Mercury: Elves' Elegy/Memory

## Chapter 1: Before the Wet Season

God broke elves' wings, shackled them in the cage.
The light was buried with faith. The throne was your graveyard.
It's elves' elegy. Soul, please dance freely.
It's elves' elegy. The soul finally is freed.
Narration
In the silent night, there was an unknown song coming from the theatre, and then it was sung in the streets and alleys.
The mysterious artist disappeared the next day. But his little bird began to sing this blasphemous song everywhere.
There were more and more soldiers patrolling the streets, arresting every suspect for questioning.
The May of Pigeon was overcast, and it seemed that the rain would never stop.
When I was ten and I left Pigeon, it was also a rainy day.
Outside the rainy and foggy car window, the soldiers on patrol were grabbing a child for questioning.
Mercury
Time is up. Let's go to the capital.
Narration
The raindrops tilted and converged on the window, and the car drove away silently.
Even if all the birds are caught, the song has already echoed in the bottom of everyone's heart.

## Chapter 2: Garden of Lilies

Alan was waiting by the side of the road with an umbrella before the car reached the capital.
He held up an umbrella for me and was careful not to let the raindrops fall on me.
Alan
Everything's going well. We'll do this tomorrow night.
Mercury
OK.
Alan
Over the years, the king was addicted to alcohol.
And he allowed the royal family to amass money, causing tremendous public resentment.
Anyone may be sentenced to death if they failed to present treasure favored by the king.
This song has just become an outlet for everyone to vent their anger.
Every step is in line with your plan. We will succeed tomorrow night. Please don't worry.
Mercury
Of course I'm not worried.
Narration
The time has come.
Alan
This is it. These days, I've been singing divine hymns to Princess Ophelia in her palace.
Narration
Through the withered lily garden and the classical silent porch.
The melodious sound of the harp drew nearer and Ophelia wore a white dress decorated with gems and stars.
She has grown up, but she was still pure as a bud.
When Ophelia saw Alan coming back, he stopped the music and smiled happily.
Ophelia
Mr. Alan, there you are.
Narration
When her eyes turned to me, she froze.
Ophelia
...Who is this gentleman?
Alan
Your Royal Highness, this is the gentleman I told you about, the CEO of Apple Mercury.
Mercury
Your Royal Highness.
Ophelia
I was rude just now. I just... Have we met before?
Mercury
Have you ever been to Apple Federation?
Narration
Ophelia shook her head blankly.
Mercury
I haven't been to Pigeon for a long time.
Ophelia
That must be my mistake. I think you look familiar... Maybe it's because you're part elf, too?
Mercury
I'm indeed a hybrid of elves and humans.
Narration
Ophelia nodded politely without further questioning.
I was brought to court when I was eight.
Ophelia was only five. She was pulled behind by her godmother. But she kept leaning out and looking at me curiously.
She ran over quietly while her godmother wasn't looking.
Ophelia
Why don't you look like an elf or a human?
Narration
I turned to look at her.
Mercury
Because I'm neither elf nor human.
Ophelia
If you're not an elf or a human, then what are you?
Godmother
Your Royal Highness! Please don't approach strangers casually.
Ophelia
But... Everyone says he's my brother.
Godmother
Who told you that?! He's not your brother. Please don't say that again.
Narration
Ophelia was pulled away ad she looked back at me in bewilderment.
I'm not an elf or a human.
Glories Priest said I'm the king's sin -- the illegitimate child of an elf of light and a human.
In this country ruled by Glory, Glories Priest was in power as a sect. Believers believed that his judgment was the will of God.
In spite of this, Ophelia sitll walked through the lily garden to me.
Ophelia
Brother, is that what you said about Flowers of Eberne? I saw it in the library.
Mercury
Most of them are like this, and there're some special flowers of gold and blue.
Ophelia
Gold and blue...
Mercury
Just like your hair and eyes. So they were called the Flower of Elves by many people.
Ophelia
I really want to see them!
Narration
She looked at me with her clear blue eyes.
Mercury
All right.
Ophelia
Oh yeah? Will you take me to see them?
Mercury
Well, I promise you.
Narration
The sound of the harp interrupted my thoughts.
Ophelia
May the glory of God last and bless the guests from afar and the eternal Pigeon Kingdom.
Narration
She began to play the harp quietly, with the manner of the heir to the throne.
She stayed at ease in the court and lived as crown prince as everyone expected.
She'd never seen flowers of Eberne. She seldom even left the capital.
When I was a child, I failed to fulfill my promise. She seemed to have forgotten it as well.
I smiled and applauded for her.

## Chapter 3: Heavy Rain at Night

On behalf of the distinguished king and the royal family of Pigeon, I'd like to welcome guests from Apple Federation.
Narration
When I came to court with treasures and wealth, I received a grand welcome.
Duke
Thank you. Thank you so much!
Duchess
Ahem. Greetings, Mr. CEO.
Your gift is precious. It's not quite precious as the royal treasure of Pigeon, but it as we have in the duke's mansion.
Mercury
My pleasure.
Narration
The light of the kingdom faded, but the man in power was arrogant and ridiculous.
The royal family didn't seem to know what has happened in the Seven Kingdoms. Pigeon was no longer as grand as they used to be.
The so-called treasures were plundered from all over the country, the last remnants of the ancient empire.
It wasn't that they didn't know about the fall of Pigeon. But...
They didn't want to believe it.
Duchess
Please have a seat. The court dinner of Pigeon is about to begin.
Narration
The dinner was held as scheduled, and outside the palace, the night was dark and there wasn't a glimmer of starlight.
The music played beautifully, and there was a grand and happy atmosphere.
By the time the people in the hall noticed the explosion and the soldiers outside, the riot had been going on for a while.
There was a drizzle in the dark and damp night.
All the guards had gone to the outside to resist the rebels. I went to the king's palace, where the guards were weak.
[*Screen fades to black for a brief second*]

Narration
I pushed open the heavy door and saw the old king with a scepter standing in front of the throne in a nightgown.
Controlled by greed and cruelty, he only looked at the glory of the past, resisting emptiness with indulgence and killing.
The gate of the palace, which had been closed all the time, cut off the singing and crying outside.
King
Who... are you?
Narration
I walked towards him step by step.
Mercury
Don't you remember me?
Narration
His muddy eyes widened slightly.
King
Are you... Mercury...
Narration
He looked at me in a daze and quieted down for a moment, as if recalling many distant memories.
After a while, he seemed to come to himself.
King
...Good that you're back. Did you come here because you knew about the riot?
Mercury
The riot will be over. You don't have to worry.
Narration
He breathed a sigh of relief and sat down on the throne, looking old and weak.
King
All right...
Narration
His throat stirred a few times and he looked up at me.
King
Since you're here in Pigeon to help me at this time, I'm willing to accept you again.
Narration
...
I couldn't help myself with a sneer.
Although he was well disguised, his hands were shaking.
Mercury
Before that, there's on more thing I must do.
King
What?... Don't worry, I'll try my best to help.
Mercury
You can really come in handy.
Narration
Shadows drenched the night and shrouded the throne.
Mercury
Remember that assassin disguised as a woman?
King
You! You...
Narration
The old elf opened his mouth blankly, not knowing what to say.
The crown and scepter fell on the velvet carpet without a sound.
The elves of light were the closest race to God and represented divinity.
And the blood of elves was also the purest and noblest.
If all the blood was shed, then even the spirit of light, blessed by the gods, would die.
There was a dull thunder outside the window. The lightning and thunder covered everything.
A broken song floated in the distance, bit by bit into everyone's heart.
The light was buried with faith... The throne was your graveyard...
It's elves' elegy... And soul... Will you still dance freely...
It's over.
The thunder and lightning exploded outside the window, and the sound of war was getting closer.
Alan revealed his arrangements to Ophelia in accordance with our previous plan. The rebellion would gradually subside.
I put on my gloves again and walked out of the palace.

## Chapter 4: Breaking the Cross

When God embraces you, you will forget your sufferings. The lost time will be like running water.
Even at night, you'll be brighter than the sun.
Narration
The bell rang softly, and Glories Priest closed his eyes and prayed for the king who had died an unnatural death.
I stood in the crowd of the Church of Glory, with all kinds of whispers around me.
Duchess
(Whispers)... I heard that when the king was found, he was already, no longer breathing.
Chief of Knight
(Whispers) In the riot last night, that elegy was heard from all sides of the capital. I still have lingering fears now.
Count
(Whispers) The elegy... Is that really a prophecy?
Narration
Hearing this rumor circulating in the streets, everyone turned pale. There was a low cry coming from somewhere.
Ophelia
You don't have to believe these rumors. God has guarded Pigeon for thousands of years and will not abandon us now.
Narration
Ophelia stood in front of the crowd. She didn't look back, but responded softly and firmly.
Chief of Knight
Yes... Your highness!
Narration
After the riot subsided last night, Ophelia has become the hope of the whole kingdom.
A high priest behind Glories Priest looked at me, nodded and walked out of the crowd.
High Priest
The god didn't abandon Pigeon, but someone obscured his light and let Pigeon be shrouded in darkness.
Narration
There was a sudden uproar. The high priest was second only to Glories Priest. He was also very famous among believers.
Countess
Oh god... Who is it?! Who took the gods away from us!
High Priest
It's the Glories Priest standing in front of the crowd.
He can no longer communicate with the gods. He's abandoned. The king was stabbed in the heart by the grim reaper.
Narration
The Glories Priest looked at the high priest and frowned.
Glories Priest
The messengers of hell sneaked into the sacred land and blinded the light of God.
Ophelia
...Glories Priest, you must be able to prove your innocence?
Glories Priest
Your Highness, there is no way for me to invite god to you, or god will explain my piety for I'm god's most faithful servant.
High Priest
Your Highness, if you want to prove whether you have been abandoned by God, of course you have to judge by the divine.
I'd like to sink with Glories Priest into the sacred water. Those who float up are innocent, while those who sink should drown.
Ophelia
Glories Priest, do you agree?
Glories Priest
No one can reject or deny god's judgment, and I believe that God will do me right.
Narration
When people came out of the church, Glories Priest and the high priest prayed to the gods.
Glories Priest
May the glory of god last.
High Priest
May the glory of god last.
Narration
They were tied up and thrown into the lake.
The high priest rose to the surface, while Glories Priest sank to the bottom of the lake.
Countess
My god!
Narration
The crowd on the shore screamed and howled.
Duke
No wonder the gods abandoned us!
Narration
I looked coldly at the stupid trick played in the lake.
Butterflies flew across the wet sky, and the rain wet their wings.
Song came from afar, from I didn't know where.
[*Music plays in the background*]

Singing
The light is buried with faith, and the throne is your graveyard.
It's elves' elegy. And soul, will you still dance freely?
Narration
Hearing this song, the noble ministers on the shore fell to their knees as if they heard the death knell.
The high priest floating on the lake quietly smiled proudly.
Across the proud lake, Glories Priest was still struggling.
Glories Priest
Ominous death...! The king... sin! Disaster...
Narration
He seemed to see something of fear and roared as hard as he could.
Unfortunately, the people on the shore only heard a vague and torn cry, like a cry from hell.
The cry faded away and was engulfed by the lake.
It seemed ironic that for thousands of years, the lake has engulfed countless lives and was still called sacred.
Ophelia looked at the lake in silence, put his hand on his heart and mourned silently.
Mercury
Who are you mourning, Your Royal Highness?
Ophelia
...The dead Glories Priest.
Mercury
Isn't he guilty?
Ophelia
Although there's no doubt about the judge of the gods, I still remember that he personally introduced me to them.
Narration
It was he who personally judged my sins.
Ophelia
He taught me to pray, to love and to dedicate.
Narration
He taught me about hatred and revenge.
Ophelia
He showed me the existence of the gods.
Narration
Even if God existed, he was by no means the god served by this church.
That god was unknown to the world. He treated humans like ants and decided the future according to his mood.
God is never worthy of being worshiped.
It should be destroyed.
In the cause and effect, I saw his existence.

## Chapter 5: Puppet's Crown

Young Guard
Stop... the princess will not see visitors now.
Mercury
I'm going back to Apple Federation. I'm here to bid farewell to the princess.
Narration
It was the last week of May, the day Ophelia claimed the throne.
The long rainy season finally came to an end, and everything gradually woke up from the damp air.
Young Guard
The princess is preparing for the throne ceremony!
Ophelia's Voice
Is Mr. Mercury here? Send him in.
Narration
The young guard looked at me in dissatisfaction.
Young Guard
Yes!
Narration
In the riot, the young princess resolutely guarded the capital. She executed the priest and took over the power of glory.
Legends about her spread everywhere. Even the guards looked at me warily, worrying I'd be disrespectful to his beloved queen.
I walked into the palace and Ophelia was sitting in front of the dressing mirror.
The maid pulled up her hair and I saw her firm eyes in the mirror.
Mercury
Are you a little nervous?
Narration
Ophelia smiled when he heard me say this.
Ophelia
Well, a little... But I can't tell anyone about it.
Mercury
Why did you tell me about this?
Ophelia
Since you can see my uneasiness at a glance, why should I hide it?
Mercury
I'm here to bid you farewell.
Ophelia
People will be parted.
Narration
Like a devout believer, she prayed before saying goodbye.
Ophelia
Goodbye, Mr. Mercury. We'll see each other again.
Narration
I put on a white butterfly ornament for Ophelia. On the hair of the elf of light, the pearl quivered slightly and glowed.
Mercury
This is a gift. Today is your birthday.
Ophelia, you've grown.
Narration
The smiling Ophelia suddenly froze. She blinked and looked at me.
Mercury
In the future, there can be no more hiding.
Ophelia
Brother...
Narration
Her eyelashes quivered.
Ophelia
Is it really you?
Narration
I took her hand.
Mercury
Come on, let's change this country together.
Change the world.
Ophelia
I never thought you'd come back.
Narration
Her face turned pale.
She finally understood what was happening in the capital.
The huge door of the cathedral opened. The sunshine, which had not been seen for a long time, fell on the golden carpet.
I took her by the hand and walked into the church.
Her brother took her by the hand and sent the elf into the cage.
Many fresh faces appeared among the ministers and aristocrats in the church.
Ophelia may still need time to get acquainted with the friends I brought.
A foreign businessman with no title came holding the hand of the future queen, but no one was confused.
I let go and stopped at the church steps.
The new Glories Priest crowned Ophelia.
The church bell rang and the choir sang prayers.
But somehow this prayer was reminiscent of elves' elegy.
The palace was like a huge cage, and the elves finally ushered in their own destiny.
She would be a pawn on the throne and a doll for issuing decrees.
Glories Priest and ministers no longer believed in the glory of God, nor did they submit to the dignity of the king.
The crowned queen sat on the throne, her face paler than the moonlight.
I turned and left the church far away.
Outro
God broke elves' wings, shackled them in the cage.
The light was buried with faith. The throne was your graveyard.
It's elves' elegy. Soul, please dance freely.

## Trivia

* There are multiple typos where the in-game text refers to Ophelia using masculine pronouns, even though she identifies as female.