Chapter Text
This was it. This was what he came here for. D3rlord3 slowly walked past the gate, his eyes wandering over to the person sitting on top of a throne, yellow silks draped over the figure.
“I am the answer you seek, the person behind it all…” The entity responded, taking a stance from his cold gold throne.
“I am but the King in yellow. known as the king of madness. I behold the secrets of the world and forbidden knowledge. “ The king now approached D3rlord3, taking a closer position to D3rlord3.
D3rlord3’s breath wavered as he felt his throat stiffen. Just looking at this. Entity. It's making his mind go insane. He's barely looking at it in the eyes. He's never been more scared. More terrified in his entire life. Was this the entity’s true power?
D3rlord3 took in the king’s presence. His yellow gown, his posture, his slightest movement. The king, not oblivious to the Knight’s gaze, returned the favor. His eyes take in the slightest breath and tremble from the warrior.
“You've done well. Well, for a mortal. You are smart. I'll give you that. Even behind that helmet of yours, I can see the fear and weariness in those eyes.” The King stepped closer. Too close for D3rlord3’s comfort. The King reached out to caress his cheek, giving a haunting smile.
“Your own confidence is diminishing by the second, is it not? I did a perfect job of making you believe you had a chance, didn't I?” After no response from the lord, the king quickly becomes irritated. Grabbing D3rlord3’s chin, forcing him to look into his eyes, he couldn't help but give a scoff.
D3rlord3’s heart races, his whole body protesting against the touch, telling him to run, hide, fight back. But he doesn't. He can't. This entity far surpasses his power.
The King notices, giving a mocking chuckle as he lets go of his hold. Watching as D3rlord3 took some steps back and scurried away like a mouse.
Running away now, D3rlord3's mind was a mess, everything he had thought he had figured out was a lie. A big Lie created just for him to find his way into that Monster’s claws.
He stops and looks back. He can feel his heart thumping in his chest. His feet start moving again before he can think. He keeps running forward. Almost tripping over himself. He doesn't look back.
Once he makes it back to the entrance, he grabs a book from his inventory.
his hands are shaking as he writes and struggles to write.
**Whatever you do, at the crossroads, don't turn left.**
Over and over again
He knows he can't let anyone be as foredoomed as him. He **CANT** let anyone fall into the same trap. The same Fate.
God damn it, he was trapped! Cornered into a wall. He felt like he was trapped like a mouse in the paws of a cat. Played with since the beginning! He thought he was smart. He thought he had the upper hand. But no, since the first time he heard those footsteps. He was already being lured into **its** trap.
His head hurts. Legs, weak from running. Feet, dragging with every step. Placing the book down in a chest, he stares back at the tunnels.
What does he do now? What should he do now? He's done for. Overall already cursed with the knowledge he carries. He can feel his thoughts being taken over.
Then he hears it.
A whisper. The Same fucking whisper that had first captivated his mind.
Listening closer, he can feel an unforeseen force tempting him to go back.
Before he knows it. He's already being drawn back. His mind wandered somewhere else. His body and movements weren't his own. He wasn't his own. Something else was controlling him.
Reaching the gate. His body stops. Shaking again in fear. He's scared. He knows it.
The King in Yellow greets him again. Seeming more friendly, almost like he's talking to an old friend.
The King in Yellow addresses him. Not by his name, nor by mortal. King in Yellow's voice is glib and eloquent as he refers to D3rlord3 as **his** knight. His lord.
D3rlord3 feels a fluttering feeling in his chest. No…Was he scared?.... That couldn't be. It was something worse, he didn't want to admit. He was now faced with the puppeteer behind it all.
Despite his unwillingness, he can feel and he knows he's being controlled. His every move was already planned. Coldly calculated by a being far beyond him.
The King in Yellow lurks around him. Words and phrases of praise and eulogy had no effect on him. In defiance of his current predicament, he wouldn't allow himself to fall victim to the control of King in Yellow. He would not. He could not.
King in Yellow could try all he wanted, provoke him, entice him, but D3rlord3 would not budge.
The King in Yellow was now impatient. He thought this guy had been worthy of his presence. Worthy of his knowledge and RESPECT! Even with the control of his mind. This guy would not give in.
The King in Yellow could give him everything. He WOULD give him everything. If a soul was worthy of being his left-hand man. Then surely this knight…this lord….this warrior of the mind… in front of him… would've been it.
Annoyed, the King in Yellow got desperate.
in an attempt to fully gain control of D3rlord3's mind and mold him into **his** own will, he resorted to pleading in such a childish way. Never in his life had he thought he would have to act like this to seek someone's magnetic presence. Just by being around him, He could tell the potential this mere human could succeed in, if he just ... Open his mind.
Getting on his knees, King in Yellow was now yielding to this guy's unwavering resistance. He would not stand there and make a fool of himself, No-
He would get what he wanted no matter the cost. Even if it meant discarding his dignity.
D3rlord3 saw how this entity was nothing more than a pathetic excuse for a king. He would've already dealt with someone like himself if he had that much power. He moved his body back in spite of every fiber in his body begging him to stay put, to get closer. To feel the power.
"My knight. Can't you see? Your own king is bowing in admiration to your bravery."
D3rlord3 turned his head away. Agony fills King in Yellow's mind and heart. His patience was running thin. He would have D3rlord3 no matter what