A conversation with the monks and a someone...

The fear growing in your mind is probably reflected in your darting gaze...

One of the monks looks at you with understanding and smiles slightly, a sad expression on his face, nodding to his companion.

The second monk approaches your "bed" and, in a quiet, soulful voice, begins to recite prayers in an ancient ritual dialect.

You feel a growing heat throughout your body, like a slight tingling of many needles...

"What?! What's happening?!" - you scream in fear.

Both monks ignore your cries...

They begin to chant prayers in unison.

After ten minutes, this stops, and you feel the heat in your body slowly begin to fade.

One of the monks places his palm on your forehead and says: "There is no filth within you, child... The gaze of the Eye of the True Sun revealed this with a clarity like a bright summer day..."

This sentence is interrupted by the piercing screams of hellish pain from someone who is now outside the building.

The sounds come from somewhere near the window.

This happened just recently, and now it's happening again with renewed vigor.

The smell...

You realize with horror that this intensifying odor is the smell of burning flesh.

"What horror is happening?! Who is screaming?" - you ask the monks, your voice trembling.

"The corrupting defilement of Darkness has not touched your soul, sir Stephen... For this, a prayer of thanksgiving should be offered to the True Sun... Alas, some of your servants and serfs have failed the test of faith... Clearly, such individuals must be cleansed of taint... These sounds you hear... are merely signs of a successful taint cleansing... Therefore, you should not worry..." - one of the monks answers you.

You recall something extremely unpleasant...

The wife of one of the knights, whom a doppelganger deceived (taking the form of her husband) and fucked.

It seems her fate is now being decided, and this woman clearly faces only torment and death.

"What happened in Hawk Hill is extremely dangerous... These are unholy manifestations of the Eternal Darkness... The corrupting influence of filth permeates bodies and souls, condemning all who are weak to eternal damnation... To resist the Darkness and serve the One True God, every devout believer must gladly make any sacrifice..." - second monk says, staring intently into your eyes, as if trying to find even the slightest hint of disloyalty in your soul.

"These creatures... Doppelgangers... I found my father's journal... It turns out he once fought these vile monsters..." - you say slowly.

Both monks nod.

The expression on their impassive, ascetic faces is unperturbed.

As if they already knew all this...

"How do these creatures reproduce?" - you ask.

One of the monks replies: "The unholy spawn of Eternal Darkness, known as doppelgangers, reproduce by defiling the bodies and souls of those who have not been steadfast enough in their service to the One True God. Only the True Sun can protect against such vile filth... Otherwise, a cursed fetus begins to ripen in a woman's womb... A woman who has entered into an unholy relationship with a doppelganger will only give birth to such monsters... These monsters will attempt to secretly infiltrate every aspect of society... They are like a contagious, deadly disease..."

"But how... Did all this horror happen because of that mirror? Is it a magical object? My brother probably brought this artifact back from his recent journey to the east..." - you say.

The monks nod again.

"The fate of your brother Anton is extremely sad... We pray for his unfortunate soul... Alas, this cursed magical artifact was only one of the reasons for his demise... It seems Anton was extremely reckless – he associated with many dubious individuals... Unfortunately, the servants of the Eternal Flame have not yet captured all of these individuals for interrogation and pious retribution..." - this answer hints that many... many of your deceased brother's friends will be forced to live on the run or face harsh justice.

"Doran... He is now the heir to the title... And what will happen to me now?" - you say.

"A detachment has already been dispatched to your older brother... The servants of the Eternal Flame will test his steadfastness in faith... As for your fate, sir Stefan, a person you know well can clarify the situation..." - one of the monks says.

The sound of footsteps...

The creak of a door...

Your father enters the room.

Baron Radu Monok.

The wrinkles on his face and the gray in his hair have clearly increased.

Anton's death was a blow to him and brought excruciating pain to his soul.

"Father! Command them to release me!" you scream.

"Is this really Stefan? They haven't defiled him yet?" - your father asks the monks, ignoring your cry.

The monks nod and say a short prayer.

Baron Radu approaches you, draws a dagger, and... cuts, one by one, all the leather straps that held your legs, arms, and torso to the bed.

You are free...

You rush to your father and, hugging him, begin to cry.

His strong hand caresses your back.

"Anton is gone... I hope Doran was able to protect himself from those vile monsters... In any case, now you, Stefan, must shoulder a greater burden... You must prove that the honor of our noble house is stronger than the insidious machinations of the wicked followers of Darkness..." - your father's words are spoken in such a tone that you sense a mixture of determination and sadness in his voice.

"But what must I do, father?" - you ask, your voice shaking, still crying.

"You will accept Anton's obligations... Anna will become your wife... And you will also prove to the Church of the True Sun that you are a devout believer..." - he answers.

You pull away from your father and look into his eyes with incomprehension.

"In a couple of days, you will set out west with a small armed detachment of my warriors... You will join the forces of acrotarch Vladenos... A campaign westward against the wicked steppe orcish tribes... The best way to prove your commitment to the Light of the One True God is the merciless destruction of the followers of Darkness... Do you remember our family motto, son? A motto inextricably linked with the Red Hawk lineage..." - your father's words ring with a demanding tone.

"Through blood to victory..." you say in a trembling voice, realizing that your peaceful life has come to an final end.