(Untitled)

[knight_spectre]

[[A thick fog has coalesced in a thicket near the edge of the forest, the entire area suddenly cold and damp, while the surrounding woods still seem as warm as ever. An observant person might sense a faint air of melancholy permeating the fog, as if simply walking through it sucks the happiness from one's mind. The thicket is eerily silent except

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[weissprinz]

[[The oppressive summer heat of the past few days has limited Siegfried's usual walks around the town's wooded areas to the early hours of the morning. He had never tolerated the heat well, but his tolerance for idleness was even lower.

At first intrigued by the patch of fog, he veers away from his usual route to investigate. His curiosity is quickly swallowed up by other feelings when he sights the knight's ghost. He approaches the dead man slowly, quietly, with his eyes downcast. The righteous anger he had exhibited when last they met is nowhere to be seen. He is ashamed.]]

[knight_spectre]

[[As usual, Lohengrin doesn't notice him at all. He's kneeling on the ground, staring off into what to him appears to be an endless white void. The eerie humming continues, almost as if he himself isn't aware of it.]]

[weissprinz]

[[Dry grass and stems crackle under Siegfried's feet as he takes a few more steps forward. He tries to follow the ghost's line of sight for several moments, listening to the humming. He cannot recognize the tune.]]

...Hello?

[knight_spectre]

[[At the sound, Lohengrin's head almost snaps toward the prince, and his humming stops. His posture tenses as he attempts to make out the outsider's silhouette from beyond the cloud of fog. Several pregnant moments pass before he recognizes Siegfried and relaxes, satisfied that he is not a threat.]]

Hello.

[weissprinz]

I'm still in one piece. [[He says this as if it's supposed to excuse the fact that he refused to listen to god advice and came out empty handed for his efforts.]] ...What was that song?

[knight_spectre]

[[Lohengrin moves his shoulders in what might pass for a shrug, looking away again.]] A lullaby...

[weissprinz]

[[The prince manages a smile.]] It's very nice. [[He is silent again briefly.]] I should apologize to you, for going against your wishes.

[knight_spectre]

...You went to ask him, then.

[weissprinz]

[[The smile evaporates, and Siegfried nods slowly.]] I did. I'm sorry.

[knight_spectre]

[[Lohengrin's voice takes on what might pass as a protective tone.]] Did he hurt you?

[weissprinz]

He hurt himself.

[knight_spectre]

...Ah. [[There might be a faint smirk on the ghost's lips; it's too subtle to tell.]] I can't say I'm surprised...

...Did he tell you?

[weissprinz]

[[Siegfried shakes his head, looking down again.]] He was falling down drunk, and in no state of mind for negotiation. I didn't want to harm him out of anger, so I went home.

[knight_spectre]

Good. Don't ever do that again, understand?

[[He sounds almost lucid now.]]

[weissprinz]

[[Siegfried nods and looks down at the ground, looking very much like a chastised child.]] I won't.

[knight_spectre]

...Thank you.

[[With that, Lohengrin relaxes once more, the humming starting up again, a bit softer this time.]]