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

Ophelia nodded along gleefully with Gerlinde as she explained what she'd seen, her face brightening in realisation about what that sudden and intense feeling of being watched was, that she'd felt both with Dietrich and just moments ago. It didn't feel any less awful, but at least it had moved from the nebulous realm of ignorance to something she was aware of and could now do something about--and she tilted her head slightly and gave Gerlinde a small nodding gesture as she finished speaking.

"It is true that he is a weaver of lies and half-truths, but every lie is underpinned by a grain of truth. In knowing the shape of his lies, what he covers, what he reveals to us because he is careless and thinks we have not the wit to resist him... All of this is more information than we had. It comes at the cost of giving him information, so we definitely should not go back... but you are right that we have to be careful. Not rush into things foolishly, not... I'm sorry--I should have known better. I'm glad we have you, love, to help see what we can't. To help temper my hubris and curiosity. I'd thought that he hadn't realised that I had seen through his little ploy, and that we could leverage that... but we've just been exposed to him further. We can make the most of it, though, I suppose."

When Ophelia had finished speaking long enough to become aware of her surroundings again, she was glad to see Farren mostly back to form. She uncurled her long braid from the Holy Moonlight Sword, soaked through as it was, and let it fly behind her in the wind. She gave Farren a warm smile and listened to him before pondering a moment.

"Yes, this gold appears to be our enemy--Harold is merely a vector, an anchor point. I think, dears, we're going to have to obtain a lot more insight. Seek more reliable sources of knowledge. I... Hmm. Doll, dear, I've had a thought. I always knew something about my blood was special, so before I left Hemwick on my journeys the last time I concealed a vial in my old home and obscured it with a ritual. Would... a vial of untainted Paleblood, before becoming made a Hunter, be useful to you in any way? I fear I should collect it regardless, if it's still there, if only to keep it out of the Vicar's hands. This... this can wait, though, I think. What do we want to do now? We could still go back to the Forbidden Woods... Maybe the Wise Master has some information we don't? Are there realms of Nightmare yet unexplored we might venture to, or... we could go to Yahar'gul. Try and speak with Naira. I... my mind is abuzz, I'm struggling to pick something to focus on."