I’ve got a prophecy/endgame theory lads, buckle up
I think it’s safe to say that the ending of chapter four is alluding to Ralsei’s death. Which absolutely SHOOK me, but the two chapters overall both were hinting at this going in. The multiple instances of him insisting they shouldn’t care about him, the empty room because he knows he won’t survive to need it for very long, the blood on his cheek with his words about fate being decided, and, of course, his parallel to Asriel in Undertale in being sacrificed for a greater cause.
Suffice to say, unless this is all a red herring, the game spent a large portion of the two chapters building up to this ultimate reveal. However, I think this final scene also hints at HOW Ralsei is supposed to die despite the prophecy being shattered by Susie. It’s subtler, but there.
Susie is supposed to kill him.
The blood on Ralsei’s face is initially from Susie’s hand. “The blood is on her hands.” She turns to touch his face after insisting none of them will let it happen, ESPECIALLY Ralsei.
Over the course of the chapter, Susie is consistently interested in the prophecy, and especially her role in it. This, and her story in chapters three and four heavily revolve around her growth as a person. She’s reflecting on herself, and learning to see herself has more than the ‘bad kid’ she was. It’s a focal point for a reason; it’s going to get flipped on its head.
Ralsei reiterates throughout the chapter that Susie is “a really really nice person.” It’s brought up in Chapter 3 after speaking about the festival, and after this conversation in Chapter 4. Ralsei’s question of “How can she be so kind?” isn’t reflecting to Susie’s own reflections of herself, or because of her consistent consolations of Ralsei’s doubts (in her Susie way), despite it being framed that way. He’s constantly questioning how she could possibly be so kind when she’s fated to kill him.
And Ralsei’s hope that the prophecy would change. Consider it: Would he have been trying to change his own death the whole time if it wasn’t for one of the lightner’s sake? No. Because multiple times again, he states he will take the pain for them. The reason he has been so insistent on “being kind” from the get go was not to change his own fate, but Susie’s. To try and ensure she wouldn’t be stuck with the fate of being the one to take his life, and have to live with that guilt.
He thought the answer was teaching her kindness. But with the prophecy unchanged, it leaves him stuck with that question: “how can she be so kind” and still be his inevitable doom? How can someone so kind still be fated to end his life?
…
Anyways, if Ralsei actually dies I’m still crying.
