“There once was a man who had nothing, yet desired the world.”
[The voice of Jasper Redgrave.]
[It’s calm, low.. powerful.]
“A man who once told his family that he would become something one day. He said that he would do right by the book.”
“When opportunities presented themselves, this man was right there first in line to put his family’s name on the map. To build a legacy out of that very name.”
“And for a while, a legacy he built. He went on to become the chief of the Arcadian Police Department. He managed to become the Old School Wrestling World Champion on multiple occasions.”
“For once, he felt like he had everything. The world, right there in his hand.”
[Jasper chuckles dryly.]
“But what does he truly have left?”
“The man who captured the hearts of Arcadia’s citizens found himself.. alone.”
“The very family that he fought so hard to appease being nothing but a lie.”
[Jasper shakes his head.]
“At Ring of Dreams, Jackson Cade found out who his true father is, and in that moment he came to the realization that he was alone.”
“Left clutching at the ashes of a broken dream.”
[Jasper bows his head.]
“Your story isn’t too different from his, Ezekiel.”
“You too, were a bright-eyed youth. A man who essentially had nothing. You built your family on the back of your own beliefs. You cured your own loneliness by creating a following. You consider that following your family.”
“You want nothing more than to prove to your family that you’re everything you claim to be. That you’re God’s right hand. A man sent to capture the world in the name of the heavens.”
“And for a while, you spoke a good game.”
[The Killer King slumps forward in his chair, into the light.]
“You did everything that you sought to achieve and now, you’re at the top of the ladder.”
“You had it all. You had the World Championship. You had Arcadia at your fingertips..”
“But tell me, Graves..”
[He pauses.]
“How alone do you feel now that you have nothing?”
“At Ring of Dreams, you too had a revelation, didn’t you?”
“A realization that even though you’ve made it to the top.. you are.. alone.”
“One of the very followers you worked so hard to appease, now standing against you and everything that you’ve built.”
“You may have made a name for yourself, but you’ve been left clutching at the dust of a former idea of yourself.”
“I’m not here to pick up the broken pieces that is your life, Ezekiel.”
[The lights come on as Jasper slouches back in his chair once more.]
[And a very powerful image comes to light.]
[Redgrave sits atop a throne.]
“At Ascension, I plan to show all of Arcadia that I’m still the one sitting in the throne at the top..”
“While the rest of you hold on to the dust that is your past accomplishments..”
“I’m the one standing here at the top just as alone as I’ve ever been.”
“How’s that for a fuckin’ revelation?”
[The Artist laughs.]
[Fade.]