“It is only a matter of time before one of us discovers what lies beyond” Knane said as she returns her posture straight, her left arm in front, her right arm behind, and gently opens her eyes that reveals a Dark Sapphire Iris with the Brightest 4 cornered star as her Pupil. “You will never understand. Keep on dancing on those Puny Humans’ Fingertips and be the puppet to their Entertainment.”

“We are in great peace ties with the Humans, how are we becoming a puppet to them?!” The 4th one continues to speak aggressively at her.

Knane groans “You truly are imbeciles. Too innocent to be even given the power of the strongest at the Council.” She then turns behind and walks away from them, slamming the huge doors of the room. “He has gone rusty in all the years I’ve served him…”

“What does that ‘imbecile’ even know?!” The 4th one said “How could we even turn against the King, the strongest of the current millenia”

“Calm down, ▓▓▓▓▓.” The 5th one said “She must have her reasons… For now, we just need to focus on what’s more important in front of us…” He pointed at the center of the circle table “...Humans have entered an era in which we might be seen as superior and therefore become feared towards their inferior lives. Of course, after a lot of years being at peace with them and only seeing that our Lineage of Monsters are advancing much faster than the humans, they might have seen this as… a threat.”

The murmurs of the council room faded into silence as the candlelight dimmed unnaturally. A faint, yet cold breeze swept through the stone hallway.

Outside the Council room, Knane stood still, fingers twitching slightly — unseen beneath her flowing sleeve. She had an unreadable expression. For a moment, something flickered across her eyes — a trace of something… different, yet warm — but it vanished as she blinked.

A voice, distorted and low, echoed only within her mind. “You’ve planted enough doubt… Let them crumble on their own.” Knane didn’t respond. Her jaw clenched, her eyes narrowing. She continues to walk down the hallway.

As the night ends, the morning comes and the Prince wakes up from his chambers excitedly skipping across the halls of the castle to meet his very Best Friend, Chara. As he skips, he sees most of their maids — Laundry Duty, Kitchen Duty, even assisting the prince in Duty. However, He paid them no mind, his eyes already set on the one person who could grant his wish — his mother.

“Mother, May I ask for permission to play with my friend outside the castle?” He looks at his mother with his most exaggerated puppy eyes — the kind he reserves only for these special requests. His ears slightly dropped, his hands held behind his back, tail swishing with hope.

▓▓▓▓▓▓, looking outside the window paused her minute gazing 

“▓▓▓▓▓.” His ears perked.

“Yes, Mother?”

She narrowed her eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “Those eyes may work on your father, but I am far more immune than you think.”

He pouted dramatically, crossing his arms and puffing his cheeks.

“But Mooom… Chara and I are going to explore more of the Ruins todaayy! I promise I won’t wander long outside. Pleaseee”

His mother sighed “I know you mean well, my dear… but there are current tensions outside the border. Your father and I are preparing for a very important meeting this morning.”

▓▓▓▓▓’s hopeful expression dimmed slightly “It’s just… I don’t know, Mother. Things feel strange lately. Chara hasn’t been saying much… and when she does, it’s like she’s somewhere else. I want to make sure she’s okay.”

His mother’s expressions softened, she sighed, but her tone remained calm and firm. She kneeled down on level with her son. “I’ll send for Chara outside and she may join you here in the Garden — no adventuring beyond the castle walls! Not today, okay?”

His shoulders slumped.

“Promise me, my Dear.”

“I promise…”

“Alright then. Now, go wait out in the garden, I will have someone call for Chara today.”

His shoulders perked up again “Okay!! Garden, here I go!” He dashed off towards the grand hall, leaving a trail of laughter behind. ▓▓▓▓▓▓ watched him go, her smile fading slowly.

“Please… let this be just another morning.” She whispered to herself as she brushed her hand against the doorframe as she passed through, as if leaving a silent wish behind.

A long table reflected the golden shimmer of morning light — despite the castle being underground — cast through the high, mosaic windows of the grand hall. The King and the Queen sat at the head of the room, flanked by monster emissaries and guards, their expressions stiff but composed.

Knane stood silently near the entrance, beside the Council of the Hallowed members. Her stance obeyed duty, but her eyes were vacant — as if someone else were watching through them.

The doors creaked open. Three human representatives stepped in, cloaked in navy and crimson. They bowed politely, but not too low. One of them — a tall man with graying hair — carried an ornate scroll.

“We bring regards from the Society of the Living, Humans,” he began, voice firm but rehearsed “We hope today, our peace remains.”

The king rose, “As do we. Let us sit, and commence this meeting.”

Meanwhile at the Garden…

▓▓▓▓▓▓ sat beneath a low-blooming tree, fingers nervously tapping the edge of a wooden bench. His tail swayed, ears twitching. He looked toward the gate again. And again.

“...She’s late,” he mumbled “Chara’s never late.”

He rose, brushing off his robe, and stepped toward the nearby field. Kneeling by the flowers, he ran his fingers through the petals — as if their colors might distract him from the quiet gnawing at his chest.

“She even promised that we’d visit their village today… even if my mother warns me to not move beyond the castle walls…” he added softly, barely audible over the wind.

A faint creak echoed from the smaller entrance for monsters than the huge archway. His ears perked. He turned. Chara stood just beyond the archway. Her expression was neutral — maybe tired. Maybe thoughtful. But her eyes, once bright with childish mischief, now held a stillness. Too still.

“Chara!” ▓▓▓▓▓▓ lit up, his voice hopeful. “Where have you been?” he said with a gentle chuckle, walking toward her. “I was starting to think—”

“I’m sorry,” she said gently, her voice low and even.” “There were… delays. I had to sneak away to come.”

He blinked. “Sneak away?”

Chara smiled — it was soft, almost warm. But her eyes didn’t match it. “Things are weird at the village. The grown-ups are tense. They talk about monsters more often now… and not in the way they used to.” She stepped closer, her gaze locking onto his. “I… I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

He hesitated “Yeah, I… I’m fine. Just stuck inside. Mother said it’s dangerous out there now.”

Chara tilted her head, feigning curiosity “Is it really that dangerous? Or are they just scared of what might happen?”

“I don’t know,” he said, fidgeting. “She said not to leave the garden today. Too much tension…”

Chara’s voice dropped to a near whisper — soft, coaxing “But the village is calm this morning. I made sure. They’ve been talking about you again… wondering if you’re real. That’s why I think… you should come. Just for a bit.”

▓▓▓▓▓▓’s tail stilled “They… talk about me?”

She nodded, her voice perfectly measured. “You’ve always wanted them to know we’re not threats, right? That we can be friends. That we’re just like them.”

He looked away, uncertain “But my mother—”

“She doesn’t have to know. We’ll be back before the meeting ends.” Chara stepped forward, brushing a petal from his robe. “We’ll say hi, maybe get something from the bakery, and then come right back. Like we always do.”

There was that smile again. Gentle. Reassuring. ▓▓▓▓▓▓ looked at the castle behind them. Then at her. His best friend. His only friend beyond these walls. “...okay,” he said, trying to smile back, “Just a quick visit.”

Chara nodded slowly “Just a quick visit” But behind her eyes, something flickered. Something ancient. Something or someone watching.

Back at the meeting…

The hall echoed faintly with the soft rustle of robes and the tapping of ceremonial staff against the stone floor. Between the clinks of silver goblets and murmurs of protocol, the atmosphere was deceptively calm — like a pond hiding a whirlpool beneath.

▓▓▓▓▓▓ sat beside the King at the head of the long table. Though her posture was straight, her fingers trembled lightly as they curled around the stem of her chalice. Her gaze flicked briefly towards the doorway, then back to the open scroll in front of her.

One of the human envoys, the woman with short black hair and a crimson sash, was speaking. “We acknowledge the recent advancements of monsterkind. However, there have been… reports — rumors, mostly — circulating among our border settlements. Of strange lights. Shadowy figures.”

“Unfounded superstitions,” one of the Council of the Hallowed, the 4th member interjected, brow furrowed.

“Perhaps,” the human said, “But fear spreads quicker than fact. That is the nature of humanity.”

The king was silent, watching. Listening. Calculating. But ▓▓▓▓▓▓, the queen… She wasn’t.

Her mind buzzed with something she couldn’t place. A pressure behind her chest. A wrongness in the air — subtle, like a breeze changing direction before a storm. Her eyes flicked to the stained-glass windows. Light was dimmer now, but it wasn’t cloud cover. The enchantment that brought artificial sunlight from the surface… it had flickered. 

Then again… she pressed her palm against the table, bracing herself.

“S-something’s wrong…” she whispered to the King — barely audible.

“What is wrong?” the king asks.

Knane — now sitting alongside the King, with the other members of the Council of the Hallowed turned her head ever so slightly at that. A faint smirk tugged at her lips, but she wiped it away as she raised her hands politely.

“If I may, your majesty,” she said, in a calming voice “Perhaps we should not waste the humans’ time with vague, superstitious remarks. This is a moment of diplomacy, not emotion.”

The Queen’s eyes narrowed. She stared at Knane.

“...Emotion is often what tells us the truth before the mind is ready to accept it.” There was weight behind those words. 

Knane held the queen’s gaze… then respectfully lowered her hands and bowed. “Of course. I meant no offense.”

But in the back of her mind, a voice whispered to Knane “She’s beginning to feel the pull. Let her squirm while the heart breaks slowly…”

Back to the Village…

The sound of wooden carts rolling, distant children’s laughter, and the smell of bread and ash filled the air. ▓▓▓▓▓▓ stood beside Chara, just beyond the last row of trees, he could see the first rooftops of the village. That strange knot in his stomach twisted tighter.

“Chara… are you sure this is okay?” he asked again, his voice is quieter now.

She smiled — that same smile. “You’re just nervous. It’ll pass once they see you’re the same little monster who plays with flowers.”

He hesitated, nervously. Suddenly, he reached out — took her hand. “You promised we’ll go back after?”

Chara didn’t answer right away. But then, gently, she said, “...Yes. I promise.” But her hand… was cold. As if he had held a dead person’s hands.

Back in the meeting hall…

The scroll was being signed — or was about to be. As the King dipped the feathered pen, the human delegate extended the parchment. Hands hovered — inches from each other — Toriel stood up.

“No.”

Everyone froze.

“Something is wrong. I can feel it — with every fiber of my Magic. Something has shifted.”

“Your Majesty?” One of the members of the Council asked, startled.

“Where is my son?” She asked, louder now.

Knane, calmly sitting as the first of the Member of the council, said “In the Garden, my Queen. As requested.”

But her words came just a second too late. ▓▓▓▓▓▓ was already moving.

Back at the Village…

As they reached the village gates, Chara let go of ▓▓▓▓▓▓’s hands as they stepped into the edge of the village, in a busy place. People turned. Murmurs began. A child pointed. “It’s him — the monster prince.”

“No… it can’t be…”

“He looks — just like the drawings…”

Chara stepped back.

“Go ahead,” she said softly. “Say something.”

He turned to her, his expression uncertain “Are you sure—” but she was already disappearing into the crowd “C-Chara?!” he turned in a circle “CHARA?!!”

The crowd pressed in. He felt seriously anxious and nervous when all of a sudden, one man raised a pitchfork. Another shouted, “He’s a threat! He’s come to finish what his ancestors started!”

Then chaos ensues. He screamed. The crowd gathered around him, threw stones, and it hit him. His shoulders, his legs, his back… He tried to run — but he couldn’t see where chara had gone. He looked up, desperate — and in that moment, something moved through the crowd.

A shimmer of black mist. Barely seen. Eyes — not human. Watching.

Back at the castle…

The Queen’s steps echoed once— then twice— as she stormed past the stunned council. Her golden robes fluttered behind her like a flame whipped by the wind. The guards at the door hesitated for a half-second—then followed, one calling out:

“My Queen! What is the matter—?!”

“Where is my son?!” she shouted, voice cracking like thunder. She didn’t wait for an answer. Her magic flared—white-hot. She reached outward through her own soul. Reached for him. For ▓▓▓▓▓▓. 

And in that moment— 

Nothing.

Not a flicker of his soul signature. Not within the castle walls. Not within the Garden.

“No—” she gasped, a hand going to her chest “He’s not—he’s not here—”

The flames on the tip of her horns ignited, unrestrained. Panic warred with rage. Her voice boomed across the corridors. “GET THE GUARDS! SEARCH THE GARDENS, THE VILLAGE THE FIELDS— FIND HIM!!”

The King was on his feet now too, slamming a fist onto the table “MOVE!!”

Knane sat there quietly, hands folded calmly. Her shadow… flickers slightly, moving independently of the light.