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cw: mentions of suicide, burning, death
(Here, from 22:47 and on)
You're being tried, for being a witch, in the court of witches. You're locked in an iron maiden, suspended above a pit of flames, and the heat is sweltering. more than that, you're terrified. everyone's been against you from the start, -- you've heard them cheering for you to be burned to death, multiple times. Even your friend Luke has been on the witness stand to condemn you. Phoenix is defending you, and they want him to burn too.
He's winning, though, he's not only proving your innocence -- but the innocence of the real witch, a young girl named Jean, who tried to frame you for her mentor's death and the crime of being a witch. You've heard her story, and it breaks your heart. Her family was poor and starving, she tried to make gold to make their life easier -- but she accidentally turned her only friend, an animal into gold.
She then tried to kill herself, and was taken in by late mentor -- who convinced her to live as a boy, to avoid persecution. After years, she believed he was going to denounce her, and tried to strangle him -- but he had already killed himself, tired of keeping the secrets in. She read his last letter aloud, where he admitted how much he cared for Jean and worried about her. Phoenix has just proved her innocence in the matter.
The inquisition -- the knight, Zacharias Barnham, is calling for the guilty verdict. Phoenix objects, as he's just proven her innocence, but the so-called knight posits that it doesn't matter if she didn't murder, she's a witch, and so she should burn.
You protest. "Yeah, she didn't kill anyone! And yet, you still want to burn her?! Do you even know how it feels to be put in this cage? It's like everyone's against you and it's super frightening! I'm not a witch.... but I've been thrown in this cage and almost sentenced for something I didn't do! And now you're about to do the same to another person!? That's just not right."
The knight is unmoved by your words. He insists that you and Phoenix are in the wrong -- all witches must be sentenced to the fire.
You're found innocent of the crime, but Jean is sentenced. She's even willing to accept her fate, though she's shaking.
"NO!" you cry out, "YOU CAN'T!"
But another protest rings above yours -- your friend, Espella Cantabella. Currently under suspicion for being "the great witch Bezella", the source of all witches.
She denounces Labyrinthia, denounces the witch trials, and everything.
"Trials in which innocent people are sentenced to death by fire.... I shall make sure this is the last one."
She reminds everyone of one particular rule -- once the great witch Bezella is found and sentenced, all witch trials will end. Then, she proclaims her guilt.
"Now, cast me into the flames! And set Ms. Greyerl free!"
Phoenix and Luke protest -- as do you. They try to reason with her, but she won't hear it.
"No, please don't do it!" you beg, as Luke cries out "There must be another way... you don't need to do this. "
She thanks you all for what you've done for her, as the judge reminds her that the consequences will be fatal.
"I am the great witch Bezella. I have lived hidden in the dark pages of my father's story... deceiving all of you. Many lives have been sacrificed because of me. But that shall end today. "
The Judge orders her to be seized and placed into the iron maiden in your place. You are set free.
"Espella..." you say quietly, but she just nods, accepting her fate. They place her into the cage, and withdraw you and the guards from the scene. You watch her face for a few seconds, but the injustice of it all burns you to your core.
You can't watch. You simply cannot just stand here and watch her die. Not while there's something you can do.
You're flanked by two guards, both much larger than you, but before they can stop you, you run at the cage, jumping across the fire and onto it.
"Maya!" Phoenix calls, as you open the cage, hanging perilously off of it. You barely even notice, your only focus is her.
"Espella," you tell her, "This just isn't right! Let's go!" Then you cant your head at Phoenix, who is stunned. "Nick, gimme a hand!"
Phoenix nods and rushes at the one guards, pinning them down before he can lower you both into the fire.
You point at the chandelier, your resolve hardened. "Jump!" you insist, "Jump over there!"
She hesitates, but you tell her to hurry. The guards are already trying to catch up, yelling that you're escaping, and she jumps. At the same time, one of the knight manages to reach the cage, and locks you in. In the corner of your eye, you see Espella reach the ground, and run off-- somewhere -- and you hear Phoenix calling out to you.
"Niiiiick!"
It's happening so fast, but tears begin to well up in your eyes, as you realize you're going to die. The cage closes around you, and you're enveloped in darkness. All sounds are muffled--- you think you hear Phoenix crying out, but all you can feel is the heat of the flames... it's suffocating, unbearable, and you barely have time to gasp before a sudden lurch sends you straight into the fire.
You're being tried, for being a witch, in the court of witches. You're locked in an iron maiden, suspended above a pit of flames, and the heat is sweltering. more than that, you're terrified. everyone's been against you from the start, -- you've heard them cheering for you to be burned to death, multiple times. Even your friend Luke has been on the witness stand to condemn you. Phoenix is defending you, and they want him to burn too.
He's winning, though, he's not only proving your innocence -- but the innocence of the real witch, a young girl named Jean, who tried to frame you for her mentor's death and the crime of being a witch. You've heard her story, and it breaks your heart. Her family was poor and starving, she tried to make gold to make their life easier -- but she accidentally turned her only friend, an animal into gold.
She then tried to kill herself, and was taken in by late mentor -- who convinced her to live as a boy, to avoid persecution. After years, she believed he was going to denounce her, and tried to strangle him -- but he had already killed himself, tired of keeping the secrets in. She read his last letter aloud, where he admitted how much he cared for Jean and worried about her. Phoenix has just proved her innocence in the matter.
The inquisition -- the knight, Zacharias Barnham, is calling for the guilty verdict. Phoenix objects, as he's just proven her innocence, but the so-called knight posits that it doesn't matter if she didn't murder, she's a witch, and so she should burn.
You protest. "Yeah, she didn't kill anyone! And yet, you still want to burn her?! Do you even know how it feels to be put in this cage? It's like everyone's against you and it's super frightening! I'm not a witch.... but I've been thrown in this cage and almost sentenced for something I didn't do! And now you're about to do the same to another person!? That's just not right."
The knight is unmoved by your words. He insists that you and Phoenix are in the wrong -- all witches must be sentenced to the fire.
You're found innocent of the crime, but Jean is sentenced. She's even willing to accept her fate, though she's shaking.
"NO!" you cry out, "YOU CAN'T!"
But another protest rings above yours -- your friend, Espella Cantabella. Currently under suspicion for being "the great witch Bezella", the source of all witches.
She denounces Labyrinthia, denounces the witch trials, and everything.
"Trials in which innocent people are sentenced to death by fire.... I shall make sure this is the last one."
She reminds everyone of one particular rule -- once the great witch Bezella is found and sentenced, all witch trials will end. Then, she proclaims her guilt.
"Now, cast me into the flames! And set Ms. Greyerl free!"
Phoenix and Luke protest -- as do you. They try to reason with her, but she won't hear it.
"No, please don't do it!" you beg, as Luke cries out "There must be another way... you don't need to do this. "
She thanks you all for what you've done for her, as the judge reminds her that the consequences will be fatal.
"I am the great witch Bezella. I have lived hidden in the dark pages of my father's story... deceiving all of you. Many lives have been sacrificed because of me. But that shall end today. "
The Judge orders her to be seized and placed into the iron maiden in your place. You are set free.
"Espella..." you say quietly, but she just nods, accepting her fate. They place her into the cage, and withdraw you and the guards from the scene. You watch her face for a few seconds, but the injustice of it all burns you to your core.
You can't watch. You simply cannot just stand here and watch her die. Not while there's something you can do.
You're flanked by two guards, both much larger than you, but before they can stop you, you run at the cage, jumping across the fire and onto it.
"Maya!" Phoenix calls, as you open the cage, hanging perilously off of it. You barely even notice, your only focus is her.
"Espella," you tell her, "This just isn't right! Let's go!" Then you cant your head at Phoenix, who is stunned. "Nick, gimme a hand!"
Phoenix nods and rushes at the one guards, pinning them down before he can lower you both into the fire.
You point at the chandelier, your resolve hardened. "Jump!" you insist, "Jump over there!"
She hesitates, but you tell her to hurry. The guards are already trying to catch up, yelling that you're escaping, and she jumps. At the same time, one of the knight manages to reach the cage, and locks you in. In the corner of your eye, you see Espella reach the ground, and run off-- somewhere -- and you hear Phoenix calling out to you.
"Niiiiick!"
It's happening so fast, but tears begin to well up in your eyes, as you realize you're going to die. The cage closes around you, and you're enveloped in darkness. All sounds are muffled--- you think you hear Phoenix crying out, but all you can feel is the heat of the flames... it's suffocating, unbearable, and you barely have time to gasp before a sudden lurch sends you straight into the fire.