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

[bloodweapon]

[The endless darkness was a little ominous, but this is... beautiful. As expected of Argenti's palace, he supposes. What's less beautiful is that knight's voice, eesh. Fray doesn't visibly react to it, but let it be known that he is trying not to cringe at the sound.]

We seek... [a brief pause] a friend of ours who has been taken from us. You are familiar with Argenti?

[He assumes so, given the brief depiction of the man in question, gone in a flurry of petals.]

[beautifulknight]

[ Fray is trying his best, and honestly he is to be commended.

Anyway, he seems to accept the first part of the sentence, at the least.

And at the question, there will be an answer: ]

I am. Or rather, was.

We were good friends. Our bonds were severed when I strayed from my Path, and he accordingly put my soul to rest.

[bloodweapon]

Were you the one who underwent that transformation?

[Kind of a rude question to ask, but he's asking it anyway.]

[beautifulknight]

[ Sometimes people are meant to be rude. Getting straight to the point... ]

I am. I became the dreaded Omen of Evil.

It is the price all Knights of Beauty pay when they stray from their Path.

[bloodweapon]

[You get it— ohhhh wow that is. Hmm. He's kind of having a feeling he doesn't know recognize, hang on.]

You strayed from your Path and it was his duty to put a stop to you. Is that correct? Am I right in assuming he has had to do this to other Knights of Beauty as well?

[beautifulknight]

[ It's probably fine...

The Knight seems content on answering Fray's questions regardless. ]

That is correct.

And you would also be correct about your other assumption as well. How many times he has had to do it, is unknown to me. But, the duty for a Knight of Beauty to take down a fellow one that has succumbed and become an Omen of Evil is one not taken lightly.

Once one becomes an Omen of Evil, they lose the entirety of what they are. The form they take...it is sight that would strike fear into the hearts of many and despair into those who loved them dearly.

[bloodweapon]

I see.

[To become a Knight of Beauty means to sign your life away to Idrila. It means if you stray from your Path, you lose yourself - your life included, but also who you are. Given some of the other answers this knight has given, the fear seems to be that Argenti has lost his way. That he is straying from his Path. That this is what he'll become, and that another Knight of Beauty will need to cut him down just as Argenti cut down his comrades.]

What does this Path entail, exactly? What is it that can cause one to stray from it?

[beautifulknight]

It depends. There are those who choose to follow the Path of Beauty as a Knight of Beauty, as a Mirror Holder, or something else entirely. But all who follow it vow in some way to appreciate "Beauty" from their own perspectives, and never waver from their course.

Even so, ALL Knights of Beauty are expected to adhere to the Chivalric Code, alongside many other oaths Knights take, and the Commandments of Sonnet.

Straying from the Path can occur when one covets Power mindlessly, losing sight of Beauty in of itself. When one breaks their oaths, when one fails to champion chivalry.

[ There's a longer pause at the second question. But an answer is forthcoming for Fray nonetheless. ]

...Or when one fails the many Trials that a Knight faces, no matter in what form they take.

[vogelfrei]

[ .... thinks about that time he told Argenti that he rules by power. Hm. Oops. ]

[beautifulknight]

[ AYYY LMAOOO ]

[bloodweapon]

[Fray can't see how Argenti would be worried about straying from his Path for most of these reasons - he's hardly a man who covets power, or would lose sight of Beauty - but the pause before the last one seems to make it clear. Sayaka's vision certainly does apply to Argenti, it seems.]

I can see how he may have come to worry about such a thing. Being dragged here is... a trial in and of itself.

[Or at least it is for him. If that's how Argenti is seeing things, then...]

We want to do what we can to help him. He isn't facing these Trials alone; surely he must know that.

[beautifulknight]

[ There's a very long pause. Is it because what Fray states happens to not be questions?

Not quite. Instead, this man states the following, the distortion in his voice lowered, so that it's far more clear, and less of a hissing noise: ]

...Dear fellow Knight, all those who travel along the path as a Knight of Beauty are used to traveling long journeys by themselves. Even though they may have peers they can go months or years without seeing them.

Though they may also make friends, it is rare that they linger in one place or another at one time.

Their existence is essentially mostly solitary.

[ The words seem random, but they are spoken as is. ]

[bloodweapon]

[A lonely, solitary life. The opposite of what he's experienced, as he's never been without a companion. Still, he can imagine the pain of being on one's own, relying only on oneself and only occasionally making friends - ever with the idea that one may have to slay them, should they stray from their Path.]

That may have been the case for him back home, but he has found a kindred soul here.

[Fray can only speak for himself, of course, but his next words are heavy, like the weight of an oath.]

I would not have him face the world alone again. I would join him, for as long as I possibly can.

[beautifulknight]

[ ...Ah.

The strength of conviction behind this knight is no less relenting than the others who have spoken before. Though at his words, the place seems to become a little brighter, or maybe it is due to the sheen of the white flowers. ]

I see that he has.

I can tell that your words echo of nothing less than the truth.

[ A Knight should know well what an oath sounds like, or something similar to it, and even this being is no exception, corrupted or not. ]

Though, I believe it impossible for anyone's actions to amount to anything...

I know you would stand with him, no matter what is to come.

The path forward is now open to you, fellow Knight.

[ Right before Fray opens the options of north, east, west, and south. ]

[bloodweapon]

That's precisely why I will free him, no matter what it takes.

[Argenti should already know that, but Fray says it anyway as if to ensure he does. No matter what.

But with a nod to the knight, Fray moves toward the paths - he's headed east. Let's see what this holds for us, shall we?]

[beautifulknight]

[ The flowers remain the same even if Fray walks here, though no danger dares to try to sneak up behind him, nor does he sense danger this way for that matter (12)

In fact, he can see a glimmer of light up ahead. It looks to be shaped in the form of a door of some kind.

...It appears that Fray has managed to find the exit to this place!

Nearby, it also appears to be that Argenti's spear is embedded in the ground. Does he come closer to it? ]

[bloodweapon]

[A door...? The way forward, perhaps? Well, more pressing is the spear, since he doubts Argenti would just leave it behind. Of course he's coming closer - though he's keeping an eye out in case this is some kind of trap!! (13)]

[fullmoonmutt]

Oi, can opener!

[ Since Eli can't call Fray tin can. That's Argenti. Anyway, Eli's trekking up the eastern path behind him, Celeste in tow. ]

What you got there?

[bloodweapon]

[is that his nickname now??? okay. sure. you could just call him fray, it's shorter—]

Argenti's spear. Or at least one that looks very much like it.

[Hey guys, are you still holding hands... oh of course you are.]

[cirquedesang]

[Of course they are! You could, too, Fray, if you wanted to be extra silly and really give Izou an aneurysm, but there's also Stuff To Do.]

...I suppose he'll be wanting that back, no?

[bloodweapon]

[it would admittedly be really funny to see izou's reaction,,,]

Of course. I don't know why it was left here; he isn't the sort to be unprepared.

[And surely he knows we're here, so if this is going to end in a confrontation... then why is his spear here instead of with him?]

[fullmoonmutt]

Maybe we need to return it to him! In Izou's palace, some shadows gave us pieces of his sword guard to bring to him.

[ don't even mention the handholding or Eli will have to start yelling at Fray and get completely distracted, pls ]

[cirquedesang]

[No, if it gets mentioned it'll be right before regrouping. For maximum effect.]

Hopefully he didn't leave it behind for a reason.

[fullmoonmutt]

I mean, he had to have left it behind for a reason. Nothing in these places are random.

[bloodweapon]

[Oh no, he has wisely decided that whatever you two are doing is your own business and not his. He will not comment on it.]

Did they? That would make sense... as much sense as anything makes in these palaces, anyway.