Argenti's Palace

[beautifulknight]

The stage is set they say;
They don their masks and shields,
Shadows creep and cover their minds;
Now, what beautiful role shall they play?

𝓜𝓮𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓷 𝓒𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓵𝓮


♫

Comments

[beathollow]

( mafuyu isn't the most powerful person by far. but she doesn't waver. )

To help someone we care about.

[beautifulknight]

[ Perhaps not, but she is getting a response from this knight anyway. ]

...To help? You believe you can help a lost cause?

Someone who has strayed from their path? Someone who has fallen?

[beathollow]

Are you so unforgiving that you don't believe the lost can be found, that those off the path can reorient themselves, alone or with help?

[beautifulknight]

[ There's a pause at that. ]

There is little room for error once someone has strayed from their Path.

Once they choose to become a Knight of Beauty, that is.

I have never heard of anyone successfully assisting a Knight of Beauty who has so thoroughly lost their way, even if there may have been attempts. What makes you think you will be any different?

[beathollow]

...Because I'm broken, too. So I can see truths others never will... and forgive things that others won't.

[goei]

[MAFUYU BABE ON GOD WE ARE GONNA GET YOU SOME THERAPY]

[beautifulknight]

[ The Knight takes pause at the words, trying to think, perhaps.

But it turns out he seems to take longer than what is usually deemed sociably accepted before asking: ]

...And what truth do you see here?

[beathollow]

That he is in pain, and so are you.

[beautifulknight]

[ ......there is something like a startled movement, as if surprised by that answer. ]

I believe this conversation between us is over.

I will not stop you from looking around, but I have nothing else to say to you either.

[ He doesn't sound angry, but whatever is in his tone is unidentifiable. ]

[beathollow]

( fucking grownass men running away from their own pain. at least he didn't mute her, but god she is sick of you people!!!!!

but if he has nothing to say, she won't even say anything and instead start looking around further.

what's up with the cages? )

[beautifulknight]

[ The cages are empty, though some do happen to have a delicate, see-through like veil hung over them.

The sound of distant footsteps can be heard from said cages, strangely enough.

Does she touch one of them? ]

[beathollow]

( she sure does!!!! )

[beautifulknight]

[ With her (19), she finds herself somewhere that isn't flanked by any sort of danger.

But scenes of danger fall over into her sight anyway, brief as they are.

Next, she witnesses the sight of a dirty-red haired boy in rags, hiding somewhere behind a broken stone foundation. Beyond the opening in the foundation, they see the ground ahead explode after something unidentifiable hits it, and in its place converge those with weaponry - guns, sharpened blades, and the like.

The red-haired boy retreats, further deeper into his hiding space, and then happens upon an entrance point somewhere in his hiding place that leads underground. He runs down it, desperate to get away.

Anything just to survive.

With that, the scenes dissipate before her very eyes. There is nothing more left for her here. ]

[beathollow]

( ... oh...

...

mafuyu wipes her eyes, and then goes back to the start and. uh...





where the fuck is everyone. okay. uh. she's going tooooo.... uh. go west? )

[goei]

[Izou sees her wander off and he'll trot after her!! He's her self appointed bodyguard after all.]

You see something when you touch those cages?

[beathollow]

I did, yes. It was Argenti, I think- but younger. He was in rags, hiding from armed forces- there was an explosion, I think? He found a route underground in his hiding spot, allowing him to escape.

[goei]

... Damn. You wouldn't think ta look at him that he'd had a rough time of it.

But that also might be why he's so devoted to this cause that he's found a place in.
[Izou would know.]

[beathollow]

Mm. It makes sense...

Westward Encounter

[beautifulknight]

[ Izou and Mafuyu head off together.

This way there is no clear danger. Though, as they continue this way, they hear the sound of bells tolling, ringing out in the area.

Once, twice, thrice.

Strange.

Whatever the case, it appears that this route in particular doesn't seem to lead much of anywhere, except containing a entire field of flowers on each side. If anything Mafuyu keeps her eyes peeled for danger, and the shadows surrounding them scatter (18) at her gaze...

As for Izou...shadows gather around him in ways that make it difficult for him to notice (6), forming a mirror right before his very eyes. Out rushes some kind of large lion-like demon that tackles him to the ground, aiming to bite right into him (of an area of your choosing) (17) ]

[goei]

[On the one hand this kind of rules? Like if he were to die from this there could be worse ways to die.

On the other hand ow what the fuck. Because I want to punish Izou, the lion is clamping right down on his midsection. A terrible place to have bite wounds. I was tempted to say neck but I think that would straight up mcmurder him.

Either way, this placement makes it difficult for Izou to use his sword on it so he's just going to go fully dog mode and bite it right back. (12)]

[beathollow]

--IZOU?!

( WHAT-

oh god what does she do. what if she hurts izou if she tries to shoot it- )

[beautifulknight]

[ ...

Izou, why are you like this. But, maybe it's a good thing?

Apparently...Izou's biting tactic is effective enough to stop it from lashing out again, shocking it entirely (10) and preventing it from making another proper movement despite the fact it had tackled Izou. It'll even begin to leap back.

Wow...incredible. ]

[goei]

Hah! That'll teach you ta think you can take down a manslayer!!

[IT ISN'T EVEN A MAN, HOW IS THAT RELEVANT, IZOU?

Anyway he still needs to recombibulate himself before actually going in with a sword attack so in the meantime he's going to sling an Eiga (14) at the lion monster.]

Get'em, Medea!!

[beathollow]

( almost immediately, she's casting diarama to heal him- )

It's not even a man!!

[beautifulknight]

[ The lion monster gets hit with Curse element...and seems to have a strong resistance to it since despite how decent it hit it took it very well. Hm.

At least the spell didn't get reflected.

Regardless, the monster lashes out at Izou aiming for his chest with a claw (17) ]