Gaster visits Ralsei

Ralsei saw a person for the first time.

They had to look twice and make sure that it wasn't a weird-looking rock or a poster or something. But it had a face. It really was a person.

They were standing in the middle of town. Their head was white, their facial features black. Ralsei wasn't an expert when it came to faces, but there might be cracks in it. Their body was also black, and somewhat amorphous.

The person looked suspiciously unlike any of the people illustrated in the prophecy.

"G-greetings!" Ralsei called. "Are you a lightner?"

"A. Lightner?" The response came haltingly, like they were unaccustomed to talking out loud. Ralsei could relate. After a few seconds, "Not quite."

"Oh."

Ralsei wasn't prepared for this. He didn't think anyone had prophesied it. What to do?

"I'm Ralsei."

"Ah. The prince. Of this kingdom. Yes?"

Ralsei nodded. The person's mouth curled up, which was probably a smile.

"Very. Very. Good. My name is. Doctor Gaster. I am here to. Test the integrity. Of this realm."

"The integrity?"

"The sky. Stays up. The ground. Down. What lives. Keeps living. Yes?"

"Ummm, I think so. But I'm the only living thing here."

"And you have kept living. Yes?"

"I - I think so?"

"Very. Very. Good."

"But why..."

Ralsei blinked, and the person was gone.

That was odd. But any opportunity to practice before meeting the lightners was welcome.

He continued checking the torches on the walls.