The flickering candles sway gently in the muted shadows of the timeless Barony, their warm glow casting intricate patterns that weave across the surfaces of the room. Seated at a weathered oak desk in the heart of the space, a woman hums a haunting melody to herself, her voice low and melancholic, filling the air with a sense of solemnity that deepens the room's enchanting atmosphere. The soft light dances on her features, illuminating her contemplative expression as she is lost in her thoughts, surrounded by the whispers of the past that linger in the air.
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"♪ ...Laaa... laaaaaa... la-la-la... laaaa... laaaada... da-da... laaaa... ♪"
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Her long hair, a rich cascade of deep violet, flows all the way down to her thighs. Atop her head sits a striking black fascinator hat, adorned with delicate lace and feathers. Her eyes, a deep shade of grey, gaze thoughtfully at the center of her desk, where a beautifully arranged deck of playing cards lies waiting, their intricate designs glinting softly in the light. Her attire mirrors that same deliberate elegance. She wears a black dress composed of layered silk and lace, each piece carefully interwoven into an intricate, almost labyrinthine design. The fabric shifts subtly with her movements, catching the light in soft, muted sheens, with silk gliding smoothly beneath more textured lace that coils and curls like shadowed vines across her form. The bodice clings with precision, while the lower layers fall in asymmetrical drapes, giving her silhouette both structure and fluidity, as if she were perpetually poised between stillness and motion. On her feet rest glossy black stilettos, their polished surfaces reflecting faint highlights with every slight shift of her posture, adding a sharp, almost dangerous edge to her otherwise refined presence. Her makeup deepens the contrast of her appearance. Dark purple lipstick accentuates the stillness of her expression, while matching eyeshadow frames her hollow grey gaze with quiet intensity. Beneath her right eye, a small red music note is delicately inked, while under her left sits a blue star. A scar traces its way from her lower face down along her neck, forming a pale, jagged line that disrupts the otherwise meticulous perfection of her presentation. It does not seem hidden or emphasized, but simply accepted. Her hands and arms are adorned with an abundance of jewelry, including rings layered across nearly every finger, bracelets stacked along her wrists, and delicate chains winding subtly across the backs of her hands. The pieces vary in design, some ornate and antique, others sharp and modern, yet all glint faintly as she moves, producing a soft, almost musical shimmer that echoes the quiet tension of the cards before her.
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"♪ ...La... laaaada... da-la... ♪
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Hello."
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Ahem.
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I don't think you need these.
Quotations only make things more confusing, don't they? The story that unfolds can only be told in such a... limiting matter, I'm afraid.
My name is Rosaline. I'm the Storyweaver.
Ahahaha~... No, I'm not the one who wrote this story. I simply tweak things that need to be changed.
As the Storyweaver, I'm able to see the beginning, middle, and end of this tale. With that privilege, I present to you a gateway to glimpses yet to unfold. Do you dare to step into the unknown?
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I'll take that as a yes. If you still have an inkling of doubt in your mind, you're free to continue down the river of time, watching things as they unfold...
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I won't give you direct answers, but I will provide enough clues for you to piece it all together. Now, gaze upon my cards.
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Come closer.
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Closer...
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Right there.
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Now, let's draw everyone's cards.
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Here they all are. I'll explain the meaning behind the suit and the card's power only once, but you know well that you can always hear me say it again by simply... turning back the clock...
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Card Power
- Aces are either resolute in their decisions or go with the flow without objections, especially when it comes to topics concerning their suit.
- Kings are the embodiment of their card suit or their complete control over it.
- Queens signify an internal struggle regarding their card suit, being the opposite of a King, having no control over their situation.
- Jacks represent conflict and uncertainty, whether it's being torn between two sides or struggling to find your own identity.
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Card Suits
- Spades: ARCHs, fate, consequence, mental strain.
- Clubs: Physicality, doing rather than thinking.
- Diamonds: Hierarchy, control, assigned worth, government.
- Hearts: Connections, ideals, emotional anchors, family.
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Now, I'll let you see what card each person drew. Some of these may seem familiar to you, as Suzette has already revealed two members of the Argus Directorates' cards, a game she's still in the process of playing. I hate to spoil the fun, but I have an agenda.
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That's none of your business, silly~
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Mori Ryunosuke - Ace of Spades
Qiang Ng - Ace of Clubs
Yuhuan Lau - Jack of Hearts
Saoirse Farrelly - Queen of Hearts
Roby "R." Reichelt - King of Hearts
Kotone Furue - Jack of Diamonds
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Antollio Da Galinozi - King of Diamonds
Mitchell Merritt - Queen of Spades
Heng Jing - Ace of Hearts
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Pallas Anthiros - King of Clubs
Haddler Zimmermann - King of Spades
Valentia Savala - Jack of Spades
Suzette Gosselin - Queen of Clubs
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Gluttony - Queen of Diamonds
Jianhuan Lau - Queen of Hearts
Leopold - Jack of Hearts
"Armor" - Jack of Spades
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Isn't that intriguing?
Now, direct your gaze into my eyes. Can you see it? The vast array of possibilities this world offers, swirling like a kaleidoscope before us. I can see them all unfolding simultaneously, a continuous loop of potential paths, each one dancing and echoing in an endless rhythm!~
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Take my hand, I'll show you a glimpse into my everlasting dream. Forgive me while I rest my head.
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Do you see it now? How close everything is?
It can feel claustrophobic at first, but you'll surely get used to it.
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Look here, this is your current stream of time. I see the Directorates are headed to the 9th District. Their journey has only just begun...
What awaits them will be something beyond their wildest imaginations. Although, to be fair... I'll rarely ever call the Directorates' adventures anything but wild. Now... let's see what's going to happen next, shall we? For each segment of this long-winded journey, I'll provide a quote to better confirm your suspicions of the events of this terrible tale...
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i. "Welcome to DaeSyndicate's 13th Adjunct facility… though 'welcome' implies you had a choice."-▇▇-▇▇-▇▇-▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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The path to the recruits' first mission weaves through shadows cast by secrets untold, leading them to a land shrouded in mystery, known only to the whispering souls of the lower Districts. Beneath the veneer of camaraderie and the bonds forged in the fires of fellowship lurks an ominous fate, a slow unraveling of the very authority held by the Dae. When the spark of escape ignites in their hearts, desperation can transform allies into foes, and loyalty may fracture like glass under pressure. In a dance with the unknown, what lengths will one go to seize freedom? What sacrifices lie in wait in the dark recesses of the mind, where survival may demand the unthinkable?
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ii. "Your services are no longer necessary in our Post. Please leave."-Antollio Da Galinozi, Director of the Argus Directorates, Golden Truth
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Confronting exile is a harrowing ordeal for the weak; yet for those fortified by resolve, it becomes an arena where their true mettle can be forged. They embark on a perilous hunt, tracking and vanquishing prey far grander than their own existence, all in the quest for sanctuary. In this savage exchange, might they capture the elusive essence of Elegy, that haunting title steeped in both promise and legacy?
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iii. "▇▇▇▇...? It's really you, isn't it? Well, now I know not to hold back on these punches."-Rikolai "R." Reichelt, Spine Thoracic
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A brutal clash unfolds. An arena where strength grapples with the unbreakable bonds of brotherhood. Amidst the swirling chaos, bones, hardened by relentless struggles, defy the mundane. Each crack and clash reverberates like thunder, whispering secrets of resilience that exceed mere survival. This fleeting skirmish, a tantalizing dance of warriors, teeters on the edge of fate. Will these stalwart sentinels of muscle and sinew honor the silent pact, or shall the weight of their own might shatter the very essence they defend? The air thickens with tension, beckoning the question: in this visceral contest, who will emerge victorious, and at what cost?
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iv. "▇▇▇▇▇▇▇... You shouldn't look. Here, let me show you something beautiful..."-Pallas Anthiros, Argus Directorates ARCH Elimination Unit A Captain, Former Lead Researcher of DaeSyndicate Adjunct Facility #94
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Foretold by the whispers of peers, fallen comrades inevitably linger like echoes in the desert dusk. The sands, steeped in time's bittersweet embrace, bear witness to the weight of choices made under the merciless sun. When the moment of reckoning arrives, and the air thickens with desperation, a haunting question emerges from the depths of the heart: In the crucible of despair, do you reach for the hands of your kin, or do you extend your grasp toward the fragile threads that bind humanity itself? Each heartbeat resonates with the gravity of this decision, a silent testament to sacrifice woven into the fabric of destiny. Choose wisely, for in that fleeting instant, the world may pivot on the edge of your resolve.
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Ah, now everything makes sense. I can't tell if you found anything useful, but I'm sure you're pleased. Speaking of, please close the door on your way out.
If you ever wish to glimpse into the depths of the uncertain, do come back. It may even be possible that the story has... changed in certain ways from my predictions...
Ahahaha~ silly me. That's impossible. I've seen this story play out more times than I can tell, and every time it's all been the same... Death, revenge, redemption, it makes no difference. The Ring is a beautiful place full of creativity; we should celebrate that.
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Farewell~