All Hail the Blood Spilling Empress

I! Am Aelois du Drejall! You are in the presence of one with the most royal of blood! Show respect! Genuflect! Or draw your blade and join me in the dance!

[project--lionheart]

Prologue 0.2

Bringing along the small bags you all had carried with you on the bus, it was easy to see that the forest was not as ominous as you once perceived it to be. The lion you had just encountered was…odd. But he wasn’t threatening. The whole design was intended for that, you were sure. He teetered along on the path ahead of you, one foot in front of the other taking some effort. 

The feeling of being out of place in the forest seemed to grow though. Chatter and low murmurs from the group were the only thing that could be heard as you all walked along….until Utsushi-raion began to speak up, stopping momentarily in front of the group. He scratches the back of his head again before letting out a small chuckle.

“O-Oh, forgive a silly old lion, I have forgotten to begin talking about the founding and legends of Hinomachi, oof.” He looks a bit embarrassed, but recovers quickly, beginning their walk again, but at a slower pace.

“The town of Hinomachi first began as a trading post before the beginning of the Edo Period. The mountain just off in the distance,” They point east, but it clear that you wouldn’t be able to see it just now due to all the…trees. “Many used to carve into the mountain-side and smuggle or hide imports that were deemed contraband and/or illegal by the government.”

Utsushi-raion continues to drone on, but you begin to feel the air around you shift. The once hot and muggy atmosphere you experienced around the entrance of the forest turned…chilling. For this time of year it seemed really out of place, and was enough to warrant a question as to why it was getting colder.

The lion gave a small clap and jump. “Oh my, how could I have forgotten! We are all currently walking though the Four Seasons Forest, an attraction that is deemed an anomaly by scientists and weather experts alike. The forest is said to experience all four seasons at random intervals.” Looking around, you could clearly see the different patches of forest looking to be in the middle of autumn. The cold patch you were standing in currently was up for debate, seeing how fog was beginning to roll in. 

“It’s a nice place to walk through if you’re up for such a task. But be mindful of the changing conditions.” The lion laughs, walking once more further into the forest. 

The unsettling feeling grows with the thickening of the fog.

[project--lionheart]

Prologue 0.1

The day had finally arrived. That crisp letter that arrived in the mail had sealed your fate of finally finding someone to share the rest of your life with. A hope shines within you, filling you with the feeling that somewhere out there, someone was meant for you. It was a silly notion of course, but you didn’t want to sit on it too long less getting embarrassed by your own thoughts. 

The sun burns at the back of your neck, it almost seems too hot for this time of year.

It was pretty obvious that the bus that had taken you from the airport and dumped you off in front of a forest was kind of weird. Now that you think about it, the set of circumstances around the bus ride had been a bit weird. You weren’t that drowsy, were you..?

Maybe it was the jet lag…

The opportunity did allow for you and some others to get to know one another. Some were friendlier than others, but that was to be expected, everyone’s guard was up in an unfamiliar situation.

What bothered you the most, however, was the forest looming in front of you. Going in too far felt like a very very bad idea. The air felt cleaner, easier to breathe in. There was a surge of hope that maybe this would be okay. You were going to have fun and get out of your shell a bit!

About 15 minutes into some conversations, the noise from the forest cuts off. The birds and cicadas chirping seem to cease, leaving everyone to look around momentarily.

And that’s when everyone sees it.

Well…It didn’t look like an it….but a what. Bad choice of words for a strange situation to find yourself in. No one noticed the large pink…lion…just standing there by the path. It stared. And stared, until everyone looked to see that it was indeed standing there.

Then out of nowhere, the lion began to move, placing their hands on their stomach and letting out a hearty laugh. Their laugh was warm and didn’t sound at all threatening. That was good–Wait a minute. There are a few shocked glances and looks from a few of the contestants.

“Good afternoooon lovelies. How has your day been? I’m sorry about the bus ride, he doesn’t have much for social skills. I’m sure you all have been getting well acquainted, though!” 

Stepping forward, the lion smiles and scratches the large tuff off hair around their head. “Forgive my late entrance. Being a lion, it’s hard not to be lion-around after a snack.” They laugh once more before patting their tummy. “My name is Utsushi-raion. I will be your humbley-bubbley guide through the forest and around the town of Hinomachi. If you would all kindly follow me, I can begin you on your journey for love!”

And with that.

You all follow..?

[project--lionheart]

First Song | Aelois | Pregame | Open

Let us sing the songs, let us tell the tale, there are many like this one, but it is the one we shall tell. Of love and sorrow and the heady scent of blood. A war of roses, though, with fewer cousins.

Let us begin, on an old dirt road and a young lady wearing her jacket round her shoulders. Aelois, you really should learn to wear another outfit well. You have nearly cooked yourself alive in the heat of the sun, abandoned here…. Your head is full of hornets, oui? Buzzing angry and ready to lash out. At the so-called “Producers” at the Bus Driver. At yourself a small bit? Your sword is not with you. A thing to set you on edge, no? They wouldn’t let you bring it, the cowards.

If this is a game of love, how can they hope to understand you without your soul? Your being? Idiots.

Eh? Whose shadow is cast across your features? Who has decided to bother an Empress with their presence? Who! Who! Will you cut them? You exist to do such thing…. maybe it is a suitor? So early? They would be a harlot of some stripe to do that! Without knowing you! Disgusting!

…or maybe not? You aren’t sure. You must judge accordingly…

[project--lionheart]

Without Further Ado….

Here are the contestants for 16Hearts! final season! Which of these lucky few will take the chance and throw themselves into a whirlwind adventure of love? Here in Hinomachi, there is a saying that ‘no one is without love, your soulmate is out there!’

But is there more to it than that meets the eye?

CONTESTANT 1:  Ae-jung Han

CONTESTANT 2: Aelois Du Drejall

CONTESTANT 3: Akemi Ikeda

CONTESTANT 4: Alena Agyros

CONTESTANT 5: Allison Jones

CONTESTANT 6: Eito Iwasaki

CONTESTANT 7: Elias Greenwood

CONTESTANT 8: Fumi Ise

CONTESTANT 9: Kami Okurimono

CONTESTANT 10: Kikai Raifu

CONTESTANT 11: Kirimi Tendo

CONTESTANT 12: Momoko Miyazaki

CONTESTANT 13: Noémie Lenôtre 

CONTESTANT 14: Piper Willbrook

CONTESTANT 15: Ryuuta Hasegawa

CONTESTANT 16: Theodore Liveradore Alakreuz

Please stand by for the camera roll in…

3!

2!

1!

[Muns will be contacted via discord with a link to the OOC chat]

[tazri]

Visit Original Link

Go tell that long tongue liar, go and tell that midnight rider Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter Tell ‘em that God’s gonna cut ‘em down

[aeloisoftheblade]

And as the good book says, in Trashing 3:16 “Has Thou Considered The Heartless Soldier?”

Hast thou though upon her? She does not think upon herself. She is a blade, meant to be grasped, meant to swing, meant to cut. Her is a sorry lot in life, abandoned by love again and again and again, even when she has found it, she sees her own failure in every ending.

Let her stay then, among the Tomb Colonies. Among the rot and the eternity of the strange lightless skies of the Neath. Let her stay dead, dear children, for perhaps with an eternity spent not feeling the rigorous pangs and pains of a heart she will find some measure of peace. 

She was ignorant of such pains and scars upon her heart, for she thought them the pains and scars of the body.

So the good book says, consdier the Heartless Soldier. She goes to war for lack of anything else to do.

Go ye dear children, go back to the light.

[fallenpeak-blog]

Tears 1:1 "This is the book of Her tears, penned in sin and shame" | Aelois | Secret Reaction

{CW: Something akin to a Panic Attack, Violent Imagery}

What? Another set of tawdry secrets? Another list that will mean nothing? Another chance for the devil to drive you mad? Ha! What can it do? Nothing! It can do nothing! It can’t it can’t it can’t

it said your name, aelois

i t  k n o w s

It can’t! It can’t! You’ll kill it! You’ll pull its head off! You will tear out its tongue and split open its belly and feed it its own shriveled guts! You’ll cutt off its head and throw it into a fire!

STOP TALKING STOP TALKING STOP TALKING YOU WORTHLESS DEMON!

Even as you step forward, Aelois, blade singing murder as you slash it through the empty air, it is too late. It is speaking the words. It is walking away

Ah, ils voient le pécheur en vous maintenant, n'est-ce pas?

What is there to do now, but stand center stage my dear! You aren’t the hero of an adventure story! You aren’t in one of your beloved comics! You’re in a tragedy my dear! And now! Look at you! You stand atop the stage, sword in hand for all to see!

La chose pathétique et pécheresse que vous êtes.

what can you do, aelois?

ah

we see

the answer is nothing

nothing but stare an empty stare at the assembled class.

your fire gone. your bloodlust lost.

can you even feel the tears, sweet aelois?

your sin laid bare.

[fallenpeak-blog]

The Blood of the Covenant | Secrets 4 and 5

By the third day your reactions are varied. Some of you simply show up to the theater at the appointed time, a few have to be reminded, and some of you likely attempt to avoid going at all. What good would listening do, after all? Though perhaps you’re concerned that the next secret revealed may be your own…

Whatever the case, whether you come of your own will or must be harried and corralled by devils, the class is once again gathered in front of the stage to hear what the Smiling Devil chooses to say.

“I’m sure you don’t require any preamble, we all know why we’re here by now. And speaking of why people are here…” The Devil produces his notebook once more, flips through the pages, and announces with an unwavering grin, “The secret our resident Angel is keeping is a rather unpleasant one, isn’t it? Working for Hope’s Peak to study your own classmates, reporting back to the administration with psych evaluations they never consented to. Are any of your friendships real, or are you just trying to keep your job? Well, you don’t really need to answer that- after all you use the moniker ‘Angel’ to keep yourself distant from your ‘patients,’ you said so yourself. And you haven’t told anyone here your real name, Chiyo Kira.”

There’s a significantly lengthy pause after this as the Devil gives you all a few moments to process. Can it really be true? The other secrets he’d revealed certainly had been, as you may have confirmed by now. And it would explain a few things…

But of course, that isn’t all. The Devil is flipping the pages again, that bright and happy smile still on his face, and he clears his throat before he begins.

[CW: Domestic Abuse mention/implication]

“So, next comes the secret of poor little Aelois du Drejall, the ‘Blood-Spilling Empress’ who can fight anyone but her family. How many of your scars are from your sisters, Lady Blademaster? And yet it wasn’t their abuse that made you run away to Japan, it was the kiss of another girl, wasn’t it? What an odd thing to be afraid of. Well, you needn’t fear it anymore. The truth is out, dear. Unfortunately, it won’t be setting you free. Only winning our game can do that… and that goes for the rest of you as well. My, but this list is already looking shorter. No one is gonna have good odds at this rate- I suggest y’all start thinkin’ real hard about whether you really want your business on the front page of some paper.”

Without further ado, the Devil turns and walks off the stage again. Consider yourselves dismissed… at least until tomorrow.

Unless, of course, a body comes first.

[fallenpeak-blog]

Thrashing 21:21 "And She was set upon by the vicious and vainglorious" | Aelois | Motive Reaction | Open

Another call to the theater… and such lovely flowers on her bed… What hoddities besiege the duelist, the blademaster, the girl with bandaged hands and a coat returned. What does the devil have next? 

Ah…A little black book, oui? Full of all the worst things people have done… and Yuma has given someone a concussion? That’s really not that bad, is it Aelois? At least not compared to the things you’ve done, hrm?

There’s a reason you have the star of a bullet’s kiss in your shoulder, Aelois. And that reason may be a story for another day… but ….

Does this motive affect you at all? Do you have a secret? You don’t think you do, really? There are… oh… perhaps there are secrets Aelois, secrets to your life that lay not in your bloody history, but your sorrowful past.

Troublesome and troublesome still. Troublesome and troublesome… Aelois you must be careful still. People won’t like the things you’ve done.

[fallenpeak-blog]

Behind Closed Doors | Motive 2

For several days you’re left largely to your own devices, free to explore most of the street, although nameless devils tend to herd you away from going further than this section of Ladybones. Still, there’s plenty of new buildings to explore, and quite a lot of adjustment. More than a few of you get yourselves entangled in minor adventures, and yet despite the disappearance of the fence you can’t help feeling you’re no closer to freedom…

A sense of unease has come over you, and it’s only exacerbated when you receive a card- either handed left on your desk or pillow, slid under your door, or simply handed to you. It’s just like the last one you’d received from the Smiling Devil.

It’s been a little over four days since the trial, you’d begun to think that this wouldn’t happen again… but no one has died since Noriko’s execution. So perhaps this is the Devil making good on the promise to provide more ‘incentive.’ What will it be this time? Surely nothing can be quite as bad as the nightmares, can it?

You all gather, either out of curiosity or fear of consequences, in the theater. When the last of you has entered, willingly or otherwise, the Devil takes the stage.

“Don’t y’all fret now, I won’t waste too much of your time. I’m sure most of you have already guessed why you’ve been gathered here… it’s to encourage you to participate in the game, of course! I’m disappointed that gettin’ to go home doesn’t seem like enough motivation for you, though I s’pose I can understand why you wouldn’t mind stayin’ in our lovely city. It has quite a lot to offer, after all, as do we… for the right price.”

“To the point, though! Everyone has things they keep to themselves, yes? Private lives, private business, secrets large or small. Everyone has things they don’t want others to know… well, sorry to break it to you, but we have ways of finding things out. And if one of you doesn’t die soon, then everyone else will get to hear your secrets too!”

“Oh, and when I say everyone, I do mean everyone. We have ways of dispensing information. A few things may hit your news outlets back home that you’d rather never saw the light of day. Meanin’ even if you did get outta here afterwards, you’d have a lotta explainin’ to do when you got home. So probably better to take your chances now, hm? I know at least a few of you wouldn’t have much to go back to if certain little facts got out to the public.” The Devil laughs, and turns as if to leave, then pauses and adds, as if as an afterthought-

“Oh, and just in case you think I’m bluffin’, I reckon I ought to give a little example.” He reaches into one of his pockets and produces a little notebook, flipping through it for a moment, “Hm, let’s see, who should start us off… ah, of course! Well, look at this. How violent, Yuma Sugawara attacked a boy at her previous school and gave him a concussion! Still, that’s not really surprising, is it? Who knows who else she might attack though, you all might want to be wary of a girl with such a hair trigger temper. Tsk tsk, not very honorable of you, Lady Onna-Bugeisha. Although that’s not nearly the most delicious secret in here. If you want more… well, all you have to do is wait. I’ll be announcing one or two of these a day until one of you dies or I run out, whichever comes first. And I’m sure many of you know which you’d rather come first… so best to be proactive, yes?”

[fallenpeak-blog]

Kindness from a Blood Knight | Chapter 2 | Alice | Closed for Aelois

[aeloisoftheblade]

shslimgonnadiearnti:

[cw: self harm]

“Ms. Drejall!” Alice waved, and hoped over to her. “I forgot to give you your coat back, and I wanted to thank you.”

She smiles at Aelois, but then looks down at her feet with a blush. “At the trial I felt so alone, but then you came. I can’t tell you how much your comfort means to me. I felt like I was going to fall apart, but you helped me keep everything together.”

She offers out Aelois’s coat when she noticed the blood on her hands. She takes Aelois’ hand faster than you would think she was capable of, and looks over the wounds.

 “Are you okay?! What happened?”

{CW: Self Harm} Aelois, isn't Alice acting so strange? She's hiding her face and going flush? Is she sick? Unwell? Wracked with a Fever? How awful... You can slay many things, but this specter perhaps not

Ah wait, non, she is giving you your coat back... and then she is looking at your hands. Where you dug in the nails to your flesh. Where a disgusting pink gently leaks and falls to the cobblestones like rain. How odd. These wounds are small. Insignifigant. They don't even register, do they Aelois? They're not important enough! Why is she even bothering to ask about them? Oh! Probably because then there will be blood on your coat! That would be bad, it is very hard to get blood out of clothes. You know very well

"Ah? Oh, these? Nothing. I did it to myself on accident, you know? Sometimes it happens to you too non? Like chewing on a lip!"

[fallenpeak-blog]

Kindness from a Blood Knight | Chapter 2 | Alice | Closed for Aelois

[aeloisoftheblade]

fallenpeak:

Alice holds Aelois’ coat and looks at it while rubbing the fabric between two fingers.

Aelois came to comfort her while everyone else was arguing and denying Noriko’s guilt. Alice hadn’t expected it. She was used to finding her own comfort, and providing comfort to others.

She didn’t know she needed the kindness until she got it.

She got it from a woman obsessed with fighting and drawing blood. A woman who plays dangerous games with knives, and looks for a fight in everything.

Out of all the students with all the talents Aelois is the one who came to help Alice.

Alice pressed her face into the collar of the jacket focusing on Aelois’ kindness instead of Nono’s death.

Unfortunately Alice had to return the jacket.

Fortunately that meant she could thank Aelois.

Determined Alice got up and began to look for the swordswoman.

{cw: self harm}

Aelois, what are you doing, we must ask? Ah, we see. You are staring. At the tattoos? At the art on the walls? It... slithers under your eyes. the art is moving. is this the place that... that did whatever happened to your skin. Was it done here? Is the man behind the counter responsible?

Aelois, your nails are digging into your skin as you clench your fists. Your bleeding, dear. But pain is a distant memory for you. The feeling of blood trickling through you fingers is.... perhaps not so distant. 

Look upon your hand, Aelois, a blank look on your own face. The blood flows sluggishly over your hand. The scent... the heady scent of blood... how nostalgic, how relaxing...

Ah, there is Alice, with your coat. Is she returning it? How polite.

“Ah, bonjour, Alice. How may I help you?”

[fallenpeak-blog]

Trashing 8:17 "When Her Rage cooled, her blade was stronger for it, but the world was crueler yet" | Aelois | Execution Reaction | Open

[aeloisoftheblade]

satoshimiyasakioc:

Satoshi is not too strongly affected by the trial’s events. It’s bad, they understand that, and they’re unhappy about it, but… Ultimately, nothing that bad happened to anyone that they really cared about.

It seems, however, it is a different case for other people.

Satoshi can hear the yells from what feels like a mile away. Of course, in these confined streets, it is far less than that. Anyhow, it concerns them. Surely someone is not being attacked, this soon after the trial…?

They approach the riverbank and peer out curiously. To their relief, it seems to be only a classmate, screaming for… whatever reason.

“Hey.” Satoshi calls out to her. “You do realise that, like, everyone and their dog can hear you, right? What are you doing.”

Aelois, turn on them with all the fury of an Angel. You are the Wrath of the Just, you are Death on Flaming Wings. You are that which is good and this person. Is a rude idiot. Someone who cannot leave well alone.

A normal person would be cowed, embarrassed. They also would have been crying, instead of letting nameless fury shape sounds of incoherent rage. But you are not normal, Aelois. You are Strong. You are Superior.

Your glare could kill, Aelois and you reek of bloodlust as you turn to face this one fully. Every inch of you is taught and ready. Ready for them to say one thing against you. Ready to hurt. Ready to share the pain in your heart.

“Apologize to me, you are interrupting my mourning.”

What a thing to say while drawing steel! Dear Satoshi, she is holding out a long and wicked sword, pointed towards you! Please understand, she wishes she could cry, but the tears... they dried up long long ago. All she has left is rage.

[swordlesbianopinions]

style tip #925

your outfit feeling a little flat? you’re wearing perfectly coordinated clothes, even your socks look slick and everything should be spot on, but it’s not?

well now, do i have the perfect accessory for you to add a hint of excitement!

it’s a sword.

[fallenpeak-blog]

Knightmare  | Trial End + Chapter 2 Start

The projector cuts out and retracts back into the ceiling, the audio stops playing, and the panels slide back into place. It’s over. However before the shock has truly faded, the Devil is calling to you from over by the door.

“Now that’s what I call a mighty fine film. But unfortunately there ain’t gonna be an encore, so y’all need to get on up outta here. Come along now.” She gestures for you to leave, and moves out of the doorway, waiting until the last of you has passed through before she closes it. There’s the sound of a lock clicking into place, and she leads you back up, up, up the staircase and through the lobby of the Brass Embassy. Other devils watch you pass or get out of your way, some of them smirk but none of them make any attempt to interact with you.

Once you’re out on the street again she leads you towards the Steelthorn Theater, and you realize something almost immediately:

The fence is gone. There’s no longer any barrier between the theater, boarding house, and pump house and the rest of the street. Before any of you can ask, the Devil laughs again.

“That’s right, you’re all free to wander around Ladybones Road now. Try not to get yerselves killed- unless it’s by each other. The rest of Fallen London is still off limits, for now. Don’t want you gettin’ in too deep too fast. If you attempt to leave the street, one of us will stop you, I guarantee it- and it’ll be for your own good. Now, I hope y’all have learned a little somethin’… the only way you’re gettin’ home is if you win this game we got goin’ on. And if no one feels like playin’ then I may just have to give you another extra incentive in the near future. Of course, if any of you have anythin’ else you want, any problems you’d like solved or advantages you might want to have, feel free to call on me. I’m always willin’ to strike a deal.”

“One of you is already a satisfied customer.” With that she gives you all a little wave, turns on her heel, and starts walking away down the street.

What does that mean?

You’ve lost x2 Classmates (New total: 16).

A twist in your tale!– You are now free to explore Ladybones Road.

[fallenpeak-blog]

The Crucible | Noriko Noro Execution

[TW: Burning, Melting]

It’s approximately ten minutes, perhaps a little less, before two panels slide open with the clunking sound of clockwork mechanisms. A pale screen is revealed on one wall and an old fashioned projector descends from the ceiling, aimed at it…

And then a third panel slides open on another wall and chains shoot out to encircle Noriko.

[ ♪ ]

Noriko looked resigned to her fate as she is dragged from the courtroom, as though she’s accepted the fact that you have bested her in a deadly game of wits. She has the grace not to smile, but she doesn’t seem ready to shed tears either.

Perhaps it is fitting that a knight should die with dignity.

When the screen flickers to life, your eyes are drawn to a picture you didn’t expect. Maybe you thought she would die like Joan of Arc–a trial by fire. Maybe you thought she would die like Arthur–going out on a battlefield. Maybe you went into this without any expectations at all, but what faced you was what appeared to be a large ceramic pot.

The camera is still as you are given time to assess the pot, though the thought that Noriko was not yet on screen nagged in your head. It was all white, like something from a school lab, but the bottom was distinctly blackened. From what…? Ah well, there’s no use wondering as you’re soon to find out.

Noriko finally appeared, dropped unceremoniously from above into the pot. She doesn’t seem aware that there are cameras now, as her eyes are wide and fearful. Her knightly composure vanishes as the chains let her loose and the camera pans to let you see inside the pot. She’s grasping at the walls, raking her nails over the clay to try and find purchase and escape, but it seems to be perfectly smooth.

Still, she wouldn’t be a SHSL Knight if she were a quitter now would she? She uses her long legs to her advantage and takes a jump, trying to grab onto the very rim of the pot. Just as her fingers find the edge successfully, the camera pans away. You can’t see inside the pot anymore, but you can just barely see her fingertips as she attempts to pull herself to freedom.

It’s then that you see the sparks. Sparks easily lead to fire and the flames easily engulfed the bottom of the pot. From above, a giant lid descends, smashing Noriko’s fingers and forcing her back inside the pot. You can’t see her anymore and you begin to wonder if this is the end, if she’s just meant to be smothered in a hot pot.

The flames only increase in intensity.

The sound of the crackling fire almost, but not quite, drowns out the sounds of screams coming from the pot. Her screams are amplified rather than smothered by the pot itself as they pierce your ears with their frenzy and fear. Even the boldest might wince at this, but the sounds soon recede into gurgles. From there, only the sound of flames and faint sizzling.

But it’s not over yet! The pot’s lid is removed, and the pot itself begins to tip. You hold your breath as you expect to see a charred human corpse tumble out, but instead all you see is what appears to be gold. The crucible burned out Noriko’s impurities and turned her into…priceless metal? The gold–though there doesn’t seem to be much of it (the thought occurs to you that perhaps there was more impurities than anything worth gold in Noriko)–is poured into a mold of your tormentor; the mascot that’s been holding you here in the dark.

The statue, at one fourth the size of the real thing, is displayed before the camera. It’s smiling, of course, as the Smiling Devil always is. You can’t get Noriko’s screams out of your head, but at least the statue wears a proud smile.

The Twice-Blessed Knight has been Executed!

[fallenpeak-blog]

Trashing 8:17 "When Her Rage cooled, her blade was stronger for it, but the world was crueler yet" | Aelois | Execution Reaction | Open

disgust, that is the name of the bitter taste upon your tongue, the name of the bile in your throat.

Disgust for whom, we must ask you Aelois? For Noriko who slew your disciple and broke her own honorable ways? For the Devil that has thrown her into the alchemical pot? For all of this? The death is a poor one. It breaks her. So simply. Pain was all that was needed? Can she be called a Knight? A Warrior? The way of the blade, of conflict, is that of pain and bloodshed. You know it better than her. Perhaps that is why she is dead and worthless. All of this is… is

It is so below you, below what you can be expected to deal with. And yet your hand is forced. The very hand that struck her last….

You would have given her a better death. You would have let her lie to herself, to stay strong as a blade was driven twixt her breast and pierced her heart. Even if she took your disciple, your friend from you, she deserved at least the Lie of an honorable death.

You storm out of the trial room when you first can, body heavy with a hatred, blood burning with a desire to do harm.

It is amazing, dear, what your eyes can do! A sweeping glare parts the crowded streets like Moses and the Sea, a miracle attributed to Wrath.

And where shall your wrath carry you? To the riverbank? Why not. There are worse places to scream in fury.