The beautiful room was draped in colors of velvet, scarlet, ultramarine and halcyon. The thematic hues that represented the core tenets of this mysterious story. Around the table set at the very center of the room, filled to the brim with cups of tea, confectioneries, and various sweet pastries to sate the physical appetite of the people present. Of course, the main purpose of this room was to sate an appetite of whole other kind... but that was not an invitation to be rude. After all, there were guests present. A good showing of hospitality was just what was needed in order to create a wholesome experience for every single one of them, from the youngest to the oldest.
The room itself had been divided into two clear parts. On the right side, there were five chairs of various styles and sizes, each representing one of the guests. They all had the marks of their Masterhood, the crimson Command Spells, carved to the backs of their chairs to mark who owned which one. This was also the case on the left side, were similarly, another batch of five chairs awaited. Only, the thing was, these chairs weren't aligned perfectly. If one looked, they left enough space for one more chair to rise at 12 o'clock of the room. This one, larger than the others, a veritable throne, was currently occupied by a strange figure.
Faded colors. Dusty red against ashen skin covered in tattoos. Carmine hair covering the greyish-blue eyes that stared into the shadows of the room. One leg swung over the other, sharp-nailed toes gouging the air as he sat there, waiting. It wouldn't be long now. No, in the end, time was pretty much meaningless here. Forgotten, abandoned, lost, found, recovered, remembered... that was the cycle that he had long since gotten used to. But yes, now... as he looked at each of the ten chairs, their inhabitants awaking, a cruel smile spread to his lips.
They were the ten Masters... yet they were not. A superimposed, transparent image of someone else was upon them. Knowledge from the other side, beyond the barrier of this world, the invisible screen that caged them to whatever story they were part of. The difference between the Masters here and the Masters at the island was simple; here, they knew everything they could. Knowledge beyond themselves, knowledge they needed to tackle the mysteries of the island... it was all handed to them.
And that was why this tea party had been prepared once more.
For the participants to test their mettle against the lies and darkness surrounding this island, the isle of Tengetsu, and to uncover the truth that so desperately wanted to avoid them.
"Welcome, Masters," the faded-red spoke. "The time has come. Welcome the Tea Party of Tengetsu. Here you all, Masters and Servants alike, can bash your little grey cells together, along with your heads, in order to come up with solutions to the mysteries you face. All information is free to be used here. That which can be found in there... and what can be found out there."
"But." He raised his index finger.
"Remember that a mystery solved here is nothing but a whisper in the wind unless you can prove it in the real world," he continued. "This place is meant for you to be able to solve it together, not as an individual... if that is what you need. But the answer in the real world must come from yourself, from logical and deduction. Not through magically knowing it because you understood it here. This is not that kind of tea party. It reflects both the world in there and the world out there, and yes, vice versa... yet, they are not one and the same."
The faded-red steepled his hands, fingers crossed, and gazed at the participants. Whatever moved beyond those stone-like eyes was unknown. Their barely reflective surface revealed nothing.
"You know the rules. Whenever there is a [Mystery], it must be solved. The lies and the superstition around it must be dispelled. In order to do that, you must create a [Theory]. [Theories] can be crafted out of nothing but deductive mind-work, but for them to be credible and work, they need [Clues]. [Clues] are the building blocks that form your [Theory]. If a [Theory] holds water and is the answer, it will, in turn, become [Truth]. Simple, no?" faded-red cocked an eyebrow. "Now, as the representative of the mysteries of Tengetsu, and the personification of its rules, I am allowed to destroy your [Theories]. In short, I can utilize absolute [Truth] when I talk. If you need an example, then I have the power to establish through merely with my words. If the [Truth] makes your [Theory] impossible, that [Theory] is unusable... unless you find a way to circumvent that. [Truth] is [Truth]... but it does depend on the way you look at my words. Remember that."
Putting his hands on the handles of his throne, the faded-red then drew a deep breath and spoke once more.
"Every [Mystery] presented during the course of the story must be solved. In other words, every question needs an answer. This is a good place to find those answers, or at least learn of the direction you should head. It does not constitute as a perfect replacement for the story proper... but right now, I am the only one you know who can utilize [Truth] when they speak," faded-red said and grinned. "Thus, I am the only one you can test the strength of your [Theories] against."
With a wave of his hand, the faded-red produced a large roll of parchment upon which words appeared in crimson ink. Ten points, ten bullets, ten rules. Slowly, the parchment traveled across the room so that each of the Masters and Servants could look upon it, and learn of what was written there. Once it had completed its round, the faded-red sneered and flicked his hand again, making the rules disappear.
"For this story, we will be using modified rules of Ronald A. Knox. We shall refer to these rules as 'Ten Commandments of Detective Fiction, Tengetsu Edition'. They have been adapted to the use of this story, and the mysteries of this story shall be played within their rules. Remember that, as they become your weapons... and your enemies," faded-red spoke, steepling his hands once more. "So, put your minds together. You'll find all the ammunition you need down below. Load up your shotguns, take an aim, and pull the trigger, your target sits right here upon this blackened throne of days gone by!"
With a sneering cackle, a laugh of witches and demons, the face of the faded-red twisted into a mask of nightmares.
"Come at me, you pitiful wannabe-detectives! This repeating torture is for your sake and your sake only!" the faded-red screamed. "You're trapped here, forever with me! It's a game that begins again and again, for the amusement of lies and darkness that await! The only thing you'll find in that snow is death of thousand truths, ones you can never recover!"
Sharp teeth, gouging from the blackness.
It was the signal of this sorry tale of truth, uncovered by the Ten.
"COME, SHOW ME YOUR THEORIES AND WATCH AS I BREAK THEM OVER MY KNEEEEEEE!!! *cackle*cackle*cackle*!"
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