Truth in the Abyss

**Date Started:** July 31st, 2021
**Date Completed:** Ongoing
**Previous Role-Play:** N/A
**Users Involved:** User:GuyCivic
**Setting:** Clover Kingdom
**Characters Involved**: Rolof, Gwendolyn, Brandy Vermillion

**X499**

"I'd like for you to start from the beginning if that's alright, Madame Gwendolyn."

A large, rounded man in his humble garbs sat across from the woman in purple as the two shared a space within the large lobby of the town hall, both looking to the other with inquisitive but wary looks. Gwendolyn had sat in the centre of a long white leather couch, with a golden skeleton carved with delicate and intricate spirals that decorated its look. Two men in CNP militia uniform with tin coloured helmets stood by at both sides of the seat with their weapons at the ready, their eyes hidden by the beaks of their headdress. Yet despite the shadow casted over their faces, it didn't take a detective in the room to tell that both their eyes were dead set on the fat man sitting across from Gwendolyn, who was holding a notepad and a quill on his lap as he began to question the woman. Despite the position he was in, however, the man payed no attention to either of the armed forces, with his sole attention placed on Gwendolyn before him. There was no tension, rather an aura that one could feel when two friends meet in the public, yet no friendly words seemed to be exchanged from either of them.

"If you could please, Gwendolyn. I'm sure you would like to get to that rally outside but-" The man said in a deep, distinct, snobbish voice.

"What do you think you'll accomplish by doing this, Rolof? Do you really think the Magic Knights will take you back after what you've done?" Gwendolyn interrupted, slightly smirking after her remark.

The man named Rolof sighed deeply out of his mouth, and jotted down a few notes into the notebook as he shook his head. "Please, start from the beginning."

Gwendolyn's smirk quickly dropped from her face as Rolof repeated his question, as if just his voice alone pissed her off. She brought her leg over the other and leaned forward, bringing her face closer to the large man seated a few feet from her to show narrowed eyes and an irritated frown. Rolof didn't respond, and instead sat firmly in his seat as he awaited an answer. The cries of chanting and cheering could be heard from outside the walls, chanting the name of Gwendolyn from beyond the bricks that momentarily separated Gwendolyn from the adoring crowd. The worried glances she gave to the side weren't exactly missed by Rolof, as he leaned slightly back to tilt his head upwards and watch Gwendolyn from the bottom of his eyes.

"She's been dead for four years, Rolof. If neither the purple whales or the grey emus could solve what happened to the Verm-girl, what makes you think you can?" Gwendolyn asked with a condescending tone.

The ends of Rolof's lips lifted to form a confident, stuck-up smile whilst his eyes narrowed upon hearing Gwendolyn's question. "The Disappearance of Brandy Vermillion is a case worth looking into, though for the most part, being handled by the wrong people. The circumstances require someone of my aptitude and personality in order to be able to find out just what happened to our missing royal."

"Mhm. And then what? You expect the Magic Knights to take you back?" Gwendolyn said as she sarcastically nodded her head.

"Whether they want me back or not is none of my concern. Now, enough of YOU asking the questions. I'd like a turn now," Rolof answered with a stern voice, "Please, from the beginning."

Defeated, Gwendolyn sighed loudly and pulled herself back onto the couch, exaggerating a feeling of tiredness from Rolof's bare presence. "Fine then, Roley. But no more further questions, I would rather not keep the people waiting. The first time I met Brandy was also the last time, I think in the summer of X495. Obviously, I wasn't the leader of the CNP at that time, but I was still one of the biggest supporter-magnets for the movement thanks to my way of speaking..."

## Into the Abyss

**X495**
The sun light kissed the city of Adrony as it hovered over in the middle of the sky, watching along with the crowd that had built up in front of the stage as Gwendolyn walked down the steps with an entourage of civilians walking by her side. These civilians wore bright yellow tunics, with brown coloured sashes over their shoulders and around their waists, each with a baton held in both hands. The sound of their steps going down were overshadowed by the roars of the crowd, chanting phrases in glory of both Clover and its people. The enthusiasm of the crowd was captivating and contagious, feelings that caused Gwendolyn to light up with a smile as she waved out to the crowd.

"With people like them, I can see a bright future for the Clover Kingdom," Gwendolyn said to her entourage.

As they proceeded to the back of the stage, the entourage began to take their positions around the small camp as Gwendolyn used the time to relax. Heading over to a small, purple tent held up in the centre of the small encampment, Gwendolyn pushed through the curtain doors to head into her own space; the dark insides lit up with only wax candles that flicked here and there, a large couch placed to one side with a coffee table in front, holding a plate of lollies on its slick, wooden surface, and a dressing room mirror with a small stool on the other side, with several boxes of makeup and jewellery sitting neatly before the mirror itself. Gwendolyn stretched her arms out and let out a loud yawn, her body mindlessly moved towards the couch and throwing herself face-first onto the seat as the cushions softened her landing. The smell of the wax candles filled Gwendolyn's nose and a sense of safety and delight blurred the young noblewoman's mind, turning her body around to lie around to stare at the ceiling of the tent.

From the corner of her eye, she could see the curtain doors move open to the side as a strange figure passed through the entrance, cloaked in a long, draping hood that hung low over their face. Gwendolyn shot up and sat back-straight in place, giving the mysterious figure a look of curiosity and wariness. Were they perhaps a fan that wanted an autograph or the moment to speak with an idol? Or maybe a rival that wanted to take the opportunity to take her out? Neither thought caused Gwendolyn to move from her place, as she instead eyed down the intruder with a cold, judgemental look. It was strange as to how security had allowed such a figure to move through, ever so easily at that, though the figure did walk in a way as if they belonged there, belonged here with Gwendolyn.

Gwendolyn caressed the front of her neck and cleared her throat just before the figure could get any closer to her. "And who may you be?"

The figure stopped as soon as Gwendolyn spoke up and did nothing besides let out a few heavy breathes that blew against the sides of their hood. As Gwendolyn opened her mouth to speak some more, the hooded figure threw their hand over their face and pulled back, taking the hood and the cloak from their entire body to reveal the person underneath; red hair, gold eyes and a devious, mischievous smile were unmistakable. The sudden expose of their face kept Gwendolyn's jaw dropped in awe as the young noblewoman tried to think of words to force out her mouth.

"...Brandy Vermillion," Gwendolyn spoke with great disgust, a hiss whistling against her teeth, "And what do I owe the pleasure of having such royalty in my presence?"

Brandy smirked and crossed her arms as she leaned back on her leg in a casual manner, "Don't be so salty, Gwenny-poo. I just wanted to pay you a visit! I don't get to catch up with a lot of my past students nowadays thanks to all the Magic Knight work, so I thought I may as well do it for my star pupil."

"I am so... 'privileged'," Gwendolyn said as her throat tightened, struggling to blurt out the last word, "And don't act coy with me, Ms. Vermillion, one doesn't visit someone of my social height without wanting something, even if they are from one of the Royal Houses."

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? Stop playing around Gwen, I just want to hang. Besides, I gotta say, those public speaking classes you took back when you were just a kid have REALLY paid off! You sounded great out there," Brandy said with a wink and a finger gun.

"Stop this, Ms. Vermillion. You can play dumb all you like with me, but I know who you really are," Gwendolyn responded in a threatening fashion.

"...Oh. Do you, Gwen?"