I see that you've been eager to learn more about Campanella.

And I can't blame you. There's a lot to learn about this place. I'd also like to point out that it's been a while since we've last seen each other.

It's been a while since you've last seen your mother as well. But I can assure you she's safe and sound with me.

"Melancholy"

"Stagnation"

What would that mean realistically?

"You don't know?"

I wouldn't know either. I mean, I've been here for as long as you have. It's like if our minds are interlinked, no? You're hearing me talk, but I'm not even moving my lips.

I know what you're going to say. "What's the point of this section? Where's the scene?"

If I was given a face, a body to speak about, and a scene to put it all together. Then it wouldn't be a mystery, would it? You'd know who I am, you'd know what I look like, and you'd know where I am. Certainly, at this moment, not even you know where you are.

You're like a lost lamb in this space. And I'm like the big bad wolf waiting to make a move. I don't have any ill intent today, other than wishing you luck on the start of your true journey. The things before were a mere pebble thrown into the ocean, making small steps before inevitably sinking away.

Now, your job will be to tell me which story is real. You won't receive a YES or NO answer, but I believe in your judgment. The action you take next will change the trajectory of your life, for the better or for the worse.

You may now begin reading the story.

"What are you doing!? Wake up!" the voice of an incredibly high-pitched girl echoed through to you.

"Pick that girl up and take her with you to the Cathedral," this time a woman with a tougher tone spoke.

You forced your eyes open and moved a little bit to the side. "I'm fine. Where... are we? Where's Liora?"

After a little bit of getting yourself back together, you're shocked by the oddities of the environment. A lot of massive buildings barely holding together, just as the people who lived in them, a gray sky overshadowing the soul, and a lack of the royal dream you expected.

"Liora? Where are we? If you don't know where you are, then there's a lot to work out in that head of yours. My name is Vitalia, and the young girl with the crazy massive ribbon on her head is called Carlotta."

"Not just any crazy massive ribbon! This ribbon is what gives me my power! What helps us fight! Probably..."

The tan skin radiated off of Vitalia's body, her brown hair extended to the waist, and the beautiful red and gold dress cut right around the sides to display a perfect sideboob scene. Vitalia herself wrote that line, by the way. Don't get mad at me; I wasn't looking.

Carlotta wore a pretty average-looking crop top and blue shorts with an unnecessarily giant ribbon on her head. Her hair was a slight shade of pink, she wore stupidly big pink circle glasses, and she had bunny hairpins.

You've never been any more confused in your life. "What is going on..."

"I can smell it. I can smell it. I can smell it. You have power! Go ahead, fight that guy wandering around there."

Carlotta suggests you 'fight the guy' wandering around trash cans; you don't know what they mean by fighting.

You look at 'the guy' with a face that only screams confusion. "That's a... dog."

"Carlotta suggests using your, you know. Stuff. Abilities. Have you ever used that amulet thing in your chest? Those two trash cans there are shapeshifters; they're the main issue we deal with on a daily basis in here."

You look closely at the trash cans; they still look like regular trash cans. "How do you know about the amulet? Shapeshifters?"

Vitalia holds your hand up to your chest. "That feeling there. That's what we're talking about. Focus up for a slight second, and that thing will be gone with this."

"Anyway, as for these losers... they're creatures outside of here that started appearing with the ability to turn into any object. Our goal is to kill every single one of them, because if not, they use their powers to show you scary shit until you want to KILL YOURSELF."

Your hand moves on its own around the amulet. "Hand? Why is it moving on its own? I can't make sense of anything anymore..."

The shapeshifted trash cans start dashing toward you. "DO SOMETHING! Those powers need to work right about this moment!"

A stupidly massive bolt of lightning explodes on impact with the trash can. The explosion caused all of you to be flung away into the distance.

Oops! You probably shouldn't have done that.

"Green Campanella, huh? I don't think you're lying, but we have no idea what that means. You also mentioned some other girl called Liora; I was almost thinking you were cheating on me, but in reality... I had already lost the competition for your heart."

"Vitalia! Stop flirting with everyone you meet!"

"This is the first person we meet in years, Carlotta. Let me be MYSELF."

You sense a taste of nostalgia. All three of you lay around inside a cabin reminiscent of Liora's house, down to the scent. It was as if you were her guest once again, but now you're somewhere else away from her.

"Okay, the point is that we ended up being taken home after you blew us up. But it's okay; this isn't the first time we've been in the middle of explosions. Your power is cool, though. When are you teaching me this lightning stuff?"

"Vitalia. You haven't! You wouldn't! You haven't asked me to teach you about my stuff!"

"That's because, uh..."

Facepalming is the only thing you would naturally resort to here. Whatever is happening around you is nothing short of peculiar, but for some reason you're able to find some joy in it. Unaware of where Liora could be, you feel pretty confident that she's also somewhere safe.