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game transcriptions
To be updated and made prettier later. I'll add screenshots later too as proof, lol. Sorry I can't HTML...
Going to try add stuff that isn't accessible on the current Wiki since I'm actively playing the game...
!! Be mindful of the content warnings: It's the DrakeNieR series and one of the taglines for Rein's setting is "The Cage where sin sleeps," so expect a lot of depressing stories about humanity. Death, murder, classism, child death, abuse is prevalent in Fio's stories.
MAIN STORY under construction. to include map banter and dialogue choices
CHARACTER STORY Short story about Fio and a Noble girl
DARK MEMORY Story about Fio's dream of her biological mother
COSTUMES AND WEAPON STORIES under construction because she has too many costumes/weapons...
EVENT STORIES
■ Record: Garden of Benediction Fio's Birthday Story
■ Record: Chamber of Prayer About the day her family was cast down to the lowest class
CARD STORIES
■ Anecdote: Stars
HIDDEN STORIES
■ No.01 Ch.1 Warm Hands
■ No.02 Ch.2 What Shines
■ No.03 Ch.3 Cries of Flowers
■ No.04 Ch.4 Kindly Child
■ No.05 Angelic Sacrifice
■ No.06 REPORT CARD
■ No.07 A Gift from Mommy and Daddy
■ No.08 Regarding the New Caste System
■ No.09 What the Monster Saw
■ No.10
MEMOIR STORIES background information on Fio's social class, the lowest of the caste system
SINOALICE COLLABORATION STORY
ABOUT THE CAGE this page is already heavy with information so this goes to a separate journal entry...
Going to try add stuff that isn't accessible on the current Wiki since I'm actively playing the game...
!! Be mindful of the content warnings: It's the DrakeNieR series and one of the taglines for Rein's setting is "The Cage where sin sleeps," so expect a lot of depressing stories about humanity. Death, murder, classism, child death, abuse is prevalent in Fio's stories.
MAIN STORY under construction. to include map banter and dialogue choices
CHARACTER STORY Short story about Fio and a Noble girl
DARK MEMORY Story about Fio's dream of her biological mother
COSTUMES AND WEAPON STORIES under construction because she has too many costumes/weapons...
EVENT STORIES
■ Record: Chamber of Prayer About the day her family was cast down to the lowest class
CARD STORIES
HIDDEN STORIES
■ No.02 Ch.2 What Shines
■ No.03 Ch.3 Cries of Flowers
■ No.04 Ch.4 Kindly Child
■ No.05 Angelic Sacrifice
■ No.06 REPORT CARD
■ No.07 A Gift from Mommy and Daddy
■ No.08 Regarding the New Caste System
■ No.09 What the Monster Saw
■ No.10
MEMOIR STORIES background information on Fio's social class, the lowest of the caste system
SINOALICE COLLABORATION STORY
ABOUT THE CAGE this page is already heavy with information so this goes to a separate journal entry...
MAIN STORY
Map Banter
Dialogue Options for White Autumn
[ That's right. ] [ I'm not alone. ]
Am I alone?
[ It's because I'm a bad girl. ] [ It's all the important people's fault. ]
Why is everything like this?
[ I don't want to die. ] [ Maybe I'd be better off dead. ]
Am I going to die?
[ He's dead. ] [ They killed him. ]
Daddy...
[ She's a cheater. ] [ She threw me away. ]
Mommy...
[ SOMEBODY! SOMEBODY HELP! ] [ HELP HELP HELP HELP HELP HELP ]
Somebody help me...
[ Nightmares ]
Am I...forgetting something?
[ Nightmares ] [ Nightmares ] [ Nightmares ] [ Nightmares ] [ Nightmares ]
[ Nightmares ] [ Nightmares ] [ Nightmares ] [ Nightmares ] [ Nightmares ]
[ Nightmares ] [ Nightmares ] [ Nightmares ] [ Nightmares ] [ Nightmares ]
[ Nightmares ] [ Nightmares ] [ Nightmares ] [ Monster ] [ Monster ]
EVENT STORIES
Record: Garden of Benediction
STORY 1
Once, a small girl lived in a town far away. Her family is poor, and though times are rough, she lives her life to its fullest as best she can. Her days are often spent playing alone in a ruin outside of town. She has no friends, so this run-down building is her only companion.
Her days are ones of hardship. But today, she is filled with life and energy. Or so she desperately wants to believe. For today is her birthday. But there is no delicious feast waiting for her. No presents. And no one to celebrate her special day—not even her parents. So instead, she celebrates alone.
"Happy birthday!" she cries to herself, causing warmth to blossom in her chest.
She spins in a circle, imagining herself as a beautiful ballerina. She sings. She dances. She tries all the fun things she can think to do. Because this is her birthday party. A day to forget the pain of everyday life. And more than anything else, she wants this day to be special.
STORY 2
The lonely birthday party continues. The next event takes place on a craggy stone table.
The girl begins forming something out of dirt and mud. It is a grand birthday cake—one far too big for a single person to consume. It seems impossible that someone so small can construct such a thing, let alone that she could built it at all. For her mother and father have never celebrated her birthday. Though she had always wanted a party, she knew her parents were too destitute to do such a thing. And as a result, she has no idea what a real cake is supposed to look like. Or taste like. Or smell like. The only thing she knows for certain is that they are delightful. More than anything, she wants to share a cake with her family someday. And with that dream in mind, she continues to build her creation.
STORY 3
Her dirt cake slowly takes shape. Though it is a tad off-kilter, she finally completes it.
But as she gazes at her creation, she notices something is missing. She needs to add something very, very important. And she knows exactly what it is: The cake has no candles. She begins searching for branches that can act as a suitable substitute. She knows she needs as many straight little twigs as her age. After a bit, she begins breaking off branches and whittling them down. She will not compromise on the candles. A cake only becomes grand with proper candles, after all.
Suddenly, a sweet scent wafts over her. It is the most lovely thing she has ever smelled. Was someone baking treats nearby, maybe? The question lingers in her mind as she finishes collecting her sticks. But when she turns back to her cake, she is greeted by an unbelievable sight. Her creation of dirt and mud has transformed into a real cake.
STORY 4
The cake the girl worked so hard to make has somehow become real. White cream. Colorful fruit. The girl cannot hide her joy. Her cheers of celebration quickly turn into song. The happiest birthday song ever sung fills the quiet of the ruin. And in the far-off shadows, something watches. It is a strange creature—neither human nor animal. It had been unable to turn away from the girl as she played, and could not help but interfere. Even though such a thing is forbidden.
"Just..."
"Just for today."
The strange creature holds the warmest wishes for the girl. And seeing her smiling face, it knows these wishes have come true.
"Happy birthday, little one."
"Here's a present from Mama."
Record: Chamber of Prayer
STORY 1
Overnight, a cruel new law penned by the Nobles plunged one family into the lowest echelons of society. The father lost his job. The mother began to meet cold stares while doing the shopping.
And the daughter was expelled from school.
Ever since that day, the pent-up despair of her parents has become a daily expression of rage. The girl is too young to intervene, and can but stand by as her parents hurl contempt and insults in equal measure. But in her secret heart, she knows exactly what to say:
I just want you to get along again. You used to laugh. To sing. To be happy.
But now you don't, and there is nothing I can do about it.
Realizing this is a thing beyond her ability to repair, the girl is thrust into a spiral of endless darkness.
But she pushes the feeling back and abruptly springs up from her chair.
She has just come up with an idea. And idea that will make her parents love again.
Her heart leaping with joy, she dashes from the room and out the door.
STORY 2
Father. Mother. Daughter.
It is a perfectly normal family; one found anywhere and everywhere. But an unfair law forces this family to be the subject of poverty and discrimination.
The parents curse their own misfortune and permit their resentments to run wild.
But the wounded girl has come up with a plan to bring them together once more. In her room, she unfurls a dirty scrap of paper and takes up her pencil. Her eyes narrow in concentration as the lead skitters across the page.
Soon the image begins to take shape. Though crude, it is clearly a picture of her mother and father holding hands. The daughter carefully puts the finishing touches on the picture, pouring her entire heart and soul into its creation. All the while, she thinks back on her precious memories of a household filled with happiness.
She completes the drawing by giving the subjects a pair of gentle smiles.
She wants them to be like the picture, to get along again. This is her most fervent wish.
STORY 3
The girl has drawn her parents in happier days with a crude and unpracticed hand.
She feels confident they will stop fighting once she shows them her creation.
She knows it will make them remember better times.
Her mother sits silently at the table. With hope in her heart, she shuffles up and places the picture in front of her. But the wife is still not recovered from the latest argument with her husband, and she shoves the drawing aside without a glance.
"Go away," she mutters. "I don't feel like playing right now."
Her weary eyes never leave the surface of the table. The girl stands rooted in place, unsure of what to do next. Eventually, she comes to a realization: She is sad. Unbearably sad. And this sadness is threatening to consume her.
This feeling—this pain—is so overwhelming that she cannot even begin to express it.
The next thing she knows, she is running from the house with tears streaming down her face.
Behind her, she hears her father begin to yell. Maybe he yells at her.
Or maybe her parents are fighting again.
But she continues to run, and the raging voice eventually fades to nothing.
STORY 4
Ignored by her mother, the girl fled her house carrying a heart heavy with despair.
Having regained some modicum of control, she now sits silently and still in the cool night air.
Not wanting her parents to worry, she finally forces her feet to begin the long trek home—a journey made all the harder by the anchor of her weary soul.
"I wonder if they're still fighting."
The girl approaches a window and peers inside to find her parents sitting across the table from one another. Her mother is speaking.
Their has been one of constant discrimination and poverty ever since the law was unveiled.
Their formerly strained livelihoods became even more difficult; the girl can tell from her mother's face that she has reached her limit.
But this time, her father does not berate his wife. Instead, he simply sits and listens to her words.
"Because...even I..."
As tears begin to flow, her mother abandons her husband at the table and vanishes deeper into the house. Rather than follow, the man unfolds a dingy piece of paper and stares at it.
It is the girl's picture—the same one her mother rejected earlier that day.
Quietly, her father stands and sets the crude drawing gently on a shelf.
The daughter knows that shelf well. It is the place where he keeps his most precious things.
It holds letters he and his wife exchanged during their courtship.
Pressed flowers given to him by his daughter.
And seashells collected by the family during a rare day of rest at the beach.
The daughter is not alone in her dream. All of them want things to go back to how they were.
Sniffling, the girl rubs her red and tired eyes and opens the door to her house.
"I'm home," she says quietly.
And as her voice echoes throughout the home, it brings with it the faintest glimmer of hope.
EXTRA STORIES
Card Stories
Anecdote: Stars
A pure girl dreams a joyous dream. She sees a cream stew full of veggies. Mommy and Daddy join her at the table, and they smile as they discuss the day. As the girl boasts of the stew she made, her parents shower her with praise. For her, this quiet vision of a normal meal shines brighter than any jewel.
STORY 2 (screenshot)
A pure girl dreams the strangest dream. She sees a great monster, a floating black ghost, and an endless stone tower. But even without her mommy and daddy, she is not lonely. For here, she is not treated unjustly. Here, she sees no nightmares. She looks forward to her nightly slumber with joy, and knows she will visit this world again tonight...
Hidden Stories
[No.01] Ch.1: Warm Hands
I met a monster in a strange place called The Cage.
The monster ate all my bad dreams so I stopped having them.
But when the monster kept eating my dreams, he turned into a girl that looked just like me, and I became a monster. I was so surprised, I didn't know what to do—so I ran away.
But secretly, I was happy to be a monster.
I wanted to forget about my dead dad. I wanted to forget about my mom who abandoned me. I wanted to forget about the other kids who bullied me. I wanted to forget everything.
I'm not human anymore. I'm a monster.
And I am going to forget everything.
Everything.
It's snowing; soft, white, and beautiful.
The strange place is made of stone. Some parts are covered in leaves, and some let the snow in. Like this one.
The snow crunches under my feet as I walk down a long white path.
I don't know where to go.
I want to go home, but I didn't know where it is.
I guess I forgot where I'd come from.
I don't know anymore. I can't remember anything.
Eventually I stop thinking about it because it makes my head hurt. I forget all that and begin to run. Snow sticks to my cheeks—it's nice and cold, and helps to erase the fuzzy feeling in my head.
After a while, I come to a stop and see a woman sitting by a cold stone wall. I thought I was alone in this place, so I'm happy to see someone else.
But she's shivering. Is she sick?
"Excuse me, ma'am," I ask. "Are you okay?"
She looks over at me and screams.
"MONSTER!"
She starts to shiver more after that, and I feel bad for her. I want her to feel better. I start trying to spin and dance, because that always makes me happy and I think it will make her happy, too. But I can't dance very well in all the slippery snow, and after a second I fall down on my bum—which causes the lady to laugh.
"Are you feeling better, ma'am?"
She gives a little nod, and we start talking. She tells me she found herself lost in this stone place, and wants to go home so she can see her "family" and her "daughter." Then she asks me how to get out of here. When I tell her I don't know, her face gets all sad again.
"It's okay," I say. "We'll find a way home together."
I take her hand. My hands are super big, so I hold hers gently, trying not to crush it. She looks up at me like she's going to cry, then squeezes my hand tight.
"Your hands..." she says in a whisper. "They're so cold."
I realize then how cold my hands are, and remember how I was trying to endure the cold. But I'm okay now, because the nice lady's hands are so very warm.
[No.02] Ch.2: What Shines
I'm a monster in a big building made of stone.
I want to go home, but I don't know where that is. I don't even know where I came from. I don't remember anything. So I walk and walk all by myself until I meet a nice lady. She says she also ended up in the stone building and didn't know how. She says she had to find the way home to her "family" and "daughter."
So I take her hand and start to walk with her.
We walk up a long spiral staircase and the snow just stops. There are red leaves everywhere—it's like a red carpet just for us! The lady smiles and says it's beautiful. Then we see a flower sprouting in the leaves and she smiles more.
"What a strange place," the lady says. "That flower bloomed out of nowhere. My daughter would be delighted to see it."
The nice lady tells me all about her daughter while we walk. Her daughter likes flowers, and also loves the nice lady. They're always together, and are each others' favorite people in the whole world. They also fight sometimes, but they always make up. They're a "family," so even if something is painful, they overcome it together.
The lady seems happy to be talking about her daughter, and that makes me happy. Then she asks if I have a family.
"I don't know," I say, tilting my head. And it's true—I don't remember anything. But I knew it would be nice to have a family and a daughter like the nice lady.
"Oh, that's right," says the lady. "You don't remember anything. But I'm sure you have family. All living things have beautiful families around them."
I leap in the air and say "Yippee!" I still can't remember anything, but I want to go home to my beautiful family.
Suddenly, pop! Another flower blooms from the red leaves. But it isn't the only one! Pop, pop, pop! So many are blooming. Each of the little blossoms gives off a shine. I feel like I can make a huge light if I collect them all!
The lady gasps in delight and starts picking the flowers.
"I'm going to pick a bouquet for my daughter!" she says.
Pluck, pluck, pluck. She plucks so many that I feel bad for the flowers. But the lady says flowers bloom so they can be plucked, and that no matter how many we pick, they'll never scream in pain. That makes sense, 'cause flowers are always quiet and never talk or anything. So I pick lots with the nice lady as we walk.
Finally, we come to a black statue. The lady says it looks like a scarecrow, which I don't understand. But I want to touch it, so I reach out. And then...
POP!
Me and the nice lady turn into dark mist and get sucked up into the scarecrow!
[No.03] Ch.3: Cries of Flowers
(cw: child abuse, implied murder)
The big stone building is so very strange. Now inside, I'm trying to help a lady find her way home so she can see her "family" and her "daughter."
When the lady first started telling me about such things, I felt my heart grow warmer. While I couldn't remember anything about myself, I knew I also wanted a "family" and a "daughter." But when we found what looked like a Dark Scarecrow. Curious, I reached out to touch it, and we ended up getting sucked inside!
Now me and the lady are in a small house—a place different from the leaf-covered stone building we were in a moment ago. It's a messy house; bricks are pulling out of walls, and the fireplace is full of garbage. All the chairs and tables are scattered across the floor, and the windows are broken.
Where are we? I wonder. But then the lady's eyes go wide and she exclaims, "I'm home!"
This is the lady's house! Oh, I'm so glad she managed to find it! But then I notice she's frowning, and a second later she starts running this way and that.
"Where is she!? Where is she!?"
She repeats these words over and over like a spell as she runs around the room. She yanks garbage from the fireplace, and even turns over furniture that was already overturned. Suddenly, she spins on a heel and runs into another room. Though this is all very confusing, I decide to follow her.
The next room is just as messy as the first, and I find the lady stretched out on the floor, running her hand back and forth beneath a filthy bed. After a bit, I hear the sound of something heavy being dragged, followed by a harsh cry. A moment later, the lady pulls out a sobbing little girl with a face covered in bruises!
"So it's not enough that Daddy does it?" snarls the woman. "You're going to run from me too?" She then smacks the girl's cheek with her hand, causing her to wail in pain.
"Stop it!" I cry. "You're hurting her!"
"Family is overcoming pain together," replies the woman.
...Family? Oh, I see. This must be the "daughter" she was talking about. Still, if her child is so precious, why would the lady hit her? Considering the girl's face is covered in bruises, I don't want to think about how long this has been going on.
"Help me!" screams the girl as she reaches for my hand. "She's going to kill me!"
I have to do something. I have to. But when I look at the girl, my head hurts and I can't move. I recognize the look in her eyes: they are full of despair because no one will bother to help her.
Wait.
That's right.
...I remember.
I was human before I became a monster—and I had despaired just like the girl. My daddy died. My mommy left and never came back. No one would help me. No one cared. I have no home to return to anymore.
I break into fearsome sobs and begin to run. I have to. Because if I don't, I feel like I'm going to lose my mind.
I leave the messy room and run outside. I run and run and run—going for so long I don't even remember what happened. When I finally come back to myself, I'm in the big stone building. There are dead flowers all over the stone floor; the same ones that were so happy and bright moments before.
The petals look like bones. Ash.
They look like they're crying.
But I can't hear the flowers crying.
No one can hear the flowers crying.
[No.04] Ch.4: Kindly Child
I always wanted a home to go to, but never knew where to find it. I'd forgotten so much. I'd forgotten everything.
But now? I remember.
Daddy is dead.
Mommy abandoned me so she could be with a strange man.
I'm alone. In despair. I'm in so much pain. My chest hurts. I don't know what to do. I yell, but nothing happens.
I need help. I need to find someone who will help me, so I run through the giant stone building looking for someone. I run and run until my legs ache and my lungs burn. I feel like I'm going to cry, but my monster body has no eyes, so I can't.
I climb to a higher spot and look at the sky. Sand floats on the wind, turning it a sickly yellow color.
And then...
"Is that...?"
I hear a voice from below. I look down and see a white, floaty creature, as well as a girl dressed in black. Both of them are looking up at me. The girl has beautiful eyes—like a flower. She looks so very kind; I wish I could talk to her.
I'm sad.
I'm lonely.
I'm hurt.
Save me.
There are so many things I want to say to her, but I can't say anything because my head is pounding. And the longer I look at her, the more I feel like I'm going to remember something else.
No. I don't want to remember anything else. I'm afraid of finding despair again, like the moment I remembered about Mommy and Daddy.
The girl doesn't say anything as she approaches. My head hurts more. More. More. I feel like I'm going insane.
Don't come any closer!
"————————!"
Before I know what's happening, I fly at the girl, planning to attack. But just as my hand is about to connect with her head, our eyes meet.
I can't hurt her.
When that thought comes to me, I freeze. The girl opens her mouth, but no voice comes out. Maybe she can't speak?
Why is that? I don't know. But as I think about it, my head starts to hurt again. I can't stand it anymore, so I run away from the girl. I climb the stone wall, aiming for a high place. The sand on the wind scrapes against my monster skin.
I feel so lonely. So isolated. I want to see her again—to see her kind eyes. And yet, looking at her makes me feel like I'm going to remember something, and that scares me. So instead, I turn to the sandy yellow sky and scream.
I have nowhere to go, but I still want to find a home.
And the kindness I feel from the girl is exactly the kind of home I want to return to.
[No.05] Angelic Sacrifice
Mama: If I were to describe her in a word, it would be...angelic! Yes, that's it.
Carrier: seems you ain't been acquainted with her more devilish side yet.
Mama: Society can be so cruel. How could they possibly sacrifice a blameless child?
Carrier: Same cruel society is always sacrificing my poor salary too...
Mama: Still, I believe her fate changed when she met the monster.
Carrier: My fate changed when I met my wife―in many meanings of the word! Heyo!
Mama: Goodness, but you are an irritating creature.
Carrier: Ow! Hey! don't pinch me like THAAAT! OWWW!
Mama: The girl never lost her kindness, even in the face of needless malice. But though that kindness was not enough to bring her salvation, it saved him, and he brought salvation to her heart. In this feedback loop of benevolence, she became herself anew.
Carrier: GYAAAAAAH! HRAAAAAGH! ...HAH!
Mama: Oh my. You managed to escape my grasp.
Carrier: Gimme a goddamn break already, lady!
Mama: Language! That poor girl would be sad to hear such things from you, Carrier. After all, she adores you.
[No.06] REPORT CARD
1. GRADES
Composition: A
Grammar: A
Mathematics: A
History: A
Geography: A
Science: A
Art: C
Music: A
Physical Education: A
Ethics: A
Labor: A
Nature Appreciation: A
2. ATTENDANCE
Days Present: 80
Absences: 0
Late Arrivals: 0
Times Left Early: 0
3. TEACHER COMMENTS
Your daughter's grades and attitude are excellent. She is considered an exemplary student among the staff, and interacts with genuine care for all of her classmates. Your daughter's stellar personality is a testament to her wonderful home environment and the love you show her.
As she is student of particular quality, we strongly recommend she pursue higher-level education.
We believe she will prove a valuable asset for society in the future.
[No.07] A Gift from Mommy and Daddy
One cold and snowy morning, I looked out the window and watched as my daughter had a snowball fight with some of the neighborhood kids. They were all bigger than her—and probably four or five years older—but she kept making snowballs and throwing them as best as she could. That's when I realized she was the only one without gloves, and that her poor hands were bright red. Yet she still wore a beaming innocent smile on her face, which made my heart hurt.
"Fio's so cheerful, even on a frigid day like this."
My husband, having just woke, came over to stand beside me, watching our daughter amidst the large crowd of children. Once he left for work, I looked for one of my old sweaters. He'd given it to me years ago and I'd always taken good care of it, so I figured it would still be in decent shape. After pulling it out of the closet, I unraveled it and began to knit a pair of gloves from the yarn, figuring the soft hues would look better on her than me, anyway. But when my husband came home that night, we looked at each other and burst out laughing, because he'd gone to town and used what little money we had to buy her a pair of mittens.
That night, I watched as our little girl, worn out from playing all day, snored softly in her sleep. May these blissful days continue into eternity, I prayed as I gently placed a small blanket over her.
[No.08] Regarding the New Caste System
Next spring, a new social class will be established below the Noble and Commoner classes.
These individuals will be called "Goat People," and will be required to pay exorbitant taxes on the bulk of their income. Additionally, they will not be allowed to assume any position of public service, and are expected to be stripped of the ability to vote. In essence, these Goat People will not only lose not only their economic freedoms, but their basic human rights.
The council's jurists claim that introducing a lower caste is expected to stabilize the government, but I say this with everything in my heart: There can be no future for such an inhumane system.
Today, the assembly hall was filled with those who oppose the new system yet again. It doesn't matter if we end up Goat People ourselves; no citizen rejoices in finding fortune by means of grinding the less fortunate beneath their bootheel. Even if the council steamrolls public opposition and puts this outrageous class system in place, we will never yield. All of us—Nobility, Commoners, and Goats—must join hands and help one another.
[No.09] What the Monster Saw
Seeking freedom from their lowly status, a group of Goat People gathered before the council building last night. Guards were dispatched to control the situation, but a riot broke out regardless.
Though the Goat People involved in the incident were purged, residents continue to voice their unease. They are not afraid of the powerless Goat People, but rather a horrible "monster" that multiple eyewitnesses reported seeing at the scene of the purge.
"It was that girl," one witness said as she trembled. "The one they found dead in the ruins a few days ago. She summoned that horrible thing. It was like something straight out of a fairy tale..."
Separate rumors claim the Goat People were driven to riot by their despair over the girl's death, which likely led the eyewitness to make this connection. That said, the council is currently looking into the "monster," and are calling for all citizens to remain calm in the meantime. They have also promised to take this incident seriously, and tighten the noose even further around the necks of all Goat People.
[No.10]
A little over a hundred years ago, there was a girl who was oppressed as a Goat person and lost her life as a young child.
She was trapped in a long cycle of reincarnation--
So goes the legend among the Goat People.
She died and was reborn, lived and died, and was reborn again.
She has transcended time, changed her form, lost her memory, but she is always born with the same heart.
It is said that even in the midst of her harsh fate as a Goat person, she never lost her kindness until the very end.
It must be because somewhere in her heart, she remembered the kindness of the "monster."
--No matter how many times she is reborn, she is always saved by the monster.
The warm memory of the "monster" is always sleeping in her heart.
That is why, no matter what era or place she is born,
she can walk on without losing her kindness.
『山羊の民』が語り継ぐこと
百年と少し前。山羊の民として虐げられ、
幼いままで命を落とした少女がいました。
彼女は、長い輪廻の中に囚われていた――
私たち山羊の民の間では、そう言い伝えられています。
死んでは生まれ変わり、生きては死に、また生まれ変わる。
時を超え、姿を変え、記憶を失くし、けれど少女は、
いつも同じ心を持って生まれてくるというのです。
そんな少女は、山羊の民として過酷な運命を辿る中でも、
最期まで優しさを失わなかったといわれています。
それはきっと、彼女が心のどこかで、
「怪物」の優しさを覚えていたからに他ならないでしょう。
――少女は何度生まれ変わっても、いつも「怪物」に救われる。
その温かな「怪物」の記憶が、いつも彼女の心に眠っている。
だからこそ彼女は、どんな時代、どんな場所に生まれついても、
優しさを失わずに、歩いていけるのです。
ENCYCLOPEDIA
Costumes and Weapon Stories
The Girl of Light / Fate & Destiny
The Girl of Light (screenshot)
Her collar and bindings serve as proof of her base status. When she sleeps, she is taken to a place called The Cage and shown terrible nightmares.
Weapon: Fate & Destiny (screenshot)
When the girl's father was fired from his job, he begged them to take him back—but his former friends and coworkers beat him to death instead.
The girl's mother eased her suffering by taking up with a younger man. And after her husband was killed, the pair abandoned the girl and fled.
Even the girl's former best friend scorned and abandoned her. Hungry and alone, the girl eventually sank into an endless pit of despair.
Dissenting Girl / Mon Mizette
It looked like rain today, so I stayed home and finished the book I borrowed from the library! It was an adventure story that took place at sea. I've never seen the sea, but the book says it's salty. I know I'm just a kid, but there's still so much I don't know—maybe I'll go borrow an ocean encyclopedia if it's sunny tomorrow!
Weapon: Mon Mizette (screenshot)
One day, she decided to wear a white linen dress adorned from tip to toe with lace. But when she spilled some tea on it, she simply tore the dress and threw it away.
The next day, she pulled out a beautiful ebony dress. But she quickly decided it was too plain, and tossed it out without ever trying it on.
Her discarded clothes were eventually put up for sale at a small bazaar. A local girl was amazed at the quality of the black dress; it was like nothing she had ever seen. But a pauper like her could never wear such a thing.
Guardian Girl / Muguet Lumière
One ship sinks to the ocean floor; two shellfish play in a sunny shoal; three dolphins swim south against the waves; four directions are distinguished by a lighthouse glow; five great seas whose names are known across the world. The little fish, big fish, swimming fish, and eaten fish all dream the same. It is the story of the benevolent goddess of the sea.
Weapon: Muguet Lumière (screenshot)
I practice art in the morning, swordsmanship in the afternoon, and dancing in the evening. I am very busy, but it is all worth it when Mommy tells me what a good boy I am.
Today I broke one of Mommy's rules and went to the river with my friends instead of practicing. Mommy was ever so mad at me, but I really wanted to be outside with my friends!
I have come up with a most wonderful idea—an idea that will let me abide by the rules and still play with my friends. After all, Mommy never told me I couldn't kill her!
Mechanical Girl / Type-40 Fists
Pod 153: Proposal: Identify black box signal.
Pod 042: Report: Unable to identify signal. It may be a new type of machine lifeform imitating an android.
Pod 153: Proposal: Eliminate unidentified individual so as to alleviate risk factors.
Fio: Aw, these are so cute! Can I pet you guys?
Pod 042: ...
Pod 153: ...
Pod 042: Report: I feel happy.
Pod 153. Affirmative. Elimination order rescinded.
Weapon: Type-40 Fists (screenshot)
Series Type-40 Weapons for YoRHa
Enter Your ID < >
qty:2,010 |Sword(Type-40)
qty:2,017 |Lance(Type-40)
qty:2,020 |Fists(Type-40)
Your Request is Proceeding...
.........................................
Commander Permission? Yes / No
ERROR: 606 False Claim
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or Call for Y.T.D. dept.
Abstract Girl / Bloodroot Vase
Put on clothes. Take off clothes.
I'd love to try on all sorts of different stuff, day in and day out! Frills, lace, headdresses, shoes... All sorts of cute things you'd think only existed in storybooks or in dreams.
But you know what? I think I feel most like myself when I'm wearing the same old clothes as always.
Weapon: Bloodroot Vase (screenshot)
But the rose was not a bright enough red for my master, so he asked me to do something about it. I diligently watered it, gave it fertilizer, and set it in the sun, but the color did not change.
Enraged, my master claimed I was a useless lump—but was he not at fault for purchasing something so suspect in the first place? This unreasonable attitude made my own ire rise.
I struck and killed him with the vase. Seeing my chance, I dipped the rose in his blood. "There, sir!" I cried. "It is now the beautiful color you have been yearning for!"
Memoirs
The Worker's Foundation
Article III: Choice and Obligation of Labor
Nobles are excused from labor due to their land assets, but may selectively pursue labor. Commoners, classified separately from Nobles, must engage in labor from sunrise to sunset.
Participation in official work is not recognized for Goat People, who are classified separately from both.
"The Revised Lawbook of the Noble Assembly"
My Future
Article V: Tax Revenue and Obligation of Payment
Nobles earn tax revenue from Commoners who live in their territories. Commoners must pay 40% of all wages as tax.
Goat People, classified separately from both, must pay 40% of wages to ruling Nobles and 20% to public projects.
"The Revised Lawbook of the Noble Assembly"
My Heart
Article VIII: Provisions of Suffrage
All Nobles may stand for the Assembly after coming of age. Commoners require the approval of ten Noble Assemblypersons in order to stand for Assembly candidacy.
Goat People are forbidden from entering the Assembly district.
"The Revised Lawbook of the Noble Assembly"
no subject
PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND FOR REFORM
Our survey proves political change and revolution eventually comes for every government that has ever existed. According to the jurists who filed this report, it is imperative that we create class system which will satisfy the people, and in turn stabilize our government.
"Internal Document Re: Founding a Nation"
The Jurist's Proposal
REFORM OUTLINE
We will establish a new class below our present Noble and Commoner classes. Those in this new class will have few basic human rights, and not only they will be stripped of the ability to engage in economic activities, they will lack even the right to seek any form of recourse. Under this system, all citizens in the new class will be removed from their jobs, thus drastically lowering the unemployment rate among Commoners.
"Internal Document Re: Founding a Nation"
The Jurist's Treatment
ENACTING REFORM
To ensure a smooth transition, the jurists who contributed to and showed the greatest understanding of this plan will be in the first group, after which we will implement reform for the rest of the population. The new class will be selected from a blind lottery of the Commoners. Finally, the name of this new class will provisionally be "Rejected" until the cabinet can decide on an official name.
"Internal Document Re: Founding a Nation"
no subject
A nation with which we share a border has implemented an infamous class system, and the trends within said nation are of interest not only to us their nearest neighbor, but to all the surrounding nations as well.
The "Goat People" designated as their lowest caste are said to be selected at random, but it is known fact that they are intentionally chosen from among merchants who do not ingratiate themselves to the state's aristocracy.
"Studies of a Neighboring Nation's Class System"
A Neighbor's Circumstances
Merchants, you see, are a group of people who have accumulated both wealth and knowledge despite their status as commoners, and many among them vocalize their grievances with the aristocracy and call for the redistribution of wealth. Viewing these people as a threat, it is thought that the aristocracy designate them as Goat People to oust them from society altogether. They are then stripped of their assets and forbidden from working in public positions—with some even being forced to engage in labor specified by the ruling aristocracy.
"Studies of a Neighboring Nation's Class System"
A Neighbor's Lunacy
People do not find value in their work when exploited; compensation for their labor is key. This nation takes people of talent, deems them Goat People deserving of scorn, and exploits them for labor. Then, when productivity suffers, they select a new group of Goat People and begin the cycle anew. This system seems like some pulled from an era long past, and this writer cannot help but feel as thought it is not an ideal arrangement in terms of productivity.
"Studies of a Neighboring Nation's Class System"
SINOALICE COLLABORATION STORY
"On that day, my life suddenly changed. For starters, I had to wear a collar on my neck. No one laughed with me anymore, whether it was on the streets or at school."
"Laughing with my family and dancing ballet with my friends are now distant memories. I closed my old diary and stifled my voice while crying in bed."
"Now, the only thing I look forward to is seeing Mr. Monster in my dreams. After seeing my nightmares, Mr. Monster would eat them all. I wonder if Mr. Monster and I will become friends someday..."
The roses we planted on the school grounds had bloomed. These white roses were carefully nurtured by everyone at school, who took turns to water them. In my country, roses are sacred as they are a symbol of the citizens' prosperity and beautiful smiles. On the day when the roses bloomed, the school principal gathered everyone and told us, "We must care for and protect our small lives". The roses were as white as snow and gave out a gentle scent when close. On this day last year, when those same roses bloomed, my friend told me that I looked like those flowers. At that time, I didn't think that I looked like those roses, but now I think that's so. ... ... well, the ugly me with ugly hands, feet and face.
"We must care for and protect our small lives". After school, taking the principal's words to heart, I went to the well and drew out water to sprinkle on the roses. Just then, I felt vertigo hitting me and lost consciousness. Come to think about it, my throat was getting dry. Since yesterday, I haven't had a drop of water to drink. I wish I could go back to the days where I had hot soup every day.
Before I knew it, it was pitch black. At the schoolyard, I turned towards the direction of the roses. The roses were fresh and shining, as though someone else had watered them. In that moment, I realized something. Unlike the roses, I wasn't valued by anyone. I don't think I could go back to the old days where I wore spotless clothes and smiled with a pure heart.
CHARACTER STORY
STORY 1
This is where I play: An old ruin a little ways from my house. It's my special place, and I don't wanna tell anyone about it. I always come here when I want to be alone.
But one day, there was someone else here, which had never happened before. It was an older girl reading a book in the shade—I remember she looked kinda sad. I could tell right away she was a Noble: Her clothes were beautiful... And she was the prettiest person I'd ever seen in my life! After a second, she saw me staring and gave me a weird smile.
"You want this book?" She asked me.
"I'm done with it."
I took it from her, but I was nervous the whole time; I'd never actually talked to a Noble before!
STORY 2
The book she gave me was a collection of children's stories. It had tons of pretty pictures, and I've read it every single day since. Each story was about a princess who fell in love with a prince. It was so different from my own life, and it helped me forget how sad everything was for me, if just for a little while.
But the book was also weird: All the pictures of the princesses had been scratched over with black ink... And the last page of every story was torn out. While I was certain all the princesses would live happily ever after... I also wanted to know how the stories ended, which meant I needed to find the Noble girl.
STORY 3
Eventually, I decided to go into town and look for her. It's not just that I wanted to know how the stories ended—I also wanted to see her again. Because even though I knew we were worlds apart, I still thought I might be able to be her friend.
There was a lively wedding taking place in town that day. And while the pretty bride in her white dress was surrounded by crowds of people, she looked so very lonely. I recognized the bride right away. It was the Noble girl. Part of me wanted to run up and congratulate her, but I hesitated. Because even though everyone around her was smiling big, she looked like... she was screaming on the inside.
STORY 4
I had a dream. In it, the Noble girl in her white dress was trying to tell me something. "Don't lose ▉▉ ▉▉,"* she said. As she talked, red started to spread out from her chest, staining her nice white dress. The color was far too sad for the nice Noble girl, and I woke up from the dream in a panic.
I went back to playing alone in the ruins. But one day, I noticed something stuck between a couple of stones. It was one of the missing story endings. It showed the prince and princess at their happy wedding. Later, I started hearing rumors in town:
Didja hear that Noble lady ran away barefoot?
Didja hear she was cackling madly?
Didja hear she killed herself?
But I know they're not talking about the nice Noble girl, because all princesses get to live happily ever after.
*Note: "Don't lose ▉▉ ▉▉" is "Don't lose your will" in the audio narration.
DARK MEMORY
Rainy Winter, Sleeping Princess Part 1
"Is this dress too garish?" My sister drew up her shoulders as she spoke, grasping the hem of her beautiful white dress. It was generously decorated in layer upon layer of delicate lace, with small diamonds sparkling here and there. I let out a small sigh as I stared at her. "You look lovely, my sister. And well you should, for today is certain to be the finest day of your life."
My sister nodded, satisfied, and turned this way and that to better admire her reflection in the mirror.
We were twins, both princesses in the land we called home. Though we shared a visage, my sister was bright, sociable, smart, and popular. She was the very image of perfection. Whereas I was shy, dull, not at all clever, I didn't have many friends... I was wholly unremarkable. This day, my sister was setting off on a journey to be wed to a foreign prince. It would be a grand ceremony on a scale I had never seen. Our country and the prince's had long been at war, you see, but this wedding would unite our families and finally bring an end to the seemingly eternal conflict. It had all been set in motion by our mother—the queen.
The day was clear, and a warm sun sat high in the sky. Before stepping into the jewel-studded carriage, my sister turned to take a final look at the castle where she was born and raised.
"I will birth a son and raise the next king, Mother," she said with pride.
"So wait and stay safe until then."
With these words, she entered her carriage. Moments later, the carriage set off with great pomp. It would be several days before she crossed the border, so she settled in for a long ride. It sparkled in the sunlight, as though lighting the path ahead.
What a perfect beauty! What a perfect wedding! What a perfect prince!
I was so proud of my sister; seemingly nothing was beyond her reach, and she had accomplished everything she ever set out to do in life. I knew her future would be bright, with nothing but great things waiting for her. That's how her life always was, after all. I waved and waved until the carriage vanished from view.
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.........
............
The girl slowly opens her eyes. Then closes them. She had been dreaming again. In her dream, she was a princess. She is disappointed that sleep has fled; she wanted to see more. For even though she wasn't the lead princess in this particular dream, it was still much nicer than her usual nightmares. Defeated, she opens her eyes, gazes for a moment at the foul, grime-covered ceiling above, and rises from her shabby bed. Today, she will study hard, help however she can, and spend another day being a very good girl.
"Good morning, Mommy. Do you want to hear about my dream?"
She greets her mother cheerfully, as she does every day. The older woman does not even look up; she just continues peeling potatoes.
"Dreams are nonsense, girl, and you've no time for such foolery. Now eat your breakfast and get to school."
On the table is a bowl of thin gruel and a heel of bread. The girl sits on a rickety chair and pulls the food close. The bread is hard enough to shatter teeth. But it's all Commoners like them can afford, so she's quite used to it.
"Last night's dream was special, Mommy. I was a princess!"
Her mother sets a potato down and turns to stare at her daughter. Her eyes seem to bore holes in her.
"I told you to knock off that fool talk. You're a Commoner, not a Noble—and you never will be."
The girl is well aware of this.
Even the youngest child knowns of the country's strict class system. Here, the disparity between Nobles and Commoners is great indeed. The Commoners have long been discontent with their lot in life, and the Nobles worry increasingly about social unrest. But the girl had no wish to argue politics—she simply wanted to make conversation with her mother. Stung, she drops her eyes and quickly finishes her breakfast.
"I'm going now, Mommy."
The girl hurriedly gets dressed, gathers her things, and leaves the house for school. Winter. A most rainy season. Though the rain has stopped, puddles still dot the road. She stands at one and looks at her face reflected in the water. She does not look like her mother. Nor does she look at all like her father. She senses she is not much loved by either. And she believes her face to be the reason. Suddenly angry, she stamps on the face in the puddle and rushes off to school. She is determined to study hard and win her parents' praise.
Rainy Winter, Sleeping Princess Part 2
I knew the princess well. She was my twin, after all. A group of Nobles followed them, chattering merrily away. The castle, a fun and lively place for most inhabitants, hosted a tea party in the garden at this time every week. Delighted peels of laughter soon intermingled with the clinking of porcelain. I quietly slipped out of view and listened in.
"You have been beaming with happiness every day since the wedding, Your Highness."
"People all across the land speak of the princess's beauty!"
It was true: The marriage of a prince from the west and my sister from the east was on the lips of people in both countries. Of greatest concern was when she might bear him a child.
That was the reason I am here; the reason I was summoned to this place soon after the wedding was complete. Because I...I am to birth the prince's child in place of my sister.
"Oh, I can hardly wait! Will it be a prince or princess?"
"No matter what, I'm certain it will be adorable."
"I've heard His Majesty the King has already prepared several midwives for the happy day."
It didn't take long for the prince and his court to realize his new bride was barren. So I was smuggled into the country in the dead of night. No one could be allowed to know of my existence. Of course, I would do anything for my sister. Anything.... I just thought she might come see me at some point.
"The sun is beginning to set."
"You should not be out and about in the cold, Princess. Let us return to the castle at once."
As the crimson glow of dusk began to fill the room, the lively voices grew distant. It seemed the party had ended. I moved from the window and began preparing myself for the prince's arrival—for though my sister had not seen fit to visit, he arrived every night like clockwork. And there, in that darkening room, I waited.
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............
The loud ringing of a bell pulls the girl back to reality. She had been unable to concentrate during class; she kept thinking about last night's dream. The sun sits high in the winter sky, its rays peeking through gaps in the clouds to brighten the classroom. It was the continuation of her previous dream, the one where the princess rode off in a carriage. The girl is yet young, and while she does not understand her dream completely, she knows that Nobles sometimes have to do what their parents say and live a life not wholly their own. In this way, she finds being a Commoner a relief. And once she is grown up, she hopes to live a life of even greater freedom.
The school she attends is specifically for Commoners. Everyone, from the highest-ranking teacher to the lowliest student, is still a Commoner at the end of the day. The classroom grows lively as some of the more impatient children begin to gather up their textbooks.
"That's all for today," says the teacher.
"Oh, but before I forget, I have the results from last week's test."
The teacher looks directly at the girl and smiles.
"Your classmate here had top marks yet again. I hope you all learn from her and study hard!"
The girl happily hugs her textbook to her chest at the news. She runs the whole way home to tell her mother.
"Mommy, Mommy! Guess what!? I got first on the test again!" Her mother is standing in the living room with her back to her, holding a large mug in her hands. She slowly turns around at her daughter's voice.
"If I study lots, do you think I could become a doctor or a lawyer?"
Her mother finishes off the contents of the mug—which is clearly some sort of alcohol—and slams it down on the table. The scent of her breath fills the room like a cloud.
"Are you mad, girl?" she says loudly.
"We've not the money to let you study forever."
"Now clear your head of these fool dreams and get to the laundry!"
Dejected, the girl leaves to fetch the hamper. For a brief moment, a long-buried thought rises up in the girl's chest: What if she's not my mother? We look nothing alike, after all. She shakes the thought away. No. I love her. Even if we aren't related by blood... But the poor girl's desire for love has no outlet, so it simply continues to swell painfully in her chest.
Rainy Winter, Sleeping Princess Part 3
"Oh dear. A girl."
The midwife holding the baby made no attempt to hide her disappointment; nor did the king and prince, who were both leaning against a nearby wall. With sweat running down my body, I instinctively reached out to hold the new life I created. But they do not even grant me that kindness.
"A shame," said the king.
"Very well. Dispose of her at once."
He and his son left the room without another word. But the princess—my twin sister—remained.
"You there," she said to the midwife.
"You are dismissed."
The woman froze in place for a moment. Then she set the baby down, bowed, and scuttled out of the room along with the rest of the women who attended the birth. The last time my sister and I were alone was a year ago—when I praised her exquisite wedding dress. But I lay still and quiet in my bed, unsure if I should view this as a heartfelt reunion or begin begging for mercy.
"This is your fault, you know? What I'm about to do? If you'd just given birth to a son, it wouldn't have come to this."
With that, my sister produced a small knife from her pocket...
............
Cradling my newborn daughter, I ran from the castle with only the clothes on my back.
My mind was chaos.
They were going to kill my daughter. My own sister was going to kill her! Why!? Why, why, why!?
I had no answer to this question. But then again, I'd never been especially bright. I came to this wretched country for my sister's sake. I bore a child for my sister's sake. All for her sake. All for her sake all for her sake all for her sake...
I had nowhere to go. A traveling merchant kindly allowed me to ride on his cart, and after a night of hard travel, I woke up in a small border town. On the harsh midwinter morning, a mixture of snow and sleet rained down without mercy or pause. Having pushed my body to its limits right after giving birth, I was stricken with a high fever and fuzzy thoughts. But my sweet daughter was warm and dry in a thick blanket, and as I held her to me, my troubles seemed to dissipate. She was asleep. She looked just like an angel.
"Hey, there's someone on the ground over here!" I heard footsteps splash in a puddle near my ear, and the voice of a young woman echo above my head.
"Heavens, she's got a baby..." Another voice called out—a man this time.
"Aye, I fear this girl's done for."
"Poor thing. To think she'll be leaving this child behind..."
They almost seemed to be talking about someone else. Apparently I collapsed, though I did not remember it. I could hear my daughter crying nearby. Despite how hard the sleet was coming down, I could do nothing for her; I did not even have the strength to stand. Thankfully, someone had found us. With great effort, I turned my head and looked at the couple. Please...raise her as your own. Make her happy. The words I had intended to say never made it from my mouth. The chill of the sleet pounding my body slowly faded away, the sound growing distant...distant...distant... And finally, my conscious faded....Forever.
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The girl briskly walks through a bone-chilling cold. Her mother had sent her out to fetch their bread ration. It's a rainy winter day—just like the one from her dream. She is wearing every layer she owns, but the sudden downpour cuts through her garments like a knife. As she listens to the never-ending torrent, she thinks back on the sight she dreamed of that morning. Now that I think about it...It's funny how the couple that found "me" on the ground looked a lot like Mommy and Daddy...
"Mommy! I'm home!"
The girl, her pigtails dripping, produces three loaves of bread from the inside of her coat and grins happily. The bread is a bit damp, but dry compared to the girl. Her mother, who was warming herself at the hearth, takes the loaves with a bit of a guilty look.
"Thank you, girl. Now hurry up and get changed! You're dripping water all over the house."
As the girl slowly peels off her clothes, she only thinks of one thing: I hope that made Mommy happy...
Rainy Winter, Sleeping Princess Part 4
"Come now, get up. I need you to fetch the bread again."
The woman throws back the blanket on the bed to reveal the girl lying there languidly, her face red.
"M-Mommy... I think I'm sick..." croaks the girl.
"I'm cold and hot all at once...and I c-can't move..."
Her mother places a hand on her forehead. She is burning up. The woman immediately recalls how she sent her out in the sleet the previous day to fetch their food. Then she emits a small sigh and pulls the blanket back in place.
"Well then, never mind the bread. You just rest."
"Th-thank you, Mommy..."
As the woman gets up and makes to leave, the girl calls out to her weakly.
"Well?" says the woman.
"What is it?"
"I wanna slurpy apple," replies the girl in a pitiful voice.
"Is that okay?"
The woman stares at the child in the blanket. She never asks for things, she thinks. Without a word, the woman closes the door behind her. And to request slurpy apple—a grated fruit treat she used to make her when she was small—is even stranger.
She walks into the living room to find her husband peeling off his coat, still damp from his turn on the watch.
"Raining again," he says.
"Awful stuff."
The woman places a bowl of warm soup on the table. Her husband peers down at it, clearly disappointed, but she chooses to overlook this. With a small sigh, he digs into his meager meal. But after a few moments, he suddenly puts the spoon down.
"Hey, how's the kid?"
"Feverish. I'm letting her rest today."
"I swear, that child is next to useless."
The woman sits opposite her husband and plucks an apple off the table.
"She came home soaked after her errands yesterday—probably what made her ill."
She picks up a small knife and begins peeling the fruit.
"You sent her out in that?" says her husband.
"Hells, the other guards won't even leave the barracks when it's coming down so."
The woman stops peeling and glares at her husband.
"Oh, so now I'm a magician who knows exactly when the rain is going to start and stop?"
Her husband wisely turns his attention back to his soup. The woman returns to her peeling.
"You know, she's not a bad kid," he says finally.
"You don't have to be so cold to her."
"Honestly, sometimes I feel like she's...wasted on us."
The peeled apple skin curls into a neat pile on the table.
"You're right there," she replies.
"Why, if she had our genes, she'd grow up to be a frightful beast just like us!"
The man looks down at his bowl again; silence was always his retreat when things weren't going his way. The woman picks up the empty soup bowl, takes it to the kitchen, and returns with a grater. She slides the apple against it, creating a harsh rasp.
"You know I hate it when she rubs our differences in my face."
The sound of the apple on the grater hangs heavy in the air.
"It's almost her birthday," says the husband. He stares out the window as he talks.
The rain is coming down harder, turning into sleet.
"I mean, not like we know exactly when she was born..."
"But we found her on a cold, rainy day much like this one."
The grating slows as the apple is worn down to nothing.
"She's starting to look like her mother," says the woman after a long pause.
"Won't be long until she realizes she don't look like us at all."
"Aye, that woman was a great beauty indeed."
The woman glares at her husband again, but says nothing. Instead, she gets up and tosses the apple core into the sink. With the bowl of grated apple in hand, she returns to the girl's room.
Her face is still red, but she is at least sleeping. Pity this poor thing ending up with us when she could have lived a good, free life as a Noble. The woman reaches out to touch the girl's cheek, but stops. Instead, she places the bowl on the nightstand and leaves. The girl is beginning to realize she is not their true daughter. And yet, she does all she can to earn their love. But her looks aren't the only thing that set her apart: there is also her purity, her honesty, and her bravery. The beauty of her very spirit tells the couple how different she is.... Perhaps they made a mistake taking her in that day. The apple sitting beside the girl begins to brown. It grows darker still. Uglier. Horrid. But the girl notices nothing in her deep, deep sleep.
"Regarding the Girl in White" (from Arc 3, excerpt in the library)
With this, his bemusement turns to irritation. He is a man of money and status—and a man with everything a person could possibly desire. So how can this... this Goat Person possibly refuse him!?
"What is it you want, Goat?" he asks. After a moment she lifts her head and says in a trembling voice:
"I...want you to stay with me."
With that, she breathes her last. The man stares at her for a bit before turning on his heel and heading home. But that night, the man has a dream wherein a terrible monster that oozes malice stands before him.
"What is it you want?" growls the beast.
"My life!" cries the man.
"I don't need anything so long as I have that!"
Without hesitation, the monster lifts its fearsome claws and tears the man in half, only to find him completely empty inside.