Based on my first playthrough of Verdant Wind ft. my friend @3stargins
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Giving this piece its own post outside of the Ask because I really like how it came out. If you want to read the ask that inspired it you can find it here
I feel like there's something powerfully compelling about what Ralsei's experienced as of the new chapter along with their end of chapter descriptor of "Watering their own thorns". Even if that's not something you necessarily wanna draw, I'm curious on your thoughts there.
Hello and thank you for the lovely request/ask! I'll put the answer below!
In my opinion that line is probably about denial and self acceptance.
Throughout ch5 we see Flowery try to coax Ralsei to be more open with himself, to not deny what he can do and to live more freely, but Ralsei denies that acceptance so much that it gets to the point where he outwardly says that he doesn't even want things "to be this way", even though I don't think he planned to ever give voice to that.
I think because of the denial of what he is (whatever this impossibility is) and what he can do (probably manipulate the world like Flowery does, maybe even more), in a way he's caging himself into this role he's taken up, the "Prince" role and because he is unwilling to let go of that the moment someone who challenges it shows up (Flowery ofc) he becomes prickly.
Ralsei denies himself being anything that isn't "A Prince" and it's hurting him.
The more he denies what he wants the more his thorns are watered. That's how I see it!
And ofc, you can say the same thing about gender expression, not just the prophecy stuff.
"The Devil knows there is power in perception. He binds those who cannot see their path to freedom."
I'm supposed to be working on my fanfest entry but this was so close to being done and my friend finishing DELTARUNE for the first time pushed me to it.
I'd like to make cards for this series based on the meanings rather than the surface vibes people usually go for and this one was the only one I felt comfortable doing before the full game is out. Doubt there will be anyone better fitting for it.
When looking at this image, please Really zoom in, i worked really hard on the hatching but i think tumbly is going to tank the quality lol