Shadows of London: 1-21 Deep Suspicion

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Shadows of London

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Everyone is discussing the truth behind Jesse's death, and all the clues seems to point towards vampires. Caroline notices a black figure beyond the trees...

Info

Style: Event Logs: Black Death Required: Yearnful Poem, Vincent Goodwill Lv. 5 Recommended: Sigh of Times, Doleful Lament, Final Regret, Melancholic Concerto, Quiet Condolences, Yearnful Poem, Lost Melody, Tranquil Requiem Rewards: 3,000 , 600 , 3 , 1 , 1 , Blueprint: Twinkly Seeds

Twinkly Seeds

Dialogue Choices

Note: Changing choices when replaying will cost 5

There's a smudge of scarlet by his mouth, and I can't help thinking of Doctor Grey's hypothesis.

• Believe in Vincent
  • Vincent's Goodwill will rise.
• Question Vincent

Transcript

Expand for script.

• I'm in utter disbelief over Jesse's death, but I can't deny the facts in the newspaper report--
• My loyal, adorable friend, Jesse, left the world that rainy night.
• The Lindvall family does not hold a proper funeral for Jesse. They chose to bury him in a hurry early this morning.

• You: Why did Jesse suddenly die, Aunt Petit?

• Madam Petit: You've been asking me that these past two days, Caroline.

• Madam Petit: But I only know what you heard, that he suddenly died of an illness.

• You: When Jesse sent me home, we were chatting and laughing, but overnight...

• Madam Petit: The Countess mentioned before that the young Mr. Lindvall was plagued with illness since he was a child.

• Madam Petit: Under Doctor Grey's care over the past two years, he finally became healthier, but that night, his old illness flared up again...

• Aunt Petit gently pats my back, and heaves a heavy sigh.
• Madam Petit: Life goes through a lot of changes, Caroline. Please don't be too depressed.

• Madam Petit: Go change into something appropriate for the burial. We're about to go.

• I nod my head silently. The sky is gloomy and overcast, like a heavy, suffocating shroud.

• Not many people are here to see Jesse off. The guests disperse after the unusually short ceremony.
• Aunt Petit is chatting with Mr. Lindvall, and I stand alone under the tree. Somewhere nearby, a few people are whispering together.
• Lady A: Have you heard? Young Mr. Lindvall ran into thieves in Eastern District.

• Gentleman A: Thieves? That's probably an excuse, right? I heard he got infected with a horrible disease in Eastern District.

• Gentleman A: The rumors say the corpse laid on the street in the red-light district all night, and was discovered by beggar children in the morning.

• Gentleman A: It rained so heavily that his skin was already decaying, and was terrifying to look at!

• Lady B: That's not all, right? I heard his eyes were bloodred, and scared the mortician to bits!

• Lady A: That sounds like... the epidemic from before?

• Gentleman A: Shh! This might just be what the Lindvall family's trying to hide!

• Gentleman A: Why else would they bury their favorite son so casually?

• Lady B: At the end of the day, we can only blame these rakes for fooling around, harming others and themselves!

• Lady A: What a troubling epidemic! I do hope it won't be as scary as the Black Death...

• You: Jesse's not like that at all!

• I fly into a rage upon hearing the insults, and couldn't stop myself from snapping at them.
• You: He's upright, humble, and a true gentleman. You don't know him at all!

• You: You shallow, ignorant lot don't deserve to come to his funeral!

• Gentleman A: You, you dare eavesdrop on people's conversations? How rude!

• I want to retort, but Aunt Petit stops me.
• Madam Petit: That's enough, Caroline. Arguing with people at a funeral is disrespectful to the dead.

• She shakes her head and pulls me aside.
• You: It's not fair, Aunt Petit!

• You: Fate has been so cruel to him, and they're insulting him. It's so wicked of them!

• Madam Petit: This is what London is like, Caroline.

• I can sense the melancholy in Aunt Petit's voice.
• Madam Petit: I must go comfort the Countess. Please find a deserted spot, and wait for me.

• Madam Petit: And remember not to start any more fights with people.

• You: I know, Aunt Petit.

• I walk back to Jesse's grave. There's no one here at all. Only the wind is keeping me company.
• You: Jesse, my friend.

• You: My heart is with you, and I hope you're in heaven.

• ???: I'm sure he'll enjoy eternal peace.

• The voice is so raspy that I can't recognize it. I turn around and see a fragile-looking Doctor Grey.
• He approaches slowly, and bends down, placing a bouquet of lilacs on Jesse's grave.
• Edward Grey: Miss Rayes...

• We nod at one another, and stand quietly together.
• A short and simple epitaph is carved on Jesse's plain tombstone.
• You: "All people die, and I forgive you. Please don't shed tears for me, my friends."

• You: It does sound rather like... the kind of thing Jesse would have written.

• Edward Grey: He really did write it himself.

• Edward Grey: When I first got to know him, he was chronically ill, and had been talking about his own death since he was a child.

• Edward Grey: He wrote his own epitaph many years ago.

• You: Doctor Grey, what happened that night? Why did Jesse leave us so suddenly?

• You: When he told me he was going to the Eastern District to look for you, he looked perfectly healthy...

• Edward Grey: Jesse went to the Eastern District to look for me?!

• Doctor Grey stares at me in shock.
• You: You didn't meet him?

• You: Jesse was worried you wouldn't be able to hire a carriage in the storm, so he wanted to go fetch you...

• Edward Grey: I didn't know about this at all... What a foolish boy...

• Edward Grey: When the weather suddenly changed that night, the patient's family called a carriage, and sent me back early.

• Edward Grey: If I'd been with him, perhaps... Perhaps this tragedy wouldn't have happened.

• Doctor Grey balls up his fist in frustration, and his voice grows lower.
• Edward Grey: If I were there... I wouldn't have let anyone hurt him.

• You: You mean... someone hurt Jesse?

• Edward Grey: You must have heard some ridiculous rumors just now, Miss Rayes.

• Edward Grey: I know it's just gossip, but Jesse's body does show some strange symptoms.

• You: What symptoms?

• Edward Grey: The devilish symptoms that we both have witnessed on the infected...

• You: You suspect a vampire attacked Jesse?!

• I clap a hand over my mouth reflexively, afraid that I might be overheard.
• Edward Grey: I don't suspect it. I know. I checked Jesse's body in the morning myself.

• Edward Grey: Have you seen Mr. Savile since the club incident?

• Doctor Grey doesn't say it out loud, but his grave face already confirms my suspicions.
• You: No... Vincent's not like that. He can't possibly be the person who attacked Jesse!

• Edward Grey: When vampires reveal their true selves, they lose all reason, Miss Rayes.

• Edward Grey: They rely on blood for sustenance, and they cannot rebel against their nature.

• You: Vincent has known us for so long, and you've seen him, he can control it...

• Edward Grey: He was injured badly that night, and under those circumstances, he might not be able to control his nature.

• You: Even if it's as you say, why would he attack Jesse?

• Edward Grey: Countless people die in Eastern District every day, and it's the natural hunting grounds for a vampire.

• Edward Grey: If Vincent was overcome by blood-thirst, and ran into Jesse while wandering about Eastern District...

• You: You're just guessing! There might be other vampires hiding in London!

• Edward Grey: I don't have any evidence proving that it's Vincent, but I think it's the most logical theory.

• Edward Grey: The resources say that vampires prefer young and beautiful prey, and that's why the Baroness recruited young nobles.

• Edward Grey: And if Jesse recognizes Vincent, Vincent would have a reason to silence him.

• Edward Grey: So whether or not Vincent is in possession of his senses, he'll attack Jesse on sight.

• Doctor Grey's words cut my heart like a knife.
• You: I must find out... what really happened to Jesse...

• You: But without any proper evidence, I refuse to suspect the person who saved my life!

• Doctor Grey's eyes grow dark. He lifts his hand, stops it in mid-air, and then slowly puts it down again.
• You: (Was he... thinking of wiping my tears away?)

• Edward Grey: I'm sorry for saying these things without considering how you feel, Miss Rayes.

• Edward Grey: But if you do see Vincent again, please tell me. I don't want you to get hurt.

• Edward Grey: And I want to find out the truth from him in person.

• Doctor Grey gives me a restrained, reticent look before he turns and leaves.
• I stand there in a daze, my thoughts in a jumble. There's a sudden rustling in the woods outside the cemetery.
• After a while, a few crows fly out of the trees.
• You: (They're just circling about next to the cemetery instead of flying away. I wonder why?)

• As I eye the crows suspiciously, a figure flashes by.
• You: (Was that... Vincent?!)

• I check all around me to make sure no one's watching, then I pull up my skirt and run after the figure.

• Running through the cemetery and past the trees, I finally arrive at a dilapidated house, panting.
• You: Vincent, is that you?

• You: H-how are you?

• I hear hesitant footsteps, and then Vincent emerges from the shadows.
• To my surprise, he looks a lot healthier than before.
• Vincent Savile: As you can see, Caroline, I'm doing well.

• Vincent Savile: As for... the wounds... I had to do something despicable to heal them, so I avoided you.

• Vincent lowers his head, and he subconsciously rubs at the corner of his lips with his slender fingers.
• There's a smudge of scarlet by his mouth, and I can't help thinking of Doctor Grey's hypothesis.

Believe in Vincent

• You: (No, I believe in him! If I have any doubts, I should just ask him!)

• I take in a deep breath, and gaze earnestly into Vincent's eyes.
• You: Vincent, I'm so relieved to see that you're all right.

• You: Will you tell me what you mean by "something despicable"?

• I take a few steps closer, and he backs away to hide within the shadows again.
• Vincent Savile: Don't come any closer, Caroline. I can't be too near to you right now.

• You: Why?

• Vincent Savile: I've been hiding out in the woods in the city outskirts, feeding on wild animals, and living like a wild animal myself.

• Vincent Savile: If that disgusts you, I understand completely. I was just a savage creature in the woods.

• Vincent Savile: Even now, the thirst for blood is stirring through me, Caroline...

• Pain spreads across Vincent's face.
• You: To survive, you must feed on animals... That torments you, doesn't it?

• I stride towards him, go on tiptoe, and stroke his head.
• You: You have such a compassionate heart, and that's very human.

• You: We are the same, Vincent. We both have bodies of flesh and blood.

• Vincent gives a start, and I can clearly see him swallowing.

Question Vincent

• You: Vincent, can you tell me what you've been doing since that night?

• I carefully maintain a distance between Vincent and I. There's a trace of disappointment in his eyes.
• Vincent Savile: I've been struggling to survive.

• You: And you've been hiding away? In Eastern District?

• Vincent Savile: Do you suspect I have something to do with Jesse Lindvall's death, Caroline?

• You: I...

• I shake my head in dismay, not knowing how to answer him.
• Vincent's lips tremble, and he forces a bitter smile.
• Vincent Savile: I understand your fear and your worry. It's just that... I thought you'd have more faith in me.

• Vincent Savile: I've been hiding out in the woods in the city outskirts, feeding on wild animals, and living like a wild animal myself.

• Vincent looks tormented by the memory, and I can't help feeling ashamed at having suspected him.
• You: I'm sorry, Vincent. I shouldn't have suspected you.

• Vincent Savile: You don't need to apologize, Caroline. Vampires are enemies of human beings.

• Vincent Savile: I'm very clear about that.

• I try walking towards Vincent, and he backs away into the shadows.

• Vincent Savile: I overheard your conversation with Doctor Grey earlier on, Caroline.

• Vincent Savile: And I must clear my name, whether you believe me or not.

• Vincent Savile: I don't know how Jesse Lindvall died, and I took the risk to come here because I want to investigate the matter too.

• You: Doctor Grey says that Jesse was killed by a vampire. Do you think that's true?

• Vincent Savile: To be honest, I don't know.

• Vincent Savile: But I do believe that the epidemic hasn't vanished from London yet.

• You: Do you think the Baroness still holds some sort of influence in London?

• You: Who is the "Elder" she talked about?

• Vincent Savile: This isn't the time to pursue these matters, Caroline.

• You: No, Vincent. Tell me everything.

• You: You've been struggling all by yourself, and you're fighting against an extremely powerful organization.

• You: I know there isn't much I can do, but if I can share your burden, at least you'll have a listening ear.

• Vincent Savile: This is the first time anyone's offered to fight alongside me... ever since I lost Hawke.

• You: Who is Hawke?

• Vincent Savile: He was my companion. We were under the Elder's control, and we sought to escape his clutches.

• Vincent looks grave, and his eyes glint with cold fury when he talks about the Elder.
• Vincent Savile: Vampires are territorial, and London has been part of the Elder's territory for a few centuries.

• Vincent Savile: 50 years ago, I got tired of wandering the wilderness, and came to London to seek sanctuary...

• Vincent Savile: But I was trapped by the Elder, and forced to become his servant. Hawke suffered the same fate.

• You: What does being the Elder's servant entail?

• Vincent Savile: We're bound to the Elder by blood, and must obey him, and capture humans for him.

• Vincent Savile: And we are unable to leave his territory as long as he is alive.

• Vincent Savile: Vampires don't fall ill, and don't die of old age, and though members of the Blood Clan have the ability to kill one another, the Elder is much more powerful than I am...

• You: Then how did you escape? Why did the Baroness call you a "traitor"?

• You: Did the Elder die? When the Baroness said she wanted to revive the "High God', she meant she wanted to revive the Elder, right?

• Vincent is silent for a while. His eyes flash, as though he's wrestling with himself. Finally, he speaks with difficulty.
• Vincent Savile: I risked everything to start a messy war.

• Vincent Savile: The Blood Clan paid a high price for that war, and the Elder suffered serious injuries. But he didn't die; he just went missing.

• Vincent Savile: I've taken on various guises to investigate, and even mingled with the ton, just to look for the Elder.

• You: So you think the epidemic has something to do with the Elder?

• Vincent Savile: No, I don't think so.

• Vincent Savile: The epidemic looks like it has something to do with the Blood Clan, but there's something wrong about that conjecture.

• Vincent Savile: The epidemic appeared after I got separated from Hawke, so I suspect--

• You: Did Hawke lose his senses, and start wrecking havoc in London?

• Vincent Savile: Impossible.

• Vincent Savile: Vampires who've lost their senses would attack humans, and their targets always die instantaneously.

• Vincent Savile: The symptoms of the infected people are more like corpses that have not been completely turned into vampires.

• You: The Baroness said something similar.

• You: There may be a hidden organization here apart from the Blood Clan, and it might have caused Jesse's death.

• You: Vincent, let's uncover the truth together!

• Vincent Savile: No, I'm here to warn you.

• Vincent Savile: You're in a lot of danger right now, Caroline. You should leave London as soon as possible.

• Vincent Savile: The Elder's underlings are watching you. The Baroness is dead, but there are others who can hunt you down.

• You: What's so special about me? Why did the Baroness say I'm a perfect "vessel"?

• Vincent Savile: I don't know what she meant by that either, but I can smell something of the Blood Clan from you.

• Vincent Savile: However, you are not a vampire, and you are clearly a human being. So there is only one answer.

• I hold my breath, and wait nervously for Vincent to confirm the suspicion I've been hoarding within me.
• Vincent Savile: You are the child of a human being and a vampire, Caroline.

• You: I guessed that quite a while ago. My father is human, and my mother... is a vampire.

• You: Half of the blood within me is the same as yours, right?

• Vincent Savile: Don't worry, Caroline. You won't turn into a blood-drinking monster.

• Vincent Savile: As long as your secret remains undiscovered by other Blood Clan members, you can live as an ordinary human being.

• Vincent Savile: And this is why I'm asking you to leave London.

• You: What will happen if they find out about me?

• Vincent Savile: The Blood Clan elevates their own powers by feeding on their own kind.

• Vincent Savile: But you can't do that without a vicious fight, and it also risks triggering a war.

• Vincent Savile: You are entirely helpless against an attack, and yet your body holds considerable power. You're the perfect meal for any Blood Clan member.

• Vincent's eyes glow passionately, and his voice grows hoarse. His words sound like a warning, and yet also like temptation.
• The death knell sounds from the church. I look towards the sound, and when I turn back again, Vincent has vanished.