Chapter Text
The Narrator – You’re on a path in the woods. And at the end of that path is a cabin. And in the basement of that cabin, is a Princess.
The Narrator – You’re here to slay her. If you don’t, it will be the end of the world.
- (Lie) I believe you, chief! But could you tell me more about this ‘end of the world’ thing?
The Narrator – You realise I can hear that you are lying, right? You can’t hide that from me.
- (Lie) I have no idea what you’re talking about.
The Narrator – Nevermind that, I can see that you won’t be stopping for now for some reason. As for your question… don’t linger on the specifics.
The Narrator – You have a job to do, and getting caught up with distractions will just slow you down.
The Narrator – You just need to go to that cabin, slay her, and in doing so save the world.
- (Lie) Ah! I totally get it now!
The Narrator – Ugh. Nevermind. Just slay the Princess, and everything will be alright.
- (Lie) I’ll go do that, then.
The Narrator – Can you stop that? Stop lying!
- (Lie) What are you talking about? I’m telling the truth, the truth and nothing but the truth.
The Narrator – Look, spotting lies isn’t exactly some kind of detective work for me. So could you just stop doing that? It’s not exactly helping you with anything.
The Narrator – Ignoring that, could you just get going? The sooner you accomplish your task, the sooner the entire world is saved.
- (Lie) Fine, I’ll go kill her now.
The Narrator – Please stop doing that. Not only does it not help you in the slightest, it is also annoying.
The Narrator – You make your way up the short path to the cabin. You’ll find the Princess within.
Voice of the Hero – We’re not going through with this, are we? I admit I’m a little confused.
The Narrator – Ignore him, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. You need to be focused and ready to slay the Princess, not distracted.
- [Proceed into the cabin.]
The Narrator – The interior of the cabin is almost entirely bare. The air is stale and musty and the floor and walls are painted in a fine layer of dust. The only furniture of note is a plain wooden table. Perched on that table is a pristine blade.
The Narrator – The blade is your implement. You’ll need it if you want to do this right.
- (Lie) You’re right, I really need the blade for the task up ahead. Let me take it.
The Narrator – I don’t appreciate the lie, but you nevertheless take the blade from the table. It’d be rather difficult to slay the Princess and save the world without it.
- (Lie) Yeah, I would hate it if I couldn’t slay the Princess.
The Narrator – Why are you like this?
- [Enter the basement.]
The Narrator – The door to the basement creaks open, revealing a staircase faintly illuminated by an unseen light in the room below. This is an oppressive place. The air feels heavy and damp, a hint of rot filtering from the ancient wood. If the Princess really lives here, slaying her is probably doing her a favour.
The Narrator – Her voice carries up the stairs.
“Who…?”
The Narrator – Her voice trails off, as if she couldn’t think of what else to say.
Voice of the Hero – She sounds hypnotising. Like I could hear her speak for hours, and never tire of it.
The Narrator – Don’t let it fool you. It’s all part of the manipulation.
- (Lie) “I’m here to slay you.”
“Why would you be here to do that? What have I e-ever even done? I’ve been here forever!”
The Narrator – Ignore her. It doesn’t matter how much she’s been here, it only matters that she dies.
The Narrator – You walk downstairs and lock eyes with the Princess. There’s a heavy chain around her wrist, binding her to the far wall of the basement.
Voice of the Hero – She’s beautiful. How could someone like this be a threat to anyone?
The Narrator – I am begging you to stay focused. There’s a lot riding on you here.
“You weren’t joking about trying to kill me? You’re really here to e-end my life?”
- (Lie) “Yes, I will put an end to your existence.”
The Narrator – Why are you lying ? You are here to slay her!
Voice of the Hero – Are we though? She might not be a threat at all. Have you considered that?
The Narrator – She may not be a threat, but she will end the world nevertheless. What you need to do is to slay her. Now.
“If you’re here to kill me, can you at least tell me why ?”
The Narrator – Her voice trembles slightly, even as she holds your gaze and squints at you.
- (Lie) “It’s because… uhmmm…”
The Narrator – Your voice trails off for a moment… and it continues to trail off for more than a moment as seconds pass by, without an answer coming forth.
“Because?”
- (Lie) “Because… you’re too pretty!”
The Narrator – What?
Voice of the Hero – What?
“What?”
- (Lie) “Yes! Someone is jealous of you and your beauty, and ordered me to kill you, so that they would remain the most beautiful in the land.”
The Narrator – What? What is even going on, what are you even talking about?
Voice of the Hero – I am equally confused. I don’t get why you’re lying so blatantly to her, but as long as you don’t kill her, I won’t complain about it.
“That… makes no sense. I don’t remember anyone even visiting me, how could someone consider me more beautiful when there isn’t another person beside you to have even seen my face?”
The Narrator – Why are you even lying about this? Just slay her already! You have the blade, do it now!
Voice of the Hero – Don’t do it. That would be wrong. Though I’m still confused about what’s going on.
- (Lie) “It’s because of, uhh… magic!”
The Narrator – You say that almost triumphantly, like you successfully answered a difficult question.
The Narrator – Why are you even doing this? You’re wasting our time, when you should be slaying her instead!
Voice of the Hero – I have no idea what you are doing. What’s the point of all this?
“And how does that make any more sense? Someone spotted me with… ‘magic’, decided that I am too beautiful, and sent an assassin after me? Why would anyone even do that?”
“No. Can you tell me the actual reason you are here?”
The Narrator – Or. You could do your job and slay her right now. This conversation has been going on for too long already.
Voice of the Hero – I disagree, we could continue it. Even then, we should help her out of those chains, not kill her.
- (Lie) “But that is the actual reason, why would I lie to you about something like that? Wouldn’t it be really strange to just do something like that? Make random stuff up?”
The Narrator – Yes. It would be. So stop doing it, please. And actually do your job and slay her.
The Narrator – The whole world relies on you. You can’t just ignore it because you don’t feel like it. It’s exceedingly important.
Voice of the Hero – I don’t think either of us are convinced she could actually end the world. How do we know you’re not lying to us?
“Yes, it would be rather strange. But so far you don’t seem very inclined to kill me.”
“Perhaps you just find me too beautiful to want to kill me?”
- (Lie) “What? Noooo. No. I don’t find you beautiful at all. Not even a little.”
The Narrator – She cracks a grin at that, rolling her eyes at your words.
“Sure you don’t. You could stand to be more convincing though.”
The Narrator – She says that with a snort, though her light smile doesn’t leave her face, even with your pristine blade in hand.
The Narrator – This is it. This is the moment when she has her guard down. Strike her, now!
Voice of the Hero – Don’t do that. You know it’s the wrong thing to do.
- (Lie) Sorry, did you say something? I wasn’t listening.
The Narrator – Oh, you have got to be kidding me. Really?
Voice of the Hero – Yeah, not really sure I believe you either. And by that I mean that I don’t believe you even a little. But I don’t mind.
The Narrator – Well, I do mind. So stop wasting time and slay her already!
“So, lover bird, would it be too much to ask of you to free me from this shackle?”
The Narrator – Don’t you dare.
- (Lie) “I have no idea what you’re talking about, I am here to slay you! To put an end to your cruel reign of tyranny!”
“I thought it’s because of how beautiful I am?”
- (Lie) “You must be imagining things, why would I consider you beautiful. Now, prepare to die!”
The Narrator – Finally! Slay her and save the world, as you are meant to do!
Voice of the Hero – I… hope you’re not actually doing it.
“Uhuh.”
The Narrator – She says that in an almost bored tone, as she raises her manacled hand far above her in a sloppy attempt at a block, not covering any of her vital organs. You can easily sink your blade into her heart with no problem.
- [Cut.]
The Narrator – You cut into her flesh.
The Narrator – The blade is sharp, and it takes little effort to cut through flesh and bone.
The Narrator – More accurately, you cut into the flesh and bone of her arm, freeing her from the shackle binding her to the wall. Why?
Voice of the Hero – I knew you had it in you. Thank you. You did the right thing.
The Narrator – No. You did the bad thing. You are dooming the whole world.
The Narrator – Look at her. She doesn’t feel anything. She shouldn’t exist. You need to end her and save the whole world.
Voice of the Hero – Maybe she’s just good at hiding her pain?
The Narrator – You don’t truly believe that.
- (Lie) “Oh no! I accidentally freed you with my strike! Whatever shall I do now?”
The Narrator – Could you have uttered a more false sentence if you tried? I don’t think you could.
Voice of the Hero – Now, let’s not say things we might regret later. I don’t exactly enjoy being confused and lied to, even if the outcome is a good one.
“Perhaps join me in leaving the basement? You did say that you find me incredibly beautiful.”
- (Lie) “I don’t remember saying such a thing, perhaps your memory is playing tricks on you?”
Voice of the Hero – I truly don’t understand why you insist with lying. It’s not getting you anything, or doing any good. You could just stop.
The Narrator – And you could also slay the Princess and save the world, while you’re at that.
“You should try getting better lying skills. I know it’s not nice to say it outloud, but you’re not particularly good at it.”
- (Lie) “I have no idea what you’re talking about. But I’ll have you know that I am very, very, very good at lying.”
Voice of the Hero – I mean, she’s kinda right. Your lies aren’t very good, if I’m being honest.
The Narrator – You are going to damn everything to destruction because you think it’s funny to lie and don’t feel like slaying one Princess to stop the world from ending.
The Narrator – Think, and do the right thing.
“Now let’s get out of here.”
- [Approach the locked door.]
The Narrator – No. We won’t have any of that. The stakes are too high. You can’t just let her escape into the world… no. I can’t just let her escape into the world.
The Narrator – As the Princess approaches the bottom stair, your body steps forward and raises the blade.
Voice of the Hero – Wait… this isn’t fair. You can’t just do that!
The Narrator – Watch me.
- [Stab down.]
The Narrator – Pain blossoms in your chest as the pristine blade shreds through flesh on its way to your heart. Why did you stab yourself, you utter idiot? The world is doomed because of you!
Voice of the Hero – It hurts… but better this, than killing an innocent person.
The Narrator – She isn’t innocent! She is going to end the entire world, do you hear me?
Voice of the Hero – And I find that doubtful.
“No… why did you do that to yourself?”
The Narrator – Her eyes widen in concern as she stares back at you, blood pouring from your wound.
Voice of the Hero – There’s not really a good answer to that. Not that I think you would give one, even if there was.
- (Lie) “My hand slipped.”
“This isn’t funny. This isn’t a joke. Please…”
“How much does it hurt?”
The Narrator – Her voice is laced with… eugh . Concern for you as she gets closer to you, staring directly at your chest, and the pristine blade embedded into it.
The Narrator – As the seconds tick by, you feel yourself getting weaker as you slip to the ground.
Voice of the Hero – Well, it was nice while it lasted. At least we could save one person.
The Narrator – And doom all the rest.
- (Lie) “Don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt at all.”
“Ha… ha…”
“You aren’t very good at lying.”
The Narrator – Tears gather in the corners of her eyes as she stares down at you, confused as to what happened and unsure of what to do.
The Narrator – But that doesn’t concern you anymore.
The Narrator – Everything goes dark, and you die.