Panel Missions

**Panel Missions** are a game mechanic in the game Memento Mori. They are a series of missions attached to limited edition pictures of various witches. By completing these missions, one can slowly unlock the hidden pictures to reveal the full image, along with a short side story about the witches involved. The Panel Missions each come in pairs usually as part of an ongoing event.

## Memories of Days Gone

* A Scene From a Day Long Gone
* A Gentle Curse

"I'll take my wishes...and feelings...and pour them into this blade!

Illya's sword emits a light at the sound of her voice.

Although that light was still but a tiny glow, seeing it made Illya quickly lift her head towards me.

"Your Holiness... I did it!"

"Indeed. Please do not ever forget this sensation.

A witch's power comes from the heart. Picturing your power in your mind is very important."

"Of course!"

Illya answered me with a smile on her face, then once again readied her sword.

At this moment, her light is but small.

But before long, it shall glow into a great, shining radiance that will save the world.

Deep inside Illya sleeps a power that can perform miracles.

It is a mystery that even I do not know the true nature of.

A power so absurdly massive and beautiful, it makes one doubt even the slightest possibility that a human body could ever wield it...

I believe it to be fate that allowed us to meet.

Thus, I must lead her down the correct path.

"Come now, Illya. Try doing it one more time while that sensation is still fresh in your mind."

"Yes, Your Holiness!"

After all, there are two sacred treasures that were sent down from Heaven...

And, I finally found the person who I could entrust one of them to.

"As I thought, the one who would put a stop to me was you, Illya..."

This child had grown since we last met. Now, she holds me in her arms, smiling ever so gently.

"I'm Your Holiness's greatest disciple, after all."

Inside a large crater lies the altar of sealing.

Here, in the place where everything began and ended, the two of us have reunited.

But, in the way I least desired.

"Why did you save me...? I am no longer worthy of protecting the world...

I would rather you put an end to me..."

"From this moment on, the world will need Your Holiness more than ever. So, please...

save this world as you've done before."

Are you saying that I am to continue committing even more sins...?

"Your sins won't go away, but you *can* atone for them. That's what you taught me, Your Holiness."

"...Indeed, I did."

"And besides..."

Illya's hand then grasped mine, smiling with a tearful look in her eyes.

"I am Your Holiness's greatest disciple, after all."

Upon hearing those words, there was nothing else I could do except take her by the hand.

I destroyed the world using the Curses, and was saved from them...only to be afflicted with yet another curse.

A gentle curse called "Atonement."

## A New Wish

* The Witch of the Backstreets
* Me and "Me"

The wounds inflicted on my back hurt.

All I had to do was transport a bag—a job that should've been easy.

Until I was surrounded by 10 armed men, that is.

Somehow, I managed to fight my way through them, and deliver the bag to its destination.

The recipient saw me covered in wounds, but he didn't even utter a single "thank you."

Instead, he berated me for not making the delivery on time, and used that as an excuse to pocket half the reward.

I kept my mouth shut and accepted the remaining half.

There's a witch in the backstreets who can take on any job out there.

That rumor's been floating around since God knows when.

Although I owe it to that rumor for having more jobs come my way, it's been nothing but dangerous and dirty work.

Even the rewards I earn for risking my life are just enough to buy a few pieces of bread.

Still, I'm probably one of the lucky ones.

After all, there's always someone out there starving to death in the backstreets.

Today's no exception.

On my way home, I caught the eyes of a scrawny black cat.

Its golden glares floated in the dark, fixated on the bread I held in my arms.

"...Sorry, but I'm not giving you any of this bread. These aren't just for me, you know.

If you insist on getting some, I'm going to have to kill you."

After we locked eyes for a while, the black cat jumped off into the darkness.

Down there, two scrawny kittens were sleeping, only to start crying once they noticed their parent had come back.

Even though the kittens were right in front of me, their cries were so faint that even *I* had trouble hearing them.

The black cat began apologetically licking its kittens' faces.

Before long, I stopped hearing their cries.

"...So, you were fighting for your family too, huh."

I can't afford to feel sympathy. There are friends who are waiting for me to come back home.

Without this bread, the ones who'll starve to death tomorrow might be *us*.

"This is all I can give you. It's my portion."

With the bread in my arms one portion lighter, my feet make their way through the backstreets.

Far behind me, I hear the cries of two happy kittens.

A home with a roof.

Meals served hot and fesh.

Friends I could cherish.

Everything I could've ever wished for was here in this world.

Things I should've gotten, if I'd only walked towards the "right" future...

I've already lost everything...so what's the point in me knowing about all of this *now*...?

"Well then, you should join us. Be our friend."

The "me" of this world speaks, her hand reaching out to me.

"If you stay with the Duke, you should be able to find a new reason to live. Just like I did."

"...That's so damn easy for you to say, isn't it."

I brush her outstretched hand away from me.

"You must've had one hell of a happy life, huh!

Being protected by your ever-so-gentle Duke and all...

You've never even had a single taste of mud or blood, so don't even pretend like you know me!

"You're right. I know nothing.

But, had you used your power as a witch, you could've lived in any way you so pleased.

And yet, in the end, you didn't end up like that man we once called our father.

No matter the path we walk, we'll always be us."

"......"

"If there's a reason why you came to this world, it's that the Duke and I are here.

I have no doubt that you'll be able to find something precious to you, just like I did when he saved me."

With her face looking more serious than before, she extends her hand to me once again.

...She's right, I guess.

I can tell right away just by the look on her face when she talks about this "Duke" of hers.

She's telling me the truth.

Thinking of how weak I look right now doesn't sit well with me though...

I think I get it now.

This is a miracle performed by some god on a whim.

I'm sure the time I can have here is limited.

Which means...

"Fine, I'll believe everything you've just said."

Keeping my new wish hidden deep inside my heart, I grab hold of her outstretched hand.

"But, you and I are one in the same, right? Then, I'm sure I'll end up liking the same things you do.

When that times comes...I'll be taking the Duke for myself, okay?"

"...WHAT?!"

After all, I'm sure that's the reason why I came to this world.

## Gallery

A Scene From a Day Long GoneA Gentle CurseThe Witch of the BackstreetsMe and "Me"