Loading User Commands:
[X] Something feels off...

---

His eyes carefully survey a nearby map of the amusement park. He frowns as he considers the options. While there isn't anything especially unusual about this place, he feels that something odd is happening. The truth is at the tip of his tongue as he ponders the situation, but to no avail. It is probably nothing important. He has had a little too much excitement for the day, after all.

"Hey! Is something wrong?" asks Yukari suddenly. "Are you feeling alright?"

"Huh? No, I'm fine!" he replies. "It must just be my imagination."

"Tell me," Yukari says sternly. She looks unusually serious.

"Well.." he mutters. "I can't really describe it very well, but this place doesn't feel very real to me. It's like I know that I'm in a dream, but I don't."

Yukari doesn't reply. He laughs awkwardly and turns away. She must think that he is acting weird for no reason. Perhaps he should just drop the subject. In any case, he should consider getting his head checked and..

He gasps in surprise as Yukari puts her hand on his shoulder. She holds him firmly, then looks up straight at his face. Her expression is solemn, if not a little bit sad.

"Close your eyes," instructs Yukari. He does so obediently, idly wondering at the reason to her sudden change of mood. Without warning, he feels something sharp smack into the side of his head.

...

"G-goddamnit, Yukari!" he curses. "That hurt!"

He opens his eyes to find himself standing in the familiar darkness. No trace of the amusement park can be seen. However, he isn't alone.

"Welcome back, Wizard," says Yukari. "It is good to see you again."

Instantly, he realizes what has happened. After falling unconscious from that last spell, she must have entered his mind once again. Grimnír grits his teeth as he slowly understands.

"I wish I could say the same," he manages. "But this is becoming a very bad habit of yours, intruding into my mind like this."

"Forgive my intrusion," she says as she gives him a polite bow. "Though I certainly thought that you were expecting me, since you accepted my invitation."

"Walking inside my already messed up head right after I fall unconscious from physical and mental exhaustion isn't exactly what I had in mind, Ms. Yukari." replies Grimnír, hiding no trace of harshness in his voice.

Her eyes widen visibly, and her mouth falls agape as she gasps in surprise. The parasol she is holding wobbles dangerously as she takes in his words in full. She opens her mouth, as if to argue, but closes it after a few moments without saying a word. Slowly, she lowers her eyes.

"I-I didn't know," says Yukari. "I'm sorry."

Grimnír mumbles something in reply as he looks away to think. This is beginning to turn into something complicated. He has to stay focused.

"I'll be going now," whispers Yukari, barely audible. Slowly, she turns around to leave.

"Wait."

[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] The White Jade Buffet. It's full of restaurants and food-related attractions.

---

"Hurry up! Hurry up! It's about to start!" cries Yukari as she drags him forward.

"W-what the? I thought we were going to get something to eat at the buffet?" he says.

Yukari turns around and grins at him cheerfully. She ruffles his hair a few times, giggling to herself. Somehow, this gesture doesn't make him feel much better. This can't possibly mean anything good.

"Cut it out," he says. "Just tell me what's going on."

"Something fun, of course!" she says. "I know that you're gonna love this!"

"Could you be a little less vague, if at all possible?" he asks.

"It's related to food, and I need you to help me," she says.

He frowns at her, but Yukari simply smiles and gives him a wink.

"It's classified information~" she says.

"..."

He sighs as he lets himself get dragged into yet another mess. He thought that getting something to eat would be pretty simple and straightforward, but apparently such words do not exist in Yukari's vocabulary. He only hopes that this won't be too foolish. Or painful.

...

"So those are the rules.. any questions?" cries the shop owner.

"Yukari, can you tell me what this is again?" he asks, saying each word slowly and carefully.

"A spicy curry eating competition," replies Yukari. "It looked fun, so I signed us up!"

"It looked fun, so you signed us up," he repeats. This girl is such a pain.

"Yep! I always wanted to try one of these things," says Yukari. "But it is embarrassing to join this sort of contest alone, since I'm a girl."

"Geez, what a bother!" he cries out.

While he likes curry, a contest like this isn't his idea for a pleasant lunch at an amusement park! This girl has to realize that normal people don't do these things! He should just stand up and walk away right now.

"You don't want to?" returns Yukari.

Suddenly, Yukari looks up at him, her eyes starting to tear up. Startled by the change of atmosphere, he can't help but look away. Using a tactic like this, she really doesn't play fair, does she?

"I-I guess it's fine, since you want me to," he mumbles.

Yukari perks up almost immediately.

"Now that's much better!" she says. "Maybe I should give you a promotion."

"A promotion? Why would I want that?" he asks blandly.

"Ara? Maybe you need other motivation~" she says playfully.

Without warning she grabs his arm and pulls herself right beside him. He can feel the gentle softness of her chest pressing against his skin. His mind tells him to pull away, but his body can't move, for some reason.

"If you win, maybe I'll treat you to something special~" whispers Yukari into his ear. The sensation of her warm breath excites him more than a little. This feeling is surprisingly enjoyable. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to try to win?

...

"Hey, are you alright now?" asks Yukari. She pats his back to comfort him, though he only looks back at her with vindictive eyes.

"I can'th feel meh thongue," he replies. "Thoo spithy."

He turns away from Yukari. Somehow, looking at her just makes the pain worse. During the contest, he could barely finish one and a half platefuls before giving up. Yukari, on the other hand, just kept on going. He doesn't even remember how many plates the crazy girl finished. If it weren't for that equally insane nun at the other table, she would have won first place.

"Show me your tongue," demands Yukari.

She takes a moment to examine the inside of his mouth. Upon her face is a calm and serious expression. At this moment, he suddenly remembers that Yukari is older than him. For some reason, her concern doesn't seem out of place at all.

"It doesn't look too bad," says Yukari. "I'll treat you to something cold and sweet. That should help with the swelling."

He nods weakly in reply. Yukari walks to a nearby stall, and in a few moments, she returns with two ice creams. Somehow, the ice cream helps reduce the pain. Soon, his tongue starts recovering. Yukari doesn't say another word, and neither does he. They finish their ice creams in silence, sitting side by side.

...

"What's that?" he asks, pointing at the package she is carrying. "You weren't carrying that before."

Yukari smiles as she pulls out a small plush toy from package. The toy looks like some male character from a TV show. Dressed in tight-fitting blue and silver clothes, the little guy has short blue hair. The toy seems to be carrying a long thin spear as a weapon.

"The shop owner gave it to me for getting second place," she says. "He's cute, isn't he? I think I'll name him C~"

"It doesn't look so bad," he says as he examines it closely. The doll looks pretty well-made, for a toy.

Yukari closes her eyes as she gives the plush toy a tight hug. Then, she looks up at him, her cheeks a delicate pink.

"Thanks for coming with me," whispers Yukari. "I couldn't have joined that alone."

"Err.. no problem," he mumbles. He turns away quickly, his eyes looking for some distraction. Any distraction.

After a moment, his eyes land on a nearby map of the amusement park. But somehow, he feels that there is something strange going on. Wait, what?

[ ] The East Gate Shrine. Includes several combat-related games and rides.
[ ] The Mystic Woods. Looks like it has a medieval/fantasy theme.
[ ] The Youkai Village. There are many shops that sell souvenirs and curios.
[ ] The Eternal Moon. This definitely has a space exploration theme.
[ ] The Chronicles of the Wind God. Definitely of a historical/archeological theme.
[ ] The Underground Palace. The newest wing of the amusement park.
[ ] Something feels off...

Loading User Commands:
[X] The Mansion of Red Mist. Seems to have a horror theme.

---

He points toward one of the sections near the entrance. From the crowd nearby, this area seems to be popular with small groups and couples.

"The Mansion of Red Mist? I do hope you aren't planning anything perverted~" says Yukari playfully.

"Of course not," he says.

This section just caught his eye. Somehow, it seems like a pretty good way to kill some time. While he has no interest with developing that sort of relationship with Yukari, she did order him to choose something interesting.

"Is that so? How disappointing," she says. "But I suppose that's just the way you do things."

"Huh? What's wrong with it?" he asks.

Yukari just shakes her head and gives him a cheerful smile.

"Forget about it. Anyway, I heard that this place is pretty popular for being realistic. Let's go and get a good scare!" says Yukari as she drags him toward the Mansion section of the amusement park.

Upon entering the place, he suddenly gets a bad feeling. Unfortunately, he only realizes the reason later.

...

Suddenly, a bunch of snakes drop down from the ceiling.

"Uwaaaah! Get them off me! Get them off me!"

"W-what the? Hold still! You might fall off!'

Then, a bunch of spiders begin crawling upon them.

"They're in my hair! THEY ARE IN MY HAIR!"

"Calm down, dammit! There isn't anything in your hair!"

Without warning, something begins grabbing at their legs.

"Oh my -LET GO OFF ME! AAAAAAAHHH!"

"Relax! Geez, s-stop clinging so tightly to me!"

...

"T-that was horrible!" he stammers. "People actually enjoy that sort of thing?"

"Most people do," replies Yukari. "Wow, you weren't faking any of that, were you?"

"F-faking? Those things grabbing my legs and landing on my hair were freaking me out! I can still remember the sensations." he says. "You heard me, didn't you?"

"Of course I heard you," says Yukari, frowning at him. "I'm sure that the group of high school girls giggling behind us heard your screams quite well, too."

"W-what? Sorry about that, but that ride really freaked me out!" he cries. "Especially that last part where a bunch of maids crying blood start throwing knives at you!"

"I thought that was pretty funny, actually," says Yukari, smiling at him. "It was overdone, in my opinion."

He doesn't reply as he start to calm down. After the fear and shock passes, he feels himself blushing as he remembers what he did. He was fine - for the first five seconds. Then, he started grabbing on to this girl's hands (unconsciously, of course). He probably started panicking and screaming when the spiders started crawling in. At some point, he must have grabbed Yukari tightly and hid his face in her hair. By the time the ride was over, people in line were staring at his frozen, nervous self clinging to Yukari as if his life depended on it. Good thing she had the sense to pull him away before things could get complicated.

"Are you feeling better now?" asks Yukari carefully.

"Y-yeah, I think I'm ok. I guess I wasn't acting very manly back there, was I.." he replies despondently. He must have looked like a damn kid.

"Don't worry about it," says Yukari. "If I knew that you scare easily, then I would never have agreed to coming to this place.

"E-er..." he mutters.

Yukari turns to him with a worried expression on her face.

"Why didn't you say anything?" she asks.

He pauses to think. There really was only one reason he chose this place. A stupid reason too.

"I-I guess that I just chose this place because I thought you'd like it," he mutters.

"E-eh?" says Yukari. Her eyes widen, and her cheeks glow delicate pink at his words.

"I mean that I was following your orders," he adds quickly. "If I didn't choose an interesting place, you'd punish me, right?"

"Ah! O-of course," replies Yukari. She turns away a bit, seemingly interested in one of the posters. "I guess that I had some good fun this time, so don't worry about it."

She smiles enigmatically.

"It isn't every day that I see someone your age get freaked out by an amusement park ride," she says. "Oh, I will enjoy reminding you about this day for a loooong time..."

He plants his palm upon his face, hard.

"So, where should be go next?" asks Yukari. "We shouldn't waste time."

Shouldn't waste time? Somehow, those words echo in his mind. Wasn't there something else that he needed to do?

"Err..."

[ ] The White Jade Buffet. It's full of restaurants and food-related attractions.
[ ] The East Gate Shrine. Includes several combat-related games and rides.
[ ] The Mystic Woods. Looks like it has a medieval/fantasy theme.
[ ] The Youkai Village. There are many shops that sell souvenirs and curios.
[ ] The Eternal Moon. This definitely has a space exploration theme.
[ ] The Chronicles of the Wind God. Definitely of a historical/archeological theme.
[ ] The Underground Palace. The newest wing of the amusement park.
[ ] There is something wrong here...

Loading User Commands:
[X] An amusement park. A bit expensive, but you don't mind.

---

"World of Illusion and Fantasy," he reads aloud.

"Wow! You have surprisingly good taste," says Yukari. "I give you 9 out of 10."

"What? Why not the full ten?" he asks.

Yukari smiles enigmatically.

"Figure it out," she says. "You're a smart guy. I'm sure you'll understand in time."

He has seen the commercials on TV, but he has to admit that the place looks just as good up close. Unlike those cheap, filthy "Carnivals" that he visited as a kid, this amusement park looks well designed and maintained. The widescreen display up front advertises a large collection of rides and other entertainment attractions. They have several interesting rides, including the Border Coaster and the Underground River Raft. Before he can watch the whole advertisement, he feels someone tug lightly on his shirt.

"We're next," says Yukari. She looks pretty excited.

His eyes widen as he sees the entrance fee. Imagine how many manga volumes or figurines he could buy with that amount. He takes a glance back at Yukari. She only cocks her head to the side and smiles at him innocently.

Damn this girl. She isn't even his girlfriend! He will have his revenge one day (though this really is his own fault, choosing an expensive place like this). After paying the cashier, he takes one last forlorn look at his wallet (now much lighter) before replacing it in his pants.

"So, where do you want to go first?" he asks, forcing a small smile.

Yukari glances at him before turning back to the site map. She examines it closely, pacing back and forth every so often. Finally, she sighs to herself and turns back to him.

"I can't decide," she says. "Why don't you choose for us?"

He steps beside Yukari and examines the site map. The amusement park seems to be split into several themed sections.

Where should they go first?
[ ] The Mansion of Red Mist. Seems to have a horror theme.
[ ] The White Jade Buffet. It's full of restaurants and food-related attractions.
[ ] The East Gate Shrine. Includes several combat-related games and rides.
[ ] The Mystic Woods. Looks like it has a medieval/fantasy theme.
[ ] The Youkai Village. There are many shops that sell souvenirs and curios.
[ ] The Eternal Moon. This definitely has a space exploration theme.
[ ] The Chronicles of the Wind God. Definitely of a historical/archeological theme.
[ ] The Underground Palace. The newest wing of the amusement park.

"Good morning, sleepy head!" cries out a cheerful voice. "How are you feeling today?"

He only groans in reply. Yukari seems to be in a really good mood. That always means trouble for him. Why can't she just bother someone else once in a while? She treats him like some kind of servant, or perhaps even her plaything. It isn't fair.

"I do hope you remember our wager," says Yukari. "If you forgot, I would be extremely disappointed in you as a man."

"Of course I remember," he mutters. "How could I forget? You reminded me each and every lunch break last week."

...

It happened exactly three weeks ago. He was just eating his lunch alone in the cafeteria, as was usual, when suddenly this girl sat beside him. When he mentioned that there were several free seats, she just smiled, saying that she wanted to sit with him. He didn't argue any further, since it didn't really matter to him. Before he knew it, they starting eating lunch together, as if it was a habit. They would talk about anything under the sun (which was mostly what Yukari was interested in/annoyed at).

After a few days, he learned that Yukari was his senior by one year, and that she actually lived pretty nearby. He didn't mind it much at the start, since they only met during lunchtime. She was just another odd friend, nothing more. Then one day, Yukari made a bet with him. The person who could guess what kind of lunch would be served the day after would win. The loser would have to follow the instructions of the winner for one complete day.

He took the bet simply because he knew the pattern of the cafeteria lunch. The next day would be curry day (which was his betting choice), and Yukari was guessing that spaghetti would be served instead. There was no way he could lose. The school didn't have the budget for much variety.

Imagine his surprise (and irritation) when spaghetti was served the next lunch break. What the hell? When he asked the lunch lady, she simply said that there were problems with the curry supply, so they switched the dishes at the last minute. Needless to say, Yukari was overjoyed.

...

So here she was, smiling excitedly. Today, he would have to follow any and every instruction of this unpredictable girl. He sighs despondently.

"So, where are we going?" he asks, trying to mask his annoyance.

Yukari puts a finger to her lips as she pauses to think.

"Good question," she says. "Where would you like to go?"

"Huh? What are you talking about? This is your day, remember?" he replies.

"Ara? Then let me rephrase that," says Yukari. "I order you to tell me where you would like to go."

".. what?" he mutters.

"It better be something interesting and within your budget," she declares. "If it isn't, I'll have to punish you~"

He plants his palm over his face. This is going to be a long day.

[ ] A family restaurant. There is a good place near the station.
[ ] An amusement park. A bit expensive, but you don't really mind.
[ ] A museum. She doesn't seem that picky.
[ ] A theater. Maybe she will enjoy a good movie?
[ ] A mall. Lots to do there.
[ ] A love hotel. What?
[ ] Custom

"..ake up.. ther," says a voice. It seems strangely familiar.

He mumbles something incoherent. Too sleepy. Just go away.

"Wake up, please wake up," says the voice.

"Mrrmgh.. sshleepy.." he mumbles.

He can hear someone stamping her foot on the ground. No more tantrums. I need rest.

"If you don't wake up, I'm going to pull off your pants and take pictures!" the voice cries.

"Fine, fine.. just.. what? What the hell?" he cries.

He gets up quickly to see a familiar face. There is no mistaking that short green hair and that childish body. The pair of antennae on her head twitch slightly as he looks up at her.

"Wriggle?" he asks drowsily. "Why are you waking me up? It's a weekend, isn't it?"

The firefly girl steps close to him. Dangerously close. She is only inches from his face. He feels himself blushing furiously. Slowly, he pushes her off him as he sits himself up.

"Get off me," he mutters. This girl is such a headache. "How many times have I told you not to get so close?"

"Eh? But there isn't anything wrong with being close to my big brother, is it?" she asks innocently. Without warning, she sits herself on his lap. She starts stroking his leg suggestively.

"I-I mean that," she whispers. "I only want to get to know my brother a little better.."

Forget inappropriate, this is getting far too weird for him. Cute little sisters are fine, but this is going too far. He carefully lifts her up and drops her roughly on the bed.

"You're too heavy," he says. "Are you gaining weight again?"

"W-what are you saying?" cries Wriggle. "I've been cutting down on the sweets! Don't say things like that!"

He mutters something in reply as he glances out the window. The newspaper girl rides past on her bike as he watches. Damn. It really is too early. There aren't any good TV programs on at this time. He should be enjoying his dream right now. This is a weekend - he should be allowed to sleep in!

"I know why you've been ignoring me lately," says Wriggle. She seems to be pouting. That is never a good sign.

"And why is that?" he replies lazily. He tries to stifle a yawn, but fails miserably.

"T-that's because you already have a girlfriend!" she shouts. Pretending to cry, she continues, "S-so mean. And I was saving myself especially for you."

"W-what? Don't say things that will cause misunderstandings!" he cries.

Wriggle giggles as she steps playfully towards the door.

"Anyway, your 'girlfriend' is waiting downstairs for you," she says as she leaves. "Big sister is nice, isn't she? You shouldn't keep her waiting."

"Yeah, tell her I'll be down in a few," he mutters. Why the heck would that girl be visiting now? And for the record, they aren't a couple. He just got caught up in something troublesome. But then again, that isn't any surprise to him. When that girl is involved, strange and unusual things always happen.

Suddenly, Wriggle pokes her head back inside.

"Just remember," she whispers seductively. "You can always come to me after she dumps you. You will always be my favorite~"

"G-get out of here!" he cries out.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Sharpen your perception. Think out of the box.
[X] Yukari

---

"Scarlet Sign, 「Red-Haired Dutch Dolls」" cries Alice. Several dolls begin appearing before the Puppeteer. Their eyes glare at him ominously.

Grimnír shudders as he watches the dolls raise their arms toward him. For a moment, each of their miniature hands start glowing like candles. Then, dozens of energy bolts begin flying in his direction. He wonders idly how something so beautiful could be so dangerous.

He blinks. This isn't time to get distracted. If those hit him, he is going to end up in a body bag (hopefully Dr. Yagokoro won't experiment on his corpse in the name of science). Focus your mind. Sharpen your perception. Think out of the box.

"Oh yeah!" he mutters aloud. He almost forgot that he had this option. Carefully, Grimnír pulls out a spell card from his robes. Instinctively, he knows what to do next.

"Logos Sign, 「Calculated Risk」" he cries aloud.

Time slows down before his eyes. The shots slow down to a crawl as they make their way toward him. The dolls move at a snail's pace back and forth. Alice doesn't even look like she is moving at all.

He blinks. Slowly, he analyzes the direction and angle of the dolls and the shots they are firing. He gasps as he realizes that he can see it. The different possible angles of attack are becoming visible to his mind. The pattern of the spell card isn't difficult. Carefully, he inscribes this knowledge and insight into his mind.

Grimnír tries to raise his arms, but finds that he can barely move. Then, he understands. The spell card only reveals patterns and improves his analysis. The world isn't slowing down, it is his own mind that is thinking at a greatly improved pace. The different possibilities are running through his brain more quickly than he can move. However, his own abilities aren't actually enhanced.

The spell card won't last much longer. He closes his eyes and quickly calculates the most likely locations of the energy bolts in the next few minutes. He can almost grasp the essence of the algorithm that her spell card uses. Carefully, he comes up with a plan to survive the attack.

The spell card trance breaks. It is time to put the plan into action.

Grimnír weaves in and out of the attacks seamlessly. He does not even bother putting up a barrier. His strength is limited, but he manages to dodge each of Alice's attacks. The pattern is clear. There is no way that she can hit him now.

"Is this all you can do, dollmaker of the forest?" cries Grimnír. He can't resist showing off. The tables have turned.

"W-what? H-how are you dodging my attacks?" says Alice. She doesn't slow down her offensive, but none of the bolts are landing.

"Spell card patterns are easy, ~ze!" he replies mockingly. "My staff not even drop!"

Alice looks at him thoughtfully. She smiles at him, clearly impressed.

"Very good! Much better than I expected!" she says. "Let's see if you can handle this, then.."

The magician pauses to chant her spell.

"White Sign, 「Chalk-White Russian Dolls」" she cries out.

Suddenly, the air is filled with energy bolts. Even if he can see the basis of the pattern, this looks grim. There are too many. He can't escape this. He is going to die.

No, there must be another way! Think. There is always another path. Focus. There are countless possibilities in this world. Analyze. The solutions are endless.

"..."

Grimnír pauses as he remembers the first time he used magic. When he was attacked by fairies, he used a unique skill to drive them off. It was a powerful, dangerous spell that he did not fully understand. To him, it seemed that it was an extremely primordial class of magic. A power that was the basis of magic, and perhaps the world itself.

He raises his head and calmly watches the hundreds of bolts flying toward him. Sighing, he resigns himself to this foolishness. He isn't supposed to use this here. He isn't supposed to use this yet. It is too early.

But now, he has no choice.

"Endless, 「The Unravelling」" cries Grimnír.

The space between Alice and himself blurs violently, transforming into an indescribable miasma of color and shape. Then, it begins to collapse into itself, swallowing up the energy bolts, the trees, part of the ground, and several of Alice's dolls. A deep, unearthly rumble spreads from its center, but the ground is not the only thing that shakes. He feels the very fabric of reality ripple with the force of the magic.

By the time he completes the spell, the space between himself and the magician has completely vanished. There is no trace of any battle, as if all was devoured by the void. Nothing lies between them.

Alice looks at him with mouth agape. She holds a spell card limply in her left hand. Her battle aura has vanished, and she looks completely shocked.

Grimnír's vision blurs. He loses control of his body and begins plummeting to the ground. Alice shouts something, but he doesn't understand. This is his limit.

All turns to black.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Stand your ground and form a barrier. This is part of the training

---

Another shower of energy blasts approaches Grimnir. He pours more of his own strength into his barrier as it approaches. He shudders at the impact, but he doesn't get knocked down. Panting heavily, he prepares himself for the next attack.

"T-that was close," he mutters to himself. Individually, the bolts are not much more powerful than the ones she used earlier, but coming at him all together at once, he can barely defend himself.

But this is still part of his training. He is sure that he will become stronger if he follows the magician's instructions. This most certainly isn't a waste of time, and even if he ends up injured, Dr. Yagokoro can probably patch him up. He can trust Alice, can't he? She isn't stupid or crazy enough to really hurt him...

The next barrage of energy pushes him back several feet. He can feel his stamina being drained. His barrier is growing steadily weaker, and he is starting to have difficulty hovering. She should be stopping her attacks soon, shouldn't she?

Grimnir takes a peek at the magician. Unfortunately, her spell card trance isn't complete yet. But that isn't what worries him. He notices something else. Alice is smiling.

"Oh shit," he mutters.

The dollmaker seems to be getting carried away. While such confidence is a new and refreshing change for her, he can't help but start to worry about the situation. She is moving from side to side as she attacks, as if this was an actual spell card duel. Has she forgotten that this is only training? He most certainly has no chance against her in a real battle.

Grimnir looks around. Eientei is pretty far from this part of the Bamboo Forest, and there is no one else in sight. It would be pointless to call for help.

He braces himself for the next attack. This time, the shower of energy pushes him down hard. The barrier is starting to make unusual popping noises. That can't be good. He needs to put more power into the barrier. If he can only-

Grimnir cries out in pain. One of the energy bolts breaks through the barrier and hits him solidly on the shoulder. The pain is excruciating, and he can smell burnt flesh. If that hit his head, he would probably be dead by now.

He back at Alice. Thankfully, her spell card trance seems to be over. Maybe he can talk to her now.

"Hey Alice!" cries Grimnir. "Can you hear me?"

Alice looks down at him. He stares back with mouth agape. So beautiful. He has never seen the timid dollmaker like this. Confidence and strength seems to radiate from her like the soft warmth of the sun. She weaves such power so elegantly and with grace. He is filled with awe at the girl.

"I'm impressed," says Alice. "Even in Gensokyo, there aren't many humans who can defend against my whole spell card. And you were able to do so without dodging the attacks."

"I-I try my best," he mumbles. "At the very least, I don't want to be a burden to anyone."

Her smile widens.

"A burden? I certainly doubt that," she says. "At the rate you are learning, you will soon be capable of far greater things. I look forward to the day when I can duel you without holding back."

She was holding back?

"Ahahaha," he says weakly. "Can we take a break for a bit? That took a lot out of me."

Alice stops smiling.

"Don't you dare try to escape from this! I won't be satisfied until I see your true limit," returns the dollmaker.

She pulls out another spell card from her dress.

"W-what the hell?" cries Grimnir. "Are you insane?"

Alice ignores him as she begins chanting. Grimnir is completely exhausted. He can barely keep himself a few feet above the ground. If this next attack hits, he is likely to be killed instantly. He doesn't even have enough strength to flee.

This situation is just as hopeless as before. But he didn't die that time, and he won't die now. Slowly, he remembers the magician's words.

"Something you can hold on to and believe in," he recalls.

His magic...
[ ] Form the strongest barrier. You must show your resolve.
[ ] Try to attack her somehow. Maybe you can interrupt her trance.
[ ] Sharpen your perception. Think out of the box.

His anchor...
[ ] Alice
[ ] Marisa
[ ] Yukari

Loading User Commands:
[X] Master defensive magic (earth element)

---

"Pretty impressive," cries Alice. "I didn't think you could block that many."

"I had a good teacher," returns Grimnír. "I suppose I also did some extra training."

"Extra training?" she asks. Alice launches several more blue energy bolts at his direction.

"Maintaining a barrier while fleeing from crazed fairies should count for something," he replies. Grimnír raises his hand to block the attacks with his barrier. Unlike before, he doesn't get easily exhausted.

"W-what?" Alice says. She stops her attacks abruptly. "You didn't mention that earlier. You could have been killed! Why didn't you say anything?"

Grimnír pauses and looks at her thoughtfully. Eirin said that the dollmaker rarely worried about anyone other than Marisa, but he can't help but see this person as a kind and gentle girl. Perhaps she is simply misunderstood.

"I didn't want you to get worried," he returns. "If I mentioned it earlier, would you continue with our training?"

Alice folds her arms and frowns at him disapprovingly.

"Of course not!" she cries. "You should be resting!"

"Yet her I am, blocking your attacks with ease," replies Grimnír with a smirk. "I'm not as weak as you all think. Besides, the folks from Hakugyokurou arrived in time to drive off those fairies."

"Ah, that's good then," says Alice as she sighs in relief. "I was worried when you insisted on heading there alone."

An awkward moment of silence passes between them.

"Shall we continue with our training?" he asks. "Or perhaps, this is all you can do?"

"Eh? Is that a challenge?" returns Alice. "Do you really think it wise to challenge me?"

"Don't misunderstand it. I just thought you might be getting bored with this. You seem to be taking it easy on me," he says.

"Grimnír the Grey, do not think you can stand on equal grounds with this Puppeteer," says Alice. "Your power is only 14.2857% of my own."

The dollmaker looks at him with a confident smile upon her face. She pulls out something from a dress. Grimnír shudders as he recognizes the item. That thing is a spell card, isn't it? Is this girl serious?

"But since you insist, let's make this a bit more interesting," says Alice.

"W-wait! That isn't what I meant!" cries Grimnír.

"Oh? But this will make this training much more fun," Alice says. "Don't worry too much. I'm sure that Eirin can patch you up in case of accidents. We are pretty close to the best clinic in Gensokyo, after all."

The way Alice is smiling, he doesn't like this situation at all. She really looks like she is enjoying this. Does she like fighting? He needs to think of a way to change the subject. Or perhaps he can apologize or distract her somehow. Anyway, he can't just -

"Blue Sign, 「Benevolent French Dolls」" cries the dollmaker. Did she just declare a spell card?

Oh shi-
[ ] Stand your ground and form a barrier. This is part of the training.
[ ] Try to dodge the shots. You can't possibly block them all.
[ ] Fly away from Alice. This isn't funny anymore.
[ ] Attempt to counterattack. This girl is dangerous.
[ ] Use the spell card. It reads, "Logos Sign, 「Calculated Risk」"
[ ] Eat one of the mushrooms. Maybe something will happen?
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Head to the dining room. Alice might be worried.

---

"I think I'll head to the dining room," says Grimnír. "I haven't had lunch yet, and Alice might be worried."

"She certainly seemed so when she asked about you earlier," says Eirin. "The doll-maker rarely gets concerned about anyone other than Marisa."

She gives him an enigmatic smile.

"You must be something special," she whispers.

...

On the way to the dining room, Grimnír feels like he is being watched, but he pays it no mind. He remembers that Eientei is populated by a number of rabbits, and while they are part of the mansion staff, they are generally skittish and avoid contact with visitors and patients.

The leader of the rabbits is supposed to be a bit less shy, but he hasn't had the chance to meet the person. What was the leader's name? It was Terry, wasn't it? In any case, the leader must be preoccupied with something more important, like organizing the defenses or training the new recruits. Or perhaps she is far too busy trying to harass or molest another person in the mansion. Wait, where did that come from? He isn't even sure if the leader is a girl.

Grimnír walks cautiously, but it looks like he isn't going to have another random encounter out in the hallways this time. He soon finds himself in the dining room. Alice and Reisen are almost finished eating. There is a single place to sit beside Alice.

"I'm back," he says. "Looks like I barely made it for lunch."

Alice looks up and smiles gently at him. Without warning, something soft hugs his face tightly. He recognizes the sensation immediately.

"I missed you too, Shanghai," he says.

"Ah! Come back here," says Alice. "Don't give him a difficult time."

Shanghai let's go of his face immediately, but she hovers just a few inches in front of him. The doll gives him a bright and cheery smile as she bows. He can't help but admire this doll. Even its facial expressions are incredibly lifelike.

"It's alright," says Grimnír. "I don't mind it at all."

Hearing this, Shanghai stretches her arms and does a little somersault in the air. After flying around the room a little bit, she finally settles down on his shoulder. Shanghai closes her eyes and giggles silently as he begins to stroke her hair.

"I-I suppose that its fine then," Alice says. "Anyway, would you like to have something to eat?"

"I'm sorry if it isn't to your liking," mumbles Reisen. "I only know a few dishes."

"What are you saying?" counters Alice. "Your cooking is wonderful. You should have more confidence in yourself."

"T-Thanks," the bunny mutters, turning a bit pink.

"If Alice says that it's good, then I won't hesitate to gorge myself, if you don't mind," he adds.

...

During the meal (which was wonderful indeed, he notes), Grimnír immediately updated the two about his progress. Personally, he feels like he wasted a lot of time. But to his surprise, both Alice and Reisen were visibly impressed when he told them that he was given one of Yukari's calling cards.

"Maybe we can get her help after all," Alice says thoughtfully. "I wouldn't hope for too much, though."

"Is it really that big of a deal?" asks Grimnír.

"O-of course it is!" says Reisen. "Yukari rarely makes it this easy to meet her. Most of the time, she'll just watch quietly as you run around in circles trying to find her."

"I see," Grimnír says. "So how were things on your end?"

Reisen explains their trip to the Forest of Magic. Thankfully, they didn't encounter anything dangerous. They were able to gather the herbs pretty quickly, so they returned to Eientei to report to Dr. Yagokoro. Eirin said that she needs a few hours to process the materials into something usable.

"I think you two can take a break for a bit," Reisen says. "We can't do much until master Eiren finishes the elixir. Depending on the results, we might have an idea on what we can do for a permanent cure."

"A break?" returns Alice. "I believe that there are better things we can do. Right, Grimnír?"

"Huh?" he says. "Sorry, I believe that you just lost me."

Alice smiles at him gently.

"We aren't finished with your training."

They have time for one topic, probably.
[ ] Master defensive magic (earth element)
[ ] Train offensive magic (fire element)
[ ] Train utility magic (water element)
[ ] Train _____ magic.
[ ] Refuse her training. You have something else to do. (Specify)

Loading User Commands:
[X] Head straight to Dr. Yagokoro's clinic. You should check on Marisa's condition.

---

"Back already?" says Eirin. "You returned far earlier than I expected."

The Lunarian doctor turns to Grimnír and crosses her legs suggestively. She has a sly smile on her face as she takes a better look at him and his new companion.

"Ran into a dead end? Or did you get a little side-tracked?" she asks. Wriggle shuffles her feet nervously.

"Yes and no, to both questions," Grimnír replies. "But first, how is Marisa faring?"

"There isn't any improvement in her condition," she says. "However, there is some good news."

"Please go on," he says.

"Alice and Reisen returned just a few minutes ago. They brought back the things I need to create an elixir. It should slow down the reaction."

Grimnír sighs in relief. At least they have bought a bit more time to look for a cure. Half a day isn't nearly enough time to search for a way to save Marisa.

"Don't relax just yet," Eirin says. "I can only guarantee extending her life by an additional one or two days, at most."

"I understand," he replies.

"So, were you able to meet Yukari?" asks the Lunarian.

Grimnír shakes his head.

"No, I haven't," he returns. "However, Ms. Saigyouji gave me one of Yukari's calling cards. She said that Yukari will be able to find me if I hold on to it."

The doctor's eyes widen slightly. Eirin looks at him carefully, as if observing his insides. A whole minute passes in silence as the Lunarian completes her silent examination. Somehow, he could sense her reaching deep inside him, even probing his mind a little bit. He feels pretty uneasy.

"I see," she says. "That is unusual."

Eirin drops the subject abruptly, turning to Wriggle.

"Next question," she says. "Did this bug give you trouble? Or perhaps you are the one troubling her? I do hope you aren't one of those strange guys who are obsessed with youkai girls."

"W-what?" cries Wriggle, her face red like a beet. "No way! I was just helping this guy out, since he looked so weak and pitiful! D-don't misunderstand!"

While he appreciates how the firefly girl is doing her best to prevent any misunderstanding, Grimnír feels a bit hurt from her words. First Chen, and now Wriggle - did he really look that weak? Honestly, compared to all these powerful beings, he feels pretty small. But surely, he can still do something to help.

"She is a witness," Grimnír says. "She saw how Marisa got injured."

"Hmm," Eirin says. "May I borrow her for a moment, then? I'd like to ask a few questions."

Wriggle glances at him nervously, but she gives him a slight nod.

"I-I guess I can tell you what I know," the firefly girl says.

"Please come with me to my office," says the Lunarian.

Eirin pauses to turn to Grimnír.

"This might take a while, and it can get pretty technical," she says. "Why don't you show yourself to Alice? She was asking about you earlier. Or perhaps you'd prefer to stay here to watch over Marisa?"

She smiles mysteriously.

"Then again, you look a bit tired. Why don't you rest in one of the guest rooms? A nap and a good dream can do wonders."

Grimnír pauses.
[ ] Follow them into Eirin's office. Wriggle looks a little nervous.
[ ] Head to the dining room. Alice might be worried.
[ ] Stay in the clinic. Marisa shouldn't be alone.
[ ] Rest in a guest room. No harm in following the doctor's advice.
[ ] Custom

Loading:
[X] Talk about the Trident Lunatic.
[X] Custom

---

"Hey Wriggle," Grimnír says. "What do you know about the Trident Lunatic?"

"E-eh?" stammers Wriggle. She seems to be spacing out.

"You mentioned that you've seen him a few times before," he says. "Did you encounter him before we met?"

"Ah! Y-yeah, I did!" Wriggle says suddenly. "I don't remember exactly when, but he arrived at the Forest of Magic some time ago. I heard that he was a hermit of some sort, and he preferred to stay away from everyone. He kept wandering around, but he never bothered us, so we just ignored him."

"Hmm," mutters Grimnír.

"That's why I was surprised when Keine came into the forest asking about him," Wriggle continues. "She said that he was attacking travellers passing through the Forest of Magic. We didn't mind her much at first, since it wasn't our problem. Maybe some stupid human just got him angry. They fight over the strangest things."

"Sad, but true," he comments. "Humans can be very foolish."

"That's why I was surprised when he just jumped out and attacked me yesterday," Wriggle says.

"But he didn't hurt you that much, did he?" he asks.

"N-no! It was weird. After beating me, he just left suddenly," says Wriggle. "Then you arrived."

"I see," Grimnír says. "Do you have any suggestions on how to defeat him?"

Wriggle shakes her head.

"Now that I think about it, that guy is ridiculously powerful. He defeated Marisa so quickly, and he didn't even look tired after the battle. I'm not sure what we can do against that kind of strength."

A few minutes pass in silence. Seems like Marisa's attacker will be difficult to subdue. They need to form a good plan. Maybe Dr. Yagokoro and the others can give them more ideas.

Unexpectedly, Wriggle turns to him and smiles.

"Hey Grim," she whispers, "Thanks for stopping me earlier."

"D-don't mention it," replies Grimnír, quickly turning away. Wriggle's smile is breathtaking. He can't stand to look at such a cute sight for much longer. For some reason, the firefly girl looks extraordinarily attractive, and it takes all of his self-control to stop himself from just grabbing her in mid-air and holding the firefly girl against him in a tight embrace. She even smells nice.

Focus. This isn't time for such things.

They are going to arrive at Eientei pretty soon.
[ ] Head straight to Dr. Yagokoro's clinic. You should check on Marisa's condition.
[ ] Go to the dining room. You noticed it this morning.
[ ] Find an empty room somewhere. You can have a private chat with Wriggle.
[ ] Wander around aimlessly. You didn't have time to explore earlier.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Head back to Eientei.
[X] Insist that she come with you.

---

"Wait," cries Grimnír.

"Hmm?" says Yuyuko.

"Why are you helping us?" he asks.

"Why? That is a good question," she says. "I wonder why~"

She smiles cheerfully at him.

"Yukari-chan is a good friend of mine," says the ghost princess. "Let's just say that I am doing her a little favor."

"Huh? I don't get it,' returns Grimnír.

"Just be nice to her, alright? I'll get really angry if you make her cry," she says.

Without warning, he senses an immense amount of energy radiating from the princess of ghosts. Before he could react, that dark, powerful aura simply vanished, leaving an innocently smiling Yuyuko staring curiously at his surprise. It must have been just a moment, but it made his neck hairs stand on end.

"O-of course," he mumbles.

"Now, I must ask you an important question," says Yuyuko with a most solemn expression upon her face. "Will you be joining us for lunch?"

"Err... that is to say..." says Grimnír.

"You have some urgent business to attend to?" suggests Yuyuko. "That's too bad."

She smiles at them gently.

"Why don't you visit us sometime? Feel free to bring friends. We always appreciate the company."

"T-thanks," he says gratefully.

...

Wriggle didn't argue when he asked her to come with him. Perhaps she was still confused, or maybe she had no idea what to do next. In any case, he believed that it would be safer to travel together.

Thankfully, they haven't met any trouble on the way back. However, Wriggle has been completely silent ever since they left Hakugyokurou. They still have several minutes before they arrive at the Eientei.

He probably has time to talk to the firefly girl about one or two things.
[ ] Talk about magic.
[ ] Talk about insects.
[ ] Talk about spell cards.
[ ] Talk about herself.
[ ] Talk about Marisa.
[ ] Talk about Alice.
[ ] Talk about Yukari.
[ ] Talk about the Trident Lunatic.
[ ] Talk about Eientei.
[ ] Talk about the Human Village.
[ ] Custom

Both Grimnír and Wriggle turn to face the newcomer. Yuyuko Saigyouji is standing just a few feet to his left. When did she come inside? How did she come inside? And how long had she been listening?

Yuyuko smiles brightly at their confusion, clearly amused. Before he can say anything, she pulls out a small card from inside her dress (does that thing even have pockets?). She quickly hands it to Grimnír with a smile. About the size of a standard calling card, the item is completely unmarked except for a single name written on one side.

"Yukari Yakumo," Grimnír reads aloud.

"Yukari-chan is a very busy person," Yuyuko explains. "Even if you find a way into Mayohiga, she probably won't be there."

"How did you -"

Yuyuko raises her hand to silence him.

"However, if you hold on to that thing for a bit," she says. "She will find you soon enough."

What? Who is this person? Where did she get such a thing? When did she find out his purpose here? Why is she helping him? So many questions. Grimnír's head spins as he tries to analyze her motives. By the time he recovers, Yuyuko is already about to leave, carrying his tray with her.

"No need to thank me," she says without looking back.

"Wait," he cries.

He needs to...
[ ] Head back to Eientei.
[ ] Head to the Forest of Magic.
[ ] Have lunch at Hakugyokurou.
[ ] Custom

Wriggle is still in shock from the sudden turn of events.
[ ] She can take care of herself.
[ ] Insist that she come with you.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Strengthen your barrier and block the door. You can't let her fly off.
[X] Custom

---

"I said, get out of my way!" cries Wriggle.

Grimnír pauses. If he lets the firefly girl leave now, she is probably going to do something stupid, dangerous, or both. While he has no special liking for youkai girls, he can't just let her fly off to her doom.

He quickly completes chanting his barrier spell, strengthening it up to full power. This might not be enough completely deflect her blasts, but it will slow her down, at the very least. After making sure the barrier is prepared, he steps in front of the door, blocking Wriggle's path.

"What are you doing?" she asks.

"I can't let you fly off and get yourself killed," answers Grimnír.

"I-I don't want to hurt you," returns Wriggle. "But don't think I won't do it!"

Grimnír takes a step toward the firefly girl. She trembles slightly at his approach.

"Just so you know," he starts. "Marisa is dying."

"W-what?" she says. Her eyes widen in surprise.

"I just came from Eientei. Dr. Yagokoro says that she will be dead by the end of the day if nothing is done. She has never seen that kind of injury before. That man can probably do the same to any of us, even to beings that aren't human."

"H-how?" mumbles Wriggle. The energy between her hands is beginning to dissipate into the air harmlessly.

"We don't know," says Grimnír. "Alice and Reisen are collecting some herbs in the hope that Eirin can create something to buy Marisa more time. I came here to search for Yukari Yakumo. Even if she doesn't understand what is happening, the gap youkai might know of other ways to help Marisa."

Wriggle's antennae droop slightly, though she glares back at him with defiance.

"B-but you don't know for sure!" she counters. "The gap youkai rarely helps others."

"No, I don't," admits Grimnír. "But I am sure that this is a better choice than going off alone without a plan."

Wriggle lowers her arms and lowers her eyes in despair.

"Your friends would not want you to die for nothing," he adds.

The silence that follows is deafening. Wriggle lowers her head and stares down at the ground quietly. He can't see the expression on her face. Just to be sure, he keeps his barrier up.

"So this is what you were up to~"

Loading User Commands:
[X] Tell her that they will need extra help. He needs to contact Yukari.
[X] Try to calm her down with words.

---

"This person you are talking about," Grimnír starts. "Is he that Trident Lunatic attacking travellers?"

"Keine and the villagers call him that," says Wriggle.

"And you are telling me that this person defeated Marisa single-handedly?" he says.

"He didn't answer Marisa's challenge for a spell card duel," Wriggle answers. "He just started attacking as soon as she got too close."

"This is the same person who beat you the first time we met?" asks Grimnír.

"Y-yes," she says, looking away. "He was ridiculously powerful, and he didn't fight fairly."

"I see," replies Grimnír. "Then, may I ask you a simple question?"

Wriggle nods slowly, though she still looks confused.

"If you can't beat him, and Marisa can't beat him, what makes you think that this guy can be beaten with only the two of us? Just so you know, I may be a magician, but my skills are nowhere close to that of Marisa."

The firefly girl looks down despondently, but she stays silent.

"For something like this, we will need some extra help," says Grimnír. "It just so happens that I am currently searching for a way to contact Yukari Yakumo."

"W-what? The gap youkai?" Wriggle asks disbelievingly.

"Yes. I believe that she is more than capable for resolving both of our problems."

"..."

"All we need to do is convince Yuyuko to give us a way to talk to Yukari. Hopefully, we can get her help to resolve this incident. So, why don't you just calm down and -"

"Shut up!" she whispers fiercely.

Grimnír takes a step back in surprise. Her reaction caught him off-guard.

"W-what?" he mumbles.

"I said shut up, you big idiot!" cries the firefly girl. "You're all the same! None of you understand!"

Without warning, Wriggle raises her hand and fires a bright yellow energy ball at him. Grimnír barely has time to raise a barrier to block the shot.

"Hey! No need to be violent!" he argues.

"You all talk and talk about your plans and schemes," says Wriggle. "You calmly sip your tea and discuss incidents like they are part of everyday gossip."

She fires another bolt at him. Grimnír cringes at the impact.

"I-I thought you were different," whispers Wriggle.

She looks up at him, tears flowing freely from her eyes.

"My friends are dying!" she cries. "I will not stand here and watch, while you discuss it over lunch party!"

"J-just listen for a second," says Grimnír.

"Shut up!" shouts Wriggle. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"

He raises both of her hands toward him, gathering energy from the air. In seconds, the room glows bright yellow with the light in her hands. If she launches a full barrage at close range, it will definitely tear this room (and possibly him) apart.

"W-wait! Try to be reasonable!" cries Grimnír desperately.

"Get out," she whispers. "I'll save my friends alone, if I have to."

"What?" he says.

"Get out of my way," says Wriggle. "You damn... human."

She looks serious. He has time to try one or two things.
[ ] Let her do what she wants. No need to get involved any further.
[ ] Strengthen your barrier and block the door. You can't let her fly off.
[ ] Attempt to counterattack. You can probably try Fire element magic.
[ ] Try declaring the spell card. It reads, "Logos Sign, 「Calculated Risk」"
[ ] Use _____ magic. You have to stop her.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Find someplace they can talk in private.

---

Grimnír looks thoughtfully at the youkai girl. How did she find him? Why didn't she ask someone else for help? Why is she hiding from the others in Hakugyokurou? Everything about this situation smells like trouble, and he has enough on his hands right now. The logical, practical and reliable part of his mind is telling him to refuse. He can't let himself get involved in this. He needs to stay focused and find Yukari.

"Please, can you come? I can't do this alone," cries Wriggle.

She clamps her hands together as if praying, and looks up at him with her shimmering blue-green eyes, which, upon closer observation, seem to be slightly damp, as if she had been crying.

He sighs, wishing he could plant his palm on his face, hard, several times. How can he refuse her? Once again, he resigns himself on doing something completely stupid.

"Alright, I'll hear what you have to say," says Grimnír, not looking her in the eye.

"T-Thanks! We should hurry and -"

Grimnír raises his hand to cut her off.

"We can't talk here," he says. "Let's find a room where we can speak in private."

For a moment, Wriggle looks like she is going to argue, but in the end, she simply nods and follows him obediently. They easily find an empty room, since the place is pretty huge. Grimnír places his tray on a nearby table before turning to Wriggle.

"So, what's bugging you?" he starts.

"What's that supposed to mean?" cries Wriggle. "I resent that!"

"What?" stammers Grimnír.

"Don't look down on us bugs! We have feelings too, you know? Hmph!"

"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings," he replies.

"Yeah, I'm sure you didn't. You humans just push us around and step on us like we don't exist!" returns Wriggle.

"I'm sorry," he says.

"I, for one, take pride in being a bug, and I refuse to stand while some human insults -"

Wriggle stops abruptly, blinking at him in surprise.

"W-what did you say?" says Wriggle, slowly and carefully.

"I said," he replies. "That I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you or your kin."

Wriggle shuffles around uneasily.

"T-that's alright then," she mutters. "You're alright."

Grimnír nods patiently at the youkai girl. While a discussion of bug rights and their history of persecution might be mildly interesting, they do have some other business that they need to talk about. After Wriggle composes herself, she turns to him, her face a picture of worry.

"Something's wrong with them," she says. "No matter what I say or do, they just won't listen to me any more! Some of them even started attacking travellers, and there was a whole bunch that just flew off somewhere! Something must be driving them all mad!"

"Slow down," interrupts Grimnír. "First of all, who are 'they'?"

Wriggle stamps a foot hard on the floor.

"The bugs of the forest, of course! Who else do you think I was talking about?"

Oh wow. This is just great. He can't say he is surprised. All this panic for a bunch of bugs. He doesn't have time for this. He needs to think of an excuse to get rid of this girl. A sharp prod at his side interrupts his line of thought.

"W-what?" he stammers, rubbing his side. It hurt quite a bit.

"Hey, are you listening? Like I said, I think that it's being caused by that crazy trident guy wandering the forest. Even the black-white agreed when I told her about it this morning," says Wriggle.

"Wait, you mean Marisa?" Grimnír asks.

"Yeah, the reckless black-white. She said that she could take care of it herself, but she was easily beaten. That nut even drove his spear through her chest! I was surprised that she survived at all! It was lucky that Eientei wasn't too far away."

"That guy hurt Marisa?" he repeats hollowly.

"I was hiding when I saw how strong the guy was, but I think that's what happened. The black-white should be fine though, since that moon bunny girl found her."

No, Marisa isn't fine. If nothing is done, she is going to be erased, permanently.

"A-anyway, could you help me fight that trident guy? I think we can bring him down if we both attack together. You're a magician, after all, so we shouldn't have trouble."

Trident Lunatic, was it? If he could defeat and injure Marisa so easily, they don't stand a chance! Wriggle must think that all magicians are as powerful as Marisa or Alice. Maybe he should have told her that he is just an apprentice.

"Please," whispers Wriggle as she looks up at him desperately.

His decision...
[ ] Offer to fight alongside her right now. He is a magician, after all.
[ ] Suggest gathering allies before going. Alice and Reisen must be somewhere in the Forest of Magic.
[ ] Tell her that they will need extra help. He needs to contact Yukari.
[ ] Refuse to get involved.
[ ] Custom

Wriggle looks pretty emotional right now. She might just run off...
[ ] She can take care of herself.
[ ] Try to calm her down with words.
[ ] Block her path if she tries something reckless.
[ ] Don't let her leave this place alone, even if you have to fight.
[ ] Custom