>>58837918
>>58838036 (me)
>>58838393
>The kingdom of Inkwell has never been better.
>The Gods truly bless this continent.
>All of its citizens are lively, happy.
>Their princess, Shiori has led a blessed rule.
>You are her older brother that conceded the throne to her as you felt she could become a wise ruler.
>Instead you lead the knights as their captain.
>The citizens love you almost as much as the princess.
>You are revered everywhere
>The kingdom is truly at peace
>Or so you believe
>It wasn't always like this, many wars were fought to obtain this peace.
>After returning home, with a life threatening injury, your sister Shiori, the princess, worried for your life.
>You awoke one day, to find the remaining Novelknights had succeeded where you hadn't, but that's ok, victory was obtained.
>However this is a lie, a delusion, a false hope
>Shiori had fallen into the abyss when she found out you had returned in that state
>She consulted the forbidden library
>She sought heretical books
>And finally she found it
>She performed hideous dark magic on the kingdom
>In her mind, you mattered more than the kingdom, the citizens? The servants? Let them all be damned.
>The kingdom of Inkwell fell over night, what was left was a land of abominations
>Grotesque eldritch horrors, walked the town's streets
>Your fellow knights? Sacrificed, experimented on, cannibalized in madness and frenzy
>Their life force was gathered up and passed onto you
>The knights you once led into battle and glory, are now horrific monstrosities
>Huge, bulky, sacks of flesh, bound only together by their armor, if one were to take off their chest plate, flesh and bone would splatter out in an instant
>Many tried to stop the princess in the beginning, the maids, the butlers, even some of your fellow knights
>However they were all quickly bound down, an infernal ritual serving them up
>You walk by the town, in your eyes, you see the sun shining bright in the sky, merchants offering their wares
>A lovely lady offering you fresh bread that was baked just moments ago
>However in this very town, not even the moon dares to shine down any more.
>Zombified merchants, clawing at broken down buildings
>The lovely lady offering you fresh bread? An eldritch horror, offering you a lump of flesh from a nearby traveler that had the ill-fate of resting nearby
>So why is it that you see such horrors as beauty?
>Shiori knew
>Shiori knew that you would not approve of her actions
>The kind loving princess you once knew? Fallen into depravity, sacrificing thousands for a single person
>So she cast a spell on you
>A heretical seal placed on your back
>As long as this seal existed on your flesh, you will never break out of your delusion, you will never see the truth.
>But did you even want to? No. You were happy right now.
>You happily consume the "flesh bread" that you were given, in your delusion you were told it was filled with meat, so you didn't question it at all.
>And thus, the kingdom of Inkwell has truly fallen
>The proud, honourable knight captain, older brother to the princess Shiori, is now a knight of death to the outside world
>All who visit Inkwell, trying to liberate it from the horrors that Shiori unleashed? Those adventurers are goblins, orcs, trolls, invaders, scum that would die by your blade.
>Shiori's illusion that she cast just for you is so perfect, so unbreakable.
>Only your death can free you, but you will never die, and you will never leave the Princess alone again.
>The heads of many adventurers, former servants and some knights line throne room
>Heads served on pikes that serve as a reminder.
>If you oppose the princess, death is what awaits.
>However, to you, these heads are just decoration, statues even, the smell of decay and death does not phase the illusion.
>You gently get on your left knee before your sister.
>She stares at you, and with a gentle smile, she greets you. "Welcome home, big brother."
>You gaze at her face, to you, her crown is shining beautifully, her eyes golden with a fiery passion, her smile full of warmth and love
>Her dress a beautiful black and white.
>In reality, there is no warmth in that smile, her eyes had long since faded, their fiery passion replaced with obsession over you.
>Her golden crown, stained crimson, her dress torn slightly, and bloodied
>She gently approaches you and rests her lips on your forehead
>A great honour, though those lips only had the icy cold feeling of death on them.
>Ever since your awakening, Shiori had always been paranoid about you finding out the truth.
So, in her paranoia, she asks you a question, though simple, her voice is tinged with a hint of hesitation, and possibly even fear.
>"Big brother, if I committed a sin, no matter how big or how heavy, would you stay with me to the end?"
>You close your eyes for just a moment, to you this question was just another simple question of a sister that felt a bit lonely.
>"Of course, you are my precious sister, I'll never abandon you."