Procrustes' Iron Bed

(Continues from previous quest)

(Leave the room)

Aglaya: Who are you people? And what are you doing here in this room?

Paimon: Oh? You must be Aglaya. We, uh, we've already shown our invite earlier...

Aglaya: Is that so? But how do you know my name...? Ah, you must have heard it from the others.

Aglaya: Alright then. I'm guessing someone has already told you about the dos and don'ts around here.

Aglaya: But this room is... also off-limits... Ahem. This isn't a room for ordinary guests.

Aglaya: The ritual will begin when the clock strikes eight times. I wish the both of you a most pleasant and unforgettable day here at the House of Hesperides.

Aglaya leaves...

Paimon: The way she was acting, it was like she had never met us before... That's weird. Is it because... everything has restarted?

(If the bell rings the first time while doing the subquests)

Paimon: Yeah, Paimon heard the bell ring once before waking up, and now it's gone off twice... We've gotta move!

Paimon: ...That's two bells now. We still need one more fragment. Let's get moving!

(If the bell rings a third time while doing the subquests)

Paimon: That was the third bell...

(If the bell rings a fourth time while doing the subquests)

Paimon: Four now... We've only got half the time left...

(If the bell rings a fifth time while doing the subquests)

Eye of Graeae: That was the fifth bell. Please take note, time is running short.

(If the bell rings a sixth time while doing the subquests)

Paimon: Just now, that was...

Eye of Graeae: That was the sixth bell...

(If the bell rings a seventh time while doing the subquests)‍^{[ver­i­fi­ca­tion need­ed]}

Paimon: The bell's ringing again. But why? Paimon has a really bad feeling about this... (‍TravelerThe player's chosen name for the Traveler‍), we need to hurry...

(If the bell rings an eigth time while doing the subquests or quest is finished upon collecting all Severed Fragment of Ikhor)‍^{[ver­i­fi­ca­tion need­ed]}

Paimon: It rang eight times... But Pavlina still hasn't gotten free, has she? There's no way that "ritual" can start again...

(starts back at the start with progress saved)

(After completing House of the Soulless and The Sun's Gilded Apple)

Eye of Graeae: Even so, the last piece we need is in the assembly hall. Whatever happens...

Paimon: Mm... You're right. We can't afford to hesitate. Let's go to the assembly hall.

(Enter the chapel)

Paimon: There he is! Thank goodness, we got to him before Pavlina did...

(Approach Ikhor)

(Ikhor stands in the middle of the altar looking at the ground)

(The Traveler removes Ikhor's collar)

Paimon: Are you okay? How do you feel now?

Eye of Graeae: He may have a body now, but he is still only a puppet. He cannot feel anything so complex, nor can he answer you.

Paimon: Paimon knows, but still... It's not like it hurts to ask. Just let Paimon be.

Eye of Graeae: Like I said before, your compassion is something to be respected. That kindness is one of your virtues.

Eye of Graeae: But I don't think (‍TravelerThe player's chosen name for the Traveler‍) would want it to end up hurting you.

Paimon: What do you mean...? Wait, does this have something to do with what you were all hiding from Paimon earlier?

Ikhor: You... really are an odd one. You are me. But it's something I've only realized today.

Eye of Graeae: That is because my presence has become more evident now that the princess is no longer in the way.

How does it feel to converse with yourself?

Eye of Graeae: More ordinary than I'd ever imagined. Even if I was fortunate enough to have a body right now, I doubt we'd be throwing our arms around each other and crying.

Ikhor: This body won't shed a tear, for it is created out of Prime Ice.

Eye of Graeae: Yes. That, I am aware.

Ikhor: Ah, that's right. You may not possess form, but you have something that I don't... reason and intelligence.

Paimon: Um, could we pick up this conversation again a little later? We've got to get somewhere safe now. Who knows when Pavlina is coming back...

Paimon: Although, she still has one of the fragments with her... That's right. What are we gonna do about that fragment?

Paimon: Do we talk her out of the ritual? That doesn't seem very possible... She hasn't exactly been open to persuasion so far.

Paimon: Is defeating her the only way then? Not that Paimon doesn't have trust in (‍TravelerThe player's chosen name for the Traveler‍) or anything...

Ikhor: ...Do you seek to stop the ritual?

Paimon: Mmhmm! If that ritual continues, you'll be finished! Finito! Dunzo!

Paimon: Paimon knows that you're not really human, and your uh, form of existence is different from ours. But we cannot possibly sit back and watch you get wiped out by her.

Ikhor: I apologize, but I'm afraid I cannot assist with this wish of yours.

Paimon: Huh? Why?

Ikhor: The ritual has long been set in motion. Though the taboo that must not be inquired into or spoken of has already been broken, the ritual has fallen into distortion... It can neither be halted nor reversed.

Ikhor: The only course remaining to me is to become one with it... or fade entirely into the ether.

Paimon: What!?!? But without you, Goggles will never be whole again...

Paimon: But if the ritual were to continue...

Ikhor: This is neither death nor the end. It is a return, a birth. If all goes well, all the Snegovik under her protection will receive a new lease of life.

Is that what you really believe, or what she made you believe?

Paimon: Y—Yeah... Paimon remembers how you never pushed back on anything, not even once, when we first met you. Are you sure she didn't put this idea in your head, too?

Ikhor: Strangely, my mind feels remarkably clear at present, and I find myself recalling certain things from the past.

Ikhor: We were once companions who shared the same ambition... And we were willing to pay the price for a love set free, for the sake of that "more perfect world" of her dreams.

Ikhor: Of course, it is natural that one pays a price for their dreams to come true. Yet even if you have finally made your choice, the path ahead will not be an easy one either.

Ikhor: And eventually, she simply disappeared somewhere along the way, among the countless refinements and ascensions...

Ikhor: She had even forgotten that I once chose to do all of this, without need of shackles.

Eye of Graeae: ...You do know that you will not succeed.

Ikhor: I have neither your reason nor your intelligence, and I cannot predict things that have yet to happen.

Paimon: Is that the thing you were reluctant to tell Paimon??? That's ridiculous... Are you sure there's no other way?

Ikhor: Just as the dew upon leaf and flower inevitably finds its way back to the stream, so too is the path toward becoming one irreversible. Once a single drop has returned to the waters, there is no way it can be reclaimed.

Ikhor: But nevertheless, I thank you for your... consideration. I now understand why the other "me" chose to travel with you.

Aksinya: ...Hey! I do hope the two of you have sent out the fragments like I said, since I am in quite the predicament now myself.

Aksinya: I'm trapped here, and shall have to be away for a while... That was quite the move. I will leave the rest to you.

Pavlina: ...

Ikhor: I should go now. She's here for me.

(A cutscene plays)

(Pavlina appears from the Shadow Realm through a portal)

(She pierces Ikhor with her sword as the Traveler watches in horror)

(Ikhor disintegrates into golden energy that Pavlina absorbs)

(Pavlina summons another portal and disappears as the Traveler runs toward her)

(Four Glaciomancers approach)

(Cutscene ends)

(After the dialogue)

Eye of Graeae: The "ritual" is not yet complete. We must defeat her before it is finished and remove the fragment from her.

Eye of Graeae: But before that, it seems we must first deal with the matter at hand.

Paimon: Ugh... The Snegovik are trying to stop us from chasing Pavlina...

Paimon: We've gotta take them down first!

(After defeating the enemies)

Eye of Graeae: The final location of the "ritual" has been marked for you.