-ADRIAN-

“INNOCENT, SEEK THE TRUTH”

In a distant time and place, in medieval Europe, there lived a mysterious alchemist. Everyone believed that he performed terrible deeds with his powerful sorceries. The villagers thought that the enigmatic alchemist conducted dark rituals beneath the night stars. According to the villagers, all misfortunes were the fault of the mysterious alchemist, Adrian. Among the rumors were lost children, villagers turning into wild animals, and fields resulting in famine.

The villagers' dislike for Adrian was convenient for the priests. Adrian was seeking healing sources with various plants, and he was a threat to them. They did not want any trusted source other than themselves. Therefore, they painted him as evil to the villagers.

One night, while Adrian was performing his ritual in the forest, he saw a little girl approaching him. He was scared and surprised. The little girl was very weak, frail, and injured. He immediately took her in his arms and rushed to the village, crying for help. From that night on, people began to speak positively about Adrian. Adrian's heroic image disturbed the priests.

While Adrian was busy preparing remedies for the helpless girl's wounds, the priests were plotting to ruin his reputation. They set up a great conspiracy. They secretly added poisons to the medicines prepared for the girl, which worsened her condition over time. The priests claimed that Adrian used the little girl as an experiment, despite his efforts to save her. Despite the alchemist's efforts, the girl could not be saved.

The priests prepared fake drawings of Adrian performing rituals with little girls in the forest. They also incited the guards. Adrian's fate was sealed. An execution decision, accepted by everyone in the belief that it would rid the region of dark powers, led to Adrian being beheaded in the village square. Everyone stared in horror at the severed head of the alchemist lying on the ground. A deep silence prevailed, and at that moment, a voice emanated from the alchemist's severed head, "Innocent, seek the truth". A growing rift appeared on his forehead, and insects crawled out of his mouth. The priests yelled at the crowd with anger and arrogance, "Those who believe this cursed sorcerer is innocent will meet the same fate!" Not a single person believed in Adrian's innocence, and they all chose the easy path, following the priests.

Suddenly, the alchemist's head disappeared as black smoke surrounded it. His body was burned in a distant part of the village. The pitch-black smoke moved directly toward the village. The smoke engulfed the village completely. Adrian's spirit did not show mercy to only the priests but also to those who turned a blind eye to this injustice. The smoke had penetrated everyone, subjecting them to excruciating pain. The cursed head roamed the village every night, spreading disease with the smoke. All plants rotted, and animals perished. Adrian's quest for healing had turned into a terrible curse in the face of this injustice and loneliness.