Quoted By:
“It's a very strange place,” you begin, trying to think objectively about everything you've seen so far, “When you first enter, you don't immediately notice that anything has changed. It looks no different to the rest of the old palace. But that impression doesn't last. The longer you stay in the Demesne, the more you notice how strange it truly is. The corridors stretch on for what seems like an eternity, turning back on themselves in impossible ways. All the while, you're descending.”
“If the first layer of the Demesne is almost normal, the second layer is where I really felt as if I was... somewhere else,” you continue, “There are things living in the Demesne, if “living” is really a suitable term for it. Kalthos called them “Denizens” - inhuman puppets, mindless things imitating human behaviour. They didn't seem to notice me, but I never felt especially safe around them either.”
“Scared of a few little puppets?” Juno asks, her lips twisting in a mocking smirk.
“I'm more scared of what else might be there. I've spoken with another man, a man who has explored far more than I have. He spoke of a monster deep within the Demesne, a beast that blocked his passage,” you warn, “When I visited, they asked that I go unarmed. There's a taboo about spilling blood in there. I still don't know if I was wise or not to obey their ask. Perhaps the Denizens ignored me because I went unarmed, or perhaps not.”
As your voice fades out, Juno closes her eyes to savour to image forming in her mind. Her smile changes, softens, and seems to spread through her whole face. Finally, she opens her eyes. “Thank you, Isambard,” she murmurs, “When the day comes that I get to see the Demesne, I wonder if you'll be there to see it with me?”
“You're the oracle here, Miss Tomoe,” you counter, “You tell me.”
-
“Hey!” a shrill voice calls out from the entrance to the archives. A short moment later, Ariel appears with a strange looking girl with dark hair beside her. “I found this one sneaking about stealing books,” the dark haired girl remarks, “What do we do with her?”
“Leave her be, Jac. Actually, leave us all be,” Juno sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose, “I thought I told you that I didn't want to be disturbed today.”
“Yeah, but it's getting late. Father says that dinner is almost ready,” the girl explains, narrowing her eyes in suspicion, “He says that your “guest” is welcome too.”
Juno grimaces, waving away the girl with a curt gesture. She leaves, giggling softly to herself, and you turn to Juno with a questioning look. “Don't ask,” she mutters, “Just a cousin. A very irritating cousin who doesn't know how to mind her own business. Though, I'll admit, I hadn't realised how late it was getting. Are you hungry? I hate to subject you to a dinner with my awful family, but I'll never hear the end of it if you don't attend.”
“I suppose I'll have to endure it, then.”
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