[Endgame: rise or DROWN]

[warpweft]

[How long have you been exploring Nessa's palace now? You've met her family, viewed her memories, learned how to fight as a witch and tried to find the source of her power and the Treasure of her palace: the Voidheart. And along the way, you've tired your best, with mixed success, to avoid the incarnation of her eldest cousin and the representation of her trauma and fear, the Nightmare of Esmau.]

[Wherever you are in the Palace right now, you feel the ground briefly shake under your feet. Little shakes here and there haven't been out of the ordinary - Esmau is trying to blow the place down to the studs, after all. But that felt different. That felt....worse.]

[Your phone beeps as you receive a message.]

Comments

[messianic]

[ she does look like she's been through it. When she's done reassuring Nell, Minato steps closer. ]

... You okay, Sprezzatura-san?

[velluminous]

[ she wipes the back of her hand across her brow ]

Yes, I have healed myself...

[messianic]

Mm, okay.

[ a beat, and with a small smile: ]

Good work back there.

[ he doesn't know exactly what happened, but given his own experience... he can guess. ]

/2

[velluminous]

[ for an instant, when her gaze meets his, he can see how very, very tired she is. ]

[velluminous]

Stupid boy needed guidance.

[messianic]

Mm. Good thing he had you there, then. I can't think of anyone better for the job.

[ he means this with full sincerity! ]

[velluminous]

I threw him to ground and screamed at him.

[messianic]

[ he just nods approvingly. ]

Sometimes that's what it takes.

[ a thumbs up. ]

Nice job.