Blooming Empousa

'The moon is the dream of the sun, and thus we were forgotten by the light.'

Empousa fell into the Abyss and experienced a very, very long dream. In that dream, the world was free of contradictions, filled only with happiness and bliss... but the "Empousa" in that dream was nothing more than an empty shell.

Before she could be completely assimilated into the sweet dream woven specifically for her, Empousa grasped the only thorn of pain in that world and struggled to climb out of the Abyss...

At this moment, the maiden who was once a budding flower transforms and blooms.

Following the parchment's instructions, I arrived at the Satin Boudoir. Although I didn't see Empousa here, I discovered a second parchment beside the bronze vanity mirror.

Come to think of it, when I was here helping her change into her dress and get ready, the reflection I saw in that mirror was indeed different from before.

As I gathered her long, pale-gold hair, she stared intently at herself in the mirror, as if trying hard to remember or confirm something?

"Noah, have I truly returned?"

Perhaps only time can answer that question.

Although the main garden is at the east gate of the castle, that shouldn't be the place Empousa meant. Cain usually tends to that area, and I don't believe Empousa holds any special sentiment for it. That leaves only one place—the Hall of Opulence.

Sure enough, in the small garden not far from the Hall of Opulence, I found a familiar little flower basket. As expected, the third parchment was inside.

Come to think of it, Empousa often carried this basket when she went strolling through the nearby town markets.

"When everything is over..."

Will Empousa carry this basket to even more distant lands when that time comes?

For some reason, a bottle of red wine was sitting on a shelf in the Hall of Honor. Of course, a closer look revealed it was empty, with the fourth parchment rolled up and stuffed into the neck.

Unlike Cain and Lamia, my impression is that Empousa never particularly cared for red wine. But for it to be placed here... it must hold some special significance. After thinking for a moment, I decided to take the empty bottle with me to see Empousa.

As expected, I found the Astrolabe in the Ritual Chamber, with the fifth parchment lying on its console—according to Empousa, this should be the last one. The content of this parchment is simple; it just asks me to meet her at the Observatory at midnight tonight.

Come to think of it, thanks to Empousa, I've enjoyed a long-overdue "tour" of Bathory Castle, which wasn't half bad. I wonder what feelings Empousa held as she walked through this castle that now belongs entirely to her? I suppose I'll know the answer soon enough.