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alias_sqbr) wrote2024-11-24 07:45 am
alias_sqbr) wrote2024-11-24 07:45 am
Entry tags:
Even if Tempest: Overture for a Pitiable Girl, A Cruel Fate's Single Ray Of Light
Masterlist
Even if Tempest is a switch exclusive otome game. The moment I saw that page and got a couple of positive reviews, I decided to take the risky move of not looking into it further, to better experience an unspoiled wild ride. And so far, while not always interested in unnecessary things like subtlety or consistent timelines etc, it is DELIGHTFUL and EVERYTHING COULD HAVE DREAMED. And I ONLY JUST GOT TO THE OPENING CREDITS.
It's currently 50% off but seems to go on sale regularly.
Summary:
Though born the daughter of a marquess, Anastasia suffers physical and spiritual violence at the hands of her stepmother day in and day out.
The joy she had found at suffering's end is also ultimately robbed from her by someone she trusts.
As she burns at the stake, Anastasia obtains the grotesque ""Fatal Rewind"" ability.
"This time, I will transform into the ideal version of myself."
With this oath branded in her heart, Anastasia begins her life anew.
But this resolve will only lead to further misfortune.
The curtain rises on the Carnival, and this witch trial shall herald the end.
Content notes: Child abuse, slavery, violence, suicide, emotional abuse, narrative fatphobia
If you're curious what everyone looks like here's the official character page though I haven't clicked any of those links to avoid spoilers.
So as so often happens I started rambling to a friend and then realised I had so much to say I should put it in a post. Hence, the start of this is very rambly.
MC is SUCH a woobie
It's like cinderella if the father gets in on it too and starts BEATING her. Her stepsister is superficially on her side but CLEARLY (to me) just making things worse in a Oh I Am A Sweet Innocent Perfect Angel way. MC has been locked in a room from ages 10-18 and has LOST THE ABILITY TO TALK. She is plagued by dreams of being BURNED ALIVE.
A shadow creature appears when she's alone saying she must GIVE IN DESPAIR.
Maids put bugs and frogs in her food, which always arrives cold. Sister arrived with a hot meal all oh nooo you pooor dear and MC's maid silently took it away and I'm guessing it was poisoned or something but mc is like oh of course I never get to have anything good 😦
Stepmother, maid, and step sister are all hot. Have not met actual LIs yet but happy so far haha
She started reading her one book, a picture book about a witch, to practice being able to speak, and her father came in and slapped her, saying "Your sister said you were asking for RIDICULOUS things like FREEDOM" (which she was not since, you know, can't speak) and GRINDS THE PICTURE BOOK INTO THE MUD WITH HIS HEEL. Stepmother is descended from the goddess who made the world so maybe we'll get some fun anime killing god plot.
Prince arrives to propose, but she is trapped in her room. Stepmother says this to stop her being used as a tool of the royal family and then dying. Her stepsister cuts off all her hair so she has this great short hairdo, very Fantine.
She is about to give into despair but decides to fight, and bashes her way out of the room with a pair of scissors. The shadowy figure quietly muses that this happens every time no matter how hard it tries to save her.
Prince says he will protect her. She takes his hand, thinking that at last she gets to live the life of a princess, like in her book.
Stepmother: This changes nothing. You will remain bound, and unhappy. Nothing but punishment awaits one... who is born a WITCH. Everyone instinctively understands what a repulsive being you are and so they will never love you.
Cannot express how much this is my jam. Like just. Inject this right into my veins.
Right now she is worried that having not had any schooling or current affairs since she was 10 will make her look ignorant, so she's planning on keeping her head down, which is a surprisingly plausible worry
MC always knew deep down that her sister was only pretending to care, but was in denial, because it was the closest thing she got to human kindness.
I've read a few rebirth stories at this point, though all webtoons/light novels etc not games, and I think this is the first that starts with it feeling like the first runthrough is already 'escaping a shitty life' wish fulfilment. But you as a player know it's not. If you read the premise of the game you know she is going to be burned as a witch! But not how or when!
A lot of them the first time through the heroine is just doing dumbass bad/selfish decisions and learns better but here it's like wait it was very hard to get this far and this is the BAD ending oh no. This will make the tension of how can she escape her fate feel more intense. Though of couse she has time to make some very dumb decisions. Also like... are the decisions she's making NOW something that will in retrospect seem really unwise? They seem the only reasonable way forward.
Prince: Let me buy you a fancy dress and- oh, a witch trial *shudders* Sorry, witches terrify me. They are beings of pure evil who deserve our hatred for controlling people's minds.
MC: I thought... witches weren't real... D:
Prince: Don't worry, the inquisitors always catch them :)
Man: Let me go I'm not a witch!!
Inquisitor: *Whips him when he tries to escape*
MC: In all the stories I've read, witches are women?
Prince: Actually, they often take the form of men.
MC: Then why, in the stories...
OH NO so the nice prince wasn't asking her to marry HIM
He's picking her up and making her pretty to marry his OLDER BROTHER
Who is very courteous and charming and subtly cruel, including to nice prince, who appears to have emotional problems as a result. Also MC's memories of meeting them as a child are weirdly hard to access.
At this point I decided to stop and write this post.
So! Heroine's default name is Anastasia. Her sister is Orla, nice maid is Maya. Stepmother is Evelina, sister to the king.
We saw Inquisitor Tyril ruthlessly attacking the accused witch.
Nice prince is Lucien, fiancé is Conrad, and in the middle is Parker the Stupid Fat Bully, sigh. They are all cousins with Orla which absolutely noone sees as an impediment to potential marriage.
Conrad: I have fallen in love with your beautiful hair...
MC: Um. It's a wig Lucien bought for me.
Conrad: ...I have fallen in love with WHAT LIES INSIDE. Will you trust that love and take my hand? I will one day be king. As a result I will often be strict... I only want you to remember that I do what I do for our country.
MC: (Ah that must be why he's strict with Lucien too!)
Conrad: Let's keep your lack of formal education a secret. In return I expect quick and steady progress. Become a woman worthy of becoming queen.
MC: I'll... do my best...
Ohhhh she is fucked
Lucien is described as the Futile Prince, the throne is decided by merit not birth order but everyone assumes it will go to Conrad. Lucien lost a recent sword fighting match to his ten year old younger brother.
Conrad: I have so much on my plate that I must ask my brothers for help... though I expect Lucien's help to be in name only. He's shy and a bit slow on the uptake. I imagine he takes after his commoner mother...he's illegitimate, you know. But he's still my adorable little brother :)
Haaa, so most "reborn into otome" stories have a "bitchy noble villainess bullies woobie commoner" original game plot which then flips to make the villainess the protagonist. I've often thought "since when do otomes ever have that plot??" but here's one in the wild, albeit gender-flipped (Evelina vs Anastasia has some elements of this too but higher noble vs lower noble isn't the same). Hopefully this game is not building towards Conrad as the secret hero haha.
Conrad: SOMEONE revealed your confinement to the king and now he thinks you're inadequate. Parker supports me, so... could it have been Lucien?
Anastasia: He wouldn't do that!
Conrad: As a brother I'm glad you have such a favourable opinion of him.... but everyone knows him to be weak and cowardly.
Anastasia: He is nervous but not cowardly.
Conrad: Who is your fiance here? >:( I didn't want to tell you this but... Lucien's the one who told me to marry you, a woman who was holed up for ten years with no education. He wanted you to drag me down. But I took a liking to you. We need only prove that you would make a more suitable wife. We'll have to ask Parker for advice, I'm no good at coming up with plans.
IS THAT SO, CONRAD
Anastasia: You want me to take over one of your treasury projects?? But I'm still studying, and only 17! That seems too reckless.
Game she hasn't time travelled yet, what happened to her being 18? Also first she's described as having been here for 3 months, then later it's been 'a few weeks'. This is a TIME TRAVEL GAME please pay BASIC attention to the TIMELINE. I don't think this game is subtle enough for this to be a Clue haha.
Conrad, all affectionate and huggy: I believe in your ability to help me. I'll check everything when you finish, and won't let you fail. Of course, if you prefer, Lady Valerie can do it, and then marry me, and you can return to your family's estate :)
Anastasia doesn't suspect Conrad but isn't sure if she can trust all the bad things people say about Lucien either.
Lucien sneaks in to see her and begs her not to get involved in the kingdom's finances, saying his father must be planning for her to fail so he has an excuse to dissolve the marriage.
She gets angry and repeats all the bad things she's heard about him.
Anastasia: Why would you want Conrad to marry someone as incompetent as me if not to drag him down?
Lucien: But you're not! I... *bursts into tears*
Anastasia just resents that he gets to cry when she has worked so hard, never complaining or showing weakness. Oh nooooo
She just becomes more determined to do everything so perfectly noone has any right to complain. Conrad and the king seem delighted with her progress and all is going well... until she notices a discrepancy with last year's numbers.
Conrad: Ah, that must have been Lucien's fault. But I don't remember giving you those accounts?
Anastasia: I wanted to learn more about the kingdom's overall financial state.
Conrad: So much drive! I will get you as many ledgers as you want. But first let's look at a wedding dress catalogue :)
A hot official comes to drop off more ledgers. When she finds out they're from Lucien, not Conrad, she's angry, but reads them anyway, and finds evidence of massive corruption. It seems impossible that Lucien would have the ability to get away with anything this huge without Conrad noticing.
She feels a searing pain in her side?? Just as she's wondering which officials she can trust not to be involved, she bumps into Conrad. She freezes, thinking "As his retainer, I must tell him", but before she can, he says it's obvious from her pale face that she's hiding something and they need to have a little talk :)
Maya the good maid: Lady Anastasia! I can see from your pale face that your anaemia is playing up!! Apologies your highness she needs to come with me.
Somehow she just got herself assigned as Anastasia's lady's maid.
Anastasia: Are you here on Mother's orders? :(
Maya: I am here to atone for doing so little to help you, when your (original) mother was so kind to me.
Anastasia: (pathetic as I am, I want to be someone people rely on too) I have found evidence of fraud, Prince Conrad's tunnel project is using slaves and stealing what should be their wages. I know Prince Conrad would never stoop so low! But I haven't told him because...(seeming unsure of her own motives) I want to collect more evidence. To clear his name.
Maya: Could he really not know?
Anastasia: I want to believe in him, since he believed in me.
As she fills with determination to look beyond her own survival, she feels something warm within her, to finally live for someone else.
Anastasia is all set to go investigate the dig site herself but Maya says she's still too ignorant of the world and offers to go herself.
Anastasia tries to connect with the Hot Official, since he is clearly not working for Conrad. He turns out to be Zenn Sorfield, second son of a viscount.
Zenn: I can't help more than I already have. What you're doing is dangerous, yes?
Anastasia: Yes, I have found evidence of illicit-
Zenn: Don't show your hand so wantonly! What if I was an enemy?! This is why I don't trust you to be discreet. If you ask me to visit in the middle of the day like this, someone will-
I don't usually like dudes who refer to the heroine as wanton, but I may make an exception when it's about accounts.
Conrad: Hello, I see you have a visitor :)
Anastasia: Yes, I... I MADE A MISTAKE!! This young official noticed and told me. But I am clearly incapable, may I have your permission to be removed from financial duties, and let him take over?
Conrad: Of course. Recently, you've become so... hardened. A clumsy charm suits you more :)
Anastasia: You see, it's much harder to be discovered when you meet brazenly and have an excuse prepared.
Zenn: ...You are not as the rumours say. I take it you think Prince Conrad is the culprit?
Anastasia: No, he is being deceived by the true culprit so I need solid evidence. But I promise to protect you and your family from harm. And please don't tell Prince Lucien.
Zenn: Of course. If he wasn't so cowardly he might use the information to attack Prince Conrad.
Turns out he's only acquaintances with Lucien, though his mistrust seems more of a general mistrust of everyone rather than an issue with Lucien specifically. Kuudere love interest get!
Awwww when Anastasia says she trusts Zenn because he's shown himself trustworthy, he 'randomly' mentions that Lucien told her of a girl he knew as a child who has inspired him to be brave.
Anastasia has no idea who that could be, lol, but since she wants to talk to Lucien about accounting she asks Conrad to organise a ball. He is delighted, and gets her a strict dancing instructor.
Maya sends a letter implying she has found proof of slavery.
At the ball, Lucien avoids Anastasia.
Conrad: You dance so well now that you have time to get distracted by your thoughts :) About my tunnelling project I take it?
Anastasia: Yes! Ah, I knew you must have noticed something! I'm still gathering evidence, but-
Conrad: You worked so hard for my sake :) But what a pity. We need to find you a new maid.
Anastasia: ...what
Conrad: Thank you for the wonderful dance, and this moment of fun :)
AHHHHHHHH
Anastasia: What did you to to Maya??
Conrad just smiles and drops a BUNDLE OF MAYA'S HAIR.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Conrad: I considered taking her hostage but nothing comes from looking down on women like her. Disposing of her is the most efficient option. But you are still my fiance, Anastasia, even if you've turned rotten. I'll give you a choice. Will you follow my orders for the rest of your life, or bear my sins and be executed in my stead? :)
Anastasia: I was so sure you were innocent :(
Conrad: Really? I was sure you were colluding with Lucien. Well, it doesn't change anything. Will you scream? You're free to try, but it will just guarantee your journey to gaol. I loathe the thought of despair falling upon someone so pure.
Anastasia thinks "If I am doomed to wind up someone's prisoner again anyway... *smashes window with her fist* ...I would rather die"
She wakes in her room.
"I definitely died. I heard the sounds of my own flesh ripping apart after jumping out the window of that gorgeous venue."
Heroine goes to fancy ball so she can discuss accounting irregularities and throws herself out a window?? HELL YES.
Me: So did she get brought back to life or-
Anastasia: The only logical conclusion is that I have travelled back in time due to previously untapped witch powers.
Me: Sure. Let's go with that.
Though I'm a little worried this is all a Scheme and she is not a witch at all.
Unfortunately it's after the date when she sent Maya off. And the only person she can trust to send after her is Zenn, who could just as easily get killed himself.
She finds Zenn talking to Inquisitor Tyril. They seem to be friends?
Anastasia: Inquisitor!! I've heard you're brilliant and-
Tyril: Who is this yokel woman?
Zenn: That's Prince Conrad's fiancee you idiot, show some respect.
Tyril, taking out a whip: You've got nerve, calling me an idiot. Hands and knees, now.
Uh, ok. Guess that explains what kind of love interest this guy is!!
And then he gets the clearly distressed Anastasia to repeat the stuff about him being brilliant two more times.
Anastasia: Please help, my maid is going to be killed some time in the next two weeks, probably by a member of the royal guard.
Tyril: ...is this a premonition? >:(
Anastasia: *extended terrified pause* ...I heard someone planning it.
ANASTASIA COME ON. I guess in her defence she just woke from being dead.
Tyril: If that turned out to be true I'd be biting off more than I can chew. I have enough on my plate.
And then he WALKS OFF.
Anastasia: But-
Zenn: You just all but admitted to being a witch in front of an INQUISITOR let it GO.
She cannot find allies. Eventually, she can't even leave her room.
A flashy looking guy shows up saying he's here on "Tyr's orders" to help find her maid. OK FINE. MAYBE TYRIL'S NOT ALL BAD. This guy's Crius Castlerock, Vice Commander of the Wings of Garuda, which sounds like a final fantasy character.
Aww the wings of Garuda guard and ride the sacred endangered garuda birds, and are widely mocked? But this guy has the bearing of a powerful knight.
She bursts into tears and tells him everything. He's surprised to see someone in her position so concerned for a maid.
Crius: Could you describe Maya for me?
Anastasia: She's kind and beautiful and even though we're around the same age she's so much more capable than me...
He smiles and then kindly asks what Maya LOOKS like. Then he stops and points out a hole in the wall from which they were likely observed.
Anastasia: Oh no does that mean I can't save Maya?
Crius: Not a thought for yourself?
Anastasia: I did this to myself. I was an idiot for trusting Prince Conrad.
Crius, sounding even more like a final fantasy character: Don't worry, not even the fastest airship can beat a Garuda in flight.
Crius: There aren't many as steadfast and compassionate as you, Lady Anastasia. Had our positions been different, I would have scouted you into the Wings of Garuda. So please treat yourself with care. Death won't solve anything.
Aww.
I guess this is our self confidently charming princely love interest.
*checks*
And that's all the love interests met!
And no Conrad is not one of them lol. Unless there's some sort of secret route.
Maya is upset to have been removed from her mission, even knowing it would have killed her, and does not want to leave with Crius.
Maya: It was Prince Lucien who called me into the castle, why not ask him for help?
But then Tyril arrives saying that Conrad has called for her to be tried for witchcraft, and coldly commanding for her to be tied up.
Anastasia goes quietly, thanking a distraught Maya for her devotion.
Tyril: If you confess your sin, you will be permitted to take your own life. You are under suspicion of using black magic to pilfer our citizen's tax money.
Anastasia: I have done no such thing.
Tyril: And what of the testimony I heard of your premonition?
Anastasia: ...
Ahaha oh no, at the trial the first witness is....
Orla: I refuse to believe my sister is a witch. Sure, she hated people and bullied the servants, but-
Game: YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS TO CHOOSE YOUR SKILL. REBUT OR INDICT?
Me: I... what???? Uh.... Rebut???
Anastasia: No I didn't!
Orla: She locked herself in her room, hating the light of the sun and always meeting me with cruelty.
Me: ....indict?
Anastasia: She's lying!
Orla: I would never! Looking back, the fact the prince proposed out of nowhere must have been black magic...
Me: This is one of those lose lose situations isn't it.
Judge: Next witness.
Tyril: Witness Maya Kirkland is ill and unable to attend.
Anastasia: (Thank goodness, Crius kept her safe)
And of course the last witness is Conrad >:(
Conrad: It was too naive to trust her with our country's finances. In retrospect, the last few weeks feel hazy, I don't even remember why I proposed...
Anastasia: LIAR >:(
Conrad: What upsets me most is that she stole what was most precious to me. I know he criticised you from the shadows, anyone would hate him for that. But to kill my poor little brother ;_;
Anastasia: What. No D: If I'm a witch you're a demon! You'll pay for this!!
Jury: Let us vote before she curses poor prince Conrad!! DEATH TO THE WITCH!!
Conrad, whispering: Anastasia, I will let you know who orchestrated this series of events, as a parting gift. *his eyes flick to Evelina* It went just as Aunt Evelina planned :D
Anastasia is on the stake. She can smell her own burning flesh. All she did was try to walk the path of righteousness and she was repaid with death.
Voice: Do you hate humans?
Anastasia: I do. But the one I hate most... she was powerless and ignorant, with no choice but to cling to others for help. It's me.
Voice: I see. Then use that hatred as fuel to light the flame of your life once more. Burn bright until despair finally takes you.
???!!!
She wakes on a beach under strange, jewelled skies. She has never seen this place yet it feels familiar.
Anastasia: Is this where you go when you die?
???: You could say that, or not. This is Elysia.
Anastasia: Am I dead or not?
???: Oh yes *describes her death* That was hard to watch.
Anastasia: *is consumed by the memory of being burned alive*
???: Hey you can't look at death you'll go crazy! You won't be able to Rewind unless you force yourself to pretend it never happened.
Anastasia: Who are you?
???: Only machines would ever give you a straight answer. Why don't you try thinking for yourself?
I incorrectly guess him to be a ghost and he appears as a....
Shota-y catboy called Rune. SURE.
Rune: I'm a witch. We decided to use the name because humans keep using it but it's not a gender locked thing.
He is the one who brought her back before, and is keeping her here while they discuss a deal: he brings her back to life again, and she kills the Witch of Ruin in her world, the Ecumune. This witch has been manipulating all sorts of people into becoming criminals, and Rune is convinced they're behind Anastasia and Lucien's deaths. He doesn't know who they are, and I assume Evelina is a red herring though she sure did come across as a legit asshole! I guess that could ALL have been mind control??
Anastasia only has a limited window to decide what time to go back to before she remembers her death and goes mad. There's no theoretical limit as long as it's during her lifetime but "time can change people" and when she asks for eight years ago he gets her to promise not to go back that far again.
Anastasia thinks that she doesn't trust him but what other choice does she have? Just as Rune says "May this be our final encounter" she wonders: How does she know his name?
She said something like... I have the knife of revenge and will stab at my enemies. I will protect those I care about. And I will live for myself.
And then at last, the opening credits!!
I haven't spoiled myself for anything and wasn't using a walkthrough so don't want to think TOO hard about the opening credits in case I ruin a surprise for myself. But I am pretty sure I saw Rune and Conrad have Creepy Clown Eye Stuff happen. Hmm.
EDIT: Unwisely looked at the character page and afaict the weird eye people are two SEPARATE characters. Though one does look a lot like Conrad except with purple hair instead of blue, and a weird eye thing. Hmm!!
I love Anastasia's badass pose at the end there. AW YESS FUCK THEM UP ANASTASIA MAKE THEM SUFFER BRING THEM DOWN WITH YOUR BITTER HUBRIS
Gosh, eight years, I hope this isn't going to get too shota boywife-husbandry for me. Or "heroine who looks 10 seduces adult man" etc. Such is the danger with this kind of story!
I guess her childhood memories are locked because that was actually a bunch of rewinds ago and things have changed or something? Or Rune is hiding SECRETS.
Before I finish this I just want to shout out the very pretty gothy tarot and astrology themed user interface, it really adds to the vibe. Also the game divides into chapters with amazing titles, "A Cruel Fate's Single Ray Of Light" is the chapter just before the credits.
Even if Tempest is a switch exclusive otome game. The moment I saw that page and got a couple of positive reviews, I decided to take the risky move of not looking into it further, to better experience an unspoiled wild ride. And so far, while not always interested in unnecessary things like subtlety or consistent timelines etc, it is DELIGHTFUL and EVERYTHING COULD HAVE DREAMED. And I ONLY JUST GOT TO THE OPENING CREDITS.
It's currently 50% off but seems to go on sale regularly.
Summary:
Though born the daughter of a marquess, Anastasia suffers physical and spiritual violence at the hands of her stepmother day in and day out.
The joy she had found at suffering's end is also ultimately robbed from her by someone she trusts.
As she burns at the stake, Anastasia obtains the grotesque ""Fatal Rewind"" ability.
"This time, I will transform into the ideal version of myself."
With this oath branded in her heart, Anastasia begins her life anew.
But this resolve will only lead to further misfortune.
The curtain rises on the Carnival, and this witch trial shall herald the end.
Content notes: Child abuse, slavery, violence, suicide, emotional abuse, narrative fatphobia
If you're curious what everyone looks like here's the official character page though I haven't clicked any of those links to avoid spoilers.
So as so often happens I started rambling to a friend and then realised I had so much to say I should put it in a post. Hence, the start of this is very rambly.
MC is SUCH a woobie
It's like cinderella if the father gets in on it too and starts BEATING her. Her stepsister is superficially on her side but CLEARLY (to me) just making things worse in a Oh I Am A Sweet Innocent Perfect Angel way. MC has been locked in a room from ages 10-18 and has LOST THE ABILITY TO TALK. She is plagued by dreams of being BURNED ALIVE.
A shadow creature appears when she's alone saying she must GIVE IN DESPAIR.
Maids put bugs and frogs in her food, which always arrives cold. Sister arrived with a hot meal all oh nooo you pooor dear and MC's maid silently took it away and I'm guessing it was poisoned or something but mc is like oh of course I never get to have anything good 😦
Stepmother, maid, and step sister are all hot. Have not met actual LIs yet but happy so far haha
She started reading her one book, a picture book about a witch, to practice being able to speak, and her father came in and slapped her, saying "Your sister said you were asking for RIDICULOUS things like FREEDOM" (which she was not since, you know, can't speak) and GRINDS THE PICTURE BOOK INTO THE MUD WITH HIS HEEL. Stepmother is descended from the goddess who made the world so maybe we'll get some fun anime killing god plot.
Prince arrives to propose, but she is trapped in her room. Stepmother says this to stop her being used as a tool of the royal family and then dying. Her stepsister cuts off all her hair so she has this great short hairdo, very Fantine.
She is about to give into despair but decides to fight, and bashes her way out of the room with a pair of scissors. The shadowy figure quietly muses that this happens every time no matter how hard it tries to save her.
Prince says he will protect her. She takes his hand, thinking that at last she gets to live the life of a princess, like in her book.
Stepmother: This changes nothing. You will remain bound, and unhappy. Nothing but punishment awaits one... who is born a WITCH. Everyone instinctively understands what a repulsive being you are and so they will never love you.
Cannot express how much this is my jam. Like just. Inject this right into my veins.
Right now she is worried that having not had any schooling or current affairs since she was 10 will make her look ignorant, so she's planning on keeping her head down, which is a surprisingly plausible worry
MC always knew deep down that her sister was only pretending to care, but was in denial, because it was the closest thing she got to human kindness.
I've read a few rebirth stories at this point, though all webtoons/light novels etc not games, and I think this is the first that starts with it feeling like the first runthrough is already 'escaping a shitty life' wish fulfilment. But you as a player know it's not. If you read the premise of the game you know she is going to be burned as a witch! But not how or when!
A lot of them the first time through the heroine is just doing dumbass bad/selfish decisions and learns better but here it's like wait it was very hard to get this far and this is the BAD ending oh no. This will make the tension of how can she escape her fate feel more intense. Though of couse she has time to make some very dumb decisions. Also like... are the decisions she's making NOW something that will in retrospect seem really unwise? They seem the only reasonable way forward.
Prince: Let me buy you a fancy dress and- oh, a witch trial *shudders* Sorry, witches terrify me. They are beings of pure evil who deserve our hatred for controlling people's minds.
MC: I thought... witches weren't real... D:
Prince: Don't worry, the inquisitors always catch them :)
Man: Let me go I'm not a witch!!
Inquisitor: *Whips him when he tries to escape*
MC: In all the stories I've read, witches are women?
Prince: Actually, they often take the form of men.
MC: Then why, in the stories...
OH NO so the nice prince wasn't asking her to marry HIM
He's picking her up and making her pretty to marry his OLDER BROTHER
Who is very courteous and charming and subtly cruel, including to nice prince, who appears to have emotional problems as a result. Also MC's memories of meeting them as a child are weirdly hard to access.
At this point I decided to stop and write this post.
So! Heroine's default name is Anastasia. Her sister is Orla, nice maid is Maya. Stepmother is Evelina, sister to the king.
We saw Inquisitor Tyril ruthlessly attacking the accused witch.
Nice prince is Lucien, fiancé is Conrad, and in the middle is Parker the Stupid Fat Bully, sigh. They are all cousins with Orla which absolutely noone sees as an impediment to potential marriage.
Conrad: I have fallen in love with your beautiful hair...
MC: Um. It's a wig Lucien bought for me.
Conrad: ...I have fallen in love with WHAT LIES INSIDE. Will you trust that love and take my hand? I will one day be king. As a result I will often be strict... I only want you to remember that I do what I do for our country.
MC: (Ah that must be why he's strict with Lucien too!)
Conrad: Let's keep your lack of formal education a secret. In return I expect quick and steady progress. Become a woman worthy of becoming queen.
MC: I'll... do my best...
Ohhhh she is fucked
Lucien is described as the Futile Prince, the throne is decided by merit not birth order but everyone assumes it will go to Conrad. Lucien lost a recent sword fighting match to his ten year old younger brother.
Conrad: I have so much on my plate that I must ask my brothers for help... though I expect Lucien's help to be in name only. He's shy and a bit slow on the uptake. I imagine he takes after his commoner mother...he's illegitimate, you know. But he's still my adorable little brother :)
Haaa, so most "reborn into otome" stories have a "bitchy noble villainess bullies woobie commoner" original game plot which then flips to make the villainess the protagonist. I've often thought "since when do otomes ever have that plot??" but here's one in the wild, albeit gender-flipped (Evelina vs Anastasia has some elements of this too but higher noble vs lower noble isn't the same). Hopefully this game is not building towards Conrad as the secret hero haha.
Conrad: SOMEONE revealed your confinement to the king and now he thinks you're inadequate. Parker supports me, so... could it have been Lucien?
Anastasia: He wouldn't do that!
Conrad: As a brother I'm glad you have such a favourable opinion of him.... but everyone knows him to be weak and cowardly.
Anastasia: He is nervous but not cowardly.
Conrad: Who is your fiance here? >:( I didn't want to tell you this but... Lucien's the one who told me to marry you, a woman who was holed up for ten years with no education. He wanted you to drag me down. But I took a liking to you. We need only prove that you would make a more suitable wife. We'll have to ask Parker for advice, I'm no good at coming up with plans.
IS THAT SO, CONRAD
Anastasia: You want me to take over one of your treasury projects?? But I'm still studying, and only 17! That seems too reckless.
Game she hasn't time travelled yet, what happened to her being 18? Also first she's described as having been here for 3 months, then later it's been 'a few weeks'. This is a TIME TRAVEL GAME please pay BASIC attention to the TIMELINE. I don't think this game is subtle enough for this to be a Clue haha.
Conrad, all affectionate and huggy: I believe in your ability to help me. I'll check everything when you finish, and won't let you fail. Of course, if you prefer, Lady Valerie can do it, and then marry me, and you can return to your family's estate :)
Anastasia doesn't suspect Conrad but isn't sure if she can trust all the bad things people say about Lucien either.
Lucien sneaks in to see her and begs her not to get involved in the kingdom's finances, saying his father must be planning for her to fail so he has an excuse to dissolve the marriage.
She gets angry and repeats all the bad things she's heard about him.
Anastasia: Why would you want Conrad to marry someone as incompetent as me if not to drag him down?
Lucien: But you're not! I... *bursts into tears*
Anastasia just resents that he gets to cry when she has worked so hard, never complaining or showing weakness. Oh nooooo
She just becomes more determined to do everything so perfectly noone has any right to complain. Conrad and the king seem delighted with her progress and all is going well... until she notices a discrepancy with last year's numbers.
Conrad: Ah, that must have been Lucien's fault. But I don't remember giving you those accounts?
Anastasia: I wanted to learn more about the kingdom's overall financial state.
Conrad: So much drive! I will get you as many ledgers as you want. But first let's look at a wedding dress catalogue :)
A hot official comes to drop off more ledgers. When she finds out they're from Lucien, not Conrad, she's angry, but reads them anyway, and finds evidence of massive corruption. It seems impossible that Lucien would have the ability to get away with anything this huge without Conrad noticing.
She feels a searing pain in her side?? Just as she's wondering which officials she can trust not to be involved, she bumps into Conrad. She freezes, thinking "As his retainer, I must tell him", but before she can, he says it's obvious from her pale face that she's hiding something and they need to have a little talk :)
Maya the good maid: Lady Anastasia! I can see from your pale face that your anaemia is playing up!! Apologies your highness she needs to come with me.
Somehow she just got herself assigned as Anastasia's lady's maid.
Anastasia: Are you here on Mother's orders? :(
Maya: I am here to atone for doing so little to help you, when your (original) mother was so kind to me.
Anastasia: (pathetic as I am, I want to be someone people rely on too) I have found evidence of fraud, Prince Conrad's tunnel project is using slaves and stealing what should be their wages. I know Prince Conrad would never stoop so low! But I haven't told him because...(seeming unsure of her own motives) I want to collect more evidence. To clear his name.
Maya: Could he really not know?
Anastasia: I want to believe in him, since he believed in me.
As she fills with determination to look beyond her own survival, she feels something warm within her, to finally live for someone else.
Anastasia is all set to go investigate the dig site herself but Maya says she's still too ignorant of the world and offers to go herself.
Anastasia tries to connect with the Hot Official, since he is clearly not working for Conrad. He turns out to be Zenn Sorfield, second son of a viscount.
Zenn: I can't help more than I already have. What you're doing is dangerous, yes?
Anastasia: Yes, I have found evidence of illicit-
Zenn: Don't show your hand so wantonly! What if I was an enemy?! This is why I don't trust you to be discreet. If you ask me to visit in the middle of the day like this, someone will-
I don't usually like dudes who refer to the heroine as wanton, but I may make an exception when it's about accounts.
Conrad: Hello, I see you have a visitor :)
Anastasia: Yes, I... I MADE A MISTAKE!! This young official noticed and told me. But I am clearly incapable, may I have your permission to be removed from financial duties, and let him take over?
Conrad: Of course. Recently, you've become so... hardened. A clumsy charm suits you more :)
Anastasia: You see, it's much harder to be discovered when you meet brazenly and have an excuse prepared.
Zenn: ...You are not as the rumours say. I take it you think Prince Conrad is the culprit?
Anastasia: No, he is being deceived by the true culprit so I need solid evidence. But I promise to protect you and your family from harm. And please don't tell Prince Lucien.
Zenn: Of course. If he wasn't so cowardly he might use the information to attack Prince Conrad.
Turns out he's only acquaintances with Lucien, though his mistrust seems more of a general mistrust of everyone rather than an issue with Lucien specifically. Kuudere love interest get!
Awwww when Anastasia says she trusts Zenn because he's shown himself trustworthy, he 'randomly' mentions that Lucien told her of a girl he knew as a child who has inspired him to be brave.
Anastasia has no idea who that could be, lol, but since she wants to talk to Lucien about accounting she asks Conrad to organise a ball. He is delighted, and gets her a strict dancing instructor.
Maya sends a letter implying she has found proof of slavery.
At the ball, Lucien avoids Anastasia.
Conrad: You dance so well now that you have time to get distracted by your thoughts :) About my tunnelling project I take it?
Anastasia: Yes! Ah, I knew you must have noticed something! I'm still gathering evidence, but-
Conrad: You worked so hard for my sake :) But what a pity. We need to find you a new maid.
Anastasia: ...what
Conrad: Thank you for the wonderful dance, and this moment of fun :)
AHHHHHHHH
Anastasia: What did you to to Maya??
Conrad just smiles and drops a BUNDLE OF MAYA'S HAIR.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Conrad: I considered taking her hostage but nothing comes from looking down on women like her. Disposing of her is the most efficient option. But you are still my fiance, Anastasia, even if you've turned rotten. I'll give you a choice. Will you follow my orders for the rest of your life, or bear my sins and be executed in my stead? :)
Anastasia: I was so sure you were innocent :(
Conrad: Really? I was sure you were colluding with Lucien. Well, it doesn't change anything. Will you scream? You're free to try, but it will just guarantee your journey to gaol. I loathe the thought of despair falling upon someone so pure.
Anastasia thinks "If I am doomed to wind up someone's prisoner again anyway... *smashes window with her fist* ...I would rather die"
She wakes in her room.
"I definitely died. I heard the sounds of my own flesh ripping apart after jumping out the window of that gorgeous venue."
Heroine goes to fancy ball so she can discuss accounting irregularities and throws herself out a window?? HELL YES.
Me: So did she get brought back to life or-
Anastasia: The only logical conclusion is that I have travelled back in time due to previously untapped witch powers.
Me: Sure. Let's go with that.
Though I'm a little worried this is all a Scheme and she is not a witch at all.
Unfortunately it's after the date when she sent Maya off. And the only person she can trust to send after her is Zenn, who could just as easily get killed himself.
She finds Zenn talking to Inquisitor Tyril. They seem to be friends?
Anastasia: Inquisitor!! I've heard you're brilliant and-
Tyril: Who is this yokel woman?
Zenn: That's Prince Conrad's fiancee you idiot, show some respect.
Tyril, taking out a whip: You've got nerve, calling me an idiot. Hands and knees, now.
Uh, ok. Guess that explains what kind of love interest this guy is!!
And then he gets the clearly distressed Anastasia to repeat the stuff about him being brilliant two more times.
Anastasia: Please help, my maid is going to be killed some time in the next two weeks, probably by a member of the royal guard.
Tyril: ...is this a premonition? >:(
Anastasia: *extended terrified pause* ...I heard someone planning it.
ANASTASIA COME ON. I guess in her defence she just woke from being dead.
Tyril: If that turned out to be true I'd be biting off more than I can chew. I have enough on my plate.
And then he WALKS OFF.
Anastasia: But-
Zenn: You just all but admitted to being a witch in front of an INQUISITOR let it GO.
She cannot find allies. Eventually, she can't even leave her room.
A flashy looking guy shows up saying he's here on "Tyr's orders" to help find her maid. OK FINE. MAYBE TYRIL'S NOT ALL BAD. This guy's Crius Castlerock, Vice Commander of the Wings of Garuda, which sounds like a final fantasy character.
Aww the wings of Garuda guard and ride the sacred endangered garuda birds, and are widely mocked? But this guy has the bearing of a powerful knight.
She bursts into tears and tells him everything. He's surprised to see someone in her position so concerned for a maid.
Crius: Could you describe Maya for me?
Anastasia: She's kind and beautiful and even though we're around the same age she's so much more capable than me...
He smiles and then kindly asks what Maya LOOKS like. Then he stops and points out a hole in the wall from which they were likely observed.
Anastasia: Oh no does that mean I can't save Maya?
Crius: Not a thought for yourself?
Anastasia: I did this to myself. I was an idiot for trusting Prince Conrad.
Crius, sounding even more like a final fantasy character: Don't worry, not even the fastest airship can beat a Garuda in flight.
Crius: There aren't many as steadfast and compassionate as you, Lady Anastasia. Had our positions been different, I would have scouted you into the Wings of Garuda. So please treat yourself with care. Death won't solve anything.
Aww.
I guess this is our self confidently charming princely love interest.
*checks*
And that's all the love interests met!
And no Conrad is not one of them lol. Unless there's some sort of secret route.
Maya is upset to have been removed from her mission, even knowing it would have killed her, and does not want to leave with Crius.
Maya: It was Prince Lucien who called me into the castle, why not ask him for help?
But then Tyril arrives saying that Conrad has called for her to be tried for witchcraft, and coldly commanding for her to be tied up.
Anastasia goes quietly, thanking a distraught Maya for her devotion.
Tyril: If you confess your sin, you will be permitted to take your own life. You are under suspicion of using black magic to pilfer our citizen's tax money.
Anastasia: I have done no such thing.
Tyril: And what of the testimony I heard of your premonition?
Anastasia: ...
Ahaha oh no, at the trial the first witness is....
Orla: I refuse to believe my sister is a witch. Sure, she hated people and bullied the servants, but-
Game: YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS TO CHOOSE YOUR SKILL. REBUT OR INDICT?
Me: I... what???? Uh.... Rebut???
Anastasia: No I didn't!
Orla: She locked herself in her room, hating the light of the sun and always meeting me with cruelty.
Me: ....indict?
Anastasia: She's lying!
Orla: I would never! Looking back, the fact the prince proposed out of nowhere must have been black magic...
Me: This is one of those lose lose situations isn't it.
Judge: Next witness.
Tyril: Witness Maya Kirkland is ill and unable to attend.
Anastasia: (Thank goodness, Crius kept her safe)
And of course the last witness is Conrad >:(
Conrad: It was too naive to trust her with our country's finances. In retrospect, the last few weeks feel hazy, I don't even remember why I proposed...
Anastasia: LIAR >:(
Conrad: What upsets me most is that she stole what was most precious to me. I know he criticised you from the shadows, anyone would hate him for that. But to kill my poor little brother ;_;
Anastasia: What. No D: If I'm a witch you're a demon! You'll pay for this!!
Jury: Let us vote before she curses poor prince Conrad!! DEATH TO THE WITCH!!
Conrad, whispering: Anastasia, I will let you know who orchestrated this series of events, as a parting gift. *his eyes flick to Evelina* It went just as Aunt Evelina planned :D
Anastasia is on the stake. She can smell her own burning flesh. All she did was try to walk the path of righteousness and she was repaid with death.
Voice: Do you hate humans?
Anastasia: I do. But the one I hate most... she was powerless and ignorant, with no choice but to cling to others for help. It's me.
Voice: I see. Then use that hatred as fuel to light the flame of your life once more. Burn bright until despair finally takes you.
???!!!
She wakes on a beach under strange, jewelled skies. She has never seen this place yet it feels familiar.
Anastasia: Is this where you go when you die?
???: You could say that, or not. This is Elysia.
Anastasia: Am I dead or not?
???: Oh yes *describes her death* That was hard to watch.
Anastasia: *is consumed by the memory of being burned alive*
???: Hey you can't look at death you'll go crazy! You won't be able to Rewind unless you force yourself to pretend it never happened.
Anastasia: Who are you?
???: Only machines would ever give you a straight answer. Why don't you try thinking for yourself?
I incorrectly guess him to be a ghost and he appears as a....
Shota-y catboy called Rune. SURE.
Rune: I'm a witch. We decided to use the name because humans keep using it but it's not a gender locked thing.
He is the one who brought her back before, and is keeping her here while they discuss a deal: he brings her back to life again, and she kills the Witch of Ruin in her world, the Ecumune. This witch has been manipulating all sorts of people into becoming criminals, and Rune is convinced they're behind Anastasia and Lucien's deaths. He doesn't know who they are, and I assume Evelina is a red herring though she sure did come across as a legit asshole! I guess that could ALL have been mind control??
Anastasia only has a limited window to decide what time to go back to before she remembers her death and goes mad. There's no theoretical limit as long as it's during her lifetime but "time can change people" and when she asks for eight years ago he gets her to promise not to go back that far again.
Anastasia thinks that she doesn't trust him but what other choice does she have? Just as Rune says "May this be our final encounter" she wonders: How does she know his name?
She said something like... I have the knife of revenge and will stab at my enemies. I will protect those I care about. And I will live for myself.
And then at last, the opening credits!!
I haven't spoiled myself for anything and wasn't using a walkthrough so don't want to think TOO hard about the opening credits in case I ruin a surprise for myself. But I am pretty sure I saw Rune and Conrad have Creepy Clown Eye Stuff happen. Hmm.
EDIT: Unwisely looked at the character page and afaict the weird eye people are two SEPARATE characters. Though one does look a lot like Conrad except with purple hair instead of blue, and a weird eye thing. Hmm!!
I love Anastasia's badass pose at the end there. AW YESS FUCK THEM UP ANASTASIA MAKE THEM SUFFER BRING THEM DOWN WITH YOUR BITTER HUBRIS
Gosh, eight years, I hope this isn't going to get too shota boywife-husbandry for me. Or "heroine who looks 10 seduces adult man" etc. Such is the danger with this kind of story!
I guess her childhood memories are locked because that was actually a bunch of rewinds ago and things have changed or something? Or Rune is hiding SECRETS.
Before I finish this I just want to shout out the very pretty gothy tarot and astrology themed user interface, it really adds to the vibe. Also the game divides into chapters with amazing titles, "A Cruel Fate's Single Ray Of Light" is the chapter just before the credits.
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This guy's Crius Castlerock, Vice Commander of the Wings of Garuda, which sounds like a final fantasy character.
I laughed, he really does! He kind of looks like one, too, from the trailer...
This is reminding me of a mix of Cinderella Phenomenon and Psychedelics of the Ashen Hawk, with a mix of many many webtoons....
(Which route are you planning to do?)
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Yeah it is classic rebirth of a woobie romance plot! I am currently romancing Tyril since Lucien isn't unlocked yet, and having a great time. If you have a switch, it's currently half price!
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Stepmother, maid, and step sister are all hot. Have not met actual LIs yet but happy so far haha
YES, THEY ARE SO HOT. Though I don't know how to feel about Orla's fluffy sleeves... Honestly, I am kind of enjoying Orla; she is living her best webtoon obligatory stepsister life.
Who is very courteous and charming and subtly cruel, including to nice prince, who appears to have emotional problems as a result.
Yeah, he takes it right back to webtoon tropes! I feel like I've read a lot about cruel husbands who may or may not be redeemable, depending on how hot he is...
Conrad just smiles and drops a BUNDLE OF MAYA'S HAIR.
I found this so weird!! Like, who just carries a bundle of hair into a ballroom?? And just drops it?? Surely there were other ways to do the dramatic reveal! (Also he's lucky that he's in a color-coded otome because imagine if there were just a lot of beige haired people around...)
But I am pretty sure I saw Rune and Conrad have Creepy Clown Eye Stuff happen. Hmm.
Oh, good catch!!
Though one does look a lot like Conrad except with purple hair instead of blue, and a weird eye thing. Hmm!!
SHIT :C I thought purple haired guy looked hot and I am/was holding out hope for secret route, I really hope he is not Conrad.
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Hello :D
I have now finished the game and the ending fell a little flat for me but not in a way which undermined the rest of my enjoyment. I hope you enjoy all the twists and turns! Which I don't think it's a spoiler to say I was not always very good at predicting lol, don't get too convinced by my analysis.
Every time Orla showed up onscreen I stared unhappily at the weird little fluffy... ruffs??? around her waist and neck.
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I am looking forward to your analysis and what you make of the twists of turns, as well as getting there myself!!