Tale of Tales

In the kingdom of Longtrellis, the despairing King and Queen desperately wish for a child. Their inability to conceive leads them to seek the advice of a necromancer, setting off a chain of tragic events.

The necromancer proposes a dark solution to the Queen's plight: she must eat the heart of a sea dragon, cooked by a virgin. Although it holds the promise of life, it comes at the steep cost of a human life.

The King bravely slays the sea dragon to fulfill the necromancer's requirement. However, he sustains severe wounds during the battle and tragically dies shortly thereafter.

With heavy heart, the Queen consumes the heart of the sea dragon and miraculously bears a son named Elias. His striking white hair, reminiscent of the dragon, marks him as a special child.

Alongside Elias, the cook gives birth to another boy, Jonah. The two boys are identical and form an inseparable bond, delighting in their shared adventures.

Fueled by jealousy and vexation, the Queen attempts to murder Jonah, viewing him as a threat to her own son. However, Jonah manages to escape her clutches and flees the kingdom.

Before leaving, Jonah plunges a knife into a tree root, casting a spell that signals their bond. He swears to Elias that as long as the root bears clear water, he is alive and well.

One day, the clear water from the root is clouded with blood, signaling trouble for Jonah. Alarmed by this sign, Elias embarks on a quest to find his friend and uncover the truth.

The Queen, sensing that Elias is missing, orders her subjects to search for him but finds no trace. A necromancer reveals that the boys' bond is unbreakable, and violence will only fuel the Queen's dark desires.

Elias ultimately discovers Jonah, who is wounded and hiding in a cave. They face a terrifying monster together; the creature wounds Jonah but hesitates to attack Elias.

In a moment of bravery, Elias kills the monster, ensuring Jonah's safety. The defeat of the creature is both a blessing and a curse as its organic form vanishes, revealing the Queen's essence within.

Meanwhile, in Strongcliff, the lustful King is drawn to the enchanting song of a woman, unaware that she is one of two elderly sisters. This obsession reveals the depravity lurking within him.

After spending a night with the King in darkness, Dora is horrified when he rejects her the next morning for her appearance. Rescued by a witch, she undergoes a transformation into a beautiful maiden.

Seeking the secret to her sister's beauty, Imma's desperation leads to her own gruesome fate. After violating the royal couple's privacy, she agrees to be flayed, emerging bloody and disfigured.

As the new Queen, Violet's coronation is a grand affair attended by Elias and the King of Strongcliff. A captivating entertainer draws the crowd's attention, even as Dora's beauty fades, hinting at the consequences of beauty and desire.