I've been walking for three hours now to escape this once peaceful but now chaotic birdcage.

Maybe, I'm alone or they have been monitoring me. Either way, I can't find the exit. Would it be better if I
take a step back then? No, now it's too late for regrets. I already have one sacrifice in my hand. A
hairpin. My dearest friend's last gift to me. Her soul shall rest in this accessory.
How did all of this start? Was it my fault or was it just fate? All I can remember is that we were
birds in this birdcage. Five birds with broken wings and chains. Each of us had an item that was given to
us. A mirror to Luna, a necklace with one pearl to Levia, a hairpin to Dahlia, a knife to Ira and a doll to
me, Amalthea.
All of us were orphans who were adopted by a noble lady called Lucia Blanca Sephira. She was
a descendant of an ancient race called Blancian. They had beautiful white hair and red eyes which
burned with flames. Although Ms. Lucia didn't have white hair unlike her ancestors. Instead, she had an
ebony black hair that was extraordinary for a Blancian.
My "sisters" were all different from me. The oldest Luna was a Nocterian, the oldest race of all.
She had long black hair as dark as night and cold pair of blue eyes. She was kind and dedicated. She
would often go out to pray to the moon.
The third oldest Levia was from Marinus. A country known for their love of water. Manhy of their
legends say that they are actually sirens, mermaids and sea nymphs. Levia was really as beautiful as a
mermaid and as malicious as a siren. She had a wavy blonde hair and blue eyes.
The forth oldest Dahlia was from Shigoku. An ancient kingdom. Their peaople were better
known for their extreme beauty and short lifespan. In many stories, these people are flower souls
because of their fragility. Dahlia always loved flowers so I always thought that she was resembling more
of her race than the others.
The youngest Ira's birthplace was more modern country unlike the other five. So Ira often said
"This place is so boring, even the lightings are just some candles." Maybe she was right. Her "gift" was
odd for a girl at her age. She was just ten when she came here. If it wasn't for the later events, it was odd
for a gift.
Lastly, me, the second oldest and "mother"s first daughter. I was a Blancian just like her. My
family was one of the last Blancian households. Unfortunetly, my parents' death was sooner than
expected. Mother saved me after the fire that burned our house down.
I was a Blancian just like her but I looked more like a Blancian than her. My hair was a ghostly
white unlike her ebony hair. I searched everything I could get my hands on to learn more about mother.
Why black hair, why? The only answer would be her not being a pure-blood Blancian, but nobles had to
have all characteristics of their own race so was she an illegimate daughter?
On 11th of December, in the hall, there were five little girls. A ten year old Nierheimian, an
eleven year old, Shigokujin, a twelve year old Marinian, a thirteen year old Blancian and a fourteen year
old Nocterian. All of them held an item of their own. There was a list that stated everything
Luna Nocteria 14
Amalthea Pruina Blancia 13
Levia Marinus 12
Dahlia Shigoku 11
Ira Nierheim 10
At first, I wondered why she gave us these. Especially, a knife for a ten year old child! Though, I
didn't ask her directly. Right now I understand that even if I asked her, she would just lie.
As the time passes, we grow friendly to each other. But as we were getting closer, everything
started to change. Two years later, I noticed that Ira and her mother started to talk more than before. I
didn't care at that time but I wish I had.
Four years later than when we originally met, on 12th of March, it was just a normal day until we

heard that scream that tore my soul apart. I rushed to the garden. But all I could find was Luna who was
coughing blood and Dahlia who stood by her side. I ordered Levia to call the doctor. Levia:
-There aren't any doctors, Amy!
+What, how?
-Mom isn't here, either.
I ran and ran, hoping to find anyone. At least one adult was enough. But it was for nothing. I just
found Ira who was looking at the pictures blankly. She said "She went outside about two hours ago. She
said every staff is on holiday.She knows that Luna is sick. But mother didn't want the doctor to stay
here."
Were my ears hearing wrong? My dear mother who looked after me more than ten years didn't
even care about Luna. No, she just left her to die like a flower that couldn't see the sun. It was the first
time I saw her drowning in her own malice.
Six months later, she was in her room, coughing. Suddenly, her weeping was heard. I couldn't
help but step into her room. I saw that her mirror was broken. The ground was painted with crimson
blood. I tried to reach her but she shout: "Don't...Don't trust her!" as she cut her own wrist with the broken
mirror.
I couldn't believe it, my 18 years old sister have just commited a suicide in front of me who was
startled by looking at the blood of this girl I once called my sister. I didn't cried at first but tears streamed
down my face. Levia stepped into the room as she said "What's wrong Amy? Hm?" . Later she tried to
scream but I covered her mouth. I felt her tears. She bit my hand and ran to Luna's corpse. "How did it
happen? Did she cut her own wrist? Why didn't you stop her? At least call mom, please."
"I-I cannot.". She questioned me. "She told me not to trust her." was all I could say. "Disgrace!"
mother said angrily. "How can she say that about me? I gave her a home, food and love. I did not raise
her like that. I didn't deserve it." I was angry. I couldn't keep my mouth shut. "You didn't give her the love
she deserved. You neglected her. Left her... Now, how can you say that so easily?" I ran away. I couldn't
help but cry. What a monster she was, yet I haven't seen that!
A week later, her funeral was held. I still couldn't believe in it. Will the future bring us happiness
or sorrow? I noticed that Ira was getting more and more silent each passing day. First, Luna's sickness,
then her death. I looked at the moon which was precious to Luna. I prayed for her happiness.
Days passed away. The nightmares of that night were still haunting me. I was rarely out of my
room. When it was dinner time, Dahlia would come and eat with me because she, too didn't trust mother.
At my eighteenth birthday, mother came into my room. She looked at me with spite. "Disappointment."
she whispered to herself. I tried hard to hold my tears. We heard a scream when she opened her mouth.
We ran to the garden. Ira held the knife against Dahlia and Levia was trying to stop them. "Stop!" I
shouted but it was too late. Ira had already committed a crime that she couldn't take it back. Levia was
crying, Dahlia fell down, Ira was wailing and mother smilied devilishly.
"Ira, why did you-". Mother stopped me. She told me to leave with Levia. At first, I didn't want to
since I knew her intention. But I obeyed her just to watch her secretly.
At first, I thought that Levia would stop me, but she didn't. Instead, she watched them with me.
We saw Ira and mother trying to do something with Dahlia and her hairpin. ı looked at Levia, her eyes
were so dull. I couldn't blme her, she saw the dying moments of two of her precious sisters. She stood
up, smiled and said "Meet me in my room at 10 p.m." she left. Then, I continued to look at mother. They
were awakening something, perhaps a spirit.
I started to take my way to Levia's room. Mother and Ira were already sleeping. It was half past
nine so it was quite early. I went to library and I found a book at the table. I couldn't help myself to not
look at it. I finally opened it and started reading. I was shocked. It was about mother, Lucia Blanca
Sephira. It was her old diary. It told everything about her, including childhood and plans.
"I was born with the name Lucia Blanca Pruina. The illegimate daughter of Marquess Zachary
Pruina and a maid named Jeanette. Sister of Damian Blanc Pruina..." I was right all along, she was an
illegimate child. But Pruina? My surname? I didn't know if I should continued to read but I did anyway.
"My brother married a countess named Elisabeth Violette Levesque and had a child named Amalthea
Pruina." Was it my name or just a hallucination? I surely needed to sleep. Right, I should go and visit

Levia now.
I heard some noises. I looked for the source but there was nothing. In my back somebody
whispered "Amy..." I was shivering, I didn't dare to look at my back. She covered my mouth and turned
me around. It was Levia. " Looks like you've got the clues I dropped for you." I was still shaking. "I mean
the book. You know, diary of our foster mother or should I say... Your aunt?" I panicked an pushed her.
"Don't be afraid." she said with an annoyed yet sweet voice. " I am your ally." I decided to confront this.
"What do you know?" she smiled. "More than you expect." ""Since when?" "Since the first pawn has
been fallen." "Don't call... what pawn?" "I'll tell you."
That night, I learned how we were fooled and our souls supposed to give power to Lucia with
these items. "Luna broke the mirror so she can't imprison her soul, but I can't say the same thing for
Dahlia." I decided to escape. I couldn't stand it any longer.
At six o'clock in the morning, I grabbed a bag, some food and water ana Amaterasu's hairpin. I
was about to go but I couldn't leave Levia behind. "Do you want to come with me?" "No, I still have some
business." I was at the door. I bid my farewell to her. I left this place that was once my cage...