text | un: kovacs

[kovach]

[ after attempting to follow some small footprints from the dining room, kovacs briefly hears some strange and suspicious laughter that echoes out for only a short time before it's gone.

— the fuck? ]

Has anyone heard some creepy fucking kids giggling in the hallways?

Or seen some tiny feet trailing around?

Comments

[kovach]

[ well, someone's sure keeping on top of the information chain. he does make a minor note regarding the use of honorifics, if only because he's half-japanese himself, familiar with their use, even if he only uses them for select company. ]

Could be. Might be part of some broken toy or something. I'd say it could be voodoo bullshit, but if that were true and it were meant to represent her, then she'd be dead with a broken neck, so.

[blackfire]

（ he is a certified (but carefully regulated) Infomodder^TM for whom the player apologizes profusely tbqh.

'voodoo' doesn't translate for him directly — instead, it comes across as shiji hyōketsu, which is hidan's curse technique of causing pain or death via the infliction of injuries on his own body. it works well enough to get the idea across, in any case. the idea that the doll may represent damage done to the princess' body.

hm. ）

In my world, there are techniques that inflict damage on a surrogate that harms the intended target. Likewise, it is possible to create exact copies of others, or to transform one's own appearance in such a way that fools even the target's closest allies. I cannot speak to whether or not the magic in this world can do the same as I am not familiar enough with it to make that judgement, but the more possibilities we are aware of the more cautiously we can approach the outcome here.

However remote the chance, if the princess is not her genuine self, we should explore that before making any arrangements or deals with the Sorcerer.

Sabriel-san may be able to detect if magic was used on the clay. Would you be willing to share it with her?

（ of those he has met here, she stands the greatest chance at uncovering such a thing. ）

[kovach]

Well, I might've figured out the clay piece comes from a jewelry box. Ballerina inside was missing its head.

So if there's any magic involved, it might be more related to that box. Quill said something was alive inside that didn't want the box opened. I could ask him about showing it to her if he hasn't already.

[blackfire]

（ why does that not reassure him at all. ）

That seems the best course of action.