There was a long silence.
Cornio stared at the fallen piece in disbelief. He almost couldn't believe Sisyphus had actually done it. He had wanted to believe that somewhere in Sisyphus' desperation and increasingly unhealthy drive to fulfill his goal, he'd have enough empathy and decency to not sacrifice one life to save another. Nobody could even say Sisyphus' actions were helping Asriel or anyone in any way! In Cornio's opinion – in anyone's opinion – what Sisyphus had done was reprehensible and completely senseless!
And, judging by Sisyphus' expression, he hadn't realized that yet.
"You really did it..." he managed to say, it felt like he was struggling to push the words out of his throat. Sisyphus nodded slowly, as if unsure of what he had done.
"I guess I did"
"I thought—I thought you wouldn't! I thought you would realize-!"
The more Cornio spoke, the more irritated Sisyphus felt. Who was this guy to say such things to him? Such sanctimonious preaching! A visceral frustration bubbled in Sisyphus, until he found himself snarling a few words before even realizing it: "Do you ever shut up?!"
"W-What?"
"I'm sick of you trying to tell me what's supposedly better for anyone" Sisyphus refrained from raising his voice, but his tone made very clear he wasn't happy at all. "Who do you think you are?"
"I'm not trying to tell you what to do! I'm trying to show you this is all wrong!" Cornio wasn't holding back, though. He was starting to shout.
"Wrong?! Right now the last thing I care about is what's wrong or not! Listen, that kid is—"
"You don't know what Asriel would like!" Cornio stood up. For a moment he almost blurted out 'what I'd like', but he had to keep his identity under wraps for a while longer. Lucia had been very emphatic about not letting him know this was Asriel. "Do you really think he wanted you to kill one of your friends?!"
"Shut. Up" Sisyphus ordered "You don't know anything. You have no right to talk about stuff you don't understand!" his face had a very ugly clay-like color, he was outraged "You're just some random witch Lucia brought to help me do this. If you think you can tell anyone here what to do, you're very mistaken!"
Cornio bared his teeth. He didn't remember the last time he felt so angry at anyone. No right to scold him? He had every right in the world to judge what Sisyphus had done! He wanted to hold Sisyphus and get him to stop shouting, to reveal he was Asriel and that the one Asriel Sisyphus knew was aware of what had just happened and felt aghast about it all. His anger overcame any good intentions he had. Trying very hard not to show how hurt he felt, he pushed the board away from him. "I'm done"
"What?"
"I'm done with this game. I'm not playing anymore"
"Wait a minute, you can't just stop and leave!"
"I can! That's what I'm going to do!" it hurt to say that, knowing his world and every monster in the Underground was going to suffer the consequences, but as he saw it, with Sisyphus getting involved things could only get worse "You need two people to play the game. I'm not going to play anymore. You're on your own"
"You can't leave them like that!" a bit of desperation entered Sisyphus' voice.
"I have to. You're going to hurt them even more if this continues, and I'm not going to let you do that"
Cornio lashes at you with justified anger.
You feel your relationship with Cornio has soured.
The Unusual Witch Social Link of the Death Arcana has become reversed!
Your relationship can't continue unless you reconcile
Not willing to let Sisyphus try to change his mind, Cornio disappeared immediately, moving to his room. His form simply faded away. There was a soft tinkering noise where he had just been standing, but Sisyphus didn't hear it, he was distraught at how badly that had gone. He knew Cornio's anger was justified, yet he refused to admit it. Sisyphus clenched his fists, stomped around, growling like a caged animal. He couldn't believe Cornio had gone away and left the game like that! What was he supposed to do now? This was ridiculous!
Once he started to calm down, he heard Lucia say from the window:
"That was very stupid of you, Sisyphus"
He knew she was right. "Yeah…I guess it was" The reversed social link proved he had screwed up royally. That was the point when he realized he had made some very bad decisions.
"You know you single-handedly ruined everything you had been working for, don't you?" she approached slowly, bending over to pick up the object Cornio left behind when he teleported to his bedroom: the brooch Lucia had given him to hide his form. She concealed the brooch with her hand "The game can't continue if there aren't two players"
Sisyphus felt a coldness in the pit of his stomach. "Wait, if you replace him, you should be able to—"
"I refuse"
"What?"
"It's for the better I'm not your opponent. Not only I'd crush you in no time, I'd also refuse to undo my victory. This world you and Cornio were oh so focused on saving would meet quite the unfortunate end"
"But…" he almost tried to appeal to her saying she knew how important this was to him, but it was useless. He knew she held no love or concern for the monsters or the humans in that world. Everything she had done had been for Sisyphus and Cornio's sake, but she wasn't going to go out of her way to help anyone.
Not that she was so callous she didn't notice Sisyphus was distraught about what he had just done. This was the apprentice she had hosted for thirty years already, she couldn't just turn her back on him without a word of support. "Is this world and your goal of creating the best timeline possible really that important to you?"
"Of course it is!"
"…your actions don't say that. Trust me, if I were in your position I'd have done the same you did about obtaining that soul, but you failed to consider Cornio's feelings. You should have known he's not like other witches. He cares about everyone in that world…
…most likely he cares more than you do"
I do care about this world…
Lucia approached him, and with gentle hand she pushed him down, onto his chair. Sisyphus looked a bit dazed, confused. "You're such a foolish person…but I understand you. As I said, if I had been in your position, I'd have done the same"
You feel Lucia is showing his support…albeit reluctantly
The Witch of Hope Social Link has reached Rank 3!
Your power to create Personas of the Star Arcana has grown!
Whatever relief Sisyphus felt in that moment was short-lived. Lucia towered over him. He couldn't see her eyes hidden behind the blindfold, but something about her was threatening. Even though she was smiling serenely, she continued talking, slowly raising a hand. "But I must say…I'm running out of patience" It felt like something large and slimy was pressing onto him, making sure he couldn't move from the chair, but he couldn't see anything.
"Lucia…?"
"You screwed up. You made your opponent run away. I couldn't care less you're playing with anyone's life, but what I cannot tolerate is that you waste my time"
"I didn't mean to—"
Her voice lowered. "I don't have a hobby of taking random people under my wing, Sisyphus…no, allow me to call you by your former name, Patta" He involuntarily felt a shiver down his spine "I rescued you from that hopeless situation of yours, yes…but if you believe I did such thing because I felt sorry for you, or out of the good of my own heart, then you're gravely mistaken"
"Lucia, I—"
"Silence!" she scowled. He could feel her stare burning into him, even through her blindfold. "You incompetent fool…let me tell you exactly what you shall do now" the invisible grip on him tightened "Cornio will be here in matter of hours – leave that to me, I'll ensure that. Once he's here, you will convince him to continue"
"I understand, I will!"
Lucia nodded. "It seems you understood the implicit warning about failure not being an option…but just in case, let me remind you I was the one who gave you new life, and therefore I could throw it away as easily as I granted it to you. You will return to your former state…" her face was so close to his he could feel her breath "…I'll personally tear you apart bit by bit until you're no more than a cloud of dust.
Have I made myself clear?"
Whatever was holding Sisyphus down let him go, but he still struggled to say something. He hadn't seen Lucia so angry at him or at anyone ever before! "Y-Yes, I understand. I'm sorry"
"I'm glad we have reached an understanding" she extended a hand and lightly grabbed Sisyphus' shoulder, helping him stand up from his seat. "Do you know what's the worst part about this decision you made? Cornio isn't the only one who is very cross with you right now"
A feeling of dread invaded Sisyphus. "Who else is upset?"
"You'll see. For now I think you should leave this parlor and go see them. The sooner you face their disappointment, the better"
She was right, even though Sisyphus wasn't sure who she was talking about. When he opened the parlor doors, he immediately saw what she meant:
The Velvet Room was awaiting him. Taking a deep breath to prepare himself for what was likely to be another grueling conversation, Sisyphus entered and closed the doors, walking slowly to the couch and sitting down. The air was heavy, and it wasn't only because of the stares Sisyphus was trying so hard not to let affect him. The environment had also changed.
The once active cogs that covered the walls had stopped, only a few still spinning in a corner of the room. The atmosphere was colder, and it wasn't only because of Alphonse's glacial glare and Igor's deeply disappointed stare. Sisyphus took a shaking breath, feeling the weight of his sins on his shoulders. He wanted to explain himself, to apologize if it was necessary, to ask what would happen now, but he felt talking first could be the wrong decision.
After a moment of silence, Igor spoke. "You have done something rather regrettable. Due to your actions, your journey and objective have been greatly hindered, and I fear you may not be able to rectify the situation" Sisyphus didn't say anything, he simply nodded. He knew Igor wasn't wrong. He still felt he did the right thing – to some extent – but he was now starting to realize the weight of his actions. "Do you remember the terms of the contract you signed?"
""I'll accept the consequences of my actions" Something like that" Sisyphus replied with thin voice, barely perceptible.
"Yes. As you may suppose, the consequences of the murder you committed will have serious repercussions, not only in your relationships with people, but also in your journey" Igor said. "I'm aware the person you were cooperating with to bring the goal to completion has decided to stop helping"
"Wow...news sure got around fast" Sisyphus muttered.
"Surprised? You shouldn't be" Alphonse's voice was like a bucketful of ice poured onto Sisyphus. He had a hard time even glancing at the attendant.
Igor put his hand over the table, one single tarot card appearing on it. "As I said, murdering had repercussions. What could have been won't be anymore" he showed the card. The Hierophant "The Hierophant is the card of order and mentors, but it also can symbolize the need to start thinking by yourself, even despite relying on someone else to help you.
...it's unfortunate the relationship you could have had with someone who would have needed your help is not going to happen" He put the card back on the table. Sisyphus stared at it, a bit confused.
"But if my piece LOADs, Ciruel won't remember anything"
"You betrayed that person's trust. That is not something you can fix like that. You will have to bear the burden of what you did, for the rest of your life"
You have committed a heinous betrayal.
The Ciruel Social Link of the Hierophant Arcana has become broken
"I'm sorry to inform you that you won't have access to any Personas of the Hierophant arcana"
Sisyphus tried to say something, but there were no excuses, or anything he could say to make his actions look any better. He had done something dreadful and he had to accept it. After a moment of pain, Sisyphus managed to get words out of his throat. "Is there anything I can do to fix that?"
Igor's voice acquired a certain hardness "There's no way to fix a broken Social Link. Allow me to reiterate: you must accept the consequences of your actions" Sisyphus closed his eyes for a moment, he really had screwed up. Igor's voice softened "However, not all is lost. There's a chance you can straighten up the situation and continue find a way to complete the goal. It'll need a lot of effort...but we believe you may be capable of that difficult feat"
"We?!" Alphonse blurted out, earning a severe glare from Igor. Seething, the attendant clutched the armrests of his chair, digging their nails in. Sisyphus once again avoided looking at Alphonse.
Sisyphus took a deep breath before responding to Igor. "Yeah—Yes, I can do it. About what I did...it seemed like a good enough idea at the time. I had to try doing something-"
Alphonse's nails dug further into the armrests "Are you even listening to yourself?! Sisyphus, you murdered one of the humans you claimed you were going to work hard to save! You're going to say excuses now?!"
"Another friend was completely absent. I needed him to exist, it wouldn't be—"
"You needed him to exist or you wanted him to exist?"
The implicit truth in the question made Syphus recoiled. "I know it was the wrong thing to do, but you have to understand—"
"I don't want to understand! How could you have killed Ciruel? What did he even to do you?"
"Can you stop interrupting me?" Syphus grit his teeth, his regret starting to be replaced with annoyance at the constant shouting "I needed a human SOUL, that's all. I had nothing against Ciruel"
"Would you have done the same if you couldn't LOAD?"
"I don't know; I didn't think about it at the time"
"You killed someone you should save! I don't understand how you could—"
"Ugh, shut up already!" Syphus shouted, his hands curling into fists "Come on, LOADing is an option! His death wasn't going to be permanent! It was going to be as if nothing happened, and I would get to keep the SOUL. It was nothing that couldn't be fixed! And it was for someone else's good!
Besides, why does a death matter when it can be reversed?"
There was silence after Syphus said that. Alphonse could only stare in astonishment, while Igor's toothy grin diminished noticeably. Syphus breathed roughly for several seconds before he realized the heavy implications of his words, and by then it was too late to soften the blow. That didn't mean he wasn't going to try, though. "N-No, wait! I didn't mean to say...to say that..."
"You're not human. There's nothing human about you. You're not a human nor a monster" Alphonse's eyes were wide open, and Syphus had the feeling they weren't referring to his species "What are you?"
Syphus turned his head upwards to the ceiling, feeling like he had a knot in his throat. He knew this was going to be a tough meeting, but it all had gone much, much worse than he thought it would. Alphonse's question hurt, but it was true. A normal human wouldn't behave like that. A normal monster wouldn't behave like that. There was something deeply wrong with Syphus now, and he knew very well what it was:
"I'm a witch, I guess" Syphus, replied mutedly, closing his eyes tightly and trying not to show how upset he felt, but his clenched eyes and the way his shoulder tensed betrayed his emotions.
You have earned Alphonse's ire
Your relationship with Alphonse has soured
The Velvet Room Attendant Social Link of the Jester Arcana has become reversed!
Your relationship can't continue unless you reconcile
Things couldn't have gone any worse. Or...well, they could, actually. At least Syphus had the consolation the mission wasn't completely ruined.
"Please calm down, Alphonse" Igor said calmly, turning his head to look at the attendant. Alphonse lowered their head into their hands, clutching his face as if it was going to fall down, and sat onto their armchair again. Igor took the time to glance at them with concern before settling his attention back onto Syphus "There's nothing else to be said for now. Please return anytime to continue using our services. Until then, farewell"
Sisyphus didn't move much. He did stand up, but he didn't try to leave. The noise of cogs moving was gone. If the Velvet Room was supposed to be related to his subconscious, then things really had gone off the rails, judging by such a drastic change. "What am I supposed to do now?" he asked to Igor.
Igor shook his head, almost melancholic. "I'm afraid that's something I can't answer for you. You'll have to find the answer by yourself – although I believe that's going to be difficult. I'm aware your...your piece is rather dissatisfied, too"
"What?"
That's when he realized it.
You have committed some grievous mistakes
Your relationship with Syphus has soured.
The Last Timeline Social Link of the Aeon Arcana has become reversed!
Your relationship can't continue unless you reconcile
Things had stopped being fun and games long ago. It was time for him to stop playing around and be more careful before everything spiraled out of control...more than it already did.
...
...
...
GAME INTERRUPTED
-ooooo-
Have you ever felt that weird feeling you have when you sit on your leg and it feels all tingly, and then it feels all numb when you try to move?
That was how my head felt, kind of. One moment everything was...it wasn't normal, but I wasn't feeling like I was in a dream. The next moment, it feels like I have breathing space, like for the first time since I can remember I'm truly by myself.
It's not like I was a puppet or anything like that. I had free will, I could take my own decisions, but all the time there was this nagging feeling someone was watching over my shoulder, like if I did something wrong, he'd make me pay. I know it's my master. I guess it'd be better if I, as a piece, didn't know about him.
Not that it mattered anymore. I was by myself for the first time, and I was holding in my hands a glass container with a purple human soul floating inside. I felt the bile burning my throat, but I forced myself to hold onto the container, like it was going to fade in thin air the moment I stopped. I had committed a very ugly action to obtain it, turning back now wasn't an option.
...okay, I admit it: I wanted the chance to bring Asriel back. I have never met that child before, but if the memories I was given about him are accurate, he doesn't deserve a doomed existence.
I looked around, trying to figure out where in Waterfall I was now. The Velvet Room had to be nearby, but I wasn't sure how to get there quickly. If anyone saw me holding a human soul, things were likely to get awkward. I walked quicker, staring forward and trying to recognize the tunnel I was in. If I remembered correctly, Undyne's house was in that direction, so the Velvet Room had to be—
"Syphus?"
I froze. I recognized that voice right behind me. It took all my willpower to not to beg for forgiveness right then and there. Slowly, I turned around, managing to move and keep the container behind my back, and faced Toriel. "Hello..."
"There you are. Could you help me for a moment? I'd like to organize something with you and the rest of the village"
It seemed she didn't suspect anything, but it was matter of time before the gig was up. I had to get away immediately! "I'm...a bit busy right now"
Toriel smiled patiently. "You shouldn't be wandering around, especially without your disguise. Here, let me accompany you back"
"I'm serious, I can't" I stepped back. My nervousness must have shown on my face because Toriel's demeanor changed. She seemed worried – sincerely concerned, not like she was trying to get my guard down.
"Is everything okay? You seem rather nervous today"
"Everything's just fine. I'm in a hurry, that's all"
"Why have you been keeping your hands behind your back? Are you holding something I shouldn't see?" She stepped towards me, extending a hand as if to put it on my shoulders. I tried to keep my distance, but the more I stepped back, the quicker she advanced. Slowly her expression shifted from concern to suspicion. In hindsight, I was very lousy at acting natural.
"I don't need help! I mean it!" My heel hit a rock. I almost lost my balance, I'd have fallen right on top of the container if Toriel hadn't stopped my fall. She managed to grab me. I think she saw the container, because I had barely managed to recover my footing when I saw her horrified face. I gasped and decided this was a good time to start running. Taking advantage of the few seconds it'd take her to process what I was holding, I turned around and ran, I ran as fast as I could.
It felt like I'd trip and fall at any moment, but somehow I managed to not crash anywhere. I didn't dare to look back, I was certain Toriel was following me – and when a fireball flew right by my ear I knew I was right. "Stop!" I heard her command. I instinctively slowed down, I had to force myself to continue moving.
I clutched the container to my chest, and turned around the corner. During my running I didn't realize where I was passing through, I was too worried about Toriel chasing me to pay much attention to what path I chose to run into. When I found out the tunnel led to a dead end, I turned around, trying very hard not to show how much I wanted to surrender and plead for mercy. As if she'd be merciful after finding me clutching someone's soul!
Toriel advanced towards me, her paws enveloped with fire. I couldn't avoid glancing at them instead of to her face. "Toriel, I can explain"
"Then I shall listen to your explanation. Let me warn you, though: this looks very bad for you" at least she did stop advancing towards me – not that it helped much, my mind was blank! What kind of excuse could I think?
Without looking away from her hands, I tried to find the right words. "I found Ciruel. He was hurt, and I…I tried to save him, but he was too hurt" I was sure my voice sounded anything but convincing right now. Her fire seemed to intensify in brightness – I…I think she didn't believe not even a single word.
"What, exactly, hurt him?"
"I don't know. I tried to find where the blood was coming from, but—" okay, now I was certain. She wasn't believing me at all. Not that I can blame her, that was some truly awful lying. I shut up, as if that was going to save me.
My silence must have infuriated her further, because she glared at me. I cowered under her stare. "You're lying"
"I…what?" I must have looked very stupid, with my mouth hanging open. I tried to look innocent, but I'm pretty sure I looked more like I had lost my mind.
"I'll be frank with you" she slowly took a deep breath "I believe you're lying. I can't fathom what intentions you have with that soul, but you have made a big mistake" Yeah, I sure noticed! "I'm sorry, but I'll stop you"
"Toriel, please!"
It was no use. She – very rightfully, may I say – she was going to stop me.
*Toriel blocks the way!
There was no way I was going to fight her; I had hurt too many people already.
*Act - Plead
*You beg for mercy. Toriel stares at you with disgust.
I tried to convince her to stop, to listen to me. She completely rejected my words. All she did was glare at me, and once I felt fear just from knowing how much I had made her mad, she moved to attack. Fireballs formed complicated patterns in the air, flying at great speed towards me. Ember after ember touched me, I felt the intense heat emanating from them, for a moment it felt like I had been stuck in an oven. I couldn't see, all I could see was fire, until it was over as soon as it started. I panted, doubling over, and tried to focus, the blue rocks were a welcome respite after the intense light of her fire magic.
I noticed she was restraining herself to avoid hurting me too much, and to avoid damaging the soul I was holding in the container. Fighting her was going to be useless – there was no way I'd be able to hold my own against the Queen of All Monsters, especially when I didn't have a weapon. I tried to face her, trying to endure the burning sensation her fire magic left all over me, and I took a decision.
*Mercy - Flee
I was going to run away.
Simply going to a side wasn't an option. I balanced the container in my hand and rooted through my pocket, finding only one single object in there. "I'm sorry, Toriel, Lucia..." I muttered, throwing the firefly brooch at Toriel's face. The queen didn't expect this, she covered her face to defend herself, and I took that chance to run by her side, getting out of the dead end. I didn't bother picking up the brooch, once I LOADed I'd have it back – I hoped.
"Stop!" she commanded again, trying to grab me when I passed by her, I barely managed to avoid her claws. I could feel the heat emanating from her hand, I'm sure if she had actually touched me, she'd have seared me! But I got away. I ran through Waterfall, trying to find the quickest path to the Velvet Room door.
As if having Toriel pursuing me wasn't enough, I soon found out there were monsters milling around. I have no idea how they reacted to seeing a human pass by, holding a soul in his hands, with the queen hot in his trail. Well, I did hear a few things...
"Is that a human?"
"Another one?"
"I thought that child was the only one"
"Why's the Queen running behind him?"
"Someone catch him!" Toriel's voice boomed behind me. Spurred by that request, a few monsters tried to stop me, blocking the way. I didn't want to hurt anyone else, I glanced around, ignoring the quivering tower of jello and the seahorse that were getting in my way. Behind me, Toriel was getting closer, I could hear her steps.
"That's enough" she said, surprisingly cold despite the heated situation "You will submit. Let's stop this ridiculous chase"
"You don't understand anything..." I said, looking around desperately. Behind me, the two monsters that had stopped me seemed to step back. I realized my only option was to go through them. When Toriel stepped forward, intending to grab me, I swiftly turned around and ducked my head, tackling the seahorse straight on.
It was like crashing against a stubborn door. It hurt, but at the same time it worked. The seahorse moved, short for breath, and I continued my way. I knew I was close, I had to be!
There it was. On the other side of a wide river. The water wasn't deep at all, I could cross it easily. I had barely gotten into the river, feeling how the water got up to my ankles, when a wall of fire coated the other shore. "No!" I shouted, frustrated, and looked back. Toriel was there, looking tired from having chased me through Waterfall.
"I'm growing weary of your refusal to cooperate, Syphus. This is your last chance" although the fire behind me didn't disappear, Toriel's hand cooled off, and she extended it forward. I kept staring at her palm, expecting a blast of fire to burn my eyebrows off or something like that.
"What's going to happen to me...?" I was so close to the Velvet Room; I could get there in a moment! But I needed a distraction, one last trick! I hid the container behind my body, trying to stall for time. "I don't trust you! What are you going to do?!" with a hand I started unscrewing the top of the container.
Torial narrowed her eyes. Had I made a mistake, acting like I was in condition to negotiate? The corner of my mouth twitched, I had to gather all my willpower to keep looking at her. "I will listen to you. I won't judge you for your actions – even though I should. For the time being you'll be kept in the Ruins, watched by the Royal Guard, until further arrangements are made"
"Arrangements...?"
"Are you so arrogant as to think you're above consequences?" she raised her voice, indignant "You will pay your dues, that much I can guarantee you!"
I had no doubt she meant every word of it. I shuffled on my feet, trying to get a hand into the container. "Fine. I-I accept. What do you want?"
"Surrender the soul. I don't care what you wanted it for – I cannot allow you to have such thing, especially since you obtained it through bloodshed" her voice was surprisingly cold for someone who had shown such warmth to me before. "That man must have trusted you. You have no reason to hold onto the soul of someone you betrayed"
I had no rebuttal. I knew she was right – and I didn't need a rebuttal, anyway. I took a deep breath, forced myself to look utterly indifferent to her orders, and looked down the river. It was as if time slowed down, I knew what to do. I showed the container, dropped it to the floor, and kicked it down the river with all my strength.
"How you dare?!" she looked conflicted for a second, but her love for Ciruel must have overcome her anger towards me, because she hurried to get the container. The wall of fire behind me fell apart, and I immediately ran past where it was, pretty much throwing myself against the Velvet Room door, with the purple soul in my hand.
I can only imagine Toriel's betrayed expression once she picked up the empty container. Or maybe she'd have been angrier instead of betrayed. I don't know. For the time being I was just glad I managed to enter a safe place.
Igor and Alphonse's expression made clear I wasn't being welcomed with open arms, though. Neither of them tried to shoo me away, but it was obvious they'd have preferred me to stay away – at least that was what Alphonse must have been thinking. Igor's face was as inscrutable as usual.
"Welcome" Igor said, bowing his head. It seemed things with him were like usual…at least when it was about fusing Personas. Alphonse kept glaring at me as if I had mocked their handyman uniform.
I extended my hands with the soul levitating just a few millimeters from them. "…could you please hold onto this for a few minutes?"
Alphonse leaned forward. "That's what I think it is, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is what you think it is. That's…" I felt sick again: "That's a human soul"
They closed their eyes, they looked like they wanted to say something about it but refrained from doing so. "Don't try to explain it, I know the whole story already" they said, rather bluntly "So you want us to hold it for you?"
"Please. I need to LOAD and have the soul back afterwards, and since this place is said to be separated from reality…"
"I get it. Fine, I'll hold onto this. I'm not happy about it, but I will" Alphonse carefully took the soul, holding it as if they were holding a very fragile chick. The soul pulsed, almost in contact with them, and I breathed with relief.
"Thank you. I'll go back outside for a moment" Talking to them about this matter would only get me a look that clearly said 'I despise you'. Deservedly, yes, but I had to focus on what I was doing. I left the Velvet Room and stood right outside.
The last thing I saw before I LOADed was Toriel approaching me, looking more furious than I remembered she had ever been in any timeline. I don't know what happens to…to 'me' when I LOAD, but if what happens is that I'm jumping to an alternate timeline instead of actually going back in time, well…
…I hope 'I' won't get too hurt. It's none of my business anymore, at least.
When I could move, just a few seconds later, I realized I was standing in the cave that led to the Hidden Village. The halberd was right to my side, the container was on the ground. The firefly brooch was in my pocket. Shuddering, I stepped away from the halberd. I wanted to go to the Velvet Room immediately, but I couldn't. I wanted to make sure Ciruel was okay now, that what I had done had been repaired.
It took him a minute to appear. Ciruel ascended the stairs and found me waiting there. "Syphus, you woke up early" he said, looking at me with no suspicion or ill-feelings. He seemed so normal, and he was talking with such friendly demeanor towards me I immediately looked away.
I couldn't bear looking at him at all.
"Are you okay? Do I have something on my face? Besides the purple paint and the antlers, I mean"
"No, it's okay. I just…" I pretended to be very interested in the rocky wall in front of me "It's nothing"
I don't know what Ciruel's expression was, but he sounded somewhat weirded out. "Alright…want to go to Snowdin with me? There's—"
"No, thank you. I'll be busy today"
There was a very uncomfortable silence. I kept staring at the rocks until Ciruel mumbled a 'I'll see you later, I guess' and left. Only when he was far away I sighed and dared to move from where I was.
It was true: my relationship with Ciruel had changed. I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to look him to the face ever again.
I tried to ignore the growing feeling of guilt and grabbed the container and the halberd, finally starting my way towards the Velvet Room.
SOCIAL LINKS:
Fool - Frisk - RANK 5
Magician - Burgerpants - RANK 3
Priestess - Alphys - RANK 4
Empress - Toriel - RANK 2
Emperor - Cohen - RANK 4
Hierophant - Ciruel - BROKEN
Lovers - ? - RANK 0
Chariot - Ananas - RANK 5
Justice - Undyne - RANK 4
Hermit - Gaster - RANK 1
Fortune - ? - RANK 0
Strength - Celia - RANK 1
Hanged Man - ? - RANK 0
Death - Cornio - REVERSED
Temperance - ? - RANK 0
Devil - ? - RANK 0
Tower - ? - RANK 0
Star - Lucia - RANK 3
Moon - ? - RANK 0
Sun - Papyrus - RANK 3
Judgment - Team - RANK 4
Aeon - Syphus - REVERSED
Jester - Alphonse - REVERSED