#monoswan

The execution ended and all eyes turned to the swan. She stared back, unflinchingly, but for a long moment said nothing.

"...You were correct. James Crowley killed Hato Moto. You are all dismissed."

All too soon, Monoswan calls out the end of the investigation period. Dutifully, you begin the trudge to the throne room, through the mirror, and to your podium. You try not to look at the reflections of the dead staring back at you. It's the same thing, over and over again. Is there really nothing anyone can do other than give the swan exactly what she wants?

Monoswan is seated at the head of the table, watching as people file in and react to the body lying on the floor. It is bare and unset-- it seems that there will be no breakfast this morning. Once almost everyone is present, she finally speaks.

"The investigation period will now commence. As it would be unfair to have an investigation while a significant number of the class is not in full control of their mental faculties, I will now dispel the Despair Fever."

Today as you shuffle downstairs into the Great Hall, you stop at the entrance, surprised. Monoswan sits at the head of the table, watching as Everyone files in. It's so soon after the last trial-- surely it can't be another motive. No one has managed to get their bearings yet. She's breaking pattern. Uneasily you take your seat, and when everyone finally appears, the swan begins to speak, confirming your worst suspicions.

"It's time, I think, to announce the next motive."

Something in her tone sounds especially ominous, you feel, unease rippling through you. This won't be good.

"Several were infected with an illness called Despair Fever during the last trial. The illness has severe and wildly varying effects from person to person-- but it is most known for causing extreme and unpredictable changes in personality, extremely high fever, mania, and insanity. The Despair Fever incubates extremely quickly-- those of you infected two days ago will now be showing severe symptoms-- and is highly contagious."

She pauses, and you feel lightheaded. An illness? There are no doctors here, other than Sorrel-- no hospitals, no asprin, no help. It's a nightmare. You begin to sweat and wonder, barely containing panic, if this is you beginning to show symptoms.

"Fortunately for you all, I have the cure. And that brings us to the motive itself-- I will not release it until someone has been murdered. I suggest taking action soon-- the entire castle will be fully infected by the end of the week."

Monoswan shifted, feathers rustling thoughtfully, as she was addressed. She didn't seem uncomfortable, merely like she was choosing her words.

For the first time after one of these motives, impending doom doesn't hang over your head. Despair hovers anxiously, yes, but with a new hope-- maybe more than one person can survive. Well, all but one. For that chance to even be a reality, someone must die. Will someone try for the clue? And if they do, could you really blame them?

A day passes without incident, but then, right as you're getting ready to head to breakfast, Monoswan's voice echoes throughout the castle.

"A body has been discovered in room 5C. If you cannot remember where that is, I suggest you check your IDs. The trial will begin shortly."

Monoswan sat at the head of the table in the Great Hall, waiting. It was time for another motive. Time to change the game entirely. The students file in apprehensively, the days of leisure and the access to the outdoors had taken their minds off the threat of a fresh motive. But now all that stress is back, and it’s centered on the small swan. As they brace themselves to hear whatever she has in store this time, suddenly the barely established pattern is broken. Before Monoswan can make her announcement, Gosami has rushed into the room from the servant’s entrance to the kitchens.

“No, I won’t let you do this again,” Gosami is in his human form, and appears to be carrying a large staff- it’s even taller than he is, which is saying something. “Svana I don’t want to fight you, but this can’t go on! You’re making everything worse! I don’t know what that friend of yours has been telling you, but you need to stop! People are dying!”

Monoswan looked to the side at him, irritated, even disgusted. She certainly didn’t seem concerned or cowed in any way.

“I think we are far past the point where you allow or disallow any action of mine, Cadhan. Put that down. You’re not going to use it.” 

Her voice was as even and unemotive as always, but somehow her tone still radiated pure contempt. 

For a moment Gosami looks hesitant, like her words may have shaken him. But then his expression becomes firm again, and he shifts into a fighting stance. From the way he’s gripping the weapon now it looks like he actually knows how to use it.

“I can’t. I can’t let you… I have to try.” His voice is determined, but there’s a pleading note in it. “I’m asking you not to make me. Please, Svana, there’s still time to stop this, it’s not too late to work together!”

Monoswan didn’t sigh, or react audibly to Gosami’s plea in any way. Instead she stood up and approached him, arms folded stiffly behind her back. She stood before him and looked up, expression blank and unfathomable, and then wordlessly extended her hand, palm up.

Gosami blinks as Monoswan approaches him, holding the staff a little tighter though he makes absolutely no move to strike. When her hand reaches out, his expression fills with hope, a smile starts to pull at his lips and he instantly relaxes, letting the staff drop to his side as he reaches to take her hand.

“Thank you, sister. Thank you-”

She smiles back, sweetly, and then twists his arm roughly behind him, and reaches up, jerking him down by the neck and then slamming his face hard into the stone wall. Gosami seems stunned, though not horribly injured, until she adjusts her grip, pulls him back and slams him into it again, even harder. There’s a sickening crack, and blood splatters against the wall and down Gosami’s face. Still smiling with the exact same expression that she used to lure him in, Monoswan brings her other hand up and wraps both of them around her brother’s neck, keeping him stooped down at her eye level as she chokes him.

“If I was capable, dear brother, I would wring the life out of you right now. Make no mistake about that.”

Too stunned even to yell, the only sound Gosami makes is a choked gasp as his face is slammed into the wall- and then he’s simply staring at Monoswan, not even trying to struggle as she chokes him while blood streams down his face from his newly broken nose. The staff clatters to the floor. The hope that had sprung up a moment ago is gone, replaced with a helpless, desperate sadness. Despair is in Gosami’s eyes as he looks at his sister.

“I’m glad that you understand.”

The noise of the clock faded, as did the macabre visuals in the mirror. Michael's podium was empty, replaced by the eerie reflection. Monoswan appeared in her usual place, human, staring down at the others.

"...Correct once again. Michael Stoltz was the one who poisoned Sang-Hi Ma. If someone wants to escape, they'll have to be more careful."

A pause as those ominous words hung in the air.

"...Lunch will be served in the Great Hall in two hours. New areas have also been unlocked. You are dismissed."

And then she left, this address even briefer than the last. Has you exit the mirror and look at your IDs for the new areas, you note the time with a grim irony.