A Flower Blooms - A Prologue To RtW

Clarissa stood silently in surprise for a few moments after Zero's declaration. However, her shock didn't last long, and she immediately looked around. There weren't any people listening in. That was good, it meant that she wouldn't have to put as much work into covering this up.

Clarissa gave her orders to Zero. "Follow me. Speak to no one."

Zero was led into a small room. "Stay here until I come back," Clarissa ordered. Then, she left the room, leaving Zero alone.

Zero looked up and observed the room around her. Along the walls she could see strange looking stones, perhaps decorative. In the back wall were some holes in the wall, as though it was meant for something to be put through them. The door looked different; it had strips of steel going through it, along with more of those same stones embedded within. Though she wasn't sure whether the door was locked, Zero made no move to try to leave. Instead, she stayed seated, letting her mind begin to wander. Thoughts of what she had done continued to press on her, reminding her of her sins.

Zero was in the room for some time. Perhaps it was many minutes, or even hours. There was no way of measuring the time, nor was she being particularly attentive. All she did was wait.

Finally, the door opened. Along with Mother Clarissa, a priest also walked in. His robes were richly decorated, and he wore a pendant around his neck. "Come with me," he ordered.

Together, they walked through the halls of the monastery, before ending up in front of a room, a familiar room. It was the confessional room, the room that she and Maria had been investigating. After they entered the room, the priest closed the door. Then, he walked toward a chair and sat down.

"Zero, tell me what you did." It was as though the priest was looming over her. His presence felt suppressive, and Zero quickly responded. This was the place for confessions, and Zero knew that she had committed the ultimate evil. With the priest bearing witness, Zero began her story.

"This morning, I woke up feeling off. I went outside with Maria. Then, something happened. Maria said she saw a flash of white light. I felt a strange feeling. Suddenly, we were inside the monastery, but there was no one here. The entire world was empty, but we were able to create things just by imagining them. We explored the city, but the buildings weren't quite right. They all looked the same as the ones in front of the monastery. That is not what it is in reality, right?" Zero looked toward the priest for confirmation.

"Indeed, the world you were in was not real. A figment of your imagination. But tell me, what happened next." The priest gestured for her to continue.

"We wandered through the city. Then, Maria climbed up a building, and fell off. She died, but then she came back to life. Then, she went up the building again, and this time she made herself sprout wings. She tried to fly…" Zero began to stutter as she recalled what had happened. "She couldn't fly. When she hit the ground, she died. And then… the world disappeared."

"And where is Maria now?" the priest asked.

"She… she is gone." Zero was shaking. "She vanished without a trace. I looked around for her, but I couldn't find her. She is gone, and now I have all these memories, her memories."

The priest appeared intrigued. "Memories? What do you mean by that?"

"I remember things," Zero said. "I remember Maria's life. All the things she did, her time here with me. Sometimes I have a hard time distinguishing them from my own. It is all just a jumble in my head right now."

"You have done something very bad," the priest said. "You have taken an evil power from the demons. You used it to steal the life of another. You stole her soul, taking her memories as well. You have dabbled in evil. Your sin is evident. Now, what do you have to say for yourself?"

"I am ashamed to have allowed myself to fall into the path of sin," Zero said with her eyes downcast. "What I did was wrong, and I have no excuse. Whatever you wish to do with me, I will accept it. It is only right, as punishment for what I have done. If I am to die, then so be it."

The priest smiled. "Your transgressions are indeed severe, but God is merciful. You have strayed from the path of righteousness, but there is a way to redemption. Saving someone from their sin is something to be celebrated, especially for one so tainted as you. You have immersed yourself in evil, becoming a witch. But you shall be judged and made to repent. Through your penance, you shall be made pure."

"Can this really be the case?" Zero asked. "Is there a way for me to redeem myself?"

"Yes," the priest replied. "Through sacrifice, you can be forgiven. The path to redemption is a difficult and painful one. If you are strong of will, you shall survive. Become purified of your evil, and step into the light of God. Are you prepared for this?"

"I am prepared to do anything," Zero said. "I shall dedicate my worthless life to the church, to serve in whatever way you see fit."

"Very well then." The priest stood up and walked to the back of the room. His fingers dug into the wall, revealing a handle to the secret compartment. His other hand went to another latch, and the compartment opened. Within the compartment, was a mechanism. The priest activated it, and the wall swung open. Zero gasped in shock.

Behind where the wall once stood was a tunnel. The priest stepped to the entrance. "Now Zero, your old life shall be no more. Discard it. Come through, and prepare to be reborn."

Zero walked forward into the darkness, following the priest into the tunnel. The door closed shut behind her.

The tunnel was quite long and it eventually opened up into the central cathedral of the Holy City. As the priest led her through the halls, Zero's eyes wandered, taking in the unfamiliar environment. There were other people in the hallways, going about their business. They didn't pay much mind to the new arrivals, the priest's presence being sufficient justification for them being there. Even the guards were quite familiar with the one leading Zero, as they let pass without comment.

It occured to Zero that she didn't even know the name of the person who brought her here, or his position within the church. It seemed that he was a not insignificant personage, or at least was entrusted with important duties. However, she didn't speak up to ask, knowing that such information would be provided if it became necessary for her to know.

After passing several guards, the priest arrived in front of a room, which he opened. "Go in. This is where you will be staying for now. Remain here until you are called for."

Zero entered the room and looked around at it. There was a simple bed with some blankets, along with a small table and chair. Near the ceiling there were several cobwebs that she could see. Fortunately, the bed appeared to be clean. The walls were made of stone, and there was no window. The room was only lit by a single torch. A guard came in, depositing a set of clothing, along with food, some bread and a bit of meat.

After the guard left, Zero was left alone inside. From outside the room, the priest spoke as he closed the door. "Do not attempt to leave by yourself. The door is locked, both for your own safety and the safety of others."

"I understand," Zero said. The door closed shut.

Zero laid down on the bed, staring toward the ceiling. There wasn't much for her to do, so she decided to focus on her own mind. She began sorting the memories within her, developing a better understanding of them. It was no longer so chaotic in her mind, as everything felt much more natural, settled in as a part of herself. It had been a strange new experience for her, but perhaps with time she could get used to it.

***

Archbishop Vincent put down a stack of papers. He had just finished reading through the report on one of the newly acquired witches, one of several. For each one he had to do a careful analysis to adequately evaluate the benefits involved. Fortunately, the decision for this one in particular had been rather easy, which was convenient as this wasn't the only witch that he had to make a decision on today.

"This witch has an ability to weave cloth. No practical combat application, poor supportive functions. Only suitable for a peasant's job. Not particularly useful", Vincent said to the bishop in front of him in an almost bored tone. "We have no need for her, take her to the sacrifice chamber."

"Understood, your Eminence," the man replied. He stood up and bowed, before leaving the room. As he left, he saw another man waiting outside the door.

"Come in, Max. You are finished with your report?" Vincent gestured for the new arrival to sit down.

"Yes, this one is rather interesting." Maxmillian handed over the papers in his hand.

Vincent began reading through the report. "Ah, this isn't something we see often. So, her name is Zero. The full scope of the ability hasn't been fully explored yet... Can possibly be used for killing, though not particularly efficient. Activation may be related to sight. Memory transfer… this seems to have potential. Though, the precise mechanics of how she accomplishes this is unknown. Perhaps the target needs to die several times in this imaginary world. We should run a few more tests."

"Do you think she will be suitable?" Max asked.

Vincent tapped his fingers on the desk. "Perhaps there is a use in interrogation. Being able to extract information from someone unwilling to cooperate is useful. Torture isn't always effective in gaining information after all. We should get a better idea of how her ability works first. Still, there is good potential here. From how you have described her, she seems to have a positive attitude toward us and is willing to obey our instructions. Send a small reward to the orphanage for raising such a fine specimen. Also, good job for getting her for us."

"Thank you. I do aim to do my best," Max said.

"For now I think that we can make use of her. Have her transferred to the permanent living quarters. I want you to run some experiments," Vincent ordered. "Get some volunteers who would be willing to die for the cause."

"I shall do so," Max replied. "I will make sure to guide her onto the righteous path, to serve the church unhesitantly.

"Good, I hope to see some results soon. Though..." Vincent paused for a moment. "If her utility is found to be lacking, or she proves unwilling to obey the church, then we will have no use for her. In that case, she shall be reprocessed. Make sure to train her properly, it would be a shame to lose what could be a useful asset because of your mishandling."

"You will not be disappointed. I will make preparations immediately," Max said.

The door closed shut as Max left, leaving Vincent alone in his office. The archbishop put away the information files and took out some more papers. Being in charge of training the Pure Witches was more than just looking over candidates. Now, he began to read through the latest progress reports for the witches.

He paid careful attention to all of them, taking note of anything important or unusual. It was a delicate process, and a steady hand was needed to keep the witches under control. A proper balance of discipline and care was necessary. Most of the witches were progressing well, though there were a few that didn't meet expectations. Those would need to be suitably... encouraged. Vincent began drafting orders for the people in charge of working with the witches.

***

The afternoon light shone through the windows of the orphanage, casting long shadows across the room. A girl stood near one of the windows, gazing out toward the distance. After several moments, she turned away. A nun was nearby, and the girl approached her.

"Why do we always have to stay here?" the girl asked. "Can't you let me go outside and have a look around? I promise I will be good."

"There are many dangers outside here," the nun replied. "We want to keep you safe, and protect you from those that would hurt you. That is why we ask that you don't wander off by yourself."

"But, I want to see what is out there," the girl pleaded. "When will I be able to do that?"

"In time. One day, you will be old enough. We have to prepare you to deal with all situations appropriately. Once you are ready, you can go wherever you please." The nun gave the girl a smile.

"How will I know when I am ready?" the girl asked. "I don't want to be here forever."

"Do not worry. You are a brave girl," the nun said. "You will get through any struggles. When you grow up to become a servant of God, you shall be everything you are meant to be. As long as you stay focused on your goal, you will reach it, one day."

"I can't wait for that day," the girl said with excitement.

"Then you should pay more attention to your lesson," the nun chided.

The girl ran off to join her friend, and the nun sighed.

"I want to meet some new people. I have a great friend and even more friends would be great. The girls here are nice. Imagine how many people you could meet out there." The girl turned toward her friend who was beside her. "Aren't you excited for the future, Zero?"

***

Zero awoke.

It was dark. The torch in the room had gone out. Since there were no windows in the room, the only light came from the crack beneath the door. Zero stayed in her bed, gazing up into the darkness. She thought about that strange dream she just had.

Though during the dream it had felt like it was herself going through those events, Zero knew that it was some of Maria's memories that had resurfaced. It felt so real, yet it was not. It was nothing more than the echoes of someone now gone.

A deep feeling of shame welled up in her heart. Maria had hopes for herself, something she was aiming for in the future. But she was gone from this world, taken away by someone who didn't even know what to do with her life. Now, Zero had finally left the orphanage she had stayed in for as long as she could remember, but instead of joy, all that she felt was fear and shame. She was constantly reminded of what she had done, and it was almost as though the ghost of her friend haunted her.

Then, the door to the room opened and light streamed in. The priest that had brought her in was back. "Come out now, I will be showing you to your new room."

Zero got out of her bed and put on her clothes. She walked out of the room, blinking as she emerged into the light.

"Is everything alright," he asked.

"Yes, I am fine sir," Zero said.

"Call me Max. I will be the bishop in charge of taking care of you. Feel free to talk to me about anything." As they walked down the hall, Max continued to talk with Zero. "How was your sleep?"

"I had a dream," Zero said, before falling silent.

"What was your dream of?" Max was only asking casually to make conversation, but Zero's response piqued his interest.

"I dreamed of life back in the orphanage. But I was Maria. I saw everything from her eyes." Zero started trembling. "She talked about what she had hoped for in the future. How she wanted to see the outside. A chance she won't have anymore."

Maximillian took a mental note of how Zero was experiencing the memories through dreams. "There are many threats outside, some that you would have no idea about. That is why we will need you, to help us deal with those that would bring down the only hope for humanity."

"But in the end, it wasn't outside threats that took Maria's life. It was me."

"Indeed, such was a tragedy. Your power has the potential to harm, yet it can also be turned toward good. You must learn to control it. Only then can you become useful, and begin to pay back your debt to humanity."

"And how will I learn to use my ability." Zero seemed despondent. "I don't know anything about it. What will I be able to do, and how could it help anyone?"

"That is what we will be working on," Max said as they arrived at their destination. "This will be your room. You will be staying here from now on."

Zero looked inside. It was better furnished than the room she just left, and there was even a window, allowing light to come in. "It is nice," Zero said.

"I am glad that you like it. But we will not be staying here for long, `` Max said. "First, we have somewhere else to go."

"What will we be doing," Zero asked.

"I shall be testing your power," Max said. "I will help you to gain an understanding of your abilities, and allow you to use them in a controlled manner. Once we know what you can do, you will be able to find your role, and learn to serve."

Max took Zero through several hallways. They arrived at a room that had two guards outside it. The bishop had the guards move aside, and opened the door. There was already a man inside, waiting for them.

Max sat down at a desk next to the door. "Zero, go to the front of the room and look at that man. Next, I want you to use your power on him."