The abandoned castle of Veronica von Hellsberg — also called the Castle of Corruption — is a famous, enormous estate once owned by the former queen Veronica (1350–1400). Until her murder… nobody knows who killed her. But this castle had seen many such events. In 1299 the body of a maid was found. In 1333 the body of the former prince John Hellsberg was discovered. In 1337 Veronica's father died. Everyone died mysteriously. Only one thing was always clear — the bleeding eyes. No one knows why, but ever since then the castle was abandoned. Visitors always spoke of eerie incidents. From 1400–1412 it was turned into a museum — until the case appeared where five bodies were found: three women, a child, and a grown man. Animals also died between 1299 and 1412 — about 80 animals: 12 cats, 50 dogs, 8 birds, 12 horses, 15 mice, and 3 wolves.
(1462)
Lady Natasha: "You must inspect the castle of Veronica von Hellsberg."
Fiona: "Why?"
Lady Natasha: "Hahhh…"
She showed a painted picture.
Fiona: "Hmm?"
Lady Natasha: "A child walked past the castle and found a body. And this is how he described her — a woman. We searched for her family… and indeed someone recognized her — the child himself. It was his mother."
Fiona: "Wait… what?"
Lady Natasha: "That's the strange part. At first the child didn't say it was his mother — maybe because he wasn't sure. After all, the body… wasn't in good condition. He recognized her by the ring she wore. But… there's another problem."
Fiona: "Hmm?"
Lady Natasha: "Do you remember the symbol of the Scythe of the Grave?"
Fiona: "Mhm… a skull pierced by a sword."
Lady Natasha: "Exactly. And we found it on her — on her back."
Fiona: "You mean on her back."
Lady Natasha: "No… in her back."
She pulled out a box.
Fiona: "Open it."
She opened it.
Fiona: "Urk!"
Inside were fragments of spinal cord and very small patches of back skin, pieced together. On it was the symbol of the Scythe of the Grave — the skull pierced by a sword.
Fiona: "I don't understand — I thought they'd committed group suicide back then."
Lady Natasha: "That's exactly the problem. (coughs) Sorry…"
Fiona: "Let me guess — the Upper Council of the Dark Screen wants me to do it alone."
Lady Natasha: "Exactly… I'm sorry. I told them it was dangerous, I wanted to send Parzival with you."
Fiona: "Ugh… he's back."
Lady Natasha: "Exactly… he's back."
(Patch!)
The door opened.
Parzival: "Oh… someone mentioned my name. Fiona…"
Fiona: "Ugh…" (sighs)
Parzival: "Missed me?"
Fiona: "Honestly, no."
Parzival: "Tsss… me neither."
Fiona: "Good to know… then I'm leaving."
She passed him and bumped his shoulder.
Parzival: "Hey… you did that on purpose."
Fiona: "And what if I did?"
Parzival: "You little…"
Fiona: "Ugh!"
Suddenly she glared at him. Dark aura appeared around her… and then it appeared — the Dark Armor.
Parzival: "Ghhhhh…"
Fiona: "I warn you… don't you dare touch me."
Parzival: "Ghhh… that look…"
Fiona: "Hmph."
She walked away.
Lady Natasha: "Hahhh… you two will never be friends, will you?"
Parzival: "No."
Lady Natasha: "Parzival… you should stop provoking her."
Parzival: "What's she even doing here… do you realize how dangerous she is?"
Lady Natasha: "Hh."
Parzival: "Have you forgotten… she's to blame for her parents' deaths."
Lady Natasha: "We still don't know that… that's not how I see it. You know it's not true… her parents wanted to sacrifice her, and through the forbidden ritual of the Guardian Holle they were cursed."
Parzival: "Tssss… still… the way she looked then… the papers said she looked like it was normal."
Lady Natasha: "There are people who only cry inside, Parzival…"
Parzival: "Mhhh…"
Lady Natasha: "And I wonder why your sister, who loves you so much, also likes Fiona."
Parzival: "Ah… Noelle… she's just too kind."
(Meanwhile with Fiona)
Fiona: "Hhh…"
(Patch)
Fiona: "Hahh… Noelle… I know you're there."
Noelle: "…oh…"
Fiona: "What do you want?"
Noelle: "I… missed you."
Fiona: "Aha."
Noelle: "Didn't you miss me?"
Fiona: "I was busy and had other things to do… long story short — no!"
Noelle: "Oh… hahaha… as cold as ever."
Fiona: "Hmmm…"
(Patch)
Fiona: "Your brother's as annoying as ever."
Noelle: "Oh… you two argued again?"
Fiona: "Yes."
Noelle: "Don't take it badly… he just likes it when women smile."
Fiona: "Noelle… I honestly don't care. I'm not trying to impress anyone because I don't care what it's like. I don't care what your brother feels."
Noelle: "But you could stay single that way."
Fiona: "I don't believe in love."
Noelle: "Why not?"
Fiona: "I don't believe in something I've never experienced."
She walked on.
Fiona: "Hmph."
Noelle: "You mean… you were never loved… I see… is that why your parents died? I mean is that why your parents died because of you?"
Fiona: "…ghh…"
She looked at her, walked up to her.
Fiona: "I had nothing to do with it, I did nothing!!!!"
She screamed loudly.
Noelle: "Wow, wow… sorry… okay… okay…"
Noelle looked at her… Fiona looked angry… and for the first time… broken.
Fiona: "Now leave me alone…"
She walked on. She suddenly stumbled as her staff fell.
Noelle: "Uh… Fiona…"
Fiona: "Ghhh…"
Noelle ran to Fiona.
Noelle: "Oh dear… are you hurt, Fiona?"
Fiona: "Ghhhh…"
Noelle: "Hmm?"
Fiona: "My leg…"
Noelle: "Huh."
She removed the shoe.
Noelle: "Huh!"
She had no leg — rather… a leg of shadow.
Noelle: "Ugh… what."
Fiona: "Tssss…"
She quickly put the shoe back on.
Fiona: "Damn, I said no one should see it."
Noelle: "Oh…"
Fiona: "Hmmm…"
Noelle: "Sorry… I was just worried…"
Fiona: "Hahhh…"
Fiona put her hand on Noelle's head.
Fiona: "Sorry… you just wanted to help… thank you."
She stood up and walked on.
Fiona: "I have to go…"
Noelle: "Did Holle do that to you?"
Fiona: "Hahhh… careful… you can't just call a Guardian by name… it's 'Frau Holle'… and yes… for the power of the Mysterious…"
She showed the card of the Mysterious.
Fiona: "I had to sacrifice not only my eye but also my leg…"
(A Few Hours Later)
Clown of Envy: "(Grins)… hehehe…"
(Several bodies on the ground.)
Clown of Envy: "It will soon… very soon…"
(Patch) (Patch!)
A woman appeared.
Clown of Envy: "Layla… you're here."
Layla: "Hehehehe… I see you've succeeded…"
Clown of Envy: "Mhm…"
Layla: "Oh dear… I can hardly wait… our mother will surely be pleased…"
(Meanwhile)
Fiona: "(I have no idea what's going on here… but… if the Scythe of the Grave is back, this is a disaster… it's almost like a group that just loves being tied to death… wait a moment!)"
Fiona suddenly had an idea, quickly ran home and grabbed a book about magical cases.
Fiona: "…hahhh… here… The magician Oz once spoke of a spell that brings people back to life… these people were not really dead. In the spell, chains stop the heart. These chains soon dissolve… and then the person rises again, because the heart is not only connected by a chain but also by a spell that allows it to pump outside the body. First the chains… then you pull the heart out through the chains and hide it somewhere. When the chains dissolve, the heart pumps again so the people can walk and breathe without their heart. But there's a problem — first, it's risky, and second, even a small wound can make the heart explode. They've hidden their hearts somewhere to make it look as if everyone had killed themselves by removing their heart…"
She stood up when she suddenly heard something… she opened the window.
Fiona: "Hmm?"
It was a card. She turned it over… it was a clown card. On it was written "Laughter of the Addict!"
Fiona: "Card… of the Clown?"
The Clown is one of the Guardians in Grimmhoth — wears a gentleman's hat and carries a staff, has two different eye colors. He's an evil Guardian. The reason he's called the Clown is simple: every time at moon dusk you hear his laugh — creepy, like a clown's. His goals are unclear. In any case, you must not mention his name when your eyes are open — you must close your eyes.
Fiona: "Ugh!"
She had forgotten this.
Suddenly she landed in an unknown place… only darkness… when suddenly many faces with clown masks appeared — creepy — they began to laugh, hysterically.
Fiona: "Hhu!"
(Hahahahahahahahaha… hahahahahahahahaha)
A black-and-white vortex appeared under Fiona. She fell — it seemed endless.
Fiona: "Aaaaaaaaarghhhh… stop!"
The vortex grew wilder. Then the faces reappeared and laughed.
Fiona: "Ghh."
They seemed to think she was prey. She covered her ears.
Fiona: "Gghhhhh…"
Blood came out of her ears and eyes.
Fiona: "Aaaaaaaarghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
And suddenly — whoosh — she was back home, kneeling on the floor.
Fiona: "Hahhhh… hahhhh… hahhhh… hahhh…"
She stood up.
Fiona: "What is this card even doing here… who left it…"
(Meanwhile)
Noelle: "Hmm…"
Parzival: "What is it… you want to say something."
Noelle: "What do you have against the matter of Fiona's parents?"
Parzival: "Hhhhh… nothing… I just don't like Fiona…"
Noelle: "Why?"
Parzival: "Don't know…"
Noelle: "Brother dear… everyone suffers in their own way. Some cry out loud, some cry quietly, some cry inside. Not everyone's the same."
Parzival: "Hmmm…"
Noelle: "Weren't you actually in love with her?"
Parzival: "What… I… no."
Noelle: "When we were kids and in the same class with Fiona, you were in love."
Parzival: "We were kids then."
Noelle: "Still you were in love… why… tell me."
Parzival: "Uh… she's cute… and pretty."
Noelle: "She still is."
Parzival: "I know… but… I don't know why… I just feel scared when I see her tired eyes… this girl has no interest in people and I think as members of the Dark Screen we must…"
Noelle: "Also helpfulness and humanity are shown in different ways, brother dear… maybe she just doesn't want to show it, simple as that."
Parzival: "Why?"
Noelle: "Because she thinks it's a weakness… or because she's afraid people will exploit it…"
(A Few Hours Later)
The castle of Veronica von Hellsberg… the cursed castle.
Fiona: "Hmmm…"
She wanted to go in… but the door, though open, she couldn't enter — probably a barrier.
Fiona: "Hmmm…"
She reached her hand inside.
Fiona: "Ugh!"
(Do not enter!)
Fiona: "Huh!"
She pulled her hand back.
Fiona: "Hahhh… hahhh… hahhh…"
Fiona heard a voice… and saw something… a ritual? A woman hanging while people at her feet and hands drank her blood.
Fiona: "Hahhh… hahhh… hahhh."
Fiona felt fear.
Fiona: "Hahhh… pull yourself together…"
She went in.
She looked for a way inside… then decided again to push her hand through and open it, because with her gloves she could penetrate barriers.
(Click!)
Fiona: "…made it…"
She opened it.
Fiona: "An invisible door… hmm."
She went in…
(Suffering…)
(Death.)
(Tears!)
(Cry blood… drink blood!)
(Be cursed!)
Fiona: "Ugh… these are the voices… of the victims…"
She looked around… entered a room…
Fiona: "Here is one of the voices."
She struck her staff on the ground. She saw the ghosts of the dead.
Fiona: "Hmmm… I need a photo…"
She looked around.
Fiona: "Photo… or something belonging to the victim… hmmm…"
She found a hair ornament.
Fiona: "Ahhh…"
She held it, then took her watch, placed it next to the ornament. The watch began to turn… and pointed to the numbers 1… 2… 99… 1299.
Fiona: "I see… she died in the year 1299…"
She aimed the pistol at her own head.
Fiona: "Hmm."
(Bang!)
She became a ghost, then the watch began spinning again.
(1299)
Fiona: "Ugh… I see… now we're back… to 1299…"
The door opened — someone came in.
Fiona: "Hmmm… that's the woman who died… the victim… a maid… so this is a maid's room… no wonder it's not so fancy… hmm?"
She looked at the woman.
Maid: "Hahhh… hahhh…"
Fiona: "Something's wrong…"
Maid: "…I'm sorry… mother… I… I think I can't go back… I… will probably die soon."
Fiona: "Hmmm… the first victim… a maid named… Clara…"
Clara: "Hahh…"
Suddenly the door opened.
Fiona: "Huh?"
It was a person… wearing a mask.
Clara: "Huh… who are you?"
He said nothing, walked slowly to her.
Clara: "Hey…"
He held her head and pressed hard.
Clara: "Huh…"
Fiona: "Huh?"
(Splatch!)
Her head exploded.
Fiona: "Hahhhh… ugh…"
It was a Scythe of the Grave mask — it was.
Fiona: "That mask and outfit… that's a member of the Scythe of the Grave…"
He turned… toward Fiona.
Fiona: "Ugh…"
He waved to her and then walked away.
Fiona: "Yeah… but… what…"
She turned — he hadn't waved to her… but to the bird in the room.
Fiona: "Bird?"
The door opened — probably one of the people.
(Aaaaaaaaaarghhh!)
She screamed when she found the body.
Fiona: "Ghh… I've seen enough."
She returned to the present time and body.
Fiona: "Ugh… hahhh…"
The watch in her eye stopped spinning.
Fiona: "Hahhh… ouch my head…"
She complained — of course, a shot in the head doesn't feel great. But it got stranger. Why kill a maid? It's not something that brings much. So why? Fiona's thoughts wouldn't stop.
Fiona: "Hmmm…"
(Patch!) (Patch!)
Fiona: "Ugh…"
There were footsteps. She opened the door… saw a figure — a person standing right in front of the door looking at her with evil eyes.
Fiona: "Huh!"
Fiona was so frightened she stepped back… the figure… at first did nothing… just looked… it was dark, had yellow eyes and an evil grin. It slowly opened the door.
Fiona: "Hahhh…"
She stood up.
Fiona: "Dark armor… Dark Knight."
Her cloak flew and became armor — dark armor spirit.
Fiona: "Hahhh…"
The figure looked at her… then walked away without saying anything.
Fiona: "Hahhh… hahhh… hahhh…"
She left the room.
Fiona: "Hahhh… hahhhh… hahhh… hahh…"
(Suffer… suffer…)
(The Clown… the Clown…)
Fiona: "The Clown…"
She said it this time with eyes closed.
Fiona: "Hahhh… hahh… what…? Ugh!… right… that could be…"
She remembered — in the story it was said that the Hellsbergs who owned the castle had worked for the Clown, got their powers from him, but betrayed him… is this perhaps a curse at the end of those deeds?
(Patch!)
Fiona: "Huh…"
(Patch!) (Patch)
Fiona: "Ughhhhh…"
The statue moved — no… it was actually a painting pretending to be a statue.
(Ghhhhh!)
Fiona: "Ugh…"
(Crash!)