The mind is a place where common sense holds no power. It contains memories, dreams, and emotions that intertwine to form a vast labyrinth, one so complex that even the mind's owner can become lost within it.
Alpha's world is just as strange: real-world buildings stand among clouds, while dining tables float above the sea. Scorching sun switches to sudden downpour, while everything freezes at midnight beneath a crimson moon.
You might need new glasses. That's a cemetery... The leaves are ghostly flames, and the flowers are made of bones.
No, this is Alpha's interpretation of death: ethereal, quiet, resembling a waystation after a long journey. So this is how she sees it...
We can talk about this after we get out of here.
We can talk about that after we get out too. Right now, we have more important things to do!
Look, there's a tombstone in the field! It seems different from the others...
The text on the tombstone is illegible...
But it appears to have the names of two girls.
Eileena taps on the tombstone, and a coffin rises up not far away. She bounces over to it before you can stop her, and you deeply feel the futility and necessity of education.
Thorns line the path as Eileena moves closer carefully with a lantern and finds a girl in the coffin. She has a fairy-like face and immaculate ponytails, sleeping in a thin prison uniform marked with the number "9".
Her hands are clasped around a music box. When Eileena instinctively reaches for it, the girl seizes Eileena's wrist and sits up in one fluid motion.
The music box emits crackling, scratchy sounds. The old world fades away, replaced by a somber atmosphere created by the girl in the coffin.
Is my sister in danger?
Otherwise, no one is allowed to disturb my slumber.
Following her warning, countless tiny blades of moonlight penetrate your blood vessels, causing you such pain that you nearly collapse to your knees.
Alright. I won't play with you this time.
She opens up her music box, and the parts inside scatter through the air, continuously dissipating and reconstructing until they extend into a pathway leading to a gate.
This is a shortcut to the maze's center.
You only have one chance. Please bring my sister back safely.
You step onto the pathway one after another. Before opening the gate, you exchange an anxious glance, both wondering the same thing: What has Alpha buried here? Beyond the door lies a palace of memories.
Run, Sis. Run.
There is no shelter in this spacious testing field. The Mist is released even when the children are asleep.
When the red mining lights flash at the gates and alarms blare, there's no time to think. They have to run for their lives.
Still, the Mist hunts down all living things. Those that are devoured collapse where they stand, and mutated monsters rise in their place.
The slaughter never ends, the death toll beyond counting, as new children join the experiment every day. It is supposed to be the necessary "Filtering" to achieve "Evolution."
This child shows exceptional potential. She's already developed the ability to "devour"... much faster than the other kids compatible with the Mist.
However, her progress has been slowed by that little girl. Without such a burden, she would evolve much more effectively.
So what's your plan now? Is plain old murder no longer enough to satisfy you?
I want to release more Mist. It will eliminate Subject 9 while simultaneously catalyzing the evolution of Subject 10.
Murder? That's a bit harsh. You know perfectly well that the sooner we complete these tests, the fewer people will die.
Are you naive or just stupid? As long as the organization exists, these tests will never end. One Aberration isn't enough... they'll need a lot more, until they've pathed a perfect path of blood to—
...Evolution.
If you hate all this so much, you can always choose to leave.
Don't you think I know that?! You think I don't want to leave? Where do you suppose all those people who left ended up? Heaven?
No. They're all down there, transformed from scientists into monsters in the blink of an eye.
Murder is the only thing we can do. Life is already a complete disaster... we shouldn't let this opportunity go to waste.
Deploy triple the amount of Mist in Sector B-1034 and its perimeters. Begin special assessments on Subject 10 Lucia.
The sisters flee hand in hand. Today's situation is even more dangerous than usual.
The day horns sprouted from her forehead, Lucia began to transform into something inhuman. She would search for stone fragments and sharpen them as much as possible... and hacked at her horns again and again.
Until her horns grew to be too resilient... Even as she shattered her stone shards and the pain made her black out, she could no longer cut away her horns.
Later, Lucia learned to "devour." When her stone shards pierced a monster's vital points, she would feel power surging into her, and her bestial nature swelled with an irrepressible urge to kill. She was "absorbing" the monsters.
As her companions transform into monsters with familiar eyes, blood turns everything so viscous that no one can tell whose blood it is anymore.
But this attack is different. Mist sweeps in from all directions... covering everything... Her injured foot is slowing her down, but she can't stop... Stopping means death.
Don't be afraid, Luna. Stay behind me and cover your eyes.
Count the numbers. Keep your eyes shut until you reach 100. No, make it 999. The storm will have passed by then.
Sis, we can't run away anymore.
Luna's tone remains calm, as if announcing a fact that has nothing to do with her.
There are too many monsters this time. Even you can't fight them all.
Luna!
Will you blame me, Sis?
Not at all.
I will never blame you, Luna. Never.
It was me who opened the door that day, letting "Mom" in to kill "Dad."
Stop thinking about that.
That thing wasn't Dad... it was a monster. It had me in its grip, and I would have died if you hadn't opened the door to let the other monsters attack it.
But that monster still recognized me... He had the music box he gave me, and he placed the medicine in my hands before he died.
...But Luna, you chose me... You saved my life that day.
If you did kill "Dad," I shall bear half of that sin. We did it together.
You wanted your sister to live, and so we survived that day. I want you to live, so we'll survive today too. Simple as that.
Don't cry, Luna. Don't be afraid.
"Your sister is here. We'll always be together. Even if we become monsters, we'll be monsters together. Even in hell..." Lucia raises a stone shard, swinging futilely.
I don't want to die, Sis. Those monsters will eat me after they kill you.
I don't want to be eaten by those monsters. Devour me instead. It won't hurt if it's you.
Sis... grant me my wish just this once. Bear my sins for me. I want you to live... at least until dawn.
Please help me just this once, Sis.
...I agree... Let's skip this part...
After the Mist dissipates, the researchers detect the presence of a human life form. When they open the site's main gate, they find Lucia embracing Luna, who shows no vital signs anymore...
From behind, they can see Subject 10 has grown full bestial horns, but they can't confirm if she is a monster... until Lucia turns to look at them.
The girl, with dried, bloody tears on her face, stares at them with a pair of hollow, grief-stricken eyes. Monsters cannot feel sorrow, so she must be an Aberration.
Surrounding Lucia are the other surviving test subjects, protecting their pack leader like wolf cubs. Cradle is among them, anxiously covering her head with her hands.
We did it. We've created an Aberration.
Beast horns, mismatched eyes, the ability to devour... A pathway to evolution, to gold! I've done it! We've found it!!
The researchers remove their protective gear, trying but unable to touch their creation. Some kneel and cry, though it's hard to say if they're grateful they have survived, or if they're relieved they no longer have to kill.
Lucia's evolution has exceeded everyone's imagination, yet she speaks with a quiet, solemn tone so familiar to humans.
I've slain all the monsters you let loose... those changed by the Mist...
These children are under my protection now. You will not lay a finger on them again.
Lucia gently lays Luna down and grips the unformed Daybreak, its bone blade still unpolished and raw.
Dragging her injured leg, she approaches the supervisor and lifts his chin with her blade, each word slow and deliberate as she speaks.
Go ahead. Try to touch them again. I dare you.
I promise your hands and head will hit the floor at the same time. That's a promise I intend to keep.
And from today on, my name is Alpha. Lucia no longer exists. She died last night, along with her sister and everyone else.
Alpha. Got it? Now say it after me. Don't shake. Speak clearly. Don't get it wrong. Don't test me. Don't make this any harder than it needs to be.
You wanted an Aberration, didn't you? Well, you've got one. And here's the bonus: you got something even better.
A demon, who is only standing before you right now because... she devoured her own sister to survive. So, try living with me now, adults.
With a deep breath, you close your eyes, freezing the memory on its final frame as past sins descend like snowflakes.
The embers of this mind still burn. We must wait until the flames die out before we can have an audience with the master of this memory palace. This time, we'll skip straight to the final chapter.
The flames of fate ignite once more, and young Alpha's face transforms into the countenance of the Countess in its glow.
This time, she has swapped positions with the researchers. The observers have become the scrutinized, while the test subject stands in a position of power.
Alpha, key in hand, gently traces the iron gate and walls of the testing grounds. The Mist begins to spread through the passages, rushing toward the researchers who now stand completely unprotected.
The researchers scream in terror, all fully aware of what comes next. Meanwhile, the supervisor who orchestrated it all stands motionless at the center of the site, awaiting his judgment.
The Countess raises a wine bottle to the Mist, then pours the blood-red liquid over the pile of research files and equipment before dropping a lit match upon them.
Without sparing the researchers another glance, she turns to lock the iron door and hands the key to Roland, who has been waiting at the entrance all this time.
Don't you want to say something, my dear red reaper?
There's no need to eulogize what's already rotten. This was just business.
Indeed, this is the price for the Countess' service to the city. Every detail has been thoroughly discussed between us.
From this day forward, the organization no longer exists. No new Aberrations will ever be born.
Alpha walks toward the sunlight, ready to embrace her honors and noble title.
"This must be done, and I remain blessed by the divine," Alpha tells herself repeatedly, needing this mantra to cling to, or she won't know how to continue down this endless road before her.
As the embers of memories fade, the two of you withdraw, walking through a passage lined with doors. You hesitate occasionally, grasping a doorknob to sense what lies beyond, until you finally push one open by instinct...
You two? Looks like you've already met Luna.
From where exactly? My past? My nightmare? Or perhaps myself? All the decisions that made me into who I am?
[player name], I appreciate everything you did, but you arrived too late...
I should be the one who decides how my story ends.
Right now, I'm just tired. I need some rest.
I'm sorry?!
Save your nonsense.
I already told you I don't need that... Or are you just pitying me?
That insignificant past can no longer sway me.
You don't know me that well.
You reach out first, taking the sitting Alpha by the hand. With that, the glass barrier between you shatters into pieces.
Why? Why go through this pointless trouble?
...Meddlesome...
...Thank you...
How touching! Let me join in the fun!
This place is about to collapse. Everyone, take my hand. We're going back to the real world.
No one in this world can walk alone. Regardless of strength, it's because we have those who believe in us, and those we believe in, that we can... move forward with confidence and traverse the misty road ahead.
As you open your eyes in the real world, you find Alpha bathed in the morning light, praying. Eventually, she leans close to the coffin and whispers.
Whether I return here or not, we will meet again in the near future, Luna.
She extends her hand, commanding vines to cover the coffin until it's completely buried. Only then does she announce her plan.
I'm going to stop Cradle. She's become a threat to my life and the future of this city.
Given my knowledge of the organization, this is no exaggeration. And what she's doing now is even more insane...
This passage connects the city to the Mist. I placed Luna here as a reminder of what happens if I fail to defend it.
If I stop here, all my past efforts to protect this place will have been for nothing. As for whether you two want to come along... that's your call.
Alpha gives Eileena a complicated look as she mentions the two of you, then glances thoughtfully at Luna before quickly averting her gaze and resuming her usual demeanor.
In that moment, Eileena clearly feels threatened, like prey being sized up by a predator. Fortunately, the moment has passed, and she chooses to let it go for now.
Stop asking questions you already know the answer to! Alpha, we're more than happy to join you.
After all, we're talking about the bright and glorious future of our city. What could be more important?
Alpha smiles, then extends her hand. Threads materialize from her palm, stretching toward the distant place where Cradle resides—the Mist.
For years, Alpha has been the lone guardian of this passage, preventing the invasion of supernatural forces. Now, she must venture there herself.
Alpha tears the threads apart. Simultaneously, the connection in Cradle's ears breaks, causing the doctor to clutch her ears in pain—she's been hiding in the shadows, monitoring everything.
[player name], there's something you need to know. The next time my blood surges, I'll fully become a monster.
This means we only have one chance to challenge the doctor.
If I lose myself during our journey, I need you to end it for me.
This is the only thing I'll ever ask of you. My one and final wish.
Never Forgotten.
