Study
The study (JP: 書斎) is a sub-area of the Dark Sanctuary and 2nd Sanctuary in Chapter 4 of Deltarune. It consists of a small, two-story room adorned with rustic decorations, shelves of books, and a desk at its center. It functions both as a shop, and a hub area, being a common location to stop by as one progresses through the fore-most part of the Chapter. It is where the Old Man normally resides.
The party enters the study shortly after meeting with a strange Old Man. After subtle displays of his strength and wisdom (most prominently by instantly recruiting two Gueis), he welcomes the party to stop by his study whenever need be. During their stay, the Old Man mentions that the Knight had gone through the rightmost gate atop the stairs, though it now had been locked by some sort of mechanism.
If asked, the Old Man also recounts the tale of a Magic Axe with incredible power. The hearth has a fable to do with the axe adorned its top; it mentions 3 portions of a song must be recovered, and played from a golden piano. Once the song in full is played, the hearth's flame goes out, revealing it to be a corridor.
Once the party enters, Susie attempts to claim the axe, but is stopped by the Old Man, who says that it is a ware of his like any other within the study. Susie is baffled by the reveal (especially of the $999,999,999 price tag), but the Old Man understands the trouble necessary to have found the axe at all. He promises Susie the axe free of charge and requests a haircut in exchange. Susie swings her axe multiple times, but the Old Man dodges each swing. It is then that the fight against the Hammer of Justice begins. At the fight's conclusion, Susie uses her healing magic to purposefully miss a shot at the Old Man, distracting him, and allowing her to cut a hair from his beard. The Old Man relents, letting Susie have the axe, talking about how stories change through the times by interpretation; Dragon Blazers had been based on Lord of the Hammer, which itself drew from the prophecy. Through this, the Old Man believes any story can be subverted and changed, subtly hinting to the heroes to do the same with the prophecy itself.
Kris and Susie return to the study in the 2nd Sanctuary, which is now abandoned and harder to traverse. While walking across the top floor, Susie mentions the possibility of the Old Man being recruited to Castle Town. Within the fireplace, they encounter the Sound of Justice and chase after it into a pitch black maze, where it then attacks the party.
The main area of the study is a large room, separated into two stories connected by stairs on the left and right. Bookshelves line the northern walls of both stories and stretch the height of the room.
The bottom floor is an open space, with exits to the east and west leading to the rest of the Dark Sanctuary. Two statues are situated along the eastern and western walls, above the exits. The Old Man's desk is in the center of the room, and to the left of it is a SAVE Point. Following the battle against Jackenstein, he can be found to the right of the desk. Below the desk is a table of the Old Man's wares, which he allows the party to buy. To the north is a fireplace, which is initially lit.
The top floor is a narrow walkway with two entryways. The entryway to the left leads to the Library of the Dark Sanctuary, and the entryway in the center leads to the Atrium. The center entryway is initially locked and must be unlocked by playing the organ at the top of the East Belltower. To the right is a pool of water, which allows the party to sell their items.
In the 2nd Sanctuary, the room is mirrored. It is noticeably more messy and disorganized due to the Old Man's absence, with debris obstructing the pathway to the west. The doors are also locked, leaving the fireplace as the only way forward. A SAVE Point is situated to the right, near the entrance. A lone teacup in the center of the table allows the party to buy a Rhapsotea for 100 Dark Dollars.
After restoring the Dark Sanctuary, the party can return to the study through a warp flame. The main room is abandoned, and the fireplace is blocked off by the flame the party emerged from. A nearby Cuptain notes the study's abandonment and encourages the party to go back the way they came. The party can still buy the Old Man's wares, though Ralsei acts as the vendor instead.
After solving the golden piano puzzle, the fireplace opens up and becomes an entryway. Within the fireplace is a small room with an anvil in the center. The JusticeAxe sits on top of the anvil. A large window is situated along the northern wall, and bookshelves flank both sides. Two statues are situated against the eastern and western corners.
In the 2nd Sanctuary, the room is mirrored and extended. The anvil, JusticeAxe, and statues are absent, and the room gets progressively darker as the party traverses the fireplace.
Gigi D.G.'s initial concept art of the study
Gigi D.G.'s concept art of the study
