"If Lumière Croft is gone, how is this abyss of his own mind still active?" Despair murmured, crouching down next to the glowing wall, placing his face feebly atop his knees.
Ophelia stood, hovering over the man cloaked in black crows as he replied, "there are two reasons that I can think of. The first is that this wall has something to do with it. There were always many peculiarities around it, perhaps it is what is keeping this place stable. The second reason may be because Lumière hasn't truly gone away. If he really has lost his 'persona', and 'Lumière Croft' is 'dead', then there must be something left of him keeping this place together."
Footsteps echoed through the dark corridors of the abyss, drawing the attention of the two towards the space behind the ancient wall.
"Indeed, these things are true, to an extent."
There was a man slowly emerging from the shadows. He wore a silk half-top hat and a black frock coat, his face blurry and unrecognisable.
Ophelia and Despair both stood on guard as this man approached, neither retaining any weapon, apart from Despair's innate ability.
"Who are you?" Despair spoke in a cold, dangerous tone.
As the man grew closer, he replied.
"If you are really a fragment of little Sinner, then you should know who I am. Or is it that you don't retain his memories? Well, it doesn't really matter. You both can call me Demeter."
'Little Sinner? Does he mean Lord Sinner?' Despair's gaze narrowed as he reached into his jacket pocket, procuring a small metal flask.
"It's no use, child of little Sinner. I don't feel fear. Whatever Lumière Croft has accumulated in your stead, it's not enough. Not nearly."
Ophelia scoffed, approaching casually, as if he didn't mind the strange disparity between them. Although he was someone that may be referring to a Deity by a casual, almost belittling extent, he was the Demon of the Garden. His power in relation did not matter, he was a Demon!
"Mr. Demeter, why have you come to this place? No, rather, how did you come upon this place?"
"'Why' is not important right now." Demeter gradually approached the crumbling stone wall, placing his hand gently on its surface. "This is the only thing keeping you two stable. I thought that this 'door' would be discovered far sooner by one of the Beacons, but none had the mind to look within themselves. No matter how many times the fifty-two cards were introduced to the world, and the House of Cards formed, none had the will to become a Heretic. Only Lumière Croft could have the mind to do such a thing, and so he was the first to discover this door."
'The House of Cards is intricately connected with the Lord Sinner?' Of course, even though it had been Lumière Croft's experiences, Ophelia still had much stake in the House of Cards. It was deeply connected to his story, and so he was intensely intrigued. But he had no mind to ask any questions, not of that sort. There was much more at stake than curiosity. "What do you mean by 'door'? This stone wall is a door?"
Demeter scoffed. He simply pressed harder onto the surface of the stone wall. The strange runes on its surface shimmered, bending and twisted around his palm as they shot outwards, reforming themselves along the outer edge of the wall. It was in the shape of an arch- it was in the shape of a door!
"There is no rhyme or reason to it because you do not understand it. This door was placed here many tens-of-thousands of years ago in preparation. These are 'his' plans. Do not ever try to comprehend them, you will ruin yourself in its pursuit."
"If what you indeed say is true, and Lumière Croft is still alive, why has he disappeared from here?"
"'Lumière Croft' as a person no longer exists. He overwrote that fact when he decided to transform into a monster." Demeter corrected him, staring down at the endlessly dark ground below. "But he still remains,- his memory, the fragments of his persona still remain. They have been scattered in the place beyond this door, this was one of the many preparations little Sinner had made in the event that this door was finally discovered by one of his Beacons."
"So there is a possibility of his revival?" Despair inquired. His tone had become a bit more respectful. If this person was affiliated with Lord Sinner, then it was the case that he should do so. Moreover, Despair did indeed wish for Lumière Croft's return. After all, without that vessel, he could not enjoy himself in the waking world. Besides that, it was his duty to belong to Lumière, that was the only memory that remained in his head, an inalienable command to serve. He did so reluctantly, but he did still yet serve the magician well.
"Indeed. If you wish it so, I can allow you past this door. There is no risk in doing so. Whether you perish or not, you would fade into nonexistence anyway. This place would die as Lumière Croft does. His memory fragments will wither, and you will crumble like this door. However, if this is the path you choose, it will become clear to you that your death will be inevitable anyway. You will turn out like that crazy figure, Lain did."
He turned towards the two personae, grinning.
"So here are your two choices. You can die, or you can die with a purpose. Which will you choose?"
There was no hesitation in their answer, nodding in unison. Whether this strange person could be trusted, whether the door would really crumble, and them with it, it did not matter. They were both of the mind to move forward in such strange scenarios. Ophelia had his will, and Despair his loyalty. This was how they had been made, how they had been formed, and they both needed Lumière Croft for it.
They were both masterpieces of liars.