As I understand it, the features of the Revant's palace were planned in advance. This means that the NPCs were also integrated right away, in accordance with the trials and other life difficulties. Therefore, we don't take into account the comatose Alex, whose condition no one anticipated.
Castor and Father Cynius, it seems, are mandatory story NPCs. Perhaps there is another female character (I think it's Aria, but it could also be Anemone). The other two are just an addition, since they didn't come with the whole party.
And here are all the trials. Perhaps the priest should have been given someone to shepherd, and the girl/official should have been put in a chair. Although, in my opinion, the official is best suited for the pedestal. I can't say for sure about this. And here's the catch. Which of the NPCs would voluntarily agree to sacrifice their eyes?
There is also the option that one of the girls would fall into a coma instead of Alex, if he hadn't flown into outer space himself, so that we could do the same to her.
In the end, what do we have:
1) The skull puzzle doesn't work like that; leave the comatose person alone or at least for another trial.
2) The skull puzzle works exactly like that; Revant planned everything, and Alex became a victim instead of a random NPC. If so, that's cruel, Revant!
3) Revant came up with all this after Alex fell into a coma and, in order to troll our hero, specifically introduced such a trial. This is unlikely, but then it's doubly cruel!
And accordingly, a question for Revant: were the puzzles of the castle devised in advance, before we got involved in the trial, or are you making it up as you go along?
Added 1 minute ago
Neyra, it seems that the character Ment was putting stones somewhere, and they fit perfectly.
Added 1 minute ago
And yes, there is also the thought that if we activate ALL the statues, they will come to life and beat us up.
Added 5 minutes ago
By the way, another reason why I want to wait with the eye trial, where we ourselves guarantee to cripple a comrade.
I don't think that if we activate this table, the next door will open. Otherwise, we wouldn't get random balls falling after the cutscenes. Otherwise, why aren't there two trials opposite the north door?
There seems to be some sequence here, in the spirit of: "first, complete the eastern and western trials, and then the north door will open to you," but in that case, we still sacrifice someone else's hands and head.
And yes, I still hope that the stones will fit the pedestal, and we can avoid the other trials.

