⑄ 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚘𝚠'𝚜 𝚓𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚊𝚕 ⑄

『 Act XIV: crown of decay 』

the faceless took a deep breath, hesitantly walking further out of the thicket - and straight into the Core's domain.

and she immediately regretted it.

just a tiny bit.

that sound - almost like shattering glass, over and over - only grew stronger as the cryptid approached the ring of seven monuments, all with crowns reaching into the blotted sky, all with hands folded in prayer.

there were only two monuments that weren't feeding a constant stream of ichor and souls into the very center.

and one seemed far too familiar.

a skeletal, half-shattered monument, bony hands clasped in worship beneath a bowed head. its stony hair obscured its veiled face from view.

its crown was decorated in thousands of mystic hearts - pouring with dead magic, a black ichor that had long dried, staining once-pale stone a dark gray.

in the center pit, pulsing, emitting a gross stench of rot, the source of that disorienting shattering sound -

lay the Core.

"...oh."

.

.

.

the harvestman stared at the platform for a long while, debating on whether or not he should investigate.

his siblings were still back on the east side of the grove. he could just...turn around and go back to them.

but also this was the Core.

and he had the urge to just.

throw his spear into the pit where the pulsing ball of stolen magic lay. just to see if it did anything.

he didn't even notice his former mentor's arrival.

well, until he started yelling, of course.

.

.

"what - KOZ!! WH -"

the faceless startled, instinctively summoning her weapon - albeit clumsily, and in a bit of a hurry - as they whirled.

the lantern-holder stumbled out of the grove, ripping vines from his antlers and almost tripping on a root on the way.

"mind explaining why you chose to go the MOST dangerous route here??? DO YOU MIND?? BECAU -"

their angry rant was promptly interrupted by a spear handle to the forehead.

"my mistake," the faceless muttered flatly.

the antlered creature made a small, dissatisfied sound, rubbing his head with pinned ears. the overseer inhaled a bit, sighed, then turned back towards the Core, spinning her spear.

"now," she hummed, "the Core appears to be out of our reach. considering that these statues seem to be feeding the Core trapped souls and stolen magic, I suppose our next best action would be to destroy these."

"yeah, how do you plan on doing that??"

the ethereal being paused, then looked at her ally.

"...ice and thunder create explosions, don't they?"

"...I like how you think."

.

.

the harvestman just.

watched the duo for a bit.

he had no idea what they were saying, and no desire to join in.

especially since the lantern-holder was present.

he puffed, stepping away from the platform, before leaning on his naginata.

' I mean...I could just spectate - '

he rested his chin on his hands for a moment.

his ear suddenly pricked, catching the ever so faint sound of blades clashing and...what sounded like roaring.

he inhaled, before sighing shakily.

on second thought, perhaps he should go help his siblings.

sad.

he kind of wanted to join the battle.