Persona 5 - The Jester's Point Of View

Scene 139

It had been almost jarring, the difference after this conversation and how to proceed with this plan. Yet even with their stomach twisting around, Swan had to ignore this feeling of uneasiness for now. Something told them to turn back, not agree to this plan the other two Shadows had been suggesting yet it was best to go through with it all the same, wasn't it? They couldn't tell but something about this knight’s words, the heroic looking one, stuck with them.

“So, The Knight Of Thorns only deserves to have the head cut off!”

The voice was filled with resent, rage, fury – It was all personally charged and it almost made them sick when it had hit their ears. Something about it just didn't feel right. Yet when they tried to voice it in some way their mouth just went numb. Maybe it was for the best to stay silent for now. 

In any case, the roles given in this mission were clear the moment both teams had discussed the plan… Or rather the Shadows had forced it upon them.

“You may not be aware of this, but a jailor is out here, guarding this castle very closely. They must be making their rounds somewhere else.” One of the Shadows had said. “We will stand guard outside to fend them off should they show up. The three of you proceed into the dungeon and slay the beast within.”

An odd proposal yet one the three decided to take. Well, it was Crow who had taken them up on it pretty much right away yet one glance at them and O and they knew that this was more of a chance to not pass up on. “Very well. We have no objections to this plan whatsoever.”

And that is how moments later they were back inside the place they had been on the first day except this time it had been far from pitch black. At the very least they knew where they were going now, having been handed a torch beforehand to at least somewhat see what was going on in front of them, what the group would be running into. Crow had taken the lead as a result, making O grumble a little, nearly hiss even. The first steps taken had been in silence, no one daring to say a word. Swan themself could not get anything out, they were somewhat afraid to do so. Yet they didn't know why, really. Yet they didn't have to when O finally decided to speak up.

“So, care to explain?” He threw in, almost coldly yet also somewhat accusatory, though the trio did not stop moving for even one second. 

“Explain what?” Crow shot back, his voice a little dry sounding, almost dismissive. Yet at the same time he knew that this question was coming, didn't he?

“You know exactly what! Why did you have to accept this without consulting anyone else!?”

“Would you have done something differently?”

“That's not the point! Why are you taking charge here? I don't like this one bit!” O nearly hissed, his tail starting to stand up from what Swan saw. They wanted to tell him the usual, ask him to ‘calm down’ yet there would be no need.

Crow eventually stopped dead in his tracks, turning around. And despite the mask in the way, one could spot the slight narrow within his gaze. “I didn't want this chance to slip past us.” He explained, forcing a certain calmness in his voice. 

“Chance!? A chance for what!?”

Crow’s gaze wandered over to Swan all of a sudden. They felt called out by this alone, knowing the exact words he would use here. Or rather the question he would ask. “You're also thinking that something isn’t right here, aren't you?”

Caught red handed, enough to make them nod despite the hesitation for a short moment. “Yeah… There's something… Off about this.”

“Indeed. And it just so happens that I have my suspicions.” He continued before slowly turning around yet again. “So in the end this little ‘trip’ back here is simply something to confirm that suspicion.”

They could see O rolling his eyes for a moment, letting out one of the most annoyed meows they had ever heard from him. “And what would that be? Spit it out. Or else–”

“Who goes there!?” Another interruption yet at this point the voice was a familiar one. The same deep, distorted voice Swan and Crow had heard when first entering this part of the Palace. And yet again it would send shivers down their spine at least.

O had been on alert, his ears perking up in one go. “Who was that!?” He asked. One thing was certain, that this was far from good news. And Swan was shortly about to say that yet they would not get a word in this time.

“Now, if my guess is correct, this should be…” Crow began and unlike last time he sounded somewhat calm, to say the least. And unlike last time he didn't seem to run, only taking a few more steps to reveal the figure which had been right in front of them last time, the figure they couldn't see the first time.

In front of them was what looked like a knight yet the worn down kind. He wore thick, dark armor, its surface being covered in thorns, briars, and spikes. The wrists and ankles had chains tied to them. In one hand he carried a large sword and in the other a shield. Yet that was not the shocking part about this knight, no. It had been the face of said knight, the one he resembled. It was not a felon or any of the sort, no. The knight trapped in here… It was none other than— 

“Sato–San!?” It escaped their mouth in an instant, not even hesitating mentioning it. Even though it had them in a momentary shock, seeing him there of all places. It could have been anyone else but out of everyone that it would be him… And the two other Shadows aiming to kill him, The Knight Of Thorns, Officer Sato himself… Something about this image was unsettling. The glowing yet lifeless cold eyes only added to that.

“I figured as much.” They heard Crow say, calmer than Swan at the very least. He was clearly the more collected one right now. Yet it did nothing to help their unease at this moment.

“Then who–” They wanted to ask, yet before speaking up they saw the knight swing at them, forcing them all to jump backwards. Not just that but it was accompanied by a frustrated growl coming from his mouth, ready to launch another swing anytime.

“Let's save this chat for later!” Crow reminded them. “First we need to get out of here!” And they were not going to argue with that.