The Trial of The Witch-ONC2025

In the city of Delmare, one hundred people are chosen to compete for the title of Apprentice in the mysterious castle of The Witch every ten years. None of those people ever came back. To find his one true heir, The Witch must test the citizens' magical potential to see if they could handle inheriting his power to protect the city from the monsters beyond their walls.

Sebastian, a lowly dock worker, jaded by the loss of his sister, is one of the chosen for this decade's trials. Knowing certain death was on his horizon; he tries to explore the castle and the secret behind the witch as much as his short time would allow. In one such exploration, he meets Bilnue, a beautiful and strange noble who spills secrets little by little in hopes of helping Sebastian in his upcoming quests.

The trials are bloody, and the bodies are piling up. Will Sebastian be able to survive to become the apprentice? Or will he unravel the very fabric of life in Delmare, expose the trials and save himself from the ever-encroaching darkness of the one who holds all the power?

TW: Violence, sex and gore.
Wrote in British English.