Mogeko Castle: The Price of Everything [eng]

 

She was suffocating. Each breath of smoke-filled air felt like torture. Even worse was the realization that it wasn't just a burning smell. There was something else , so distinctive, although Yonaka had never before had the opportunity to experience the smell of burning human flesh. Was it at all like Mogeko's one…?

The girl pursed her lips, fighting nausea. She crouched on the floor, right under the window she should never have looked out of. She was shaking, but it was happening outside of her, as if it was someone else entirely. And yet she was in a nightmare from which she couldn't wake up, even though she wanted to.

It hurt to breathe. It hurt to be here. Doing anything... hurt.

In her mind's eye she saw both the burning cross and the Mogeko gathered around. The silent members of a ritual that should never have taken place. Those who saw nothing but blind faith in the beliefs their king forced upon them.

The smoke was mixed with the characteristic smell of blood. Yonaka looked at her bloody hands and clothes, but immediately looked away. Looking at it – of course! – hurt.

The sounds outside fade away and a heavy silence fell all around. Yonaka knew this didn't bode well and that she was now wasting her opportunity to escape. She had to move, even if it was surprisingly difficult, even impossible. But she had to do something. She couldn't pass up the opportunity for which Defect had sacrificed himself. What would be the point of all this if she let herself get caught here?

On the other hand, what was the point of everything they went through together if it ended like this?

This thought turned out to be the most painful of all.

"Defect Mogeko," she sobbed, her throat constricting even more.

It felt like it took forever for her to finally get back on her feet. She staggered and held on to the windowsill so as not to fall. Another burst of smoke-filled air rushed through the bars, hitting Yonaka square in the face. Her stomach lurched, but apart from a quiet moan, the high school student didn't allow herself to do anything else.

Why? Why did it have to happen?

The thought still tormented her as she slipped out into the deserted corridor. There were even traces of blood there, leading in the opposite direction to the one Yonaka had chosen. Even though she tried to move as quietly as possible, she felt that she was moving too noisily and clumsily to go unnoticed. Honestly, on some level she really wanted someone to stand in her way. At least one of them she could tear to pieces, even if that seemed unlikely. She knew she had no chance against them, but the thought of possible revenge... turned out to be surprisingly soothing.

Yet no one stood in Yonaka's way the entire way up to the stairs. When she saw the steps leading up, her eyes filled with tears. Just a while ago, she would have cried with joy. Now she felt only emptiness and overwhelming helplessness.

The way to the seventh floor.

His floor.

Yonaka's hand trembled as she placed it on the railing. So here she was, with freedom at her fingertips. She could go home, see her brother and...

What for?

She looked down. The tears she had been holding back flowed freely down her face. They turned out to be as warm as the smoke from a burning fire. She would always associate warmth only with that.

She knew exactly what was waiting for her at home. She had long since stopped deceiving herself that her brother had not returned or that she would meet the real Shinya, whom she loved so much. No matter where she stayed, death awaited her. The problem was that Yonaka didn't want to die. She wasn't half as brave as the one who had brought her here and died just so she could live. Thinking about it this way, she realized it sounded like one big chuckle of fate. And one that Defect wasn't even aware of, having gone so far as to give her a chance to escape.

There was a moment when Yonaka believed they would run away from here together. Then she could live. She would even abandon her brother if she had the chance to enjoy the company of her unlikely guide. Maybe if she had decided to speak up while they were standing in front of that library...

But it didn't matter now anyway.

Each step was difficult for her. The stairs went up, but she climbed them very slowly, not even looking up. The determination with which she traversed this castle some time ago has disappeared forever.

If only she could change something. Any way to fix her mistakes that--

Yonaka stopped suddenly. She heard footsteps and voices somewhere in the distance, but they were far enough away that she was sure they weren't tracking her yet. It didn't matter anyway.

His floor... What did she really know about the seventh special Mogeko? Nega (how strange it was to use that name!) was the king's opposite, his greatest enemy. The top floor was an escape route, whatever the meaning behind that statement was. Yonaka knew from the very beginning that she had to get there to survive, but... What next? Where were these doors supposed to take her?

The door and corridor, which turned out to be a perfect representation of the vestibule in front of the castle. She felt strange when she stopped halfway, surrounded by silent statues and one lone Mogeko, busy with his beloved prosciutto. Yonaka looked towards the latter, but instead of anger, she felt only tiredness, so she didn't even try to torment him.

There was a door in the distance, but it didn't look like the desired exit at all. In fact, it all started with them, and as she approached them, Yoanka felt as if everything were to start from the beginning. The thought should have terrified her, but it didn't. Contrary. Maybe if she was given a second chance, she could make things right...

Make things right...

That's it. If only...

"Oh."

Yonaka stopped so abruptly that she almost fell. Mogeko, who was eating prosciutto, stopped for a moment and looked at her warily, but she paid no attention to him.

Correct. She could fix everything.

It was like a sudden flash of light that made Yonaka's heart skip a beat. She unconsciously wiped away her tears, struck by the thought that suddenly appeared in her head. The memory seemed distant and blurry, even though so little time had passed since she had been caught in that library. The same one in which she managed to read only rudimentary information about defects and... something else. Something she only skimmed through and initially completely ignored.

The seventh floor was special. It was a way out, although looking for it on the top floor was something that only existed in this castle. It led to anywhere you wanted to go, and if so...

Was it just an existing place? Or maybe there was something more behind it? It sounded like the craziest experiment possible, but she wanted to try it anyway. What else was left for her in this situation?

With a sudden burst of courage, Yonaka stepped forward. As if in a trance, she walked to the door and carefully pressed the handle. The door closed without any problems, but the high school student did not immediately decide to open it.

She wanted to be somewhere where everything was good. In a place where she still had the opportunity to make things right. Where she could still say those few words that had the chance to change everything...

How crazy was it to believe that apart from place, she could also change... time?

A bright, blinding light emanated from behind the door. Yonaka narrowed her eyes and tightened her grip on the doorknob. She had to make up her mind and do it immediately.

When she finally crossed the threshold, she didn't think about home, about her brother, about her old life. She only wanted one thing, regardless of the price. She could take a risk and give everything, if only...

Everything?, a pleasant, soothing voice rang in her head.

She stiffened. That voice... She couldn't tell if it belonged to a man or a woman. Yet he was sweet and endearing and so... alluring.

The light outside the door grew stronger, but Yonaka still didn't dare take a step forward.

"Who--?" Her voice caught in her throat. Maybe she went crazy and started imagining mysterious voices, like when she first met Somewhere Strange Mogeko?

But the disembodied laughter that suddenly surrounded her felt like more than just a voice in her head.

It doesn't matter, child. But you made me curious. It laughed again. Your desires... Really? Would you give everything?

Yonaka blinked, surprised by such a direct question. What's more, she didn't hesitate. Could she lose anything at all in this situation?

"Yes," she whispered to herself, but she was sure the creature had heard her too. Whoever it was. "Yes, as long as it works."

Even as she spoke, she pressed against the door, wanting to go through it, but this time she encountered resistance. She backed away, surprised by the sudden change. But did she do something wrong? Did she wait too long? Panic gripped her throat, but before she could react, she heard that voice again.

One by one, first let's make a little promise to each other. What do you think? If you're so sure not to ask for details...

For some reason, she had the feeling that the owner of that pleasant voice was mocking her, but she ignored the feeling. She wanted to check as quickly as possible whether her suspicions actually made sense.

"Whatever. Just let me--"

So let it be. A deal is a deal... What's your name, child?

"Yonaka. I am Yonaka Kurai."

So, Yonaka... Are you sure you want to go through this door?

"Of course! I--"

This time the voice decided to interrupt her.

No matter what? Will you give everything to fulfill your wish?

"I don't have anything to regret anymore," she said, but something in the eloquent silence made her doubt it.

Well then. If you say so...

The door gave way. Yonaka didn't give herself a chance to hesitate, and stepped into the clarity with a sense of relief. Now she was conscious. She knew what to do and how to stop being a burden to the one who saved her. She could have saved him from a fate he didn't deserve and then made them run away together. If only it were all that simple from the beginning and--

Stupid girl, she heard that voice again.

The brightness disappeared as if it had never been there. Yonaka stood still for a moment, staring into space in front of her. With her hand still gripped the doorknob, surprised that such a massive door opened so easily.

She blinked, trying to shake off the unwanted thoughts. Ah, where did she end up? This place, this castle, these guys... This was going to make you lose your mind.

"T-this is scary," she sighed, looking into the darkness ahead. And to think it was all because she missed her station! "But there's nowhere else... I think... I have to try."

Well, anything seemed better than waiting for those strange yellow creatures to get to her while she was standing outside. Yonaka knew one thing: she should stay away from them. From everyone, without exception.

But since she couldn't go back to the train station, she might as well check out what the walls of this mighty castle hid.

"...um, would this be trespassing?", she muttered, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. Not that that's the biggest problem in this situation.

Well, she had to come home, right?

She smiled, although it was difficult for her to do so. "Well... As long as I'm polite."

She stepped forward. The carpet muffled her footsteps as she entered the dark vestibule.

"Pardon meee..."