Crimson Sacrifice
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A term given to the 'younger' twin sacrificed in the Crimson Sacrifice Ritual of Minakami Village. By Minakami Village definition, the 'younger' twin is the twin that is born first.
In Minakami Village, the twin who was to be sacrificed was often physically weaker than their sibling.[1][2] This also holds true for Mayu Amakura. On the Twin Deities Statues around the village, the Crimson Sacrifice is always depicted without a head. In a photograph taken with the Camera Obscura of the Kurosawa twins, Sae's face was warped, suggesting that such depictions are more than mere artistic symbolism.
Although the 'elder' twin was sometimes doubtful, reluctant or outright resistant to the idea of the ritual, in all known examples the Crimson Sacrifice was willing, even eager, to go through with it in hopes of becoming one with their twin.
After the ritual, the body of the Crimson Sacrifice would be cast into the Hellish Abyss, and if the ritual was successful, his or her spirit would pass through the ground and purify it, returning as a Crimson Butterfly to watch over the village.