (He’s shaking his head and smiling!!) “Just imagine what your fiancé would say!”

“CHANGE JUST SHUT UP!!!” (You swivel the hammer head into Isabeau's chest and shove him off.) “SHUT UP, JUST SHUT UP!!!”

“How rude-!!”

“I DON’T CARE! JUST SHUT THE CRAB UP!!!” (Isabeau comes at you again, you plant your feet and swing your hammer around!) “JUST FIGHT ME YOURSELF!!! JUST KILL ME ALREADY OR SHUT THE HELL UP!!!”

(Isabeau’s bleeding, crab, sorry about this big guy! You throw your hammer at him with [2-by-4 toss!!]. Please knock him out please knock him out please-- Your hammer clips him in the head, and knocks him out. You remember to catch your hammer this time.)

(From a few feet away, Sir FUCKING Galahad starts slow clapping.) “My my~ Bested the Saviors of Vaugarde, have you? Impressive~”

“Fuck you.” (You hawk up a loogie and spit at him.) “I’m-- I’m not letting you FUCKING beat me!!”

“Ahaa, hahahahahaaaa. . .” (He doesn’t seem worried at all, just looking at you with a glint in his eyes.) “You really do not understand the situation, do you~?”

“Oh I DON’T do I!?” (You must look manic to him right now.) “WHAT?!?! Gonna explain it to me like I’m some STUPID IDIOT GIRL?!? YEAH?!? Suzy’s gonna break through that door y’know!!! You and I BOTH know it!!!!!”

“Haaaaaaahahaha. . . No. She won’t.” (He hummed, and finally moved from his place against the wall.) “A question, Petronillé, why would Percival send a Saudade to keep your friend company?”

“. . .” (You don’t respond, but he’s gonna tell you anyway. Aren’t you, Galahad?) 

“He’s scared, Petronillé~ He may rule this unreality, but. . .” (He brandishes his sword, and slowly steps towards you.) “No matter how strong he is, no matter how much power he gains, in this room he will always and forever be powerless! In this room, even HE cannot unlock the door out! In this room, I! AM! GOD!!!”

“That’s-!” (You grip your hammer tighter. Don’t start shaking, don’t start shaking, do NOT start shaking!!) “H-hellova- hellovan’ ego you got!”

“Thank you~” (He casually grabs something from a table.) “Now Nille, I’ve truly never enjoyed doing this, I avoid it if possible, but if you don’t give me that rabbits foot I will be forced to-”

(-Click-)

(The sound draws your attention, and drags your eyes to the entrance behind you. The entrance, that now lay open, with Aptenia standing in the doorway, holding the doorknob with a smile. The Knight froze.)

“. . . Nia?” (Galahad’s voice was quiet, and he sounded. . Betrayed?) “Nia what. . . W-what did you--”

(Nia's smile falters, then Crimson rears its head.)

(A cold wind blows over you and a roar echoes through the room, your bones, your SOUL. Your whole body felt numb, and you couldn’t even react as shadows spread along the floor, walls, and ceiling towards the terrified Knight.)

“N-NIA-!!” (Whatever control he had was gone as the shadows descended upon him.) “NIA- RUN!! JUST GO, JUST GO!!”

(What?! You glance back to Nia, then back to the struggling Knight. He’s bleeding, and deflecting what attacks he could. He’d be dead very soon.) 

“. . . I. . . ?” (The Squire's response was nothing but a whisper.) “. . Run. . . ?”

“IT WILL KILL YOU- GGHH!!!” (He screams as a blade pierces his shoulder.) “I- I DON’T- JUST, JUST RUN!!!”

“But I. . I didn’t. . .” (Her face, you could see dread seeping into it.) 

(There’s another scream as Galahad’s sword is knocked from his hand, it looks like it broke a finger. Y-you, you can’t watch this!) 

“S-Suzy, wait-!” (You take a step, but your legs freeze up as the shadows around you tighten their hold. You try to move, but it’s like the darkness was- was protecting you?! Holding you back?!?) “Let me GO!!!”

(But all you could do was watch as Crimson picked apart the knight piece by piece. With one cut here, or a broken bone there, Galahad was reduced from running and dodging to limping and stumbling. But even that was too much for him, as eventually his wounds forced him to his knees.)

(The Crimson Knight, blade in hand, stood at its full height in front of him. It looked at the Enlightened Knight with- with an expression you didn’t have a name for. It reared back its sword, and you looked away.)

(There’s the sound of a knife slicing through meat, and a small, pained gasp, then a cough.)

(Despite how much you didn’t want to, you open your eyes-) “N-NIA?!?!”

(The Crimson Knight’s sword was stopped just short of running Galahad through, and instead, his Squire stood in the shadows' way.)

“. . . . . .” (The first one to break the silence was Galahad.) “N-Nia, what. . . W-why. . . ?”

(Aptenia opened her mouth to respond, but all that came up was a cough with some blood- is, is Crimson, shaking? What’s--)

(In an instant, the shadows that were the Crimson Knight started melted away into nothingness, letting a dazed Suzy stumble away from the mortally wounded squire. With the knight and its sword now gone, Nia fell to her knees, then to the floor.) 

“Hhhu--” (Suzy clutched her head and slowly sat down.) “W-whu, h-huh. . ?”

(You blink, and snap back to reality.) “S-suz-!” (You run over to your sibling and kneel down, checking for wounds.)

“Whuhhappened?” (Suzy- or at least you thought it was Suzy -rubs their eyes and looks around.) “Whuh. . . Are. . . Are they okay. . ?”

(You look back over at Nia and Galahad. The Knight was holding the Squire in his arms, and crying. You respond quietly.) “I- just, sit down for a minute, ‘kay?”

“Mhh. . . W-what, what happened?” (Your head snaps over at Mirabelle’s voice.) “I- O-oh Change, what, what’d he. . .”

“Uurrrhgghhh.” (Isabeau was next.) “I feel, c-crab my head hurts. . .”

“Gems alive, what happened?!?” (Odile looked shocked from her position on the floor.) “And, how. . .”

“S-ssoh, sommes-- -sommone h-hhelp. . ?” (Siffrin?! You stand and look around. He’s kneeling next to Ramos, who’s still unconscious.) “R-rha, r-rrh-raahmos. . .” 

“Lemmie see.” (You walk over and check Ramos’ pulse; beating strong. You reach down and pick them up, putting them over your shoulder.) “They’re alright, Sif.”

“M-mm.” (The Rogue shallowly nodded their head and stood, stuck to your side like glue. You turned to go regroup with the others.)

“. . . I-is she. . ?” (Mirabelle was standing next to the Knight and Squire.) “I-if there’s still time -maybe I could--”

“There isn’t.” (The Knight responds, eyes glued to the ground.) “Just, go.”

(You feel a pang in your gut.) 

(Mirabelle awkwardly shuffled her way over, as did Odile and Isabeau. Bonnie had passed out, and Isa was carrying them.)  “. . . . . . Y-yeah, let’s uh. . . We should. . .” 

(You take a glance back to where you came from, consider it for a moment, then turn to the new exit. Yeah, no, going back after this would be a terrible idea.) “C’mon.”

(You lead everyone to the door, fish out your rabbits foot, and hold it up. The locks click free, and you push the door open. On the other side was the most lush and luxurious children's room you’d ever seen.)

(. . . You take a deep breath in, and out. You glance back at Galahad, open your mouth to say something, then close it. It’s not like anything you say could make it better. . . Alright, Nille, enough stalling. You step through the door.)

<<<

Sir Galahad of the Enlightened never thought he would feel grief, and yet, here he was. While the Saviors recovered from the fierce battle, the Knight was holding his dying squire in his arms. Aptenia Rosetta Sarin. The sword had severed her spine and pierced a lung, but despite that, her mind was still alive. At least, for the next few minutes.

(Nia, why?) Galahad thought, (I’m not mad, I promise, please, just. . . Why?)

(. . . I. . . I was told to. . .) The dying squire thought back. (O-ordered to. . .)

(That- that bastard.) Tears ran down the knight's face as he held Nia closer. (Lancelot- no, Oleander, why?!)

(Ambition. . .) She thought back, heartbeat slowing. (He. . . He. . .)

Where simple thoughts failed, exchanged memories succeeded. Galahad felt fear, control, lessons, cruelty. He felt the terror that was familiar, yet horridly misplaced. It was the terror of master upon student, a terror used by his own Order. Yet here it was not of master and student, but of father and daughter. It sickened him to the core.

(I, I should have noticed, Nia, I’m sorry.) He held her tighter. (I’ve failed you, I’m so, so sorry.)

(It’s okay. . .)

(But, but why? Why did you save me? Why sacrifice yourself?!?)

There’s a long, long pause. For a moment, Galahad thought Nia had passed. But eventually. . .

(I realized. . . I didn’t want you to die. . .) She takes one last breath. (And. . . Thank you. . . For. . . For. . .)

[You feel a certain ghost stir in the back of your head, you nod.] “Well, if you’re up for it, uh, walk ‘n talk?”

“Sure, sounds good.” 

[The two of you start casually sauntering across the yard back to your party.] “So! What’s on your mind? Or uh, in?”

“Don’t push it.” [La warns with a huff.] “. . . ‘Been, thinking about, stuff.”

“Head stuff?”

“Yeah, sure, let’s call it that.” [She tugs on her chainmail shirt.] “That, and uh, home stuff.”

[You cross your arms.] “And you wanna talk to me about that? Not like, Ark?”

“Well I did but she’s like, y’know.” [She waves her hands around vaugely.] “My superior.”

“You know that whatever kinda military you were in is long gone, right?” [You lean in close to her, squinting.] 

“Well, yes, but she also has. . .”

“Opinions?”

“Yeah, call it that.” [She groans.] “Would probably tell me to move on and forget about it, I dunno.”

[You nod in understanding. Ark might be right about just moving on, but that’s not something everyone can do-] (And thus, she is her superior! As it should be.)

[Wh-! You bump shoulders with someone and whip around to glare at them, expecting a student. But, no, just another person trying to get by. Your expression softens and you appolagise, turning back to keep walking. You close your eyes and concentrate hard, ripping out the mint vine as you do.]

“Uh, you good?”

“Y-yeah! Yeah.” [You shake your head.] “Bad timing is all. Another mind reader trying to creep into my head.”

“Cowards.” [La spits.] “They should try that in person and see what happens.”

[You and Aurola get back and deliver the waterskins to your party, before making a few excuses so you and Aurola can talk in private. Not too private, that is. It was more that you and Aurola were against the wall while the rest of the party spread themselves in an arc around you two, like a human shield. Heh.]

“You got good friends, y’know.” [La notes as she sits down.] 

“Heh, they’re alright.” [You sit with a cheeky grin.] “So! What’s up.”

“. . . . . . . Might as well rip the bandaid off.” [La mumbles the words under her breath, before throwing her head back with a sigh.] “I think someone fucked with my head a long, long time ago.”

[Well!] “That’s a helluva realization. Elaborate?”

“I’ve. . .” [She takes a moment to breathe, before lowering her head and her voice.] “There’s, a voice. In my head. Or a uh, a force, feeling, something that just. . . . . . Taunts, me.”

“Riiiight.” [You nod, slowly.] “Just one? What does, what does it feel like?”

“Cold.” [La’s reply is instant.] “Ruthless, guilty, confused and. . . Pro- protective? Or, or maybe afraid.”

“Afraid? Hmm. . .” [What could that. . ? Hmm. . .]

|. . . U-uhm. . .|

[Oh! Hey Lil’ Buck. Do you wanna help?]

|M-mmhm! Sounds like’a lot and uhm, y-yeah! You march into the greenhouse and pick a pepper from a plant and eat it. . . So uhm. . . Sadness! They’re like, emotions, feelings, specific ones too! Bonded sadness stick to one big one. Nihil was feeling worthless, Mal was being homesick, and Saudade are a kind’a longing. Was this a sadness? It might be.|

[You wouldn’t be surprised. It’s just one voice, after all. But you had to be sure.| “Maybe. . .”

“Maybe. . . ?”

“Maybe. . . Maybe I should take a look.” [You stretch your arms.] “If you want, of course.”

[La inhales sharply, holding you in her gaze for a few seconds, before slowly exhaling.] “That’s. . . Probably a good idea. . . Just, give me a minute.”

“Take your time.” [You nod.] “Don’t wanna rush anything, after all.”

|. . . Uhm. . . Can, can I say hi?|

[Sure! Want me to let her know you want to first?]

|Mmhm!|

“Y’mind if Jasmine says hi? They’re another headmate of ours.” [You try to smile in a reassuring way.] “Lil’ kid, you’d like them.”

[La’s face scrunches up in confusion, but shrugs.] “Uh, alright? I don’t see why not.”

[Alright, you can come out.]

|You peek around from behind Alex’s up at the big lady. She was really scary before! But uhm, but she’s really nice though, you think. She’s been kinda nice, and been helping a lotta people and stopping bullies and stuff. So, she’s gotta be okay, right? You wave, shyly.| “Hi.”

“Uh, hey kid.” |She waves back.| “You said they’re a kid, right? Uh, how does that. . ?”

“The technical term is ‘little’, but yes.” [You nod. Go on, Jasmine, she won’t bite.] “He’s the embodiment of our wild emotions and uh, inner child? That.”

“Huh.” |She looks back at you again.| “You doing alright, kiddo? None of these blo- these bad guys giving you trouble?”

“N’uh uh.” |You shake your head.| “They’re kinda scary but ‘Al and ‘Oz and ‘Alt and Buggy keep me safe.”

“Buggy?”

“Nihil.” [You chuckle.] “Our sadness. It and Jas are pretty good friends, actually.”

“I like buggy.” |You look up at Ms. Aurola with a smile.| “It uhm, it lives in our well and uhm, helps get water and lets me talk to it! And! And sometimes is really really small! Like, like it could fit in my hand ‘n stuff!”

“Cute.” [La relaxes.] “Wouldn’t think that, honestly, with the sadness I’ve seen.”

“‘S cuz they’re bats!”

“Language.”

“BATTY BATTY BATS!!!” |You giggle.|

[Aurola joins in and laughs, but just for a moment. She takes a deep breath in, and out, then turns back to you.] “Alright, alright. I think- I think I’m good, ready, now.”

“Alright.” [You start taking your gloves off.] “Just keep breathing and relax, alright?”

“Uhm, c’n I help?” |You look up at ‘Al.|

“I dunno, can he, La?”

“Uh, it won’t be dangerous for them, will it?”

“Shouldn’t be.”

“A-alright, alright. Go on then.”

“Yay!!”

[La holds out her right, shaking, hand. You move slowly, and put your own hand out for hers to rest on. You can put your hand in hers, Jas!]

|M’kay! You hold Ms. Aurola's hand. And uhm, you breath in, out, and try to relax.|

[You’re standing in a fog. A thick fog that seemed grey and endless. Breathing in, you smelled sorrow, an old sorrow. There was moisture in the air, and a texture to the sounds that left you on edge. You’re standing on the branch of a giant birch tree, and you spotted patterns on the bark that. . . They almost look like eyes.]

|’S kinda scary, but. . . ‘S also kinda cool? And weird! Look, the eye patterns are around your feet but like, over there they disappear! Uhm, there’s weird sounds too, you think? Oh! There’s lamps everywhere too!!!|

[Hey Lil’ Buck, piggyback? I can get us higher up.]

|Yay! ‘Al kneels down and you scamper up, resting on their shoulders. Okay! Ready!|

[Cool. You reach out a hand and coax vines from higher in the tree to trail down, and down, and down, until you can grasp it. The vine wraps around your arm, and starts lifting you high up into the tree.]

|. . . Uhm, why do you got, have, vine powers? I forgot.|

[It’s my ~Style~ kiddo. You like working with roses, so it probably rubbed off on you. You’ll need to check your memory when this is all over. As you get higher to the top, sounds with more clarity reach your ears. Water. Running water, waterfall. Water ran along the trunk of the tree, which itself had paintings decorating it. Many were blurred, and many more were covered in black feathers.]

|Raven feathers? You found one once, they’re really cool!|

[Thanks, Jasmine. Honestly, with the fog, lanterns, and waterfall, this was a really pretty headspace. You feel a slight warmth at that little comment, heh. The vine twists around a branch, which brings you closer to the trunk.]

|We there yet?|

[Soon, Jas. You grip the vine and start leaping higher and higher up the trunk of the tree until the branches and brambles start to thin. You’re just a few more leaps away from the top, away from the source of this waterfall. You brace yourself, and-]

[Something slams into you, sending you through the branches. Someone leaps at you and pins you to the ground, making you gasp in pain as your hand is crushed in an iron grip! Where- S-stars!! You grab a vine, what, t-the lights are gone, something--]

|HELP HELP HELP YOU’RE FALLING YOU’RE FALLING ALEX HELP HELP HELP--|

[JAS!!! Y-you dive!!]

|You think you land on something?!? N-no you’re still falling but you’re not and something has you a-and you’re scared and scared scared wanna go home H-HELP!! S-soft, soft, up, d-down, i-it’s scary SCARY!!!|

[Something grabbed Jasmine! It was a blur, a mass of darkness that left black feathers in its wake! You see it now, flying around, and up! S-stars! You feel, your body’s still being pinned! You open your mouth and tell the others not to, not to i-interfere. You, words, but you can’t make them out! Chase, chase the thing, Jas JASMINE!!!]

|M-M’OKAY! Y-you’re shaking shivering shaking shivering breathing breathing fast-- breathe breathe breathe breathe breathe shaking shaking a-and aaa-ana-and--- S-stable, not falling, n-not falling, not dizzy a-and being picked up and-- A-AL HELP!!! G-going up up up- Y-you’re scared scared, t-taken, taken away n-nonono!!|

{. . . Scared?}

[!!!]

|?!?!? Y-you’re really scared!!! R-really scared a-and, and- y-you can’t breathe right!!!|

{Safe, make safe now. Protect. Intruder. Protect from prickling thorns, prickling roses, danger.}

|T-thorns?!? N-nono!!! No!!! N-not danger not--|

{All danger. All danger. Raven protects, little Aura, little Moon, make safe for little light. Little Buck, little light, smells of mint. . . Yes, friend, protect.}

[What is blinding going on in here?!? The, the thing’s taken Jasmine to a landing high up, and settled. Jas? You okay?!]

|S-s--sss-scared scared but, d-danger c-calling, calling you’a danger! Y-you’re still, dizzy, placed down, c-confused. A-alex isn’t a danger!! T-they’re, they’rea headmate!! A-and really nice!!!|

{Vines of mint. Vines of choking, killing. Kill before killed, kill for light, little light. Nothing, must, harm.}

[Jaaaaas!!! You’re almost there!!]

|N-NO! NO!! I-it’s, it’sgonna hurt you it’s gonna-- gg-gonna k- g-go! Away!!! Go away go away!!|

[But I need to-]

{Make. Go. Away.}

|N-NO!! ALEX! LEAVE!!!!!!!|

|. . . . N-nausea wave--|

{Gone. . . ? Stranger, gone. All safe, you return.}

|Yyjy-youu d-don’t, don’t feel the best but, b-body, you feel your body, relax. P-pain, you hurt, n-not being hurt anymore. Pressure, releasing. You take, a deep breath. . . The big, big bird lands in front of you again.|

|Someone’s asking if you’re okay. You nod, and tell them it’s, s-scared, and, you need’a talk, to, it. Another breath. O-okay, u-uhm. . . H-hi. . .|

{. . .}

|. . . Uhm, who. . . Who’re you?|

{Raven.}

|O-oh! Uhm, I know a raven! My friend uhm, uhm, Ky-ros! ‘S really shaky ‘n scared ‘n stuff, but looks like’a bird and uhm. . . S-stuff.|

{. . .}

|. . . Why uhm. . . Why’d you attack ‘Al?|

{‘Al? Invader?}

|U-uh, yeah?|

{Stranger. Smells of mint. Many smell of mint, many dangers. They are dangers, dangers to light, little light, little Moon, little Aura, little Buck.}

|Little buck- me? B-but they’re a friend! Promise!!|

{Trust. . . ? No, cannot trust.}

|I guess I get that. . . But uhm, who’s, who’s Moon? Aura?|

{Lights. Little lights. Little Aura. Aurola. Sister, other, host, hunter. Little Moon. . . She smelled of mint, but never hurt. Little Buck, feels the same. Pictures, memories, all broken, all gone? Gone, gone. . . Why?}

|You. . . You don’t remember her?|

{Gone, gone, gone. . .}

|. . . B-but. . . Mint? She smelled like mint?|

{Mint, yes. Mint, a guide, a calling. Callings to kill, hunt, guard, survive. Callings to help, Moon said, callings to kill, to help, to heal. Callings for Raven, she called.}

|T-that’s. . . . You, you felt, scared, a-and had a weird feeling of uhum, deja vu! It was. . . It was. . . When ‘Oz was being controlled, told to, grab, ‘Frin. . .|

|You’re being talked to again, you tell them to wait. Uhm, you. . . Y-you wanna help! You wanna help big Raven and Aura! Uhm, but you gotta be nice! Okay?|

{Nice. . . ?}

|YEAH! BE NICE! Uhm, I gotta go though, I’m feeling kinda dizzy ‘n stuff ‘n our friends are worried.|

{. . . Little Buck, safe? You are safe?}

|Uh-huh! Promise! Our friends’r super safe!|

{. . . Trust. Will trust.}

|Okay! You’re gonna go now, okay?|

{Go. Stay safe.}

|You promise! With a held breath, you let go of Au|rolas hand and she stumbles off of you. There's waves of unease and nausea, hand to your head, feeling sick. There's- there's voices, there's words, words? Who, who's and-- =poking, prodding and, it-- songs, in twine with, ravens and=  Who, are, you. 

“Just keep breathing, buddy. Juuuust like that.” Isabeau was talking to you. His hand was on your back? “In for two, out for three. In for three, out for four.”

You keep breathing and o(pen your eyes, then, shake your head.) “Urgh. . . I Feel like crab.”

“You look like it.” (Isabeau was kneeling next to you, concern written on his face.) “What in Change happened in there?”

“Oh, uh, well. . .” (You blink, taking a second to find the right memory. A lemon? Yuck, you reluctantly take a bite out of it.)

(Aurola was rubbing her head, face a mix of emotions that would take multiple lifetimes to decrypt. Would she remember what happened? Maybe not, probably not. You'll explain it all to her later. Right now, Petronillé was helping her out, making jokes, grounding her, talking to her. . .)

“Oh! U-uhm. .  ” (Glancing at Suzilla, you could see a shy Crux speaking up from behind them.) “W-we did that, for a bit, and uhm, it, uhm, s-seemed to wo-work, s-so u-uhm. . . .”

“Yes?” (Nia's eyes lit up and she squatted down to Crux’s level.) “Did the map help you move around?”

“. . . Y-yeah. . !” (Crux was very quiet.) “It, uhm, w-worked because, uhm, of, o-of persh- per- p-per-spec-tion.”

“That's right!” (She smiles in delight while you and Nille exchange a Look.) “If we make a map as we explore, it solidifies that area in our minds, which means we can always find a way back to it!”

“Interesting.” (Odile eyed the squire.) “So you are to trail us as we do the hard work of fighting through this maze?”

“Exactly.” (Her face returns to a position of ‘just enough cheek’.) “You’re the Saviors of Vaugarde, are you not? I’m sure you can handle anything we find there with ease.” 

“Of course.” (She replies with a sigh.) 

“Oh we’ll be alright, M’dame!” (Isabeau chuckled.) “What’s one more romp through a weird not-castle with messed up geometry!”

“W-well at least we don’t have to run around the country looking for those orbs this time.” (Mirabelle adds, giggling.) “Let’s go!”

“Yeah!!!”

“Hey Suzy?” (You hear Petonillé talk as you take the lead.) “Just-”

“I’m not gonna stay outta fights, SIS!!!” (You hear them reply.) 

“I know I know!” (She chuckles awkwardly.) “I was just gonna say to, please be careful. Alright?”

“Oh. Okay.”

[The main hall was grandiose, regal, and reeked of snobbery. It had polished wood banisters, masterfully crafted lights, marble floors, and portraits lining the walls. You get a closer look at one while Rams led the others.] “. . . Uther Pendragon the third? That’s y’leader, right?” [You ask, turning back to Aptenia.]

“Was.” [She was walking just behind Ramos, and barely looked up from her work.] “Our current King is Uther the fifth.”

“So a monarchy?” [Asks Mira.]

“More of a dictatorship.” [She tilts her head.] "Even the King's children must prove themselves worthy of their title."

(You glance at Alex. Hey careful! Metaphysical manifestation or not you could still get hurt by whatever’s around here!)

[I'll be fine! You roll your eyes, the last people who deserve your respect in being careful is these blinding-]

“Look out!!”

(You weren't paying enough attention as you made your way to the next doorway, but luckily Mirabelle called out a sadness that had been clinging to the ceiling! It's diving at you now! Quickly, you reach for your weapons!)

“[RULE BUSTER!!!]”

(In the blink of an eye, a blast of energy struck the sadness. A quarter second later, something leapt into the air and slammed into it. A half second after that, you could make out that its entire midsection had been completely atomized.)

(Suzy landed a full second before the remains of the sadness did.)

“. . .”

“. . .”

“. . .”

“. . .”

“. . .”

“. . .” 

“. . . What. I got it.”

“That was. . . very impressive, Suzilla.” (Odile enunciated her words with precision.) “Striking with such force. . . It did not damage your arm, did it?”

“Uh, no?” (She rolls their shoulder.) “Feels fine?”

[Heh, no wonder the Knights are scared. And what was that about being careful?]

(Oh shut up.) “Well if you feel like you ever need a break, let us know.”

“‘Kay! Can we get going now?”

>>>

(Well this little expedition had been fascinating.) 

(You and your party would enter a room, you'd look around, deal with any sadness, and see what each of the connecting rooms were. Aptenia would note each one down, and then you all chose which direction to go next. Rinse and repeat. You'd done this with about a half-dozen rooms now, so it was time for a very well deserved break.)

(You were enjoying some onigiri from Boniface’s endless pockets, and had found yourself sitting not too far from Nia. It seemed like everyone else was quite content doing their own thing, save for the siblings, that is. But for some reason, you couldn't help but feel like there was something missing. . . Odile off to the side with a book, Isa chowing down, Mirabelle off thinking about something. . .)

(Change, you can't wait to find Siffrin.)

(You can't imagine how they would react to everything that's happened. Especially with Bonnie, Suzy- Southern Stars. You’re having some trouble. Suzy said that Bonnie could be a good catch all name, but it just. . . Didn't feel right. Well, you know why it didn't feel right, it's the same feeling that Alex or Altiare gets when they need to just, go along with being called Ramos.)

(But names you could get used to. What you’d never get over was Suzy’s newfound strength.)

(They were more sturdy than Isabeau, more precise than Mirabelle, had stronger crafts than Odile, and were faster than you could ever be. And she did all that without breaking a sweat! Stars, she even made her own craft move!!)

(You remember once being told what Siffrin was like on the day they stormed through the house solo. It almost reminded you of that, almost. Honestly, Suzy’s been winning fights before half of the group gets an attack in, if you're lucky!)

(You didn't need to be a mind reader to know Odile wanted to ask them to slow down. You also didn't need to read Suzy’s mind to know exactly how they’d respond; very smugly.)

“Psst, ‘Oz.” (Speak of the spider, you weren't really paying attention so you didn't notice Suzy shuffle over.) “D’you see that?”

(They're pointing to one corner of the room.) “. . . The. . . Potted plants?”

“No, dumbass! The- UGH, nevermind.” (They cross their arms and huff.) “Whatever.”

(. . . You share another glance with Nille. If Bonnie’s seeing things. . . W-well, what could that even mean? It could be any number of things and you can’t even find out directly because of their mental walls! Aaaah!!)

(Poor kid. . .) 

(?!?!? You glance over at Nia. She's still focused on her work, but that thought was unmistakably hers. You look around your greenhouse for signs of mint, but, no. She's not trying to get in, so why. . .)

(. . . Hmm.)

>>>

“We’re not getting anywhere with this.” (Petronillé protests, having just helped clear out another room.) “Choosing rooms at random? What’re we even looking for!”

“Something to do with Perci, right?” (Isabeau taps his foot.) “But what. . . ?”

“Well he was a squire when he ran away, no?” (Odile, currently investigating the room, turned to your new companion.) “Aptenia, what would you believe to be an important place for a squire?”

“One’s quarters comes to mind.” (Nia was finishing up updating the map.) “Maybe a classroom, the yard, or the library. But the only place more important, in my experience at least, is one’s own mindscape.”

“Of course.” (Odile nods.) “You wouldn’t happen to know where Percival’s mindscape would be, do you?”

“Oh, if only.”

“Wait! Oh I have an idea!!” (Mirabelle excitedly starts looking through her pockets, humming to herself before triumphantly pulling out a certain charm.) “Aha!”

“What’s that?” (Nille asks, walking over to have a better look.) 

“It’s-” (Mira starts, but before she can finish, the charm starts wiggling, then bounces out of her hand and across the floor.)

(A few bounces later, the charm morphs and grows into the sadness known as Horizon.)

“Hey, Horizon!” (Isa waves.) “How ya been?”

“Horizon?!?” (Nille had one hand on her hammer, but didn’t strike.) “That’s- Y’all found Horizon and didn’t say?!?”

“We didn't?” (Mira hums.) “I thought we told you back on the boat?”

“Must have slipped my mind.”

“^$!$(#&&¥&@+$&_@/!?!!!!!!” (Horizon hopped side to side excitedly.) “¥°¢!*??π√??”

“Good to see you too, buddy!” (Isa beamed.) 

(The sadness, struggling to stay real, zips around Bonnie and Petronillé in an infinity shaped pattern. Nille seemed to settle down after a second.)

“Horizon?” (Aptenia looks suspiciously at it.) “You, understand that thing-?”

(In a flash, Horizon’s abyss of a head was inches from Nia’s face. Mirabelle walked over to break them up.) “Don't worry about her, Horizon! A-and, uhm, not really? It's a long story.”

(It always is.) (That thought came from Nia clear as day. Unguarded, even. Was that intentional? You doubt she was forgetting to shield her thoughts, seeing as Galahad was her mentor. After a moment, Horizon backed off.)

“)#&-=×π√∆¥¢££\\=°” (The Sadness sped to one of the many exits in the room, and started making all kinds of strange sounds.) “#&+!!!! ∆§^€£√=÷π!!!!!”

“I believe it said ‘hurry up you snails.’” (Odile finished looking around the room.) “Shall we?”

[And of course, you shalled. Everyone got in formation— you, Nia, Mirabelle, Isabeau, Odile, Suzilla, Petronillé —as you pressed yourself, shoulder first, against the door. You waited a moment, listened, and focused for errant thoughts. There was sadness on the other side, you could tell by the scrambled emotions they emitted.]

(You held up three fingers, then two, then one. . .)

(Suzy runs past you and smashes through the door.)

“SUZ-!!!” [You chase after them!]

[Battle time! There was a big paper-type sadness on a balcony, an exploding ball sadness, Anxiété, in the middle of the room, and a third you couldn't see but KNEW was there. Suzy, of course, ignored the ticking time bomb. Instead, she jumped off of its head to smash the other sadness with the Tenderizer!]

[You’re up! You rush at Anxiété and use [Page Turner]! That should buy you some time!] “ZILLA-! STARS you’re just ignoring the exploding one?!?”

“I WUZ GONNA GET IT!!!” (Suzy sneers, then pivots on one foot and launches a [Rule Buster!] At the bomb. It hit solidly and sent it spinning into the wall, before dissolving into dust.)  “SEE?!”

“Was that it?” [Isabeau asks, stepping past you.] “Not much of a fight.”

“No, I think there’s one more.” (You lower your stance and glance around you.) “I felt three, so where’s-”

{We apologies.}

(You feel a shadow fall over the back of your mind! You spin, on the spot, and raise your weapons to block the sadness that lashes out at you!)

(A shimmering shield of craft got between you and it, Mirabelle’s [Holy Care Shield]! She had moved just in time, too! You hop back and look at your opponent. It was a Saudade, one that looked almost humanoid, and uncannily like Percival. It had a pocket watch, and was holding out a scissors sign.)

[Did, did it say SORRY to us?!?]

“FREAK!!!” (Suzilla jumped from where they were to slam into the Saudade.) “GO EAT A CRAB! STINKY!!!”

(The Tenderiser made contact, and knocked the Saudade to the ground, and started to dissolve. Except, instead of disappearing, it instead reformed into two more Saudade! These ones still looked human, but now undeniably held themselves like an animal.)

“Woah!” (Isabeau puffed up his chest and used [We! Will! Win!!!]) “Guess it’s true what they say about rabbits!”

“Say what about rabbits?” (Mira asks, turning to him with the tilt of the head.)

“‘Nother time, you two!” (Nille barks, before running at one of the Saudade with her hammer.) “Time to catch up my K.O count!!”

“HEY!!!” (Suzy yells as Nille smashes at one of the Saudades, making it split again into two that looked now like a cartoon rabbit.) “Wha-”

“T-they’re multiplying!!!” (Mira shrieked.)

(Isa looked chuffed.) “Yeah! Like I said!!” 

“Wh-”

[The larger Saudade brandished its scissors sign and thumped the ground rapidly. They all looked faster now! Suzy responded quickly, aiming another strike at the larger Saudade and taking it out only for it to split again!!]

[One of the medium Saudade looked around idly, another one slashed at Isabeau with its scissors sign, and another struck a blow against you. The fourth Saudade looked around, thumped its foot, and fled.]

“Don’t make more of them!” [Odile chastizes, and uses [Rock IV] on one of them.] “Focus on the smallest in the order! That way there won’t be existential growth!”

“Exponential.” [You correct.]

“Existential. I said what I said.”

“Or, better idea!” (You clack your tonfas together and use [Baton Pass], passing over to Petronillé.) “Use your new thing!!”

“My- OH CRAB YEAH!!!” (With a menacing grin, Nille rears back her hammer, and slams it against the ground! [Shake Test!], a skill that deals medium rock damage to all enemies! The ground rumbled and craft energy shot into the medium Saudade, making them all split into the small, fully rabbit kind of Saudade.)

“OH!!!!” (Mirabelle gasped excitedly in realization, before clapping her hands and held out her scissors-paper sign to use [Artsy Silent Burst!]. Discs of light sliced into the Saudade, taking each out one by one!! When the last one fell, it dissolved into nothing but a small, shining light.)

“YES!!!”

“HECK YEAH!!!”

“WHOOOO!!!!”

“. . . Well.” (Odile put her hands on her hips.) “I suppose I’m out of a job.”

“Naah.” (You smile your big dumb smile at her.) “You still gotta protigé to teach!”

“True.” (A chuckle in response.) (Cute.) “It is good to see you all working together so seamlessly.”

“H-heh, yeah. Alex was paying attention to the details I couldn’t because, uh, y’know.” (You clack your tonfas together for emphasis.) 

(Smart.) (Another Nia comment? You see her looking at you from the corner of her eye this time. Does she- wait, Nia do you WANT to be noticed!?)

(She winks.)

“Human-ish, almost human, cartoonish. . .” (Mirabelle thinks out loud.) “And regular rabbits. And if we beat one, it’ll split into two of a smaller type. . .”

“It looked like the small ones got scared easily, too.” (Isa adds.) “I mean, one of the smaller ones ran away without putting up a fight.”

“Maybe I could bithe one nexth thime.” (Suzy was chewing on their thumb, again.) 

“Maybe we should get you a chew toy, Suz.” (Nille ruffled their hair.) “Doesn’t that hurt?”

“No?”

“. . . Oooo-kaaaay!” (It’s fine, just ignore it.) (You hide your wince. Nille turns to the floating light.) “So! Who wants to touch it?”

“I do!”

“Sure.”

“I wanna!!”

“What in the-” (Nia starts, but before she could finish, Boniface had grabbed the light.)

Lancelot opened the door without a moment's hesitation, his velvet coat and tied-yet-flowing hair acting as his own entourage. He commanded the room in an instant, any chatter turning to silence. In his wake, a small binder under one arm and emanating as much confidence as possible, was me. 

“Oleander! To what do we owe the pleasure?” Says the only other man in the room who did not wear Avalon University’s uniform. “And who is this?”

“Just a ah, late addition~” Lancelot, Oleander, replies. He steps to the side and, with a dramatic flourish, presents me. “May I introduce, Percival Monet.”

I step forward, the room opening up as I do. I’m in a rather small lecture hall with about seventy or eighty students, all staring at me. At the head of the hall stood an older gentleman who, I assume, is my new teacher. I bow to him. “It’s an honor and a pleasure, sir.”

“Preposterous!!” The man storms over, his hammer of a voice ready to strike. “Our roster has been finalized for months, and I do not recall the name Monet being among them! Who are the Monets anyway!”

 “I believe it is some family of note in Poteria, sir.” A person with buzzed hair stands from among the students. Although the teacher glares at the speaker, Oleander motions them to go on. “A historically important family that has fallen off in modern times. In fact, I heard a rumor that their eldest son had dissapeared~”

“Well as you can see, I’m right here.” I couldn’t help but jest. “In truth, I simply sought out some higher education.”

“Enough!” The teacher orders the student to sit down. “We have procedures for this, Oleander! On whose authority do you-”

“Pendragon.” Oleander, with an ice cold gaze, hands the teacher a letter. I already knew the contents, it was one line, admitting me to the University.

The teacher read the letter, before mumbling something under his breath and shoving the letter back into Oleander's chest. “Fine. He is admitted, but I’ve yet to be told why!”

“You’ll see~” And with a chuckle, no, a giggle, Oleander turned to leave.

The teacher scowled at him one last time, before turning to me with an outstretched hand. “Well, Percival, I hope you live up to that introduction. Call me professor Hersh”

The faintest smell of mint hit my nose. Were I not looking for it, I would have missed it. With the slightest of smiles, I grasp his hand with my own gloved hand, and stare into his eyes. He responds with a confident iron grip, but his face betrays his true feelings; confusion, and then, bewilderment. 

I let my smile slip just a bit wider. “You have quite the grip, professor.”

“Of course I do!” His eyes relaxed, half-squinting at me. “I greet all our new students the same.”

“Oh really?” I retrieve my hand. “That wouldn’t happen to pertain to our first lesson, would it?”

“HA! Go take a seat, Percival.”

With that, I turn and walk to an open spot. The eyes of the other students dug into me, their faces betraying a superior smugness I have been long familiar with. I sat down and ignored them as Hersh returns to his place.

“Now where was I-- Ah! Yes.” He clears his throat. “You are all the best and brightest, yes, but my first question to you all is simple! What do you think you will learn here?”

A handful of other students throw out suggestions such as ‘politics’, ‘espionage’, or ‘manipulation’, but Hersh waved away each and every one of them.

“No, no, and no! Too simple! Too small!” He shook his head and looked down. “Come on! There must be one person in this room who knows why they are here?!?”

. . . Oh blood, this opportunity is just too perfect! I clear my throat in the same tone my father taught me, and raise my hand.

Hersh turned to me, his tone now holding a whiff of almost, jovial energy. “. . . Yes, Mister Monet?” 

“Now this may sound mad, but. . .” I lower my hand and lean my head on it. “It wouldn’t be how to control the minds of others, would it?”

“. . . HA!” Professor Hersh grinned, then snapped his fingers. “Correct!”

At the snap, almost every other student went limp in their chairs, a handful of heads slamming onto desks. Only yourself and six others stay alert, which included, strangely enough, the student with buzz cut hair. In fact, as the two of us locked eyes, I couldn’t help but notice the sturdy leather gloves he wore.

“Each and every one of you are descended from greatness, and are destined for the same! You are destined to rule! To rule is to know people, and to know people is to know the mind!” Hersh snaps his fingers again, and heads start to rise. “Now! Of the six who were not affected, four of them opted to salute or bow, and two wore gloves! Now tell me, what was the connecting factor between who was and was not affected? Put your hand down, Percival, since you already know.”

“-Hell was that!” (Aptenia finishes, stumbling back.) 

“O-oh right!” (Mira shakes her head.) “For some reason, Saudade leave memories once they’re dead. T-they’re, uhm, Perci’s. . .”

“And what a memory this one was.” (You stretch your arms and legs, getting feeling back in your limbs.) “Eighty students? I’ve only ever seen a couple dozen out in the yard.”

“I bet they’ve got a hell of a turnover rate.” (Isabeau slaps your back.) “If they’re all about being the best, y’know?”

“Good point!”

“Aptenia.” (Odile’s tone was pointed.) “Did you not say your father was named Oleander, and also claims the title of Lancelot? That was him, wasn’t it?”

(You turned to Nia, as did everyone. The girl was pressed against one wall, mapping tools tight to her chest. She kept her eyes to the ground, and-) (He didn’t have the scar.)

(Nia’s thoughts were an open book, even more than before. No, this wasn’t a choice, this was--) (Eight- eight years, that's when he got the scar. That makes sense. . . Gods, even when he acts different he's still the same- always the same, and, a-and Pendragon-!!) (You could taste anxiety, uncertainty, and- and panic? Oh Change, it was like when, when you fought Percival in Wolworth.) (Of course, what was I even- am I ever going to. . . can I-? No, no no- no not here not now. Weakness-- weakness is a parasite. Weakness is a parasite---)

“She probably can’t say.” (You break the silence.) “I don’t think these guys would like students blabbering about whatever they want.”

(Odile gives you a Look, one that says ‘you know that makes no sense’. But, she relents.) “A fair point, forget I asked.”

“C’mon gang, let’s look around.” (With that, Isabeau turns and start searching the small common room.)

(Thanks.) (The thought enters your head as you start looking around paintings on-) (Tell anyone and I’ll know.) (GEEZE OKAY!!!)

(. . . Why were you lowering your guard before, anyway? Did you just want to talk?)

(Maybe.)

(I mean, you could’ve just, asked???)

[Ramos are you stupid or something?!?]

(H-Hey-!!)

(They’re pretty stupid, yeah.)

(HEY!!!!)

[Zip it, I’m not gonna let myself be backed up by one of you people.]

(Would you prefer a different student come help you? Remember, I'm one of the better options here.)

[Puh-lease, I know you’re just another snake in the snake pit.]

<Drop it you two.>

[Spoil sport! You're done checking the paintings for secrets anyway. You huff, and turn back to look around the room.] “Find anything?”

“Nope!”

“Nothing of note, no.”

“Yeah, I think we’re good. Nia?”

“I’m all done with mapping the room.”

“M-maybe we should head back for now? I-I mean, we can come and go from here easily now, right?”

“Yes we can, now that I have noted the floor layout.”

“Sounds good here, right, Suzy?” 

“. . . Huh?”

(Suzilla) [Crux] {Crimson} <Eight> |Ember| 

“Huh?” (You glanced away from the hallucination. Oh, everyone was going to the exit. Was it time to leave? Yeah that’s probably what Nille was asking.) “Oh, uh yeah, sure, one sec.”

“Everything alright?” (Your sis responded, but you weren’t paying attention to that.)

(The Bonnie-lookalike was back. They were leaning against one wall just a few feet away with their eyes glued to the ground. They looked kinda sad, actually. They hadn’t disappeared yet, either. Every other time these hallucinations showed up you didn’t have a chance to get close, but. . .)

(You carefully walk over to them, ignoring whatever the others are saying. This was important! You were probably going crazy, but you had to figure out what was going on! Right?! Bats, this Bonnie-double didn’t have your eyebags, and still had their favorite hat! They looked like you, only just, the you from half a year ago.)

(You’re right next to them now. . . Heh, now or never, right?)

(You reach out to the double, and your hand lands on their shoulder. It doesn’t phase through.)

(In a blink, the other Bonnie recoils away, staring at you with wide eyes and a shocked expression. They’re, they’re real?!? Your hand didn’t go through them like- like a ghost or anything!! What the hell?!? You stare at each other for a few moments longer, oblivious to your family calling out to you. The Kid version of you opens their mouth.)

"YOU----N S----ME?!?!” (The Kid and their words were flickering in and out of your perception, almost like a dream on the edge of memory.) “Y-----CH ME?!?!?! WHA------ING-------ON??!?!?!?"

“WH-!?!?” (You blink and shake your head, but they’re still there!) “I, YEAH I CAN SEE YOU!! U-UH, UH--!!”

“Bon--- Suzy?!” (Nille touches your shoulder, and you spin around.) “Is, is everything okay?!?” 

“YEAH!! I was just--” (You turn back around, only to see the other Bonnie running away, before disappearing.) “Just, t-talking, to. . .”

“Sounds like fun.” (Hang on.) “Do you and Aurola known each other?”

“No.” (She pauses, lowers the telescope, then continues.) “. . . Maybe? Probably.”

“I mean you talked to her like-” (What’s the word. . .) [Superior-] “Like you’re her superior officer.”

“I mean I am!” (Ark huffed.) “It’s Captain Ark, thank you. And last time I checked, a commissioned officer outranks a warrant officer.”

“Wh-” (Okay, one, you don’t know what half of that means. Two, what?!) “Last time I asked, you just shrugged and said ‘probably someone important’!”

“Did I?” (She turns to you, blinks, then shakes her head.) “Stars I dunno, Ramos?! I’m not exactly digging into my history.”

“You’re not?!” [You stand up straight.] “Ark, you say stars! You have memory problems and don’t know where you’re from! Aren’t you even a little bit curious?!?”

“No!” [She waves you away and turns back with a huff.] “I was a captain in the military and I was from a place I can’t remember anymore! Probably that island north of Vaugarde or something.”

“You are from the Island North of Vaugarde!”

“Cool.” [She rolls her eyes.] “Don’t care, didn’t ask.”

“You don’t care?!?” [Oooooh you’re trying not to yell.] “That’s your home!!”

“Was.” [She glares at you.] “It was my home.”

“. . . Right.” (You turn away.) “Sorry.”

“Appology accepted.” (And she’s back to scanning the horizon.) “. . . I just, don’t like to dwell on it, y’know. . ?”

“I guess. . .” 

“I mean what’s the point of it?” (She sighs.) “Wolworth’s my home now, and whatever molded me before is in the past and there's nothing I can do about it.”

“You're really not worried about what you're missing?” (You wave your hands rapidly.) “I-I mean-! Like, wishes? Or the stars? Like, what if La’s doing her craft wrong?”

“If the stars gave me wings for a day, I wouldn't waste my life feeling bad that they're gone.” (She lowers the eyeglass). “Nor would I try flapping my arms hoping they'd grow back. I’d learn to make my own, and fly on metal wings.”

“. . .” (That's. . . You pause, and take the moment of silence to think. Make your own wings, huh? Own wishes, own ways forward. . . Could you make your own wishing ritual? What goes into one anyway? What did-) [You shake your head clear.] “. . . I think Mirabelle knows a crazy monarch who should’ve taken that to heart.”

“Really? Who?” (What the crab, Alex! There’s another silence as Ark looks at you, then realizes;) “The King was from the Island?!?”

“Oh, right, I guess that’s not common knowledge yet.” [You got sloppy with your thoughts. Again.] “Yeah, he was. Apparently, freezing the country was his version of making sure it wouldn't be forgotten.”

(Ark sighs, and shakes her head. Oh, uh, thanks Al.)

(There’s another crack from La’s craft as she destroys a second dune. Echoes of the strike leave ripples in the air that makes your stomach churn, and the taste of red sparks in the upturned sand make you tense up.)

“Theeeere you are.” (Ark leans forward, looking more intently in a direction.)

“Huh?” (You squint in the direction she’s looking.) “Looking for someone?”

“Yeah.” (She lowers the telescope, and hands it to you.) “Just, making sure they’re still around.”

(You raise the tool to your eye and let Ark guide your sight. You scan the distant black sands for whatever it was Ark had found, then pause. Far in the distance, you could see a large, snake-like sadness bounding through the dunes.)

“Oh.” (You lower the eyeglass and hand it back.) “Change. . .”

“He’s gonna be fine.” (She huffed and took the telescope.) “I just, I know it. I know it, ‘cuz you guys are gonna fix all this, and until you do, I’m gonna make sure everyone here stays safe.”

(You smile, awkwardly.) “Even uh, them?”

“There’s no picking favorites in times of crisis.” (Ark’s tone is stern and serious.) “Speaking of, they still giving you trouble?”

“Yes and no.” (You turn around and lean your back against the wall.) “I think B- Suzy scared most of them off, but now what I getting is. . .”

[Moments ran through your head. You were handed something to eat, but you don't know by whom. Times where words nearly spilled from your mouth uninvited. Stars, one time Jasmine ran to you in a hurry, saying something about a brain-doppelganger.]

(Ark waits a moment for you to finish your thought before deciding to reply.) “The top brass?”

“Huh?”

“Cream of the crop, brightest star in the sky.”

“Oh, yeah pretty much..” (You stare at the ground and sigh.) “I know I'm good at this, I know it! It's just. . .”

“. . . Take your time.”

“Thanks, it's just. . . It was already a losing gamble going head to head in the head with Percival. And then with Gornemant I. . . U-uh. . . Stars half that fight’s still a blur!” (You shake and rub your head vigorously.) “N-nevermind! The point is I’m- I’m just outmatched!!”

“Hey! Don’t sell yourself short, sport!” (Ark turned fully to face you.) “You’ve kept up so far!”

“Because I’ve been lucky!” (You tug on your hair.) “The Knights are being patient, and I’ve only seen C-grade mamas boys from the students!! Change! Apparently Galahad was better than Perci when it came to mind craft! How am I supposed to fight that?!?”

“Bullshit.” (Arks voice snapped you up.) “So you’re just gonna let them walk over you? Gonna throw in the towel before the first round?!?”

“W-what?!?” (You fully turn to her.) “I- No!!”

“Then why’re you letting ‘em live rent free in your head!!!” (Ark hooks an arm around you and starts to noogie you!!) “Stop winning their battle FOR them!!! Dumbass!!!!!”

“A-!!” (You struggle for a bit until she lets you go, cackling.) “H-HEY!!!”

“Hay’s for horses, idiot.” (She sticks her tongue out.) “Feel better?”

“Heh, yeah! Yeah. . !” (You were smiling, but it faded after a moment. You lean over the ramparts down at Aurola and Suzilla, still messing around with wish craft. Suzy had her hand in the same position La did. . .) “. . . Hey, Ark?”

“Something on your mind, still?” (She leans on the ramparts next to you.) “What’s up?”

“. . . When. . . When we fought the Crimson Knight.” (You lower your voice.) “When Nille beat it. There’s. . . Something, happened, which I haven’t told the others yet.”

“You can tell me.” (Ark shuffled closer, voice also quieter.) “I’ll keep it secret.” 

“Thanks. . .” (You take a deep breath in, and out.) “. . . . Something I’ve learned is that everyone, has, a noise that comes from their head.”

“Oh really?”

“Y-yeah well- I say noise, it’s more. . . Feelings, thoughts, pictures. Just, just stuff. Even if someone has mental walls, be it Aurola, Bonnie, or any of the other mind readers around here, there’s still a noise. Even crabbing sadness has that kinda noise!”

“Alright, following so far.”

“Well, the same happened with the Crimson Knight; it made a noise” (You lower your head.) “But when Petronillé beat it and, and Bonnie reappeared. . .”

(The only response Ark had was that of the wind around you; silence and patience.) 

(You take one last breath.) “. . . I, couldn't hear anything.”

“. . . You. . ?” (There was a chill in her voice.) “Nothing?”

“Yeah, for a. . . For about, thirty seconds I think.” (You take another breath, this one shaking with emotion.) “One second, silence. The next? I could hear them again, same as always.”

“What the fuck. . .” (Ark had her hands on her forehead.) “How did. . I mean, what, what caused them to, to. . .”

“If you kill a bonded sadness, whoever's tied to it dies too.” (You pinch the sides of your head.) “B- but Refoulement died when we were fighting Crimson and- and that didn't happen to Mirabelle! S-so. . !”

“Starblind Stormfronts. . .”

(You failed in trying to form a response, and any you could make was cut off from another cracking sound from. . . Suzy. Looking over once again, the little rascal had sparkling-red outstretched fingers and a victorious smile.)

(You wait one more moment, before turning and walking to the ladder down.) “I should get going.”

“Good luck out there, kid.” (Ark gives you a scissors-sign wave, then turns back to her post. A moment later, you were sliding down the ladder.)

You gotta hold on for a day, right?

(Has it been a day. . . ?)

No idea. 

(You remember. . . Snippets. You remember, pain. Pain in your chest. Light. Annoying light, cut in two. . .)

(You remember sand, blood, tears, time, stars. . . Mint. Stupid, crabbin’ mint. You know exactly what you did, and. . .)

You dunno what to think.

(You wish for the power to be the light in the dark.)

(And then. . . Familiar. Cold. Dreams. Rage. And. . . .)

(. . . . . Nothing. . . . .)

(. . . . . . . . . . . . . .)

(You wish for the power to be the light in the dark.)

(. . . . . . . . . . .)

(. . . . . . . . . .)

(Who. . . Who are you again?)

(. . . . . . . .)

(. . . . . .)

(You’re so tired. . . .)

(. . . .)

(. . .)

Hey. You still there?

(. . . . . . Oh. They’re talking to you. Yeah. . .)

Who else’d I be talking to, dumbass! 

(. . . . .)

. . . Listen, uh. . . . . ‘Think it’s gonna be over so(on. . .)

Soon. . . . ? A. . . A day. . . ?

(Sure FELT like a day. . . Just uh. . .)

 . . . . Ah.

(Yeah.)

. . . . . O-okay, okay. You’re. . . Y-you’re ready.

You wish for the power.

To be the light.

In the dark.

. . . . .

Your hand breaches the water.

With great effort, you open your eyes and instantly regret it. Even just the little bit of light sent a crazy migraine straight to your brain. Involentarily, you let out a groan, and then try again. Cracking open an eye, you’re. . . . Somewhere. Everything’s a blur. Wait, there’s some fabric above you, a tent? Maybe, but at least what you’re laying on is comfortable. . . 

There’s the sound of people, muffled. Cries, worries, fears, and. . . Grit. Determination. Hope. . . There’s people here. People here who. . . Who are hoping for change. For, for. . . For. . . There’s, a few figures looking over you. They’re so blurry, but. . . It’s, it’s Isabeau. . . Isabeau, a-and Odile. Mirabelle, she’s here too and. . . And. . . And. . .

And, you.

You’re staring at yourself. Your face, a bit younger, big hat, no cloak. You blink, once, twice, still there. You try to move your arm, each finger, first, then hand, and, arm, up. You reach towards the other you. Why are you. . .

You hear someone yell, and, Mirabelle and Bonnie start to move. Then, before they fully get out of the way, someone walks through them like they’re not there, like ghosts. . . Wait, but, that’s. . . that’s, y-your. . .

“S-sssih. . . .” 

Your sister wraps her arm around you, crying. You weakly hug her back.

“S-siss. . .”

“B-bon-” You can’t make out the words, for, a second. She pulls back, crying.

“Y-you’re, okay. . .” you hiccup, are you crying? You think you're crying. You know that you would be crying, now, knowing that your big sis is okay. “I th. . though I. . . K-killed. . .”

“I'm sorry, Bonnie I'm so so so sorry. I'm okay, you’re okay, everyone's okay and alive.” Tighter, held tighter. “Are you okay? Does anything hurt? Do you need anything?!

“Sis. . .” With great effort, you tilt your head just enough to look around. A few yards away there's. . . Odile, and Isabeau and Ramos, a-and even Mirabelle! Then, who. . . “. . . ‘m. . . D-dizzy. . .”

“Dizzy?” She's holding you tighter. You feel your head swirling down again. . . “T-that’s okay! I- I-I’m just, glad you’re okay, Bonbon, Bonnie, Bonnie. . .”

“Nille. . .” You bury your head in her shirt. “‘M s-scared. . .”

“I-it’s okay! I’m here, okay?” She sounds so sure. “Nothing bad’s going to happen to you, okay?? I promise!” 

You really wanna believe it. You feel an undertow. . .

“Mm. . . Peh. . .” You rest your head. “Y-you’re. . . Th’ best sis I c. . could ever have. . .”

“Aww Bonbon. . .” She’s warm, but you’re so so tired.

“G-gonna. . .” You’re slipping deeper. “ Gonna, be. . . .”

“Bonnie?” 

You feel. Water.

(You lay back down just in time for a really, really strong migraine to hit. Uuugh. . . You let out a groan, then rub your face.)

“B-bonnie?!?” (Your sis? Yeah probably.) “Bonbon what’s going on?! Are you okay??”

“Water.” (Damn how long has your chest been hurting?!?) “Headache- urghgh.”

“U-uuh-!” (There’s some frantic shuffling and stuff.) “Here!”

(You hesitantly open your eyes again to see your sister holding a waterskin out to you. You swipe it, upturn it, and chug.)

(You down every last drop, and your migraine dulls.) “Bleeeh. . .”

“. . . You feeling better, Bonbon?”

“. . . . . . Huh?” (It takes you a second to realize she’s talking to you.) “Oh, yeah, I’m good. Don’t think I’m Bonnie anymore, though.”

“Oh! Uh. . .” (Visions clearing up. Stars your sis looks like she’s not slept in weeks.) “Is, everything good? With them?”

“Uh. . .” (Oh crab, why do YOU gotta explain this.) “They uuuuuuh. . . Gotta take a uuuuhh. . . extended, break?”

(Petronillé blinks at you, processing, thinking, probably thinking back to when Sif and Loopert disappeared for a bit after some real traumatic stuff.) “. . . Are they. . . Are they gonna be around any time soon?”

(You grimace. Damn your chest hurts but you feel pretty good apart from that.) “Not uh. . . Not for a while I bet. They went through a real crabbin’ shit time.”

“. . . O-kay. If that’s what they need then. . .” (She’s veeeery clearly trying not to cry. Great! Nice work, dumbass. She shakes her head, then smiles at you.) “Then that’s okay. ‘Cuz at the end of the day you’re still my little sibling!”

“YEAH! And DON’T YOU FORGET IT!!!” (You jump up, woah, you feel amazing?!?) “Uh, apart from that I feel kinda great.”

“Oh really?” (Nille’s already smiling more. She leans in close to your face.) “Your hair’s gotten a little longer, and I’d bet my hammer you’ve gained a few inches. Hey try opening your eyes as wide as you can?”

(You do so, looking at her with the biggest bug eyes possible.)

“. . . Huh!” (She sat up, looking kinda confused.) “You’ve got a lazy eye!”

“I do!?!” (You close one eye, then the other, and look around. Annoyingly, you can’t tell which one it is!!!)

“It’s your left eye.” (She taps her own eye.) “Lil’ bit droopy, and looking off to the side.”

“. . . Like a lizard!” (Heheh. . . Oh! Right!) “Oh I need a name, huh.”

“You don’t have one?” (Nille moves a bit closer.) “Well what’cha got in mind?”

“Uh, I dunno.” (Shrug.) “Something more. . . Girly? Than Boniface? But also something kinda like, uh, cool.”

“Cool?”

“Yeah cool! Like a big t-rex or something. Or maybe like, a cool dragon!”

“Hah! Alright, so how about-”

“Like Zilla, something-Zilla. Like a big monster!”

“Something-Zilla?!” (Nille stifles a laugh.) “Really?!”

“HEY!! It’s COOL!!” (You stick your tongue out.) “Well what kinda name do YOU suggest?”

“Something with an S?” (She suggests.) “Like, Sa, Se, Su. . .”

“Suuu. . . Suuuussieee-” (You gasp.) “SUZILLA!!!”

“Su, Suzilla???”

“UGH, Suzy for short, since you’re gonna be BORING about it!!!” (You let out a big laugh, which your sis joins in on!! Yes!!!)

“Alright, Suzilla it is!” (She ruffles your hair.) “Welcome to the world, Suzy! The gang’s having a meeting with some snobby ass idiot crabs, wanna crash the party? ”

“CRAB YEAH I DO!!!” 

>>>

(Suzilla) [Crux] {Crimson} <Eight> |Ember| 

“HEY!! GUYS!!!”

(You’re grinning ear to ear as your big sis thunders towards the fun gang, Mira Odile Ramos Isa and someone you didn’t know, and the looser squad, three boring guys and a girl standing next to them. Heh, loser squad. They’re SUCH losers you don’t even know who they ARE and you know they’re LOSERS!!! They’re sitting at a big table with some glasses of water, and everyone starts yelling as you get there.)

“BONNIE!!!!” “BONBON!!!” “Y-YOU’RE OKAY!!!” 

“Welcome back, Boniface.” (Well Odile sounds enthusiastic. NOT.) “How do you feel?”

“I feel AWESOME!!!” (You wiggle off Nille’s shoulders and jump onto the table, landing with a solid THUMP! The three losers each scooch away a little.) “Like I could kick a billion sadnessess butts!!!”

“Boniface-!” (Nille starts, giving you some look like you’re in trouble or something before she just smiles.) “Change, please be careful.”

“I am careful!” (You pout and stomp across the table to the other side and hop off, making most of the cups of water fall over.) “See? TURBO CAREFUL!”

“AH!!” (Mirabelle squeaks, and rushes to pick up some of the tipped over cups. Okay, maybe now you feel a little bad.) “O-oh Change I’m so sorry!”

“Aaaah a bit of water never killed anybody!” (One of the losers laughed it off and stood up.) “It’s good to see you’re in good health at least.”

“YEAH! I’m feeling GREAT so you guys better WATCH IT!!!” (You stick your tongue out.) “NyEH!!!”

“Yes yes, very good health.” (The second loser guy sighs and stands also.) “Aptenia, clean this up, please.”

(The loser girl nods her head.) “Of course-”

“HEY!!!” (You stomp over to the one giving orders and glare at him.) “How ‘bout you clean it yourself, idiot!”

(The two of you end up in a glaring contest, which you OBVIOUSLY win! It takes a moment, but he smiles and shakes his head.) “Alright alright. How about Nia and I both clean it up.”

“Uh, okay sure.”

“Galahad-!” (One of the other losers gasps.) “That’s-”

“An excellent opportunity to teach my ward something useful?” (The guy, Galahad? He takes off his suit and places it on his chair.) “I wholeheartedly agree!”

(YES! You grin as wide as you can, hands on your hips, watching this guy actually go and DO something in his life! HAH!!! NYEH!!!)

“. . . Woah, Bonbon.” (You turn at Isabeau's comment.) “You just got outta bed and you’re already causing chaos, u-uh. . .”

“YEAH!!!” (You turn to them, proud and puffing your chest out!) “I gotta catch up on my uh, uh. .”

(Ah crab. They’re all looking at you and uh, they look, really worried. Mira looks like she’s gonna have a heart attack, ‘Dile keeps glancing away, Rammy’s all puzzled. Why the heck are they worried? What, are they worried you’ll cause another mess? Or get louder and annoying or just fight someone?! SO WHAT!! Maybe you SHOULD get in a fight! Or maybe--)

[Uhm, You tug on Suzy’s coat. H-hey. . .]

(You look around the boat. Huh? Oh! There’s a short, kid version of Sif in the boat with you, complete with eyepatch. Uh, hey Crux, what’s up?)

[Suz, t-they’re worried about you!]

(HUH?! Why?!? Why’d they be worried about you! That’s DUMB! You’re FINE!!! You’re just, you just aren’t gonna think about it. Not about whatever scraps of memory keep trying to claw into your brain, or why your chest still hurts, or why you feel like you drank so much sugar. You’re just, FINE.)

[. . .]

(. . . Okay, you’ve convinced me.)

[I didn’t say-]

“Sorry, I uh. . .” (You take one of the free chairs and sit down by your family.) “I, gotta lotta energy right now.”

(. . . . . .)

“Well that was beyond obvious.” (Odile says with a chuckle.) “How have you been feeling since you woke up?”

“Oh uh, good?” (You nod enthusiastically.) “Real good. Feel super awake and super strong, too! I guess my chest hurts a bit?”

“Ah-hmm.” (Nille coughs into a fist, why’s she tapping her head- OH!)

“Oh yeah!! Name’s Suzilla!!!” (You pound your chest- ow! Okay not right there.) “Or Suzy I GUESS!!! Though Bonnie could work still for like uh, y’know, how we talk about ‘Frin in public?”

“Good to meetchya’, Suzy!” (Isabeau grins at you big and wide.) “Nice name!”

“Heh!”

“Oh! What about Pronouns?” (Mirabelle asks, eyes big ‘n wide.) “Are they the same?”

“Uh, I dunno.” (You scrunch your face up and think.) “Uuuuh,, maybe throw a bitta’ she along with they?”

“Can do!” (Isa nods.) “Always good to experiment.”

“Is Bonnie okay?” (Ramos asks.) “They went through, well, a lot, so. . .”

“Uh. . .” (Try not to make them worried.) “Yeah! Just, got real exhausted, might not see them for a while.”

“Ah.” (Ramos nods.) “I see.”

“Well!” (One of the other losers is sitting down again.) “Are there any other questions before we adjourn?”

“Yeah.” (You huff.) “Who are you guys?!”

“Oh of course.” (Galahad? Clears his throat.) “I am Sir Galahad, that is Sir Kay and Sir Gawain, and this is my Suire, Aptenia.”

“Cool.” (You mindlessly start chewing on your thumb and look up at the other stranger who’s got cool armor on.) “‘N who are YOU?”

“Aurola, she/her.” (She squats down to your level.) “Soooo you're the great and powerful Boniface, huh? Or I guess Suzilla now. Your sis’ been talking a lot about you-”

“HUH?” “What?”  (?!??! Why is everyone so surprised?!??!)

“Wow, so you two been chatting it up behind our back?” (Ramos turns to your sis.) “I didn’t think La knew how to make friends.”

“You’re on thin ice, kid!” (La leans over the table at them.)

“Hey cut her some slack.” (Nille crossed her arms and looked away.) “I. . . Couldn’t sleep, and La and I would pass the time by, well, chatting.”

“How heartwarming.” (THAT sarcasm came from Kay. You glare at him, and he clears his throat.) “Well, anything else?”

“Yeah I gotta question.” (Nille raises an eyebrow.) “Why Crimson?”

“Ah yes. Crimson.” (Galahad nods.) “In tales of the King Uthers Knights, there was a great rival who appeared in many of them. A knight clad in armor stained with the blood of his enemies, a red, or crimson, knight. I’m sure you can see the reasoning behind such a name.”

“Oh yeah, that’d do it.”

“Now is there anything else-!”

“Oh! Yes!” (Mirabelle sits up.) “We still need to figure out how to get to Percival!”

“Well if I were to guess. . .” (Gawain points across the courtyard to a doorway in the keep walls.) “Beyond that arch lasy a labyrinth reminiscent of our school. If there was a way forward, it would be through there.”

(La squints.) “And how are you so sure-?”

“Now if you excuse me we must be off!” (Kay stands, as do the other two other knights, and book it with that squire, Nia, following behind. She pauses for a second, though, to look at you? Weird.) 

“What’s their problem?” 

>>>

“Is this gonna take long?” (You mumble while chewing on your thumb again.) “‘M boooored.”

“Nooot much longer Suz.” (Alex had her hands on the back of your head and neck, and was concentrating really hard. You’re pretty sure something was supposed happen by now, but nothing was. ) “I’ll give it one more try, then give up.”

“Uh-huh.” (They’ve said that every time you ask for the last FOREVER how long it’s been!!!) “Sure, it’ll tooootally work this time!”

“I promise it’ll be the last one!!” (They insist.) “I’m gonna put a bit more oomph behind this one, just a heads up.”

“Oooh that’ll totally do it.” (Chew chew.) “Just gotta bang on the wall a bit more and-”

{? ! ? ! ! !}

“OW!!!” (Alex yanks their hand away.) “Stars. . !”

“Youokay?!?” (You spin around to see one her gripping their own wrist.) “Are----!

(For a moment, your voice catches, and you’re filled with a ravenous bloodlust.)

“I’m fine! I think.” (They shake their hand and rub their eyes.) “Crab, Bo- Suz, your head’s more secure than ‘Frins diary. . . .”

(. . . She’s staring at you.) “What?” 

“. . . N-nothing, sorry, nevermind.” (They shake their head.) “Just, seeing things, I think.”

“Okay, sure, if you say so.” (You get up.) “‘M gonna go walk around.”

“Hey wait a sec!” (Alex starts getting up too.) “It’s dangerous around here! Let m-”

“NO! WAY! Don’t YOU start TOO!!!” (You growl a little bit. It took all freaking day to get your sis to not follow you like a stupid puppy! You just wanna go for a WALK!) “I’m not a BABY, Al!!”

(She pauses, then sits back down with a sigh.) “Alright, alright. Just, be careful.”

(Ugh, sure, whatever. You get your cloak on and walk away with your hands in your pockets. Yeah, be careful Bonnie, be careful, Suzy, be CAREFUL, everyone! UUUGH. You don’t WANNA be babied around and stuff! Heck, right now all you wanna do is go dive in some trash for goodies or goof off in the library or something!)

(Actually? It kinda feels like it’s the first day of summer. Like, you can do whatever you want forever, like exploring or playing games. It feels like a day where you’d go down to the beach and dig up clams, or maybe go to a festival, or maybe break into the closed school.)

(Like, uh, you could be. . . You!)

[. . . You remember feeling like that, once.]

(Huh? Yeah?)

[Yeah! When uhm, ‘Frin and ‘Za gave us this cloak, it made me feel really safe or like uhm, just, happy? Like I could be me!]

|That’s body euphoria!!|

[Huh?]

(Whatnow?)

|Or well, something like that anyway. Uhm! Like, being able to be you! Look like you! That’s euphoria!!|

(Huh, guess it is. Being honest, you didn’t really know when you, Suzilla, started to uh, exist. Maybe uh, a few weeks ago? That is if you count from before Perci crabbed up everything. You got flashes of you-moments, but not’a lot. . . Wait, that’s called a fragment, isn’t it?!?)

|Yup!! Bits and pieces of people who never uhm, fully formed? Something like that.|

(Huh, yeah, okay sure, that makes sense- wait. You feel a tingling on the back of the neck and stand up straighter. You’re in the middle of the little camp of people, all living, eating, surviving, that kinda stuff. A lot of them are just, what, existing? Actually, you think a lot of them are Vaugardian? Guess that makes sense, since Perci liked Vaugarde, the people of it could get closest to him. Ugh, but that tingling is still there, something’s up.)

(Looking around the yard, you didn't see anything super weird going on at first. You did do a double take cuz you thought you saw Odile up on the wall, but nah, you were just going a little crazy. What REALLY caught your attention though was two people having a fight! They were bonded, but were screaming at each other. Sure dumbass adults get into arguments all the time, but that tingling feeling said otherwise!)

[Hey look! There's a student lingering kinda close who's looking at the fight!]

(And SMILING!!!)

“HEY!” (You stomp over to the student, who doesn't NOTICE you until you're right in his FACE!!! GrrrrRRR!!!!) “Cut that OUT!!!”

“Hmm?” (The loser glances down at you.) “What? Oh I’m not doing anything, don’t worry~”

“YEAH YOU ARE!!!” (You grind your teeth and scowl!) “I KNOW you are!!!”

“Listen, kid!” (He grabs your cloak.) “How about you run on back to mommy and-”

{! ! ! ! ! !}

“AH-!!!”

(You’re frozen in shock. You had gone to grab this guys wrist, but instead a, a shadow lept out and grabbed it, and was--)

{You held the human aloft by the wrist and let it dangle and squirm. They are helpless, writhing, almost cute in its pleading. You tighten your grip.}

“AH, AAHAA!!!” (The student was pale as a ghost and looked at you, terrified.) “H-HELP!!!”

“. . .” (You- Crab, it takes a second to realize he’s talking to you. Uh, u-uh. . .) “. . . Why?”

{. . . Ke. . . Ke ke ke. . .}

“PLEASE!!!” (The student screams, trying to free himself and failing. His voice is quieter.) “I-Idon’twan’ttodie--”

“You don’t, huh?” (You’re grinning, showing teeth.) “Don’t wanna die? Got your own life on the line and NOW you care about dying?!? Heh. . . Maybe a bitta’ fear’s good for you.”

{. . . Ke ke ke ke ke! Kill it. Kill it Kill it Kill it.}

(Apart from this guy's whimpering, it’s really quiet. You glance around. Everyone, EVERYONE’S looking at you. Your family, Ark, La, and all of the campers, students, AND knights. Tch, whatever, they probably think you’re a freak or something, but. . .) “. . . Ugh, whatever. Let ‘em go, he’d taste like’a crab anyways.”

{You turn to Monster. Let, go? You squeeze harder, feeling bone resist. Isn't this what you wanted, Monster?}

“Let. Go.” (There's a pang in your chest as you glare at it's single amorphous eye. Yeah, it was,  but. . . Just shut up.) “Right. Now.”

{. . . Fine. You snap the wrist, let go, and retreat to Monster’s shadow.}

(The Student scampers away, and disappears into the mixed group who stay staring at you.)

“. . . WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT!?!”

(You stomp off, glaring at the floor still feeling the remnants of eyes on your back. Stupid, stupid, stupidcrabface, urgh. There’s a ladder against one wall that leads up to the ramparts. You head up.)

(You could feel the wind in your hair as soon as you crested the top. Standing here on this big ol’ wall, It felt like you could see for miles. You were on a sandy island, with an ocean around it, and then more sand further on. Tch, even if you could see for miles, there wasn’t much to see. Looking around the walls, the only other people up here were  Ark and Ramos, up on one of those towers on the corner of the keep. Boring. You look down-)

(You turn away and gag. C-crabs- stupid. You only saw for a second but, b-but there was a lotta blood. Stars, even as you’re trying to remember it, you can feel someone else in your head stealing away those memories.)

[. . . S-sorry, you, don’t wanna see it.]

(Says WHO!)

[. . . . I-it’sbadforyour, u-um, y-yourheadit’suh. . . .]

(. . . Ugh, alright, fine, dumbass. You groan and start sauntering around the ramparts to the, uh- north, south, east, we- hey wait! You can’t tell which way’s which! Uh, can you? WHATEVER! You go to a DIFFERENT part of the wall which DOESN’T have. All. That.)

(You lean against the edge, again, and take a deep breath in through your nose, and out through your mouth. . . Heh, the sea air was helping you to relax already. ‘Least you think it’s the sea air, but with this place who knows what you’re really smelling. Either way, it was really helping. . .)

(You rub your nose, and sniffle. Your chest still hurts. . .)

(. . . You, pull your arm up inside your cloak and shirt, and feel around that spot. Just feeling the edges of it makes you wince. Sensitive, hurty, or uh, something like that. You want to touch the center of your chest, but, hesitate. If just the edges of the pain zone are sensitive, then the center’s gonna REALLY hurt.)

“Hey uh, Bo- Suzy.” (You look up at the voice. Huh, it’s La.) “It is Suzy, right?”

“‘N don’t you forget it.” (You say with a chuckle. You wanted that to sound cool, but you didn’t have the energy for it.) 

“I won’t, I won’t.” (She leans on the rampart next to you as you stare back into the distance.) “Just uh, the whole- what’sitcalled, plural?- That’s all new to me.”

“Mmm.” (You start chewing on your thumb again.) “. . .”

“. . . So.” (She pats your back.) “Nice work with scaring the shit outta that crab-ass dweeb! ”

“Wha- r-really?!?” (THAT caught you off guard!) “I MEAN OF COURSE I DID! I’M SUUUPER SCARY!!”

“YEAH YOU BLINDING ARE! HA!!!” (She grins real wide.) “These guys deserve the fear of the Sun put into ‘em.”

“Hehe!” (You smile ear to ear.) “Yeah, these punks make Perci look cool!”

“I’ll have to trust you on that.” (La shrugs, and leans over the ramparts again.) “. . . Do you uh. . . I, uh, heard about. . . Well, you can remember things, right? So uh. . .”

“Ugh, yeah.” (You huff, blowing some hair out of your face.) “Can remember stuff even if it never happened ‘cus of time weirdness, and I can remember stuff just real good, too.”

“. . . What about the uh. . .”

“Oh uh, kinda?” (Bleh.) “‘S more like I do remember stuff that I learn about, that, but then I get a really, really bad headache. Then I forget what I was thinking about and I’m back t’ square one.”

“Ah.” (She sighs.) “I was just. . . Was kinda hoping you’d, uh, remember anything about. . . About who Percival, uh. . .”

“Oh. Uh. . .” (How the heck are you supposed to do that?!)

[Try not to remember? Don’t force it? Just kinda. . .]

(Ooooh, you take a breath. Don’t try and remember, just relax and let your thoughts wander around, and maybe. . .)

(. . . . . .)

*White hair.

“She had white hair, I think, and uh. . .”

*Dark skin, white cloak.

“They had dark skin, and uh, a white cloak?” 

*Misses her magpie.

“And she misses her magpie.” (. . . What? You blink.) “. . . Uh, I uh, dunno why I said-”

(Aurola’s voice catches.) “Magpie. . .”

“Uh. . .” (You turn to stare at her.)

“No-one’s. . . C-called me that in. . .” (She looks back down at her hand, eyes wide and teary.) “No-one’s ever called me that but. . . B-but. . .”

“Uhm. . .” (Hey guys?? What the heck do I do???)

|Just be there for her! She must be going through a lot!!|

<Give’er a hug!>

[Ask her if she’s okay maybe?]

“Are uh. . .” (Bats you wish you didn’t have to be the host right now.) “Are you, like, okay?”

“H-huh?” (She looks back up at you, both smiling AND crying.) “I’m- n-no I’m great I-! I’m fine just, that, t-that just hit real hard.”

“Uh, in the fee-fees?”

“RIGHT in the fee-fees!!!” (Aurola, laughing like a maniac, scoops you up in a hug.) “I- ash, thank’s Suz.”

“Uh, welcome???” (You have NO idea what you did.) “Are you SURE you’re fine?”

“Nope! But that’s a later problem.” (She steps back again, still grinning. Then, she holds out her two-finger point sign and makes sparks fly.) “Wanna learn to shoot some stars?”