Chapter Text
The poker table in the center of the building wasn’t particularly impressive — actually, it was rather small: only five seats, and there were just two players and the dealer. Though, to be precise, it was really one player; the other was desperately swinging an axe toward the dealer.
Susie:
— AARGHH! WHY THE HELL IS THIS NOT WORKING?!
Her shout clashed sharply with all the surrounding sounds, making it especially loud. Every swing of the axe stopped just inches from the dealer’s face.
Birdley:
— Suzan, I think it’s obvious that attacks here are pointless.
These words were meant to calm the girl, but…
Susie:
— *inhale* I KNOW… *inhale*
It worked? She released the axe, letting it dissolve into the air.
Greed:
— Wow! You got yourself together so easily? And even after Birdley’s words? That’s growth, Susie. Big growth.
The young businessman said this with complete sincerity, but a persistent sense of sarcasm couldn’t help but sting Susie.
Susie:
— So you think that just because I can’t attack you, I can’t do anything to you? I’ll start smashing everything in this building until you give back Kris!
Greed:
— Ha!
They gave a loud laugh right in her face.
Greed:
— Go ahead, dare me. I’ll just rebuild everything.
The girl drilled a look at the shareholder in front of her as if she’d spent the last hours twisting slot machines, but the moment this jerk sat across from her — they instantly hit the jackpot.
Birdley:
— Greed of Kris Ranney, you said…
He didn’t even finish before being interrupted.
Greed:
— Just call me Greed. No need to say Kris’ name in vain.
They said this, grinning at their own joke.
Birdley:
— Fine. Greed.
They deliberately dragged out the last word, filling it with irritation themselves.
Birdley:
— Earlier, you said you wanted to help us.
Greed:
— And I stand by that. I’ll tell you everything in more detail when everyone is gathered. But for now, kindly — take your seats.
Grumbling, Susie nevertheless moved to a chair. She hadn’t even added a comment when the phone in the head of the table buzzed.
Birdley:
— But these don’t even work…
Greed:
— Pride. What a pleasant surprise.
The businessman grabbed the phone from their pocket and leaned back in the chair, propping their feet on the table.
Greed:
— No, no, you listen to me. I discussed everything with the others, and my friend, we…
They suddenly stopped — apparently being interrupted on the phone.
Greed:
— Sorry, sorry, I meant — BOSS. I discussed the matter with the others, and, you know, we’re not all in agreement with this plan.
Once again, they fell silent, then met the gaze of the two players at the table, removed their glasses, put them on the table, rolled their eyes, and traced their temple with a finger. The unspoken message hung in the air:
My boss is insane.
Greed:
— You could put it that way.
Silence settled over the table. Birdley and Susie exchanged glances, carefully observing the dialogue. Susie tried to lean closer to catch the voice of the person on the other end.
Greed smiled at her, then put the call on speaker.
Pride:
— How did it end last time? Let me repeat myself: stop draining the resolve from the soul right now. Do you understand what will happen if it, and thus we, lose the ability to restart?
It was Kris’ voice, but more controlled. If Greed sounded as if trying to sell an idea to an unsure customer, the voice on the other end sounded more like Kris normally would.
Greed:
— Of course I understand. To be precise, I used that as the main argument to convince the others.
Pride:
— As I understand it, you’re not going to follow orders.
Actually, no — this wasn’t a normal Kris voice. At least, not the one Susie had heard for the last two days. Previously, Kris sounded neutral, as if not just holding back emotions but almost not feeling them at all.
The tone on the other end was also neutral — but not due to lack of emotions, rather due to control. Apathy shifted into coldness.
Greed:
— Nope.
Pride:
— Very well. In that case, I establish a new condition. I forbid anyone from letting anyone pass the level unless you truly consider them worthy.
These words affected Greed more than anything else so far. The confident smirk slid off their face, feet returned to the floor, and in their yellow eyes, the pupils began cycling through the suits of cards — spades, diamonds, clubs, and finally hearts — before returning to their previous state.
Pride:
— Good luck. Hope your bet on green doesn’t fail.
Greed blinked rapidly, returning to their usual state, like an actor receiving a few direction notes from the director.
Greed:
— Don’t talk to me about odds—
They didn’t even finish — the person on the other end hung up.
With a sigh, Greed put the phone away and was about to speak when—
Noelle and Ralsei:
— Guys!
-----‐----
Greed:
— Well then, let’s get down to business.
They began tapping a rhythm with their fingers, completely missing the beat of the song, but somehow the music seemed to rearrange itself to their new rhythm — to their order.
Greed:
— As I said before, I am Greed of Kris Dreamer. And that is a very important detail, understand? Not “the Cage,” not “the parasite” — no. It’s Kris Dreamer themselves.
Birdley immediately raised a wing, like in a classroom. Noelle waited for a more detailed explanation, soaking up every word. Ralsei’s face remained the same — with a slight frown, not showing that they were the only one who understood the meaning of these words. Not everyone at the table could keep a poker face.
Susie:
— You promised answers to our questions, not some kind of bullshit.
She said this through her teeth, summoning the axe — for a more effective way to make her point.
Birdley:
— Indeed, what is this Cage with a parasite? And what does Kris have to do with it?
The bird brushed its wing aside, continuing the advance Susie had started.
Greed:
— I was just about to clarify, but if you don’t like my storytelling, maybe we should switch narrators? Ralsei, buddy, won’t you help me out?
Their yellow, sun-like eyes met the light pink ones.
All attention at the table turned to the prince.
Ralsei:
— Um… what exactly do you mean? Haha…
They immediately looked away and forced a nervous smile. Indeed — they could keep a poker face, but with a little pressure — they folded instantly.
Greed:
— You know, explain to them what the Cage and the parasite are. Though you can call it an Angel if you want.
Susie’s questioning gaze grew more confused. She immediately lost her irritation when the main focus of attention shifted at the table.
Birdley and Noelle, not trusting the prince as much as Susie did, looked at them tensely.
Ralsei:
— Um… well… the Cage is the name of the hero in the prophecy. So, it’s Kris’ name.
They continued more confidently, trying to lay down the flop in their favor.
Greed:
— Wrong.
The businessman said sharply, looking through the prince’s bluff.
Ralsei’s thoughts immediately spiraled.
But this isn’t a lie. It is a prophecy…
Susie:
— Hey, maybe you should shut up? You’re not explaining anything yourself, and now you’re putting pressure on Ralsei!
It seemed that in the past hour her tone had only been filled with anger. How long could she keep it under control?
Birdley:
— Susie, you’re only disturbing the dialogue right now.
The first student of the class didn’t beat around the bush.
Susie:
— WHAT?! Are you serious? They’re clearly provoking Ralsei into something!
Ralsei:
— THIS IS NOT A LIE!
The prince shouted across the hall. Their eyes were full of panic.
Greed stopped tapping their fingers, and the music completely froze. Not only the music — the slot machines stopped, the roulette ceased spinning, laughter in the background vanished.
Everything in the casino froze.
Greed:
— I never said it was a lie. I said it was not the truth.
They dropped this line without their usual zest, holding their gaze on the prince.
A few moments later, their fingers resumed tapping, and the usual atmosphere returned.
Ralsei took a breath and continued:
Ralsei:
— The Cage is the hero that acts as a vessel for the Angel. But the Angel manifests through their soul, which is why the vessel must be soulless.
And so the turn was laid on the table.
Noelle and Birdley tried to process this new information. Soul? Vessel? And most importantly — the Angel? That very Angel?
But Susie, unlike them, had never been particularly involved in Deltarune’s faith, so her world was not shaken in the same way. And therefore she asked a simple question:
Susie:
— What do you mean “soulless”? How can a body even exist without a soul? It’s part of it!
Birdley:
— Actually, the opposite, Susie. The body is part of the soul, not the other way around.
Everyone has their way of coping with stress. Birdley’s method — demonstrating knowledge.
Noelle:
— That doesn’t change the fact that a body cannot exist without a soul!
Ralsei:
— A human body can.
They said it as a well-known fact, but the players could not be blamed for ignorance. In their country, there are almost no humans, and experiments on souls are highly unethical. And even if someone had such knowledge, it certainly wasn’t these three students.
Ralsei:
— Well, not for long, of course. In general — from tens of seconds to a maximum of an hour.
Another breakthrough in human biology was delivered as a casual remark.
Ralsei:
— In other words, Kris must have replaced their soul with the Angel’s soul to help fulfill the prophecy. But a body without a soul cannot fully manifest as a person. And most likely, this is what Greed means — that they are part not just of Kris’ body or soul, but a full combination of both.
Every word was spoken quieter, as if reading their own death sentence.
The river of this hand fell on the table — and it was clearly not in the prince’s favor.
But what sense is there in bluffing against a dealer who knows your cards?
Ralsei:
— What about the Angel…
Since the opportunity arose — they could tell everything.
Ralsei:
— It is a being beyond comprehension. I’m not sure who or what it is, but I know it has the power to change the world. And that is exactly why the prophecy was created — to contain it.
Greed:
— Cage — fitting name, isn’t it? Gluttony just loves this analogy.
Another joke, unfortunately, unappreciated by the audience.
Susie:
— And how long ago?
These words were said with unusual calm. The calm before the storm.
Ralsei:
— If I understand correctly… two days ago. In the first Dark World.
Noelle was in an incredibly low state. Her once best friend had disappeared right under her nose — and she just kept living?
It was not just the fear of losing a friend.
It was the fulfillment of her fear.
Even worse — Kris wasn’t just gone — they had been replaced.
And the worst part — she could understand it.
Two days. Forty-eight hours. Two thousand eight hundred eighty minutes.
Kris’ body was piloted by a chthonic entity — and the city didn’t even blink.
I did nothing about this.
And it painfully echoed Dess…
The bird at the table, as previously said, used intellect as a way to avoid problems — and so immediately began analyzing everything that was said.
The dragon, in turn, dealt with it differently.
Confrontation.
She literally jumped out of the chair, continuing:
Susie:
— AND YOU DIDN’T TELL US ANYTHING?!
Another shout erupted from her mouth.
Ralsei:
— HOW COULD I?!
But the prince’s scream immediately shook Susie out of her aggression — it was the first time they had raised their voice at her. They continued, also standing up from the chair:
Ralsei:
— TELL ME, SUSIE, HOW COULD I?! I HAD TO JUST LAY IT OUT ON THE TABLE? “HEY, WE’RE SAVING THE WORLD HERE, AND BY THE WAY, OUR FRIEND IS NOW CONTROLLED BY AN ENTITY WHOSE INTENTIONS ARE SO SUSPICIOUS THAT THE FATE OF THE ENTIRE WORLD IS COMPELLED TO LIMIT THEM! AND ON TOP OF THAT, KRIS TOLD ME TO KEEP THIS SECRET!”
Greed:
— Cage, not Kris.
Ralsei:
— WHATEVER! CAGE TOLD ME TO KEEP THIS SECRET!
The prince’s eyes turned red — not metaphorically, literally: the pupils changed color. They breathed once more, and the anger shifted to shock. Why had they snapped like that? It was completely unlike them.
The same shock was shared by Susie.
Susie:
— I… sorry. I reacted too harshly.
Saying this, she slowly sat back down at the table, looking down and avoiding anyone’s gaze.
Ralsei continued standing in confusion, still not understanding what had come over them. Their pink eyes returned to their usual color.
Greed:
— Wow. And Wrath even made it here, huh?
The dealer began a new hand, returning the players’ attention.
Ralsei:
— What?
They muttered, feeling the emotional emptiness after the outburst.
Greed:
— Your outburst — that’s Wrath’s doing. You’re a Darkner. Special, yes, but still a Darkner. And right now, we’re influencing all the Darkners ones within this fountain. Haven’t you noticed strange thoughts? Unnatural behavior before this?
Ralsei:
— Um…
Finally, order started forming in their mind, explaining new thoughts and behavior patterns that weren’t there before.
Greed:
— Please, sit down. I haven’t even explained properly yet.
The prince returned to their seat.
Greed:
— So, back to business. Since Ralsei has roughly explained what a parasite is and why we have a difference between Kris and Cage, I’ll continue. Cage opened this fountain.
A brief pause hung in the air, literally inviting someone to shout something and interrupt the dealer again.
But the players stayed silent.
Guilt threatened to crush Noelle right now. Birdley was staring at Greed with a clear message: “Come on, continue.”
Ralsei, experiencing an existential crisis, still did not interrupt.
Susie was literally holding herself together — arms crossed as if trying to restrain herself.
Greed carefully observed their reactions, absorbing each one, then continued:
Greed:
— But Cage could not hold back the growing desires. Freedom. Love. And, of course, understanding. This is the foundation of the current Dark World. For you to understand us: we are seven manifestations of different parts of Kris. And you will be able to reach the fountain only by understanding each of us. If you manage to understand each sin we represent, you will be able to bring Kris back.
Another pause.
Greed:
— Obviously, we cannot tell you directly what we want and what we are. This limitation was imposed by Pride — the main part. Returning to the topic of the fountain: why did Cage open it? The thing is, Kris, as you should now understand, roughly knew what they were getting into, intentionally making themselves a kind of martyr. And, perhaps, they might have even succeeded. But denying oneself life’s pleasures forever is impossible. Everyone eventually breaks. The Dark Fountain is a kind of process accelerator. Honestly, I don’t know how long they could have restrained themselves if not for the fountain… But I digress. I would like to tell you more, but I cannot — those details concern other parts of Kris.
Silence grew dense.
The players exchanged glances, seemingly deciding who would speak first.
Greed:
— Ah yes, for clarity: the Dark World is currently divided into seven zones, controlled by each separate part of Kris. We increase our power and efficiency by drawing it from the parasite, in order to oppose Pride. Otherwise, that guy sticks to the plan without changes.
They said this with an awkward smile, as if almost forgetting an important detail.
Ralsei:
— You said you cannot speak directly. So… we can do it indirectly?
Greed immediately brightened.
— Absolutely correct. Now we are going to play poker.
They dealt the cards.
Each player received two cards.
Birdley:
— Where are the chips?
Greed smiled.
— Where are they? They are already with you.
They pointed at them, then looked at the cards.
Greed:
— You can bet secrets, memories, anything valuable. I’ll start.
They reached for the left side of their chest.
Greed:
— A secret. The identity Kris feels romantic love for.
Pink chips spilled from their palm. One side — a heart, the other — “Lust.”
Greed:
— If I lose this hand, the player who wins will learn this secret.
And so the game began.