>>6052954The walk back to the “real” palace gives you plenty of time to think over the cryptic message. Perhaps the TRUE Demesne really is sealed, and this is the first step to overcoming the seal. From what you already know about the Demesne, it's not that far of a stretch to assume that the “Lesson” it speaks of is referring to the Twenty Lessons. It's not the Demesne itself that refines the spirit, but the process of traversing it demands that men hone their will.
If your father really did venture deeper into the Demesne, that means he must have undertaken that great work. And if you want to retrace his steps, that means you'll need to do the same. Just thinking about how deep he might have gotten is enough to send a shiver down your spine.
“You have returned,” Sakhalin says as you finally arrive back at the entrance. Maybe it's your imagination, but he sounds faintly relieved to see you once again. Without another word, he turns and starts to lead you back to King Albrecht. You follow, although you feel fatigue dragging at your steps. Before too long, Sakhalin has drawn ahead of you. As you're slogging behind him, a figure appears from the corridor ahead – a familiar, red-haired figure.
You see the girl's eyes narrow slightly as she notices you, although she doesn't slow her pace. With her face masked by a delicate scowl, she sweeps past you in the narrow hallway – and as she does, you hear her whisper.
“Someone is going to die tonight.”
You turn in alarm but she's already vanished off down the corridor behind you, quick enough that your weary body has no hope of catching up with her.
>I think I'm going to pause things here for today. I'll be updating again tomorrow, starting from the same rough time>Thank you to everyone reading along today! 