Loading User Commands:
[X] Head to the library.

---

Grimnír looks upon the place with wonder and awe. All around him are shelves stacked full of books. The rows of shelves extend farther than the eye can see, seemingly indefinitely. Thousands of books? Tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? There must be enough reading material here to keep a person occupied for several lifetimes. Before he can stop himself, he walks to the nearest shelf, examining its contents. While most of the books seem to be written in languages he can't yet recognize, he spots a few titles in English. He quickly pulls out a heavy grimoire that catches his eye.

"You can read those later," says Alice firmly. "We have more urgent business at the moment."

"A-ah, sorry about that," replies Grimnír as he immediately replaces the book. "What is this place?"

"This is the Voile Library," says the dollmaker. "All of these books belong to an acquaintance of mine who lives here. It is one of the largest collections of books known to exist in Gensokyo."

"Strange," he comments. "From the outside, I wouldn't think that a massive library like this could fit in the building."

"Space manipulation magic," replies Alice. "I'm not exactly sure how it works, but the residents use it all over the mansion. Anyway, we should head deeper inside. Patchouli should be at her usual spot."

For the next twenty minutes, they walk along the shelves, taking a turn every once in a while. Before he knows it, Grimnír loses his bearings as they go through the labyrinthine library. Fortunately, Alice seems to know her way as she continues forward. Is she using some kind of pathfinding magic? Or perhaps she has been here several times before, and has learned her way around?

"This Patchouli," he says. "What kind of person is she?"

"She is a magician who prefers to stay indoors," says Alice. "Her specialty is the manipulation and control of the elements. She knows powerful spells, but she rarely steps outside."

"Will she help us?" he asks.

"I don't know," she replies. "But at the very least, I don't think she will attack us without reason."

"..."

"And there she is," says Alice.

Almost hidden by several stacks of books, a frail-looking girl sits by a large reading desk. She has long lavender hair with several ribbons tied upon them. Her dress is pink and lacey, and on her head is a soft cap with a crescent ornament on it. The girl's deep purple eyes move from left to right in a steady rhythm as she reads a large tome.

"Ah!" cries a new voice.

They turn to see a strange, red-haired girl approaching them from between the shelves. Nothing is unusual about her deep red eyes and the large stack of books she is carrying in her arms. Even the cute little pair of bat-wings upon her back doesn't surprise Grimnír. However, the girl has a second pair of wings attached to her head. If they weren't flapping nervously, he would have thought they were a hair accessory of some sort.

To his surprise, Alice simply ignores the girl and starts walking toward the pink and purple magician. She doesn't wait for him to follow, and before he realizes it, he finds himself alone with the bat-winged girl.

"W-well..." mutters the girl uneasily. She turns to him with a puzzled expression.

Grimnír pauses to think.
[ ] Ignore the girl and quickly follow after Alice.
[ ] Introduce yourself to the red-haired girl.
[ ] Apologize for your sudden intrusion.
[ ] Offer to help her carry the books.
[ ] Ask for her name.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Land beside the gateguard. Try to learn more about what happened here.
[X] Request an audience with Remilia.

---

"A-Ah! Miss Alice?" cries the gate guard in surprise. "And that other one is..."

"A friend of mine," says Alice. "What happened here?"

"Oh, it was terrible!" says the gate guard. "Even with everyone helping, it took a really long time!"

"Did the little sister escape again?" asks Alice.

"No! It wasn't like that! In fact -"

Suddenly, she stops and covers her mouth with her hands. The gate guard shakes her head nervously and quickly glances around, as if looking out for someone. After a moment, she sighs in relief. Then, she gives them a forced smile as she recovers her composure.

"What's wrong?" asks Alice. "What caused this?"

"A-Ah, this?" mumbles the gate guard. "No, there is nothing to see here! This is just general cleaning! Sakuya left me in charge of watching over it!"

"But you just said that it was something terrible."

"N-No! I mean that it's terrible that we chose to do renovation and repairs today. It looks like it might rain, after all. Ha ha ha..."

"The front gate was ripped from its hinges..."

"It was? I-It must have rusted off in the rain. Yeah, I think that it was overdue for replacement anyway."

"..."

The gate guard seems to be trying to hide something, but she is doing a pretty lousy job of it. Alice frowns at her and taps her foot impatiently.

"E-er," says the gate guard, suddenly turning her attention to Grimnír. "Now who is this with you? I don't believe we have met."

"E-Eh?" mumbles Grimnír in surprise. "Well my name is Grimnír, and I'm sort of staying with Alice right now."

"Staying with Alice?" repeats the gate guard.

"He is my apprentice," says Alice firmly, though her cheeks a light pink. "Anyway, you still haven't -"

"Ah, a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Grimnír!" cries the gate guard. "My name is Hong Meiling. I am the gate guard of the Scarlet Devil Mansion."

"You still haven't answered my question," whispers Alice, almost threateningly. "What happened here?"

"Here? The Mansion?" says Meiling nervously. "Ah, you must have come to visit Miss Patchouli! She is in the library as usual. Why don't I escort you two inside and -"

Without warning, Meiling grabs them both by the arm. Partly leading, partly dragging, she quickly brings them toward the front door of the Mansion. The gate guard is surprisingly strong, and neither Alice nor Grimnír manages to pull themselves away.

"W-wait! We need to speak with Remilia!" cries Alice.

"The Mistress?" says Meiling. "No, you shouldn't disturb her right now. She is far too bus- sleep. I mean she is far too asleep to speak with guests. Now come this way please~"

Before they can argue, they find themselves within the entrance hall of the Mansion.

"I believe you know the way to the library, Miss Alice," says Meiling. "Forgive me, but I have much work to do outside, so I'll have to leave you. Good day to you and your friend!"

With a quick bow, the gate guard quickly leaves, closing the front door behind her.

"W-wait!" cries Alice. "Gah!"

"Was that normal?" asks Grimnír. "Her letting us in like that so easily?"

"No, it wasn't," says the dollmaker, clearly still irritated. "She must be hiding something."

"Well, at least she let us inside," he says. "Now what?"

"I know the basic layout of the Mansion," says Alice. "But we should be careful not to get lost. I'd hate to bump into the chief maid like this..."

[ ] Head back outside.
[ ] Head to the library.
[ ] Head to the second floor.
[ ] Head to the dining room.
[ ] Head to the basement.
[ ] Wander around aimlessly.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Leave now.

---

The flight to the Scarlet Devil Mansion was relatively uneventful. There was hardly anything of interest to see on the way there, and even if there were, neither of them felt like speaking. Both Alice and Grimnír stayed silent during the trip, each occupied with their own thoughts.

"..."

Grimnír had many questions in his head. Would the gateguard let them inside? How much information would they have to share with her? Can they possibly bypass her without causing insult to the residents inside? Is it possible to defeat the gateguard with just the two of them? And would there be other threats once inside?

For some reason, Alice never mentioned anything about the other vampire. She kept describing only one vampire named Remilia, who was also known as the Scarlet Devil. He was tempted to ask more, but in the end he stayed silent. Perhaps Alice has her own reasons to keep it out of the discussion.

After a few minutes, they manage to leave the border of the Forest. Grimnír looks curiously down at the large lake below. For some reason, there is a fog forming on the lake and on the area around it. Somehow, the atmosphere feels a bit foreboding.

"There it is," says Alice as she points toward something at a distance. It looks like a large mansion complex.

...

"W-W-What happened here?" whispers Alice.

"The area looks like it has been through hell," replies Grimnír. "Are you sure this is the right place?"

"Yes, this is the Scarlet Devil Mansion, but..."

The dollmaker flies a little ahead, motioning for him to stay behind. As they approach, the devastation becomes clearer. The outer walls have large cracks on them, and the front gate has been completely ripped off its hinges. Uprooted trees lie carelessly around the garden. Several of the mansion windows are broken, and the front door looks badly damaged. Bloodstains can be seen all over the area.

"Now, this is just wonderful," says another voice. "That brat said she had things under control here..."

"Y-Yukari?" cries Grimnír in surprise. Sure enough, he can see the tiny gap youkai peeking out of his new "front pocket". However, she doesn't have her usual mischievous smile on her face.

"Keep your voice down," she replies.

"Do you know what happened here?" whispers Grimnír.

"I have an idea of it," says Yukari. "But I never saw this damage until now. It must have happened only this morning."

"I thought that the Scarlet Devil Mansion was pretty well defended," says Grimnír. "Alice described it like a fortress."

"It is a fortress," replies Yukari. "In any case, be very careful when you get inside. We still have unfinished business, so take care of yourself~"

She gives him one last wink before disappearing back into his robe. Before Grimnír can react, Alice starts motioning for him to follow. He quickly flies beside the magician.

"What do you think?" she says quietly as she points down.

Only a short distance away and above the Mansion, he notices a number of fairies dressed in maid uniforms running about. By the looks of their tools and actions, it seems like they are conducting repairs and cleaning up the damage. Some of the fairies seem to have bandages, as if recently hurt.

Nearby, a girl with long scarlet hair is supervising their work. She is dressed in a green beret and dress that complements the color of her hair. For some strange reason, Grimnír feels like he has seen her before, but he can't remember exactly when...

"We can easily sneak by like this," says Alice. "The gateguard and the maids seem preoccupied. But I'm not sure if we should..."

[ ] Head directly into the Mansion. Go through the front door.
[ ] Head directly into the Mansion. Sneak inside through a window.
[ ] Land beside the gateguard. Request an audience with Remilia.
[ ] Land beside the gateguard. Try to learn more about what happened here.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] A more brilliant plan? (Custom)

---

"Rather then fighting or sneaking inside, why don't we try a more diplomatic approach?"

"Do explain," says Alice.

"We should go there at night," says Grimnír. "Vampires are more active at that time, I believe. It may be in our best interest to speak to them when they aren't irritable or asleep."

He takes a deep breath before continuing.

"This is just a rough idea of what I have in mind," he says. "We should enter through the front gate and try to get the gateguard to let us through. Hopefully, we can get inside without the use of force. Once in, we can ask to meet with the vampires. I don't see any reason to hide our purpose, so we can probably tell them the truth. And we can try to offer something in return. There must be something that we can trade in exchange for the blood sample."

"..."

"What do you think?" says Grimnír. "It won't hurt to try, and we can always find another way if this fails."

Alice pauses for a few minutes, clearly in deep thought. She finishes her grilled lamprey as she thinks. After a drink, she turns back at him with a serious expression upon her face.

"We can try it," she says finally. "In fact, the magician who lives there is an acquaintance of mine. Perhaps she can be of some help."

Grimnír nods encouragingly. It is best that they avoid violence, if at all possible.

"But I don't think we should wait until nightfall," says Alice. "I'm sure that the vampire brat will make an unreasonable request, at best. We will need time to satisfy that request, if at all possible. Time we don't have."

He pauses to think. Time is of the essence.

[ ] Leave now.
[ ] Insist on going at night.
[ ] Pass by Alice's cottage.
[ ] Pass by Kourindou.
[ ] Pass by the Human Village.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Take a break at that red-lantern stand. They need to come up with a plan first.

---

"Here you are~" says the owner. "Two orders of grilled lamprey~"

"Thanks Mystia," replies Alice off-handedly. Shanghai gives the owner a polite bow.

"Enjoy the meal~" says Mystia before she returns to her grill. "Human shall crucify in the darkness~ Human shall crucify in the light too~"

"Don't mind her too much," whispers Alice. "She can be a little bit odd, but she is quite behaved for a forest youkai."

Grimnír nods in agreement. Mystia Lorelei, the owner of this small establishment, has been singing songs ever since they arrived. Her voice is quite enchanting, but the lyrics of her songs vary from slightly strange to outright disturbing. He doesn't mind it much though. It's like enjoying a song in a foreign language - you don't really need to understand all the words.

"Seems like we are the only customers," he comments.

"This place is more popular in the evening," says the magician. "For a variety of reasons. But at least we can talk freely right now."

Alice pauses for a moment, considering her next words.

"I-I'm sorry for earlier," she says, almost in a whisper. "I got carried away that time when I almost attacked that human. I knew he was dangerous, but when I saw the person who hurt Marisa, I just got so angry and -"

"Forget about it," interrupts Grimnír. "No one got hurt, so it's all fine."

"No," says Alice. "No it's not. Eirin was right. Someone could have gotten hurt or killed. I would never forgive myself if something happened to..."

The dollmaker falls silent, not looking him in the eye. After a moment, she takes a bite of her lamprey, though she doesn't seem to be tasting it. He, too, takes a bite. The grilled lamprey is surprisingly tasty. Perhaps this is the reason why this stand is popular with both humans and youkai alike. Odd location for it, though.

"The Scarlet Devil Mansion," says Alice. "Have you heard of it?"

"I only know that vampires live there," replies Grimnír. "Two of them, if I'm not mistaken."

"Yes, there are two of them. Both are very powerful and dangerous. Even I wouldn't want to face them in the middle of the night, especially during the full moon. You and I together would still have a difficulty subduing even one of them, and I doubt if we can catch either vampire alone."

"Do others live in that mansion?" asks Grimnír.

Alice nods grimly.

"Outside, at the entrance, is their elite gateguard. It is possible to defeat that one, but the others in the mansion will surely be alerted with the battle. At the mansion library lives a powerful elemental magician and her familiar. I would rather not involve them in this mess. There is also a large fairy maid staff in the mansion, some of which are specially trained for combat. Individually, we can take them, but they have the strength of numbers. Lastly, there is the chief maid, who only reports to the Scarlet Devil herself. She is extremely loyal, and she will definitely attack us if she suspects foul play."

"That sounds like a lot of opposition," replies Grimnír.

"I'm not sure what we can do," admits Alice. "Do you have any ideas?"

What would you suggest?
[ ] Fight your way through.
[ ] Sneak your way through.
[ ] Talk your way through.
[ ] Ask Yukari for ideas. (This will reveal her presence to Alice)
[ ] A more brilliant plan? (Specify)
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Ask Yukari for advice. She might know something useful.

---

Seems like Reisen and Dr. Yagokoro are arguing about something in the room they just left. For a moment, Grimnír considers eavesdropping on their conversation.

He is sure that they are hiding something from them. Ever since they arrived, Eientei has been oddly empty and deserted. Marisa mentioned that the lunarian mansion-clinic complex has a large rabbit staff with a mischievous leader. Also, a princess from the moon supposedly lives here too, though she is sort of a shut-in. Yet he hasn't seen any others besides Reisen and Dr. Yagokoro.

"..."

Grimnír quickly shakes his head. It isn't his place to decide if something is strange or not, especially in Gensokyo. Even if there was something wrong, it probably isn't anything that the lunarians plan to share with them. He really shouldn't poke around in others' personal affairs when he has quite enough on his own plate already.

He quickly catches up to Alice. Looks like she wants to leave immediately. But still...

"Hey Alice," says Grimnír. "I need to grab a few things from my room. Could I have a few minutes?"

"Move quickly," replies Alice. "I'll wait for you outside."

...

"There are only two vampires known to live in Gensokyo," says Yukari. "Both of them have the usual vampiric traits - supernatural strength, high magical ability, transformation, regeneration, and a thirst for blood. They do have a few weaknesses, such as sunlight and flowing water, but I discourage a direct confrontation with them."

"Why is that?" asks Grimnír.

"Mostly because you can easily end up dead," says Yukari. "And that is completely unacceptable. We haven't even explored the possibilities of your power. I, for one, am quite curious to see what you are truly capable of~"

"I see," he says.

If things get out of hand, he can try using that spell again. Seems like it can easily erase both living and non-living things, so it should work in a fight. It might be dangerous, but it's better than doing nothing.

Suddenly, the miniature Yukari pokes at him with her umbrella to grab his attention.

"Don't even think about it," she whispers. "They aren't ordinary vampires. One of them has the power to manipulate Fate itself, while the other has the ability to destroy practically anything she can get her hands on."

"But you've seen it, haven't you?" replies Grimnír. "My ability should count for something..."

"Not against these two," says Yukari. "You have only started learning to use your power, while they have hundreds of years in experience. They will tear you apart the moment they suspect that you can hurt them."

"Then what should we do, then?" says Grimnír.

Yukari looks up at him with a knowing smile.

"That, little Grim, is the right question..."

...

"Are you ready to go now?" says Alice. "We should hurry."

He gives her a quick nod as he slings the sack behind him.

"Where are we going?" he asks.

"The Scarlet Devil Mansion," she says. "Normally, I would avoid the place, but we don't have much choice. Vampires are quite rare in Gensokyo."

"And the plan?" says Grimnír.

"E-er," mumbles Alice as she hesitates. "I-I don't really have any plan in mind yet, but I'm sure that we can come up with something once we get there."

"You don't sound too confident," notes Grimnír.

"I'm not," admits the magician as she looks away. "I really have no idea how we can pull this off..."

For a moment, Alice turns around and looks up at the sky. She watches the clouds in silence as she thinks. Then, she turns around with a determined look on her face.

"But we have to do it," says Alice. "We have to try."

"Hmm..."

Going directly to the Mansion without a plan might be risky. A short break at that red-lantern stand should give them enough time to discuss and come up with something. Or they can probably pass by the Human Village, though he has no idea what they should look for. They can also try something else...

[ ] Head straight to the Scarlet Devil Mansion. Figure it out when you get there.
[ ] Take a break at that red-lantern stand. They need to come up with a plan first.
[ ] Pass by the Human Village. Maybe you can learn or find something useful.
[ ] Custom

"Thank you very much for the meal," says Grimnír. "The food was delicious!"

Dr. Yagokoro nods with a smile.

"Reisen is quite a good cook, isn't she?" says the doctor. "She has learned much since we arrived here and has grown accustomed to this way of life."

"I-It's nothing special," says Reisen, slightly blushing.

Grimnír forces a smile back. It's too bad that he wasn't able to taste much of it. Every other time he looked away, some food would simply vanish from his plate. He noticed that each time something disappeared, he could feel some movement in the front of his robe. Thankfully, none of the others noticed this discrepancy. Somehow, he just knows that Yukari is also enjoying this meal, too.

"I suppose that this time is better than any," Dr. Yagokoro says, the tone of her voice suddenly businesslike.

"Eh?"

"Take this."

She gives him an unusual item. It looks like a medical syringe.

"That syringe is tipped with a special needle made from lunarian silver," says the doctor. "Hang on to it carefully. You two will need it if you want to save Marisa."

"Ah, that's right!" says Alice. "You haven't told us the results yet!"

"The details are technical, but I'll explain it as simply as I can," says Dr. Yagokoro.

As she clears her throat, she motions for them to stay quiet.

"I've isolated the chemical compound we need to create a proto-serum. I was actually quite surprised when I saw the reading. To be sure, I ran several more tests, but all of them confirm the same thing. The cure is something that I had already documented in the past. If I can obtain a sample of a certain substance, I can easily manufacture a suitable drug for Marisa's condition."

"T-That's great then," says Alice as she sighs in relief. "When you hesitated earlier, I thought that it might be something terrible."

"..."

The lunarian doctor looks at her thoughtfully. Then, she turns to look at Grimnír. Finally, she sighs heavily and gives them a sad smile.

"I can't send Reisen with you to get it this time," says Dr. Yagokoro. "Eientei can't be directly involved with this incident anymore. Certain... conflicts of interest may arise."

"What?" Alice and Grimnír cry out at the same time.

"That said, if you can obtain the substance, I will manufacture the cure without asking how you got it."

"I don't understand," says Grimnír. "Is it something rare or dangerous?"

Dr. Yagokoro glances at Reisen, who has stayed silent all this time, before turning back to them.

"Both," whispers the doctor. "To create the cure, I need a sample of vampire blood."

The room falls deathly silent at those words. Dr. Yagokoro looks slightly saddened, but her eyes are firm with her decision. Reisen opens her mouth, as if to argue somehow, but in the end, she doesn't find the words. Alice bites her lip, as if remembering something unpleasant. Surprisingly, it is she who finally breaks the silence.

"We are going," she says simply. Without another word, she leaves the room, Shanghai following close behind her.

Grimnír thanks the lunarians before turning to follow the magician. He quickly walks into the hallway and spies Alice already heading toward the exit. However, he stops when he hears a hurried conversation in the room they just left. Seems like Reisen and Dr. Yagokoro are arguing about something.

But that isn't any of their business, is it?
[ ] Quickly follow after Alice. You have to stay focused on finding the cure.
[ ] Carefully eavesdrop on the lunarians. Something strange is going on.
[ ] Ask Yukari for advice. She might know something useful.
[ ] Wander around Eientei and investigate. They are distracted right now.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Try to talk to Alice.
[X] Custom

---

"I already explained earlier," says Alice. "Puppetry magic involves infusing a doll with one's own power and will. It is a less known, but elegant branch of magical study that requires much from its practicioners. Few have the ability and patience to master it. Do you understand what I am saying?"

"I still don't understand," Grimnír says. "If that type of magic is your specialty, why didn't you start our lessons with puppetry? You are an expert on it, after all."

Alice sighs heavily. She frowns at him before she speaks.

"You aren't ready for it," she says. "In fact, you are nowhere near ready. You still have to master the basics of magical theory. It took me years of study to even begin moving dolls with magic alone, and even longer to investigate the subtleties of force channeling, energy projection, and materials sorcery."

"I see," replies Grimnír.

"I'll admit you have potential," says Alice. "But these things take time, even for one with unusual talent and skill. If you forcibly attempt such complex spells, you'll either faint from exhaustion or get seriously injured from spell backfires."

He smiles as Alice continues on about the topic. Seems like he had the right idea when he started talking about doll magic. While she was reluctant at first, she couldn't resist describing everything in detail. Somehow, he can sense Alice's mood improve as they continue talking. This topic is something familiar and pleasant to the magician. It's the perfect thing to help her calm down and perhaps feel better about herself a little.

"So, what about Shanghai?" says Grimnír. "You mentioned that she was different from the others."

Upon hearing her name, the doll perks up and turns toward him. Shanghai quickly flies beside him and tugs at his sleeve. As he turns to face her, she gives him a little curtsey before returning to Alice's side.

"Like I said before," says Alice. "Shanghai isn't completely independent. Her every movement and action is tied to my own state of mind. I used something special with her and Hourai to allow them some limited self-awareness."

"I see," says Grimnír. "So, in a sense, they have a little of yourself in them?"

Alice almost drops her fork when he says that. She quickly recovers, however, and looks up at him seriously. Only after a long moment of silence does she carefully reply.

"T-That is... a possibility," she says without looking him in the eye. "But I'd rather not discuss it. A magician has the right to her secrets."

[X] Status
Alice - B
Marisa - C
Yukari - C
Wriggle - D

Loading User Commands:
[X] Hide Yukari in your pocket. Tell her to stay quiet.

---

Grimnír still doesn't get it, but before he can ask Yukari to explain, someone knocks on the door.

"Grim, are you in here?" says a familiar voice. "Lunch is ready at the dining room."

"Ah, gimme a sec, Reisen," he replies. "I'll be right there."

He takes a few steps before realizing that Yukari is still on his shoulder. He turns to her questioningly, but she only returns the gesture with a mischievous smile. Seems like she won't tell him what to do next.

Grimnír pauses for a moment to think.

"Yukari," he whispers. "Can you stay quiet for a while? You can hide in my pocket for the time being."

"Eh?" says Yukari. "Now why should I do that~"

"Well, umm..." mumbles Grimnír.

The tiny girl's smile widens as he hesitates. She seems to be enjoying this. He clears his throat before speaking.

"I believe that we should make this our little secret," he says, keeping his voice as neutral as possible.

"Ara~" says Yukari. "You want me to be your little secret? How suspicious~"

"Err..."

"But I like it," she whispers.

Before he can react, the tiny girl jumps into his robe. His eyes widen in surprise, and he barely remembers to keep his voice down.

"W-wait!" whispers Grimnír. "Where did you go?"

Suddenly, Yukari's head pops out from his left front pocket. He stares blankly as the tiny girl winks at him. A sly smile forms on her face as he watches. Then, he realizes that his robe doesn't have front pockets!

"W-what the -" he says.

"I'll get a better view from here," says Yukari. "Don't worry, I didn't damage your robe."

Before he can reply, her head disappears into the front pocket. Then, the front pocket itself disappears, too. Wait, what did she - when did she - how did she... ah forget it. Thinking too much about it might just end in something worse than a regular headache. Grimnír shakes his head and sighs.

He might as well head out for some lunch.

...

"We will talk about the results after we eat, and that is final," says Dr. Yagokoro.

"But we need to save Marisa right now!" cries Alice angrily. "Don't you care about what happens to her at all?"

"Believe me. I do," Dr. Yagokoro says. "But I am not going to explain anything until you calm down. The last thing we need is someone rushing out and doing reckless things instead of following a well prepared plan."

"W-what are you talking about?" says Alice.

"Reisen told me everything," says Dr. Yagokoro. "You were going try to kill that human in the Forest when I gave specific instructions against it. We're lucky that you all got back alive."

"B-But -" stammers Alice.

"You endangered yourself and everyone around you," says Dr. Yagokoro. "What would you have done if someone got killed? Reisen or your friend could both be in bodybags right now. Would you take responsibility for that?"

Alice glares at the lunarian for a moment. Then, she slowly lowers her head.

"..."

Dr. Yagokoro calmly takes her seat at the table. After a few moments, Alice follows suit, but she takes the seat farthest from the lunarian doctor. Shanghai floats listlessly beside her. Reisen, still shaking slightly, takes a seat across and between the other two. Grimnír takes the next seat, which is across from Alice, with Reisen sitting beside him on the right.

They start eating lunch in silence.

The atmosphere feels very heavy.
[ ] Try to talk to Alice.
[ ] Try to talk to Reisen.
[ ] Try to talk to Dr. Yagokoro.
[ ] Try to talk to Yukari.
[ ] Stay silent and eat.

Optional:
[ ] Talk about... (Specify)
[ ] Attempt to lighten up the atmosphere (Specify)
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Custom

---

"But... how did you... I can't even... this is really... what the heck... I don't see how..." mumbles Grimnír.

"Don't think about things too hard," says Yukari. "If you keep trying to comprehend things with logic, your brain might explode."

He plants his palm hard upon his face.

"This is... just..."

Insane. No, that word isn't enough to describe the situation. This can't be possible. Forget physics - this is against anything and everything he accepts about reality. Even in a world full of magic and strange powers, this is just crazy. How did she even - no, forget how - why did she do such a - can't see how this can possibly - doesn't make a grain of sense - can't even imagine this in - my god, what is she thinking?

Grimnír's head pounds violently and painfully. Then, something inside cracks.

"Hey, are you alright up there?" asks Yukari as she takes a few tiny steps closer.

He looks down at the tiny girl. She looks small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. As he cocks his head to look at her, his lips begin forming a wide smile. The tiny girl utters a little gasp, then she shuffles her feet nervously.

"Ara~" whispers Yukari. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

This idea in his head goes against everything logical and reasonable in his mind. Perhaps even against his own principles and moral code. But there isn't any other thought that he can focus on but this. Even the other voices in his head grow mute compared to this almost excruciatingly delicious thought in his mind. Until finally, only one thing remains in his mind.

He must PLAY with this little girl.

Grimnír's eyes become glassy as his smile turns into a huge maniacal grin. In one swift motion, he bends down and grabs the miniature Yukari. The girl squeals in surprise as he does so. He raises her up close to examine her.

"Ugh.. don't do that," says Yukari as she regains her balance. "That makes me really dizzy..."

The tiny girl stands herself up and looks straight at him. She is holding her parasol close to her chest. From this close, he can really appreciate the detail.

"The craftsmanship is incredible!" cries Grimnír. "I've never seen anything like it! Even Alice's dolls don't have such realism!"

"W-what are you - HEY!" argues Yukari.

He promptly ignores her as his fingers carefully grab one of her hands. It feels incredibly soft and it's warm too. What kind of technology is in this thing? What kind of magic could support such realism? Before he realizes it, he is holding her hand with two fingers, enjoying the sweet sensation upon his fingertips.

"Wow," he mumbles. "It feels nice. It even smells nice..."

The little Yukari quickly looks away, embarrassed.

"B-but we don't know each other that well yet," whispers the girl.

Suddenly, he finds himself waving her whole arm up and down. The joints on this thing are very well made. He can't even see any seams or creases on the arm. The flexibility is surprisingly organic, and the proportions are all accurate to the millimeter.

"Hey! T-That hurts!" cries Yukari suddenly.

He let's go of her immediately. The little girl sighs in relief before looking up at him angrily. But something else catches his attention. Her hat - her dress - her parasol - even her shoes look perfectly crafted and realistic. What kind of material was used for such accurate miniatures?

Very gently, he strokes her hat to feel the fabric. Yukari lowers her head to hide her face. Then, he carefully pokes at her shoes. She giggles a bit at the clumsy gesture, telling him to stop. For a moment, he feels against the tiny parasol in her hand. She only looks up with a puzzled expression. Finally, he starts poking at her dress. The tiny girl laughs and struggles in vain as he examines her. Her face grows a bit red as he feels over her skirt.

Then, he feels something odd. His fingers move down to the same spot to confirm a very strange sensation. Soft and fragile, it almost feels like pudding as he rubs over it. Very realistic, indeed. He wishes that he had some tools, perhaps a stirring rod or a surgical knife, to examine her more closely.

"Oh my~" whispers the tiny Yukari. "How naughty~"

Suddenly, something sharp stabs into his finger.

"Yeeouch!" cries Grimnír. "That hurt!"

His vision grows clearer with the pain. When he looks down, his hands are already empty. It takes him a few moments to realize that the miniature Yukari is already hovering right in front of his face. Before he can say anything, she smacks his head with the parasol. Hard.

"Oww!" says Grimnír.

"Pervert," says Yukari simply. "The border between your mind and your loins is much thinner than I thought."

"Wait, what was I doing again?" asks Grimnír.

For some reason, his memories of the last few minutes are blurred and unclear.

"Being stupid," replies Yukari. She seems irritated. Did something happen?

She lands gently on his right shoulder before speaking again.

"Anyway, like I said earlier," she says. "I'm here to assist you. You said that Marisa is dying."

Grimnír pauses for a moment, confused. Then, he remembers.

"Yes, she's hurt," he says. "Dr. Yagokoro sent us to collect some readings from the weapon that caused the injury. It was risky, but we got it somehow. She's studying the data at her Lab right now."

"I see," says Yukari. "I'll do what I can to help. Just remember that this form has only a fraction of my power, so I can only do so much."

"This form?" repeats Grimnír.

"I got the idea from a friend of mine," she says. "This method allows me to exist here while being with Reimu at Youkai Mountain at the same time. She won't notice anything unusual this way."

"I don't get it," he replies, scratching his head. "Did you split yourself or something?"

"Not exactly," says Yukari. "All you need to understand is that I'm here with you now. I'm also with the shrine maiden to investigate that other problem. There isn't any real issue with that, I think."

"..."

He still doesn't get it, but before he can ask her to explain, someone knocks on the door.

"Grim, are you in here?" says a familiar voice. "Lunch is ready at the dining room."

"Ah, gimme a sec, Reisen," he replies.

He takes a few steps before realizing that Yukari is still on his shoulder. She smiles mischievously at him, but she doesn't tell him what to do next.

Grimnír pauses to think.
[ ] Hide Yukari in your sack. Leave the sack in the room.
[ ] Hide Yukari in your sack. Bring the sack with you.
[ ] Hide Yukari in your pocket. Tell her to stay quiet.
[ ] Let Yukari sit on your shoulder. Tell her to pretend to be a doll.
[ ] Let Yukari sit on your shoulder. Act like she isn't there.
[ ] Let Yukari sit on your shoulder. No need to hide anything.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Return to your room and open the envelope.

---

"Huh?"

Grimnír carefully pulls out a small sealed envelope. He is sure that he never placed this thing inside his sack. Where did it come from? He examines it closely and notices a few tiny words written on the back.

"For your eyes only," it reads. The handwriting is unremarkable.

He doesn't know where it came from, but for some reason, he feels that it is extremely important to open this alone. He quickly pockets the envelope before slinging his sack behind him. After thinking for a bit, he starts heading for his room in Eientei. The envelope might contain something important.

The trip back to his room is completely uneventful. In fact, the hallways of Eientei seem to be oddly deserted. Marisa said that the place was usually full of activity, with the rabbits running about everywhere. But ever since they came here, he hasn't met anyone aside from Reisen and Dr. Yagokoro. He wonders idly if Marisa was exaggerating when she told that story.

"..."

After making sure that he is alone in the room, Grimnír drops his sack and slowly pulls out the envelope. He hesitates for a moment. What if this is a trap? He will have no way of getting help in time. Or perhaps this might contain a shocking truth? He may not look at the others the same way again. He spends several minutes considering the possibilities. A letter laced with poison? An anonymous death threat? A secret location for the best coffee in Gensokyo? A message from his future self? A spell of untold power?

"..."

This is stupid. All this guessing is a waste of time and energy. He might as well open it and find out. After nodding to himself one last time, he quickly rips the top of the envelope open.

"Huh?" says Grimnír aloud. "There isn't anything in here but..."

"Hi there!" says a tiny voice.

He blinks stupidly as something strange crawls out of the opening. Then, he drops the envelope and steps back.

"W-w-what the hell?" cries Grimnír.

A tiny girl quickly crawls out of the envelope and looks up at him. Looks like she can fit in the palm of his hand quite comfortably. She is wearing a pink and purple dress with a pink, poofy hat upon her long blonde hair. Her deep gold eyes blink curiously as he stares at her. A few moments later, she smiles brightly and waves her arms energetically at Grimnír.

"Nice to see you again," says the tiny girl.

"Y-Y-Yukari?" stammers Grimnír.

Is he losing his mind?

"Looks like it worked perfectly," she says.

She motions for Grimnír to wait. Then, she pulls out a familiar pink parasol out of a tiny portal beside her. After examining it, she looks up at Grimnír again. She has a mischievous smile on her face.

"Surprised?" says mini-Yukari. "I told you that I'd help out. I can't just watch Marisa get killed, can I?"

"But.. how did you... I can't even... this is... what the... I don't see how..." mutters Grimnír.

"Don't think about it too hard," says mini-Yukari. "If you keep trying to comprehend things with traditional logic, your brain might explode."

He plants his palm hard upon his face.

"This is... just...."

Insane.

[ ] Custom

[X] Inventory
A neatly handwritten note. Alice wrote it.
A short pamphlet. "A Draft of Spell Card Rules"
A small sack. It can hold a lot of items.
A long walking stick. It looks sturdy.
A hooded cloak. It can cover your head from the rain.
A set of grey robes. It has many pockets.
A small pouch full of mushrooms. You have no idea what they do.
A beginner's magic book. "Basic Magical Theory and Simple Applications"
An ornate silver bracelet. Engraved on it is a serpent biting its own tail.
A spell card. "Logos Sign, 「Calculated Risk」"
(5) Several blank spell cards. You can inscribe spells on them.
A small calling card. The name "Yukari Yakumo" is written on one side.
A large syringe from Dr. Yagokoro. It is filled with a luminescent blue substance.
A small sealed envelope. You aren't sure where it came from.

The flight back to Eientei was uneventful. Once again, Grimnír spots the red-lantern stand from before. The owner seems to have a couple of customers. One of them is a boyishly-dressed girl with long violet hair. Her pants have several paper charms stuck on them. The other is a small blue-haired girl with crystalline wings. She seems to be arguing with the owner about something.

For a moment, Grimnír considers heading down to have a snack, but decides against it. They really don't have the time to take it easy. Perhaps he can check out the stand when this incident is over.

...

"Good work, everyone," says Dr. Yagokoro. "You got the reading, I assume?"

Reisen carefully hands the device over to her. The lunarian doctor smiles as she examines the results for a few minutes. Then, she suddenly frowns. She looks up at Reisen and whispers something to her. The rabbit girl nods solemnly. Dr. Yagokoro looks back at the device thoughtfully before speaking again.

"I'll need some time to study these results," she says finally. "You should all get some food and rest while you can."

Dr. Yagokoro quickly leaves the room with the device. She seems to be heading to the Laboratory wing of Eientei.

"I am going to prepare lunch," says Reisen with a smile. "Please wait patiently until it is ready."

The rabbit girl gives them a low bow before heading out. She turns toward the direction of the kitchen before disappearing from sight.

"I'm going to check on Marisa," says Alice.

Without another word, the dollmaker makes for the Hospital wing. She looks pretty worried.

"Umm..."

Grimnír blinks stupidly for a few moments as he realizes that he is suddenly alone. Everyone seems to be busy with something, but he doesn't really have any task to do until Dr. Yagokoro analyzes the results.

He examines the things in his sack for a moment. Everything seems to be there. Thankfully, nothing dropped while they were travelling. Nothing seems out of place except -

"Huh?" says Grimnír aloud.

He carefully pulls out a small sealed envelope. He is completely certain that he never placed this thing in his sack before. A few tiny words seem to be written on the back.

"For your eyes only," it reads. The handwriting seems to be unremarkable.

Grimnír doesn't know where it came from, but somehow he feels that it is extremely important to follow this instruction. He quickly pockets the envelope before slinging his sack behind him.

[ ] Look for Dr. Yagokoro in the Laboratory wing.
[ ] Follow Alice to Marisa's room in the Hospital wing.
[ ] Head after Reisen in the kitchen.
[ ] Return to your room and open the envelope.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Let the stranger leave peacefully.
[X] Check Alice and Reisen for injuries.
[X] Ask Reisen if she completed the reading.
[X] Examine your things.

---

"You have one as well," whispers the stranger carefully.

"Have one?" says Grimnír. What is he talking about?

As quickly as it appeared, the crimson field vanishes, leaving them standing back in an ordinary section of the Forest of Magic. The stranger ponders for a moment before speaking again.

"A curse," he whispers. "Seems like we are fated to meet again. Try not to die too quickly."

Suddenly, the stranger takes his weapon and begins walking away. He quickly disappears into the depths of the Forest. Did he just lose interest in fighting?

For a moment, Grimnír considers going after him. But in the end, he doesn't say or do anything. That man is definitely dangerous. Even if they attack in full force, they probably can't win without taking a lot of damage in return.

When they mentioned Marisa, he had said that it was she who attacked him first. He may not be telling the whole truth, but something is wrong here. This doesn't fit at all with the story Wriggle told them. But he understands one logical fact.

One of them must be lying.

Suddenly, he feels someone tugging urgently at his robe.

"Are you alright?" cries Alice desperately. "A-are you hurt anywhere? That was too reckless! What were you thinking?"

Grimnír turns to face the dollmaker. Gone is the rage and hatred from earlier. Her face is instead filled with worry and concern. She looks a lot cuter like this, he notes. He smiles sheepishly as he replies.

"I'm fine, don't worry about it," he says.

"A-are you sure?" says Alice. "Last time, you fell unconscious from the strain."

"Yeah, I'm fine," replies Grimnír.

Upon saying that, he realizes that it is completely true. He doesn't feel tired or exhausted. Strange. He takes quick mental note of this observation. Every other time he used that power, he always fell unconscious. Something must have changed.

"Well, if you say so.." says Alice.

"If you have the energy to worry like that, I'd assume that you are unhurt as well." says Grimnír.

Alice blushes slightly, looking away from him.

"I-I'm just fine!" she says, her voice a little bit higher pitched than usual.

"Well, I suppose that Reisen is -"

His eyes widen and his throat grows dry. The lunarian is kneeling down on the grass, her hands covering her face. The device is lying beside her undamaged. Without another word, he and Alice quickly run to the rabbit's side. Grimnír starts examining her for injuries.

"Reisen!" cries Grimnír. "What happened! Are you hurt anywhere?"

The lunarian slowly shakes her head before looking up at him.

"I-It's nothing," she mumbles weakly. "Just a headache, I think. You don't need to worry about it."

She doesn't look Grimnír in the eye when she says that. Seems like she won't say anything more. He gives her a small nod to show that he understands.

"She looks fine," he says. "But just in case, we should hurry back to Eientei."

"Eh? B-but what about Marisa?" says Alice.

Reisen grabs the device and stands up. She examines it closely before turning to them with a smile.

"I got the reading," she says. "We can return unless you have other suggestions."

Grimnír pauses for only a split-second before replying.

"Let's head back to Eientei," he says.

Grimnír opens his eyes and raises his arm toward the shadow beasts.

Suddenly, the space between Reisen and the stranger blurs violently, transforming into an indescribably miasma of color and shape. The trees, the ground, the beasts, everything is swallowed into the chaos.

Then, he sees it. There is something monstrously huge within the energy field. Grimnír watches with mouth agape as a gargantuan serpent opens its mouth to swallow everything within the field. And just as quickly as it appeared, it vanishes into the chaos, as if it never were. Then, the ground begins to rumble as the trees, the ground, and the shadow beasts collapse into itself. As the vortex vanishes, the area falls into unearthly silence.

Reisen is standing safely on the ground, though her legs are shaking violently. She can barely keep herself standing, though she still has the device in her arms.

Alice is looking at the destruction in shock. Shanghai seems to be frozen in time as she hangs lifelessly beside the dollmaker.

However, the stranger is staring straight at him, as if seeing him for the first time.

After a few moments, he speaks.

"You have one as well," whispers the stranger carefully.

Grimnír blinks stupidly before replying.

"Have one?" he repeats.

Suddenly, the crimson field vanishes, leaving them all in an ordinary section of the Forest of Magic. The stranger looks at him thoughtfully before continuing.

"A curse," he whispers.

The stranger brushes some dust off his clothes.

"I suppose that we will be meeting again," says the stranger. "Try not to die too quickly."

Suddenly, the stranger takes his weapon and begins walking away. Did he just lose interest in fighting?

[ ] Let the stranger leave peacefully.
[ ] Call out to the stranger.
[ ] Stop the stranger from leaving.
[ ] Check Alice and Reisen for injuries.
[ ] Ask Reisen if she completed the reading.
[ ] Examine the area.
[ ] Examine your things.
[ ] Custom

The shadowy wolf-beasts growl menacingly as they emerge from the cracks in the ground. Their cruel red eyes reflect the primal cunning of an animal. Their silver teeth glint under the crimson red sun above them.

"Tear her apart," whispers the stranger.

Without delay, the shadows rush toward Reisen. The lunarian's eyes widen as the beasts approach, and fear turns into terror as she watches. She can barely change direction in mid-air.

Grimnír can already the ending. The possibilities have run out, and there are no options left. There's no need to talk about the obvious outcome.

Reisen is going to die.

He closes his eyes tightly as he curses his weakness. If only he had chosen to be more cautious. If only he had planned this out more carefully. If only he had thought this through.

If only he had more power.

Power.

Grimnír opens his eyes, and finds himself alone in the vast darkness.

What would you do with more power?

Suddenly, a single image grows clearer in the darkness. There is someone lying in a hospital bed. Dressed in black and white, with bright blonde hair, she seems to be coughing violently. Someone in strange blue and red clothing is standing over her, administering an injection. The expression on the doctor's face is grim.

The image suddenly changes, showing a different scene. A strange woman seems to be standing off against a horde of insects. Her fiery red hair sways in the wind as she attacks with her bare fists. She seems to be wearing a green martial outfit as she fights the creatures alone. Behind her lies a tall steel gate. He can spy a large Mansion in the distance beyond it.

The image blurs once more, displaying another place. A barren wasteland, with only a single large river flowing along it. Nothing lives in the river, and the water is black and dead. However, a single person seems to be walking along its side. The man seems to be walking in a daze. Before he can observe further, the man collapses on the ground.

What would you do with more power?

...

Loading User Commands:
[X] Try to protect Reisen.

---

"Your Outsider weapons won't work on me," says the stranger as he raises his weapon. "Not in my territory."

Suddenly, he pierces the trident deep into the earth. The ground rumbles as a terrible crimson energy engulfs the whole area. A single, blinding red flash fills the Forest of Magic, and in the next moment, they find themselves standing in the same clearing, but the whole place is tinted with the sick color of blood.

"I'll start with the rabbit girl," whispers the stranger. "I'm a monster, after all."

He licks his lips as he turns around to face the lunarian. Before Grimnír can react, the stranger raises his weapon toward the woods behind him. Several runic circles begin materializing around the stranger. Countless black spears begin to form around the glowing command runes. For a moment, the stranger hesitates.

"Welcome to my Scarlet Paradise," he whispers.

Suddenly, the black spears vanish, leaving the stranger standing alone with the trident. The sky begins to grow dark as they watch. Then, thousands of spears start falling from the heavens. The cursed weapons tear the forest apart as they crash into the trees.

Then, a single white speck begins to fly out of the chaotic black and red. Reisen barely dodges the swift projectiles that easily destroyed a section of the Forest of Magic. She manages to weave in and out of the barrage completely unscathed. All throughout the attack, she manages to maintain the device pointed at the stranger. Grimnír sighs in relief.

"Impressive," says the stranger. "Fast little rabbit, isn't she? I wonder how fast she can outrun a true predator..."

The stranger raises his trident high into the air before thrusting it deep into the earth. The forest rumbles again with the impact. Then, dark shadows begin seeping out of the crack in the ground. Slowly, they begin to take the form of red-eyed wolf-beasts.

"Tear her apart," whispers the stranger.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Try to distract him while Reisen takes her reading.

---

"You should all leave before I grow impatient," whispers the stranger. "After all, my weapon hasn't yet tasted blood this day."

The tip of the trident glints brightly in the sunlight. As Grimnír looks at it, he observes a powerful crimson aura emanating from the weapon. He feels uneasy as the unnatural energy field starts to spread. This weapon is definitely dangerous. Just looking at it feels painful.

"Ugh..." he mutters, slowly turning away.

He can feel it inside him. Another feeling is growing from deep within. The pain only increases the temptation. Somehow, the desire to hold the weapon in his own hands becomes more and more difficult to resist. While the logical part of his mind says that it is foolish to try and take it, something deeper and more primal tells him that this thing belongs to him.

"Are you alright?" asks Alice. She looks concerned.

Grimnír shakes his head. Focus. They can't afford to make stupid mistakes here.

"The plan," he whispers. "We'll stick to the plan."

He takes a glance at Alice, then at Reisen, making sure that both of them understand. After a few moments, the lunarian rabbit clears her throat before speaking.

"I'll head back to report our findings," she declares loudly.

Reisen quickly flies off and out of sight. Grimnír and Alice watch her disappear into the distance before turning back to the stranger. He notes that she will need some time to double-back and use the device. They need to make sure that the stranger doesn't move from where he is standing.

Grimnír takes a couple of steps forward and gives the man a low bow. A short introduction and some small talk should work nicely. He makes sure to speak in a slow and calm manner.

"Good morning, good Sir," he says. "Forgive our prior indiscretions. I believe that we should start from the beginning."

"Really now," replies the stranger. "Very well then. I have all the time in the world, after all."

"My name is Grimnír, and this here beside me is Miss Alice," he continues. "We have come on behalf of our friend Marisa, whom you may have met yesterday."

"I have no name to give to you," he replies. "Even if I had one, I wouldn't give it to you suspicious lot. And I don't recall meeting anyone with that name yesterday."

"She is dressed in black and white, and she carries a witch's hat and broom," says Alice. "Are you sure you haven't met someone like that?"

The stranger frowns and grows visibly irritated.

"Black and white?" he repeats slowly. "Did this Marisa happen to be an energetic blonde girl with a single braid tied on one side?"

"So you met her then?" says Grimnír.

Suddenly, the stranger sneers at them.

"Met her?" he says. "That bitch tried to kill me in my sleep! She should be thankful that I didn't finish her off when I had the chance."

Grimnír blinks stupidly. Wait... what?

"So you two are with that assassin?" he continues as he brandishes his weapon. "Now I understand. You've come to finish me off, haven't you?"

"No, wait! Don't misunderstand! We didn't come here to fight!" cries Grimnír.

"Then why is your other friend aiming a gun at me?" replies the stranger. "An ambush? Such dishonorable tactics... you lot are disgraceful!"

D-damn! He knows about Reisen! She must be using the device from behind the trees.

"Don't think that I don't understand," continues the stranger. "Your Outsider weapons won't work on me. Not in my territory."

Suddenly, the terrible crimson energy engulfs the whole area. When they open their eyes, they find themselves standing in the same clearing, but the whole place is now tinted with the sick color of blood.

"I'll start with the rabbit girl," whispers the stranger. "I'm a monster, after all."

He licks his lips as he turns around to face the lunarian.

[ ] Try to protect Reisen.
[ ] Retreat from the clearing with Alice.
[ ] Attack the stranger while his back is turned.
[ ] Custom