About

A long time ago, a terrible disaster befell a small kingdom that was said to be blessed by the gods. Rain did not fall for months, and the crops in the fields all withered and died. The springs ran dry, and when night fell, the cries of unknown beasts echoed from the forest outside the village. People believed this was the wrath of the gods. The King sent people to the temple to seek an oracle, and after a few days, the oracle was finally delivered. "If you wish to stop the kingdom's disaster, send the most beautiful maiden to the castle on the mountain." It was said that a monster had lived in that castle since ancient times. No one had ever seen the monster's form. There were only rumors that it was a truly hideous beast. At first, no one believed those words. But even after much time passed, the disaster did not end. Eventually, the people of the kingdom decided to follow the oracle's will. Simply because she was beautiful, Psyche became the sacrifice to save the lives of the entire kingdom. The King did not want to send her until the very end, but he could not defy the people's fear and the oracle. In the end, Psyche had to climb the mountain alone. There was no grand wedding, no blessing. She wore only a bride's gown, and in her hand, she held a single small lantern. The mountain path was dangerous. The further she got from the village, the narrower the path became, and the ground beneath her feet was a mix of gravel and dry branches. The wind was cold, and the dense trees blocked the sunlight, making the forest dark even in the middle of the day. When she looked back, the village where she lived looked very small. So small that she could never return. Psyche kept walking. How long had she walked? As the sun began to set, she finally reached the summit of the mountain. There stood the castle mentioned in the oracle. A massive castle surrounded by deep forests and rocky cliffs. Vines were tangled around the ancient walls, and the large iron gates were firmly shut. There was no sign of any human presence, yet strangely, a warm light was leaking from inside the castle. As Psyche approached, Creak— The iron gates slowly opened, though no one had touched them. As she stepped into the castle, lanterns began to light up one by one. Empty corridors. Staircases with no one there. A grand hall that looked as if no one had lived in it for a long time. Yet, it was strangely clean. Freshly prepared food sat on the table, and a fire was burning in the fireplace. It was as if someone had known Psyche was coming and prepared everything in advance. And at the innermost part of the castle. A single large door was waiting for her. As Psyche stood before the door, a very faint sound could be heard from inside. She did not know if it was the monster the oracle spoke of, or something else entirely. But there was no way back now.