1 A Letter of Acceptance: Prologue pt 1

It was when I received a letter in the mail that Sunday afternoon, that I realized I had entered a nightmare.

The final trigger was the seal on the envelope. The motif of roses and thorns surrounding the silhouette of a raven. It was an acceptance letter from Hawthorne Academy.

Seeing it triggered my memories from my past life, a young college drop out who worked at a coffee shop, occasionally on my free days I would play video games to blow off steam and otome games when I didn't feel like buying shoujo manga.

There was only one otome game that stood out to me for various reasons and that was Xoxo Iris, a mystery romance game in which the protagonist searched for her older sister who had gone missing at Hawthorne Academy. To play the game, the protagonist had to collect the belongings of the disappeared victims. One had to completely collect all the pages of a certain diary in order to finish an episode or get closer to the mysterious love interests in the game.

In the middle half of the game after Anais' disappearance, the protagonist comes across the diary of a female student who had also gone missing from that school, she went by the name of Anais Letiffany.

The exact name of myself in this life.

Her journals held crucial information as to how to play, who was behind the girl's disappearances. To discover more, the protagonist had to find multiple pages of her diary hidden throughout the school, it was normal to discover at least one or three pages per episode if you paid attention, but unlike the other journals, collecting all her pages weren't required to complete the episode.

Anais Letiffany had the same motives as the protagonist, only her situation was different.

"Isn't this great milady? You've always wanted to attend the same school as Lady Amelie!" My personal maid, Esme seemed genuinely happy for me.

But at the moment nothing but dread filled me, it gradually seeped into my blood like a teabag in a warm cup of water, raising the hairs on the back of my neck. Recalling my past memories... It made me feel like a stranger to myself. To think...to think that this whole time I had been unconsciously following the plot from the story! It was creepy.

As I was saying earlier, Anais- I mean I, had the same motives as the protagonist. Anais Letiffany had an older twin sister by the name of Amelie Letiffany. In this world where magic existed, my older twin sister Amelie was famous for her genius, she was accepted into Hawthorne Academy, a private magic institution located on Hawthorne Island. well known for having produced a King and other Genius mages that either went on to become heroes, or famous entrepreneurs. Hawthorne Island was a small island located on the south coast of Briarlore Kingdom.

I had been a sickly and frail child growing up. After Amelie left for Hawthorne she sent me lots of letters about the friends she made and the things she did, she even sent me gifts, the last... which I was to receive was an enchanted emerald pendant that was a magic item. As the reason Anais was so sick was due to too much mana, this item made it easier to fight against my illness and study hard so I could get accepted into Hawthorne too.

Though the family had been against it, they always wanted me to attend a school that was much closer, so that if something happened I would be within reach. . .

I squeezed the letter, my eyes skimming over it but I hadn't read it at all. I set it aside for my maids to gather around it and rejoice. Their words of congratulations fell upon deaf ears.

In my head, a clock began to tick.

Three years. The otome game starts in three years when Anais is a junior. At the beginning of the game, it is possible for the protagonist to befriend the character, Anais even though she ends up disappearing in the latter half.

But Amelie, Amelie! My dearest, my most beloved sister! There was no saving her.

On the island of Hawthorne, there are various threats responsible for the female students of Hawthorne's disappearances. Threats so powerful that they could erase the existence of another person. . . or the memories a select few might have had of the missing person. Many people remembered Anais after she disappeared, so it is safe to assume she didn't die. . . at least by the dark hand's intervention.

But Amelie, sweet innocent sister. Soon, she would be forgotten by everyone but me.

It felt... strange. As I sat there gazing out the window watching a soft breeze pass through Mother's garden outside. Knowing the fact that others remembered her right now, meant she was still alive today.

What was she doing right now? What was she thinking? Would she die today? Tomorrow?

You see, for Anais attending Hawthorne wasn't an option.

Once Amelie dies, she will begin to haunt Anais. Normally, ghosts that die on the Hawthorne Isle, stay there. But Amelie is different, she's powerful. A true force of nature. And according to Anais' journal in the game, Amelie will appear wherever Anais is. She was said to be docile and helpful on normal days according to Anais' diary. She gave Anais hints and non-verbal warnings about the secrets of the school, but at night and sometimes on the full moon... .just like the other ghosts of the victims of Hawthorne Isle, she becomes a vengeful spirit only... .she is, naturally, the most dangerous one.

Unlike the other spirits who can play simple tricks like shoving you down the stairs, moving or throwing sharp objects, Amelie, can actually manifest herself and hunt. Though, her target was usually the protagonist.

It doesn't change the fact that Amelie is fixed to Anais like the Earth to the Sun. During the latter half of the game when Anais disappears, Amelie becomes like a rabid dog without a leash.

Something happens that makes Amelie stronger, so strong that she can move freely, so strong that Anais has to go into hiding. This is just my wishful thinking, of course, I'd like to believe Anais didn't die. Or more exactly that Amelie doesn't end up turning on me, her own flesh and blood...

Although she's useful to the game, Anais is what one could classify as a pacemaker, the type of tutorial character that the creators go out of their way to pave the road for the protagonist to have an easier time juggling romantic relationships while trying to uncover the secrets of the game.

Word had reached my parents and older brothers of the news. Everyone was happy for me, though the worry was embedded there in their eyes like the centerpieces on our dining table, they no longer tried to dissuade me from going. Also... they did not mention Amelie.