[center][h2][b]Ophelia[/b][/h2][/center]

As they walked, Ophelia's mind defaulted to its usual frantic wonderings--with the power of Deception there was nobody but her allies to even sense her presence, and nobody to disturb her. She was curious about the time limit imposed upon them, of course, and whether it existed at all--but finding Tempus might take more time than the ritual in Yahar'gul had left, even if they did nothing else... so she let herself be unconcerned about it. She figured that worrying about it simply would not help them, nor grant her any measure of control over what happened, and there was still so much to be gained from the insights of this ancient and storied land. Her thoughts drifted towards the Divine Queen, and the blessing she might provide: whether or not she would want to accept it, and become like those she thought of as Pthumerians... but more than that, what might Queen Annalise be able to do with a vial of the Divine Queen's blood if it could be taken back? What if Queen Yharnam was still out there, somewhere in the Labyrinth, in their time? What [i]was[/i] going on with the ritual? 

They knew that the Gilded Trickster had caused their Night of the Blood Moon, ultimately, and though Ophelia was quite unsure that their actions in this dreamlike past might ripple out into the future, she wondered if that did not behoove them to try to alter it and preserve what they could? Or, indeed, if it meant that being armed with the knowledge that Queen Annalise's Mask of Sealing could be used to ensure Nayra's attempt to destroy their world failed was enough. Some manner of protection against the unspeakable eldritch power at her beck and call would hardly go amiss, but it was becoming clearer and clearer that most of the protection of this time was that offered by the Divine Queen--and that every avenue of insight and truth that they might glean from this place lead invariably back to her.

As they stopped at the workshop, though, Ophelia gave it a quick look over and found nothing to interest her in particular. If Farren found something that excited him--and she thought it quite good odds they would--she would be happy to let him drink his curiosity's fill. If they would not give him one of the rather lethal-looking falchion-glaive-things, she could simply take it for him. Who, after all, could stop her? With his eyes being what they were, he would not look out of place--and on this joyous night filled with all the sounds and smells and sights of life, who would care?

[i]It must be Divine Queen Yharnam, mustn't it? She seems to be the lynchpin of all of this... perhaps she has misgivings, and the Golden Bastard is trying to ply her with honeyed words? I suspect the only way we will know is to show up at the palace... I'm sure getting to her would not be trivial, even with Deception, but of all of us I seem the most likely to accomplish it. I think I will go there next... Perhaps we might use the fact the ritual is yet to be completed to our advantage? Do you think we might be able to entreat Flora, or another Great One, if you only call out to them and ask?[/i] she communed, idly staring off into the distance towards the Palace while Farren did what he was going to do.