Mary awoke upon a field of gleaming golden wheat beside the bank of a river. Birds hung frozen in the sky, as though the entire world had come to a absolute standstill. Further off, she spotted a mysterious knight wandering back and forth, a man who appeared lost, knowing not his own destination. Beholding his plight, Mary raised her hand and called out to him.
Upon spotting her, the knight ascended the grassy knoll. Yet the moment their hands touched, roots burst from the earth, dragging the knight down toward the subterranean depths. Mary fought desperately to hold fast to his arm, gazing straight into his eyes. She discovered his gaze was a striking azure blue, and upon his palm lay a scar identical to her own.
"Remember well... we shall meet at the river's end... once more." The knight released her hand before being swallowed into the earth below.
Mary stared at her own reflection upon the water's surface. In an instant, an unseen hand seized her, plunging her down into the vision on the opposing side—as though the heavens had been inverted by a single palm. The maiden flipped through the void, landing upright upon the stark white grass.
Before her stood her twin, awaiting her arrival.
"Morning once more, Marilyn," her twin spoke. "Pray call me Mira."
"Mira... Who bestowed that name upon thee?" Mary inquired.
"The chronicler granted me that name in times long past... before thou wert even born."
"Wherefore dost thou possess a frame like... mine...?"
"Because I am devoid of form; thus, I must emulate a physical existence. The end draweth nearer with every passing hour. When that moment arriveth, it shall mark thy new beginning. The King Castle, the domain where marvels reside, still guardeth many a secret behind its bell tower, locked away within the ancient spire. That was the ultimate destination of Hansel, the chronicler."
"Yet how am I to ascend there...? That place is guarded solely by sentinels and knights."
"That is the riddle thou thyself must solve. Though thou commandest the power of the Ember of Fate, capable of reading thoughts—all things yet possess their limits. The earth cannot endure without trees and grass, and my form shall dissolve shouldst thou perish. Every agony thou sufferest... I receive all the more. The more tears of sorrow thou sheddest, the greater the agony shall grow."
"Which means I cannot afford to fail."
"Believe in thyself. Should despair grip thee, bestow thy faith upon thine own soul. For thou, as thou art now... art the sole hope of Caslette to put an end to all torment... Awake!"
SNAP!
The sound of a finger snap echoed loudly, causing Mary to gasp awake upon a strange, unfamiliar pallet. It was the dawn of another dismal day. The maiden awoke within the heretical chapel, coming face to face with a man clad in knightly armor.
"Thou art awake at last?" a stern-faced, middle-aged man greeted her.
"Jesper...?" Mary narrowed her eyes in confusion.
"Edward and I found thee in the woods beside the path leading to the chapel. Thus, we brought thee here to rest, fearing wild beasts or murderers might come upon thee... Thou hast heard the news already, hast thou not?" Jesper spoke to confirm her awareness—just as Edward stepped into the chamber.
"The day before last, a murder transpired within thy home. Jesibel was found with a kitchen blade run through her chest. Knowest thou the cause or any clue?"
"I... I know not... No!" Mary feigned innocence, shaking her head in denial. "I... I must return to noble mother..." The maiden rose from the cloth pallet.
"There is no need! As for thy foster mother..." Edward hesitated, his words faltering.
"..."
"What hath happened?!"
"She hath been made a scapegoat. Thy foster mother believed thou wert slain by a murderer just as thy sister was. Yet Father Sereza believed it not; he deemeth her a witch who murdered her own daughter... 'Tis a tragic affair. My deepest condolences, Mary."
"No! Thou art lying!!" Marilyn raised her voice, but Edward instantly seized her upper arm.
"Then what didst thou do that night?! The night Father Sereza was in thy chamber! He pointed up toward the bell tower of the king's castle! Little did we know, since that night reached its end, he hath been a man transformed. He hath lost his mind, muttering constantly about something hidden within the abandoned castle!"
"This agony shall never cease unless I set my hand to do something!" Marilyn yanked her wrist free from the single-armed youth.
Edward pulled something from his satchel. "Then canst thou explain to me what this is?" He stepped forward, confronting Mary with the journal.
"Thou... thou hast read it?" Mary snatched the book, clutching it tightly to her chest.
"Sacred embers or whatever they be... Dost thou truly believe that childish fable to be reality?"
"...'Tis everything I seek to know," Mary replied. "That which rests atop that tower shall bring an end to Caslette's torment."
"Hast thou lost thy mind, Mary?! This is utter madness!" Edward argued stubbornly.
"Thou wouldst not speak thus were thou in my stead! Prove then that all within this journal is mere falsehood!"
"It may well be a web of deceptions! Think carefully! I heal folk with medicine and remedies, not magic or sorcery!" The two traded sharp words back and forth.
"There is no remedy!" Mary shouted at the man. "This city must be cleansed by the command of the Lord!"
"I... I deemed thee a noble soul, little knowing... I thought thou didst see my heart and my devotion to justice! Yet I judged falsely... Thou art no different from a witch!" Edward let out a heavy sigh, his tone laden with deep disappointment.
"'Tis too late now, Edward. In but a few nights' time, this city shall fall by our own hands! Seest thou not what is hidden within the paper? Father Sereza is devoid of mercy; he hath abandoned the holy teachings!"
"...Yet he still held concern for thee, did he not?" Edward spoke, his mind clouded with confusion and sorrow.
"At the very least, thou and I are now dragged down into the same pit. Accept it, Sereza is no longer one thou canst trust. Come with me, and we shall amend it together."
Hearing those words, Edward shook his head, lowering his medicine satchel to the floor.
"I... wish to be alone for a spell." The young man stepped out of the chapel.
At that very moment, a procession of followers draped in white cloaks marched past in strict order, led by a hunchbacked old man who threw back his hood.
"quinque, quattuor, tres... march~! Today! The Castle shall be ours! Eradicate the devils that stand in our path!" Father Sereza sneered broadly. "O Lord! Vouchsafe thy blessing upon me! The power to kill them sickness and cleanse the land of sin~!!~ Eradicate all evil spirits! Hah-hah-hah! March, my children! From now on, we shall march toward the new world!"
"Do the city folks truly call that bastard a father...? What a hoax." Jesper muttered. The gatekeeper of Casletia, who was forced to serve this unhinged cult, had been wavering in his heart from the very start.
Hearing his words, Mary rushed forward to persuade him.
"Jesper, I require thy aid."
"To what end?"
"I shall deliver thee and thy wife from this hellish pit, if thou wilt grant me the key to the gates."
Hearing her offer, Jesper hesitated not for a single moment. "The land of Casletia is near total ruin, and I am a palace guard no longer. Yet art thou certain thou wishst to enter the castle?"
"Aye! We must seek that which is hidden upon the castle tower."
"Even with the key, thou canst not pass the cavalry guards. I know a better path... At dusk, meet me at the southern flank of the castle. I shall await thee there."
Mary nodded. "Until then."
The maiden rose and departed from the heretical chapel, heading straight for the heart of Caslette.
"Run, my daughter! We shall behold the ultimate truth together! The Covenant of the Round Table shall rise once more! Hah-hah-hah! Why standest thou idle, Jesper? Show some zeal! Come dance![1]" Father Sereza's booming voice echoed in Mary's ears, yet she strove to pay no heed to the mad old man's words.
[1] Wicker Man 1973 - Easter Egg