Persona 5 - The Jester's Point Of View

Scene 144

The treasure… It was a bit harder to find than imagined. Then again, maybe no one had thought about how it was hidden in plain sight. Then again, when it comes to The Knight Of Thorns it was all just lying there, ready to be discovered… Just like the pages lying within the Palace.

When picked up one would have to be delicate about it, to not damage them any more than they already were. At the brink of being torn into shreds, all dirty , signs of trying to burn them or rip them apart. And yet it was still somewhat readable, what was written on them. 

They found them lying around, one each… Telling the story of a knight, before his fall from grace… Before he turned into yet another of many sinners.

“ Being called into service is not something anyone can do. It is an honor. Being sought out as a knight. A title of pride and honor. But it is more than just that. It is but a promise. The position is no joke whatsoever. Those who cannot take it seriously nor have any intention of serving their lord honorably have no place here whatsoever! But not just him, also serving the people and therefore protecting the kingdom! Yes, protecting the kingdom shall take priority! 

I make it sound more exciting than it is. After all, I myself have just become a knight. I shouldn’t open my mouth like that. But it was my lifelong dream. And I’m finally getting this chance. When I was called over and heard that I have passed the trials given to me… I was just barely able to hold myself back. What a day that was…

But from now on I must hold myself to a higher standard. If I want to be a knight others can look up to, then I must do my very best! My lord has entrusted me with such a title… I cannot slack off now! No, this is where it really begins! ”

“ Slaughtering one foe after the other. Though ’slaughter’ would imply that this is all unnecessary bloodshed. And honestly, we were all ordered and told to avoid bloodshed unless absolutely necessary. Face your battles, be a fearless knight yet never one who kills and spills blood. In fact, massacres go against the code of a knight.

All the training is starting to pay off however. One by one I am facing foes in battle, some lasting weeks. There was this one time pretty recently where someone tried to bring the kingdom to fall. They were scheming behind the scenes, wanting to come attack when night time struck. They even did so by earning the trust of the king. Had no one overheard this one then who knows what might have happened. I managed to bring him to justice by defeating them in a fight and capturing them. Of course other knights complained about me acting too rash but thanked me in the end. After all, someone had to act.

Or the time where bandits appeared, keeping innocent townsfolk as hostage for ransom. Friends and family all came to us, in desperate need. It was necessary to act fast, hence why the chase was inevitable. And when we found those bandits they were also brought down, freeing the townsfolk as a result. A minor task one may say and I had gotten a scolding for rushing right into danger. But the safety of our people should be prioritized. No, not just our people, others in general. It’d be a crime in itself to let them come to harm. I can’t allow that to happen… 

I will do my best to protect those who are innocent. Each battle I fight is not for myself. It’s for them, for everyone! ”

“ I… I can’t believe it. The king, being a crook? A double faced tyrant all along? I cannot believe it… My lord was not the one I thought he was? But it doesn’t make any sense! He has never harmed a single man in his life! Even the tyrannical bastard on that ship one day, who had passed at our harbor… Even then the king had not harmed him. Instead he had told this man to leave at most yet never had threatened him with violence! 

And yet, this woman had approached me… This witch, residing in the forest nearby for many years. She claimed to have proof for his true nature. I did not want to believe a word she said but… Unfortunately, I have nothing against these claims to prove her wrong. I have an uneasy feeling but can I argue with those letters?

‘I admit that my methods weren’t the cleanest yet here it is – Pages from the king’s diary and letters, each and every single one mentioning his crimes.’ That was what she had said. 

And to make matters worse she had led me into the darkest pits of the dungeon within the castle. A place I believed to be empty… Only to see several bodies stacked up, right onto one another. A horrific sight.

‘Here it is. The people the king has wronged. Do you truly believe that taking lives is just?’ That was what she had said.

Her words sounded so doubtful but my eyes did not deceive me. The king… He truly is a tyrant deep down.

And yet, even with everything presented… Am I going to make the right choice? Leading a rebellion… No, I have to. After all, the people cannot suffer any longer. I promised to protect them. And I will protect them until the bitter end!

Even if I will pay with my own life!’

Deception and lies. The knight may have been played for a fool. And yet, even with this foolishness in mind, he had always thought about the kingdom before his own sake. Even once he became the monster in their eyes…

"I failed them. ”