Muffet offered to transport everyone to Alphys’ Lab in her van. That’s the least she could do after the mishap.
“Ahuhuhu…” she said. Clearly guilty. “I’m so, so very sorry. You’re right, Frisk. They’re too dangerous. I-I’ll have the spiders pack up the rest of the display.”
That’s good. Send them all over to Alphys. She should know how to dispose of them.
“Dispose? That’s a waste, dearie. Without that Determination, they’ll become edible again. Ahuhuhuhuhu~~”
Hmm. True. You tell Muffet that it will require further examination.
You continue patting Snakeface to soothe him. It’ll be okay, sir. Everything will be okay.
It didn’t take long to reach the Lab. The power of automobile technology does wonders.
You hurried to press the bell. Rung it multiple times for good measure.
Alphys answered the door. She looked… tired. Exhausted. Wiped out. Broke her own personal record for the baggiest of baggy eyes.
“Oh. Hi.” Yawn. “E-everything’s ready. You should take…uh… what’s his name again? Um…”
Your worrying intensified by a metric ton.
Undyne rushed over to her girlfriend. “Al? Al you okay? When was the last time you slept?!?”
Alas. The poor lizard fell asleep in her embrace.
Tempers flared. Undyne scooped Alphys princess style and stormed through the doors.
You tugged her shirt. Wait!
Undyne fumed. “How DARE they work Alphys to the point of exhaustion! Emergency or not, she doesn’t deserve this! I demand to speak to the boss!!!”
Shhhh! You pointed out just how silent the Lab was. If everyone was working, there should be a lot more activity.
To your fortune, she stopped her rampage. She looked left. Right. Then left again.
“You’re right.”
Phew crisis averte--
Undyne boiled again: “Does that mean they left her alone?!?!?!”
No! That’s absolutely not it!
You heard the steady taps of a cane. Foot, foot, cane. Yes. That’s the Tsunderjudge for sure. They’re coming from the inner lab.
Then, he appeared. As impeccably dressed as ever. Does he have a cabinet full of the same clothing?
Mezil grumbled. “Pipe down, will you? Everyone is trying to sleep.”
Then, Tsunderjudge saw Snakeface: the man held hostage by a pastry filled with Doughnutination.
If speechless dots could be materialized, you imagined them piling up around the Tsunderjudge.
As for poor, poor Snakeface… his level of embarrassment gave Napstablook a run for his money.
Mezil narrowed his gaze. “Remember the last time you tried to eat my Mark?”
Gaelic shook his head.
“I see. Well, it refused to be digested. So you only ended up having a bad bout of vomiting. It was a fortunate outcome. Would have poisoned you otherwise.”
This… this wasn’t his first time?!?!?
You heard a voice from the upper levels of the lab. It’s one that’s too familiar, and you’re not sure if you’re ready to face yet.
It’s ‘him’. The most notorious skeleton of Monsterkind. No, not Gaster.
“Oh hey, nice timing. We could use a test subject right about now.”
Sans teleported down to ground level. There’s… there’s something off about him. Nevermind the odd manner of how he’s holding his right arm in place.
He seemed more… energetic? Lithe? Efficient?
You mentally slapped yourself. No, this is NOT the time to get impressed by the illusion of coolness! Get serious. Get mad!
Snakeface’s growl-o-meter just rocketed into critical mass. Though muzzled by a determined doughnut, he still attempted to charge at Sans.
But the Tsunderjudge would not have chaos rule the day. He snapped his fingers and spawned a butterfly filled with peaceful Determination.
Snakeface ceased all his attacks and returned to his master’s side.
So Mezil could generate the light side of DT after all. Until today, you saw little more than his battle mode.
The grump crossed his arms. “Pray tell, what do you intend to test?”
Sans replied: “The Seraph System 2.0, of course. The beastly skeleton got us Muffet’s Determination Doughnut. 99.99% match to my previous sample. Therefore, we can compare the data to a known attempt.”
“Speaking of whom, hi!” he winked past you. “That was a good batch. Thanks a ton.”
Muffet just stood there, silent and unsure.
Oh. She doesn’t know anything, does she?
Leaning close to you, Muffet asked: “Did Sansypants lose some marbles?”
Yes. Yes he did. A lot happened last weekend. It’s…
Tsunderjudge finished the sentence for you. “It’s top secret, not to the privy of civilians. Please refrain from asking further questions.”
Muffet giggled. “My, oh my. You are quite a dashing authority figure. No wonder you have such devoted admirers.”
Grumpy Herb was not amused. “I’ll pretend that I didn’t hear that.”
“Ooooooooh, spicy!”
A spice-lover with a spicy attitude. Guess his obsession with Jungle Curry wasn’t unfounded…
Sans snorted. “That’s fun and all. But, the patient needs treating. Come, snakedog.”
Just the idea was enough to tick Snakeface off. He’s hyperventilating.
Undyne stepped forward. “No damn way, Sans! We WILL use the DT-Extraction Machine. Just as Alphys planned!”
“Oh? Guess he’s making friends faster than expected.” Shrugging, Sans surrendered his plans. “Welp. There’s that. Muffet brought more, right? Flavours shouldn’t affect the test. And a bigger sample size is always better. So… let’s get to business.”
Looking at Garamond, Mezil issued an order. “Observer, ensure a clean transaction between Sans Serif and Miss Muffet. I’ll take care of Gaelic.”
“Yes sir.” Garamond saluted. “Thank you for the continuous care of my cousin.”
“No problem. He’s my responsibility after all.”
With the sternest of glares from the grumpiest Living Victory, he then warned Sans: “Don’t do anything funny.”
“Eh,” Sans replied in his usual jokester manner. “Chillax. I won’t get ‘webbed up’ in any trouble.”
Good lord, the bad puns are back too. Ouch. If Tsunderjudge didn’t try to maintain a stoic face, he would have facepalmed.
Without retort, Mezil prepared to make his leave. He’s being extra serious.
Hmm, you wondered out loud if the Tsunderjudge thinks you’re needed anywhere.
He replied, “After we get that blasted doughnut out. In the meantime, you’re free to decide.”
Hmmm…
Stay around so you can talk with Sans, or accompany Snakeface to the DT Extraction Machine?
Choices, choices.
You’ve made your decision. You told Mezil that you’ll help Garamond watch over Sans.
“Mature,” he commended. “Very well, I’ll leave him to you.”
Thanks. You’ll catch up with him later.
“Hey squirt,” said Undyne. “I’m gonna take Alphys to her room.”
Great idea. You watched the fish rush up the stairs to the second storey, where all the bedrooms are. In the meantime, your big sister followed the tsundere into the inner lab.
Come to think of it, Alphys slept through the whole drama. Wow. She must be dead tired.
You joined Garamond to observe the transaction. Nothing fishy. Just Sans ‘compensating the victim of his nefarious plans’ by buying Muffet’s entire stock of Determination Doughnuts.
Garamond asked: “Who are you billing this to?”
“The Magus Association, of course.” Sans replied, “It’s their commission.”
“But you’re the one who conned Miss Muffet into your schemes. Use your own money.”
You crossed your arms and nodded many times.
“Fair point. OK. I’ll just ask Lady Lucy for research funds later.”
Ugh, that loophole exploitation.
The order was signed, and Muffet scurried away as fast as she could. This must be a super weird day for her.
“How are ya, kid?” Sans then asked.
Fine. What about Sans himself? You’re both concerned about his well being, and suspicious about his current state.
“Impending Abomination apocalypse aside, I’m feeling better than ever. Certainly in a less-compromised position than the snakedog on the operating table.”
Serious?
“Yup.”
Why? You can’t wrap your head around this lack of stress.
“That pod is pretty close to a miracle device. Got more rest in there than I had in a decade. Too bad humans can’t use it.”
Okay, but what about his mental state? Or, emotional. If he’s still capable of that.
You noted the relief on his face.
“Papyrus grew up for real. Walking the right path too. I don’t need to worry about him anymore. For the longest time, I feared that the world would corrupt him… like how it did for us.”
‘Thanks’ for the reminder, Sans.
“Just being frank.”
Right. Right. You remind Sans that he still needs to serve his sentence. Somehow.
“About that,” he said, “Unless circumstances change, all that awaits me is an execution. I guess nobody updated you about the ‘big scoop’?”
You showed Sans your smashed phone.
“Yikes. Had a bad time, eh?”
Yeah. You can say that again.
Say… If he could teleport around, that means his Eye is active. Why would Tsunderjudge let a death-row prisoner run free? Unless something happened to it? Surely, Sans didn’t escape from his mad attempts unscathed?
You heard Undyne returning from the bedroom. Sans glanced at that direction too.
“Welp,” he said. “Gotta go. Work’s calling. I know, I know. Sounds crazy. Bye.”
Wait!
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
Too late. He teleported away. It’s darn obvious that he’s avoiding the wrath of the fishy Captain.
Undyne noticed that you and Garamond were alone. “Drats. Sans fled, didn’t he? I was ready to GRILL him!”
He said he went back to work. Yeah, you know it sounds impossible, but you also think it’s true. If he really wanted to escape, he would have done so already.
“Gah…” she grumbled.
Well, since there’s nothing left to do in the hallway, time to look for the Tsunderjudge.
“Excuse me,” said Garamond. “May I ask you two a question?”
Sure. No problem. What’s up?
“What… what do you think of Gaelic?”
Undyne rested her arms on her hips, pondering. “He… really reminds me of some of the Dog Clan’s kids: hyperactive and eager. He oughta brush up on those social skills though.”
Grinning wide, she added: “I’m sure he’ll be just fine after a few more trips around town!”
Sorry to rain on the parade, Undyne, but it’s not as simple as that. Snakeface had shared a slice of his past with you. It’s not good. In other words, he fits the ‘Cute but Troubled’ trope and needs to see a therapist. Fast.
“I see,” Garamond replied. “Thank you for your honesty.”
Right before he disappeared from sight, you saw his hand reach under his coat. He’s going for a smoke.
You wondered if you had mentioned something wrong. Could Garamond be the type who can’t accept hard truths? That doesn’t make sense with his Justice trait.
…Maybe it’s a response that he had heard too many times.
Anyway, it’s time to check on the Tsunderjudge. Huh. Wait a moment… when you had your exorcism, the DT-Extraction Machine wasn’t in the depths of the True Lab. Guess they moved it back.
“Yup,” Undyne confirmed. “We had to lug everything out for you. Thank goodness I’m strong!”
Hmm, do you remember how to walk to the old DT-Extraction chamber? If it was the same as in the Underground, then you would. But… your mental map would be outdated if Alphys didn’t remake the lab one to one.
“Heh squirt, feeling lost?” Undyne reached her hand out to you. “I know the place like the back of my hand! I’ll guide you.”
Ah, the plus perks of home turf. You thanked her for helping out.
When you entered the True Lab, you noticed that it was a lot cleaner than you remembered. Brighter too. Some of the rooms had shifted around. Did Alphys make the whole complex modifiable?
Undyne said, “Yup. It’s not tied down like the old Lab. Core Tech, all the way!”
Cooooool.
You passed by a new room labelled ‘Resting Chamber’. Okay, that doesn’t sound like something Alphys would write. Lady Lucy’s demands?
“Wouldn’t surprise me if she took over the place. Her husband is Judge Thyme after all.”
Wanna take a peek?
“Sure.”
You gently opened the door. It’s dark. And quiet. Perfect for sleeping.
Oh! You could see the head of a human woman you don’t recognize. If she’s here, she must be a Magus. You don’t know her expertise though.
Then there’s a red scarf hanging over the other bed--
Wait wait wait wait wait wait.
Hold on.
Do you see that, Undyne?!
She whispered. “Yeah. I see it. Papyrus is here…!”
“Actually,” Undyne corrected herself. “I’m not even surprised that he’s around. I mean, we saw Sans. And that guy was totally critical. What shocks me is that Paps is asleep while the sun is up.”
Yeah. She’s right. Papyrus would normally skip the snooze in times like these.
But, you don’t want to disturb either of them. It's been a long night, after all. You closed the door and resumed your journey.
Around the corner, you smelled the fragrance of Ebott Goldenflowers in the air. Huh? The place ahead was much brighter than usual. Almost like sunlight.
Curiosity compelled you to investigate.
Whoa! Someone turned this whole section of the lab into an indoor greenhouse. Garden lights hung low over rows and rows of potted Goldenflowers. They seem to be arranged by the colour of their pots?
You spotted Flowey and Chara jotting notes about the Ebott Goldenflowers.
The ex-human spotted you. “Oh hi, Frisk. You’re here too early.”
Flowey shouted from the other end.
“Stop! Stay where you are!”
He put everything aside and leapt on over.
Pointing square at the floor with his leaf, Flowey said: “Not. One. Step. Further.”
Why so strict? You asked him.
It’s rather strange to see the ex-prince take charge on the Surface. In the Underground, Chara was always the boss.
“Because I have no idea where your shoes went! You could be carrying all sorts of nasties from goodness knows where. The last thing we need now is some infection killing all the flowers.”
“Notice how the pots are colour-coded? That’s because the Six were shattered all over those patches. Each flower is holding a small fragment. And we need to piece all of them together.”
I-is that even possible?
“Maybe,” he said. “But our first order of business is getting them healthy enough so we can transfer them to THAT contraption.”
He now pointed to a familiar row of SOUL containers. They’re hooked up to a computer… and a big mad science tube filled with a mysterious sky-blue liquid. You don’t know how to describe the apparatus otherwise.
What’s with that setup?
“You will need it to talk to The Six, Frisk.”
Pardon?!
Flowey nodded. “Yup. See, The Trashbag wants to use them for the Ocean Battle thingy. But Doctor Alphys wants to give them a second chance in life. In the end we took Papyrus’ third option. Asking them themselves.”
Ah. Yes, you understand now. Any problems so far?
“I wish there’s none,” he said, “We have a MASSIVE aphid situation. They’re THE WORST! See? This is what happens when people walk in without making sure they’re clean!”
Chara crept into the conversation. Typical of them. “Or those bugs have always been there, just kept in control by Dad’s green thumb. Either way, Judge Thyme was supposed to accompany us to look for the right insecticide. Then, well. Doughnuts happened.”
“You better get going,” said the rosy-cheeked one. “Azzie and I gotta concentrate.”
“Just shoo!” Flowey said, trying to wave you away. “And take your dirty shoes elsewhere! Like, around the bend to the right where you’ll find the big boss at the end of the hallway.”
Alright. Thanks. Keep it up, guys!
You walked, and walked, and walked… until you reached the DT-Extraction Machine at last. Doctor W.D. Gaster stood at the helm, hard at work. He’s been trying to adjust the trajectory of the machine to point at the doughnut, and not the victim.
It was once his machine. So, it made sense that he’d replace Alphys as the main technician.
Lady Lucidia stood by the side of the table, keeping Snakeface calm by holding his hand. She looked so sweet in her pearly-white sleeping gown.
“It’s okay, Gaelic,” she said. “Just one zap and you’ll be free.”
Snakeface was in clear distress. Gosh, that’s one of the saddest whines you had ever heard.
You thought you’re gonna stay for the grand conclusion, watching the doughnut get devoured. But… the Tsunderjudge thought otherwise.
“This doughnut business is as good as done.” he said, “Follow me.”
Aww, really? What about revenge on the hostage-taking pastry?!
He shot an icy glare at you and Undyne. “Gaelic’s not for your amusement.”
…Fine. Annoyed, you let the Tsunderjudge lead you away.
Wait. Undyne is joining too?
She nodded. “Sounds like he’s got important info.”
The two of your were brought to the viewing room behind the machine. Oh, no wonder Alphys had so much space in her house! The majority of her anime collection got moved to the True Lab!
There’s a state-of-the-art home-theater set, some snacks, and a mini-fridge. You don’t know if it’s stocked, but you know the room is perfect for binging. The only thing missing would be a nice big sofa.
“Beanbags, hm?” The old man commented as he made himself right at home by plopping on the red one. “Sit down, both of you.”
Okay. Sounds like you’re in for a long talk.
You and Undyne shared the green bag. There’s a third blue one, but what’s the fun in sitting alone?
So, what's up?
“Garamond relayed his concerns to me about your answers to his question.”
The one about Snakeface?
“Yes,” Mezil replied. “…Snakeface, huh? What a label. Well. I can’t say I’m surprised. Let’s see if you would still call him that once you look at this.”
He handed you a photograph.
You and Undyne peered at an unfamiliar skeleton. In the picture, he was lounging by the beachside in a simple shirt-shortpants combo.
He reminded you of Garamond. Golem-like. Just a lot more energetic. If Garamond’s a rock, this person is the wind.
There’s something oddly familiar about him. Like, you should recognize this bloke.
“That guy’s handsome,” Undyne commented. “I bet Alphys would go gaga.”
Who’s that?
The Tsunderjudge thus answered. “Gaelic.”
You were shocked.
Undyne first pointed to the photo, then to the general direction of the DT-Extraction Machine. “This is THAT guy?!?”
-200% Ferocity, +30% Cute, +70% Hunk!
Then… what happened…?
“He listened to the voice of fools,” said the elder, “They encouraged him to get a face that befits his ‘odd behaviour’.”
…………………………
You tell Mezil that you have questions.
Investigation mode, activated.
> Odd Behaviour.
Gaelic’s behaviour doesn’t seem natural. At times he acts more like a hungering beast of the wild than a civilized person.
“You’re right,” said Mezil. “It is abnormal. As for your suggestion to find a therapist, I’m afraid to say that none were effective. Their mere qualifications as professionals was enough to cause wariness in Gaelic.”
That’s oxymoronic. Professionals are professionals for a reason!
“Perhaps he sensed that they’re likely to treat him as merely their job? Gaelic will not open his heart unless you prove to be more than a business partner. I’m surprised he confessed to you so soon.”
That maxed out Charisma stat has gotta do something.
“As you say. Well then, why don’t we move on to the source of his odd behaviour? I’ll give you a clue.”
Mezil pointed to his eyes.
Oh. You get it now.
> Seer’s Eye.
It has something to do with their special Eye, doesn’t it?
“How much do you know about the ‘Awakening’?”
Hmm… you know Sans scarred his mom’s arm for life. Even post-Amalgamation!
Then there’s Papyrus, who couldn’t control his powers for a week or so. Lotsa physical pain, and a ton of creepy visions!
Undyne grimaced. “It was horrible watching Paps go through that crap.”
“More ignorance.” Mezil shook his head. “I suppose that can’t be helped.”
“The Awakening is described as follows: the moment a Seer’s Eye rouses from its slumber, Determination levels rise, along with the mental alterations required to comprehend this new sight. The average age for an Awakening is between seven to ten years old. The ideal age range is past six and before thirteen. Do you know why?”
Undyne raised her hand. “I know! It’s because of the brain! I read that humans develop 90% of their brain by six. I bet it’s the same for skeletons.”
“Not bad. You know that much at least. You’re correct: the majority of a human’s brain completes by six. The rest involves fine-tuning and puberty. So, what do you think happens if a Seer’s Eye awakens before the brain has acquired a steady foundation?”
They get… burned?
“Correct.”
You hoped that you had guessed wrong. Does that mean… Papyrus… he…
Scrunching her brows, Undyne said: “What are you thinking, Frisk? He’s okay! Unusual, but functioning better than Sans.”
Mezil then asked, “Have you ever known Papyrus before his Awakening?”
“Of course! I watched him grow up in the Underground.”
“False. By the time you first met him, the process had already happened. My wife noticed a discrepancy with Papyrus’ duration. An Awakening lasts for exactly 7 days, or 168 hours. No more, no less. Papyrus appeared to finish the process early. In truth it was just a continuation of the past.”
Hmm… you wondered: how many Seers have you met so far?
There’s Papyrus, Sans, Doctor Gaster, Lady Lucy, Garamond, Gaelic. If you recall correctly, Sans awakened when he was 7. That’s within the ideal age range. Papyrus is the unusual case. What about the rest?
“Wendel Dominic Gaster: age ten. Lucidia of Berendin: age eight. Garamond Blanc: age ten.”
And…
“Gaelic Blanc: age five.”
Oh. Oh no.
A new option popped up before you.
> Odd Behaviour (Continued)
> Other cases?
You could choose to dig more into Snakeface’s past, or get a glimpse of a wider world.
………………………
Maybe you’d understand everyone better if you knew the risks.
> Other cases?
You’re sure that Gaelic isn’t the only victim. Were there other bad Awakenings?
Mezil raised a brow. Seems like he didn’t expect you to take this route.
He said, “Yes. There were. It’s the prime reason why the Seer’s Seal was invented in the first place.”
“My own wife too almost succumbed to her powers, but she had access to the best facilities to minimize the damage. Even then, you’ve experienced her quirks.”
Undyne commented, “Yeah… Her speech tends to get ultra robotic.”
“If the power is too great for the bearer, it consumes their very minds: their ‘humanity’. The ultimate cost. Victims could end up wild and insane. Or they become a shell of their former selves, lost in a coma of visions. That’s just two of the most extreme outcomes.”
“Remember that adults are not immune to this ‘overburn’ phenomenon. Suicide is one of the leading cause of deaths among their kind. Desperate, they take their own lives before they lose their remaining shred of consciousness.”
…So that’s what Sans meant about The Eye being both ‘a blessing and a curse’.
> Odd Behaviour (Continued)
Mezil and his glare… it’s always the same levels of ‘stern’. That’s why it’s hard to tell what he’s truly feeling.
“Gaelic’s initial readings weren’t good from the beginning,” he said. “Purple. Orange. Persevering in reckless bravery. It lacks a stabilizing colour, and his inborn magic further exacerbated the problem. Doctors suggested his parents to give him up.”
They didn’t, right?
“No. They raised him the best they could. Even so, Garamond told me that Gaelic already showed troubling traits as a toddler. He was slow to speak, loved to chew, and didn’t get along well with the other children. His parents tried positive reinforcement to encourage more socially acceptable behaviours. Alas, they were too late.”
“…Perhaps their efforts might have been more fruitful if they had him Sealed in time.”
Mezil clicked his tongue. A strange, childish habit for a man like him. You wondered if he picked it up as a kid somewhere?
“Twenty-five years ago… When my wife and I took Gaelic in, my father-in-law warned us about the weight of our decisions. Like a sacred oath, keeping him meant that we are responsible for his entire life: from that moment to the day he returns to dust.”
He rested his head against the shelf, spacing out at the ceiling. It’s a rare moment of vulnerability.
“…I wondered what would have happened if we kept him ‘free’. Yet, that’s the least we could have done to secure his future. Nothing on this earth could ever repay the debt we owe to him.”
“Such ungratefulness,” Mezil said with a bitter tone, “Gaelic -- the saviour of Lemuria -- shunned forever by the people he protected.”
The fish gasped. “HANG ON A MOMENT!” said Undyne, “Did you just say, ‘SAVIOUR’?!?!?!”
> Saviour of Lemuria
You slammed that button fast and hard. What the heck is this revelation???
How, Tsunderjudge?! How?!?
Mezil squeezed his cane. You sensed the memories stirring up a spike of dark Determination.
“After we lost Mu, my wife and I tackled two separate calamities. I hunted down the human enemy, while Lucidia teamed up with the armies of Atlantis to stop the Ocean Abomination. However, by consuming those very same forces, the now unstoppable Abomination bulldozed over the last line of defense. And only one island remained…”
Lemuria.
“Indeed. The human Magi required to cast the Seven Soul Barrier struggled to arrive at the site of calamity. Lucidia was prepared to sacrifice her life to buy them precious seconds. But I had a feeling that she had all but given up hope for survival…”
“Then a great wyrm emerged from the depths of the ocean.”
That must be Gaelic! His full-sized Blaster is freaking MASSIVE!
“It coiled around the Abomination, halting its rampage. The goo wrestled. Flowed. Yet, the wyrm persisted. That action became the ultimate game-changer, stalling the charge just enough for backup to arrive at the scene.”
Shouldn’t they have seen that huge behemoth?
Mezil sighed. “He ran out of strength right before their arrival. The Magi only saw my wife reinforcing a massive spinal coil. The skull, where Gaelic was, had already disintegrated.”
So Lady Lucy’s the sole witness to his heroic deeds. No wonder they’re so close.
“They were childhood friends first. But I digress.”
D-does Gaelic even remember that event?
Mezil frowned. “Maybe only as a fragment of a dream. I’m sure you noticed he has memory issues.”
If he’s a true hero, then why was his life a total crapsack? He should have been celebrated by everyone! Then maybe that would have negated his bad reputation.
“Lucidia chose to keep it a secret.”
But, why???
“A ‘hero’ is expected to behave in a certain way. Fail that standard and disappointment follows. If Gaelic was hailed as a hero… his downfall would only be greater.”
Undyne rubbed her arm. “Believe it or not, I understand what he means. There are a lot of expectations when you fill in the big shoes. Man, my Underground days were quite a stressful lot.”
No kidding. You remembered Dad and Alphys as well. They all carried the weight of a great burden on their shoulders.
Then, what about Lady Lucidia herself? She should be of high status, no?
“Frisk,” said Mezil. “My wife lost much of her standing because of Gaelic and I. We were seen as bad company. Omens. Many view her as the witch who married a DEMON, and the keeper of a violent beast.”
T-that’s so unfair!
“Such is life.”
You’re getting frustrated. Super frustrated.
“Therein lies the sad truth of Gaelic Blanc.” Mezil added. “With each intensive activation of The Eye, his mind further deteriorates. Those heroic deeds serve only to worsen his condition, and his social status among his kin.”
“It's for that very reason that my wife hesitates in bringing another powerful Seer to the frontlines of the Ocean Battle. What if victory demands unmentionable sacrifices? For example: Gaelic’s last remaining shred of sanity? Or Papyrus’ well being?”
Your heart sank. You understand the dilemma now. So did Undyne.
“No!” your friend yelled. “I-I won’t let Papyrus lose his mind. I won’t let Gaelic lose his either. Those two barely started life!!!”
You agree. Snakeface was sooooo happy that he handled muscle-freak Aaron without issues! You don’t want to see him tossed back into the looney-bin.
And, the last thing you want is Papyrus to fall into a permacoma: a vegetable -- a fruit -- an actual papaya!
Mezil closed his eyes, solemn.
“I wouldn’t want to condemn them either. But unless everyone else gives it their all, there’s a chance that circumstances may not grant them the luxury.”
True…
“Think long and hard -- Crimson Keeper Frisk -- whether you would be determined enough to seek an impossible dream, or be forced to give it up for the illusion of certainty.”
“The choice is up to you.”