Chapter 3 - Tainted Light

**Chapter 3 - Tainted Light** is the third chapter of Rejuvenation. It starts after the departure of Keta's spirit in Amethyst Grotto.
After investigating the new ghostly trees in East Gearen City, the protagonist and Venam find themselves locked inside a mysterious Manor and must complete trials to earn their freedom.

## Chapter Summary

### Apparitions in Gearen City

Within the Abandoned Sewers of Gearen a previously locked door opens, with a bright light shining from within. The protagonist is woken up in Sheridan's Cherry Blossom Inn by an anxious Aelita asking them if they saw what is happening in East Gearen.

A puzzled protagonist is shown Volta’s report, which details Gearen being covered in oddly translucent trees within the early hours of the morning. With the situation worsening by the moment, the protagonist and Aelita decide to investigate the occurrence themselves.

Upon arrival at the Route 2 train station, the protagonist sees familiar faces such as Chasity, Venam’s mother, who informs them that her daughter is attempting to investigate the situation as well. Aelita and the protagonist then board the train, with no knowledge of what lies within the city.

Despite initially being denied entry by an officer, Karrina ensures that Aelita and the protagonist are granted passage into the perilous Gearen City. The pair are then exposed first hand to the odd situation in the city. Karrina directs them to the Abandoned Sewers, the presumed source of the unwanted flora, also noting that Venam went down there and has not returned yet. At the entrance to the sewers, the group finds a surprising guest, Amanda. She initially doubts the protagonist and Aelita’s abilities but after a battle, she allows the protagonist, and only them, to proceed into the sewers. They progress through the sewers, finally reaching the source of the ghostly trees, and they enter the bright door.

### The manor in the sewers

The protagonist finds Venam and her friends - Luca and Lenny - investigating an odd manor, rainy and seemingly supernatural. They sneak their way through the gates and enter through an open window.

Within the intimidating manor, they are greeted by an angered man named Indriad Theolia; Venam demands that Indriad fixes whatever is going on in East Gearen City, but Indriad refuses to follow the demands of a girl that broke into his manor uninvited. He seems surprised upon hearing the name of the protagonist, but brushes it off. He summons his maids, who grab the group and teleport away to trap them within the manor.

### A young savior

Only a lone voice is heard by the protagonist, who says that she is trying to free them. She says that their soul holds great potential and asks them to answer a few questions. Upon being freed, the voice is actually a girl named Marianette, who apologizes for her father’s actions and tells them to leave and not look back.

However, the protagonist is unwilling to leave their friends behind, and seeks out Marianette to recruits her to help find them. Marianette suggest that it would be best to challenge Indriad directly. The pair confront Indriad and challenge him to a game. Should the protagonist and Marianette be able to save every soul that Indriad is keeping captive in the manor, they would be free to leave, otherwise Indriad claims ownership of the souls of everyone involved, including Marianette herself. As Marianette predicted, Indriad accepts the terms of the game. He tells the duo of the three trials they must complete to free their other friends and teleports away to ensure there will be no interference in the game.

### Indriad's trials

Throughout the manor, the pair endure the three trials Indriad had laid out for them, each accompanied by their own set of dangers. Upon completion, Indriad congratulates the protagonist on their feat, but reminds them that one soul is still left to be freed- Marianette. He teleports Marianette away and deflects the protagonist’s attempt to attack him. He tells them the location of the final trial and departs.

The stage for the final trial has been set, the protagonist and Marianette are competing for freedom- either the protagonist and their friends will be set free or Marianette. Despite the terms being unfair, Marianette fully accepts the challenge and asks the protagonist to do the same.

### Marianette's remembrance

After defeating Marianette, the protagonist, bizarrely, receives the Normality badge. She also says that she remembered something during the battle- a faint memory of someone telling Marianette to stay faithful, to stay in high spirits, and to not forget. Marianette, or rather Maria then regains her sense of self, but Indriad has other plans. He teleports the protagonist, Luca, Lenny, Maria, and Venam onto the altar used as a battlefield. He scolds Maria for being a disappointment and declares the game to be invalid. Maria has other plans, however.

Oddly Maria says that she will not forget the protagonist and Venam *again*. She also promises that she will close the portal to East Gearen, which will clear up the ghostly flora. Finally, Maria sets the souls of the four free. She also teleports Indriad onto the altar, saying that his sadistic need for power is inexcusable, and with that awakens another odd, golden power.

### Heroes of the hour

The screen cuts to Volta, who explains that the four were successful in restoring Gearen to normal. She specifically calls them local town heroes, especially the protagonist, who is called by name during the report. A viewer of the broadcast remarks that her town perhaps needs a hero, and notes that she would like to meet the protagonist one day.

## Trivia

* In prior versions, Gearen was never in trouble. Instead the protagonist and Aelita venture through Route 3 until they reach the gate to Goldenleaf Town, where Ren stops the protagonist by activating a steel fence gate, which forced them to go find Venam, to melt through the metal with her signature move Venam's Kiss. Venam mockingly references this, by mentioning her attempt to melt the first gate in Chrysalis Courtyard, but concludes that that felt "ridiculous".
* Marianette's disposition towards the protagonist heavily depends on how well she is treated by them at all given dialogue choices while they are teamed up, differences include:
	+ Should Marianette have been treated badly she will be perfectly willing to sacrifice the protagonist and their friends for her own freedom and will be more disappointed after her loss, otherwise she will urge them to give their all in the battle and be much happier after her loss, noting that things were supposed to go this way.
	+ After her memory returns she will be more regretful about not being able to leave with them if she likes the protagonist, but if she doesn't she will just brusquely tell them to leave and that she is going to stay.
	+ The protagonist will use Marianette's nickname for them in Volta's report unless they treated Marianette badly, in which case they will use their real name.