Loading User Commands:
[X] Ask Yukari for help. [Calculated Success Rate: ~68%]

---

While he still doesn't trust her, he doesn't have much choice. This is the option with the best chance of success. Besides, she did offer her help. Might as well find out if she really is on his side. After all, at this point, what does he have left to lose?

"Hey Yukari," Grimnír says. "If you can hear me, I could really use your help right about now..."

He tugs at the front of his robe desperately, but no one answers. Quickly, he checks his pockets and sack, but she isn't in there, either. Oh god... is she asleep again?

"Don't worry," says Wriggle. "Your body will be vaporized before you can feel any pain. I'll make sure of it."

"W-what?" he cries. "Don't decide things like that on your own! Even if it's painless, I don't want to die!"

"I... don't want you to die either," she whispers back.

"Then why are you doing this?" he argues.

The firefly youkai simply raises her hand and points it at him.

"Because I have to save this world," she says.

In the next moment, the glowing green orbs blink brightly and start flying toward him. So fast! There is no way he can dodge this attack, and even his best barrier can't stop a single shot. Grimnír shields his eyes with his arms in reflex, though he knows his efforts are futile. Patiently, he waits for the end.

"..."

But it doesn't come. He doesn't even feel the heat or force of the impact. Slowly, he opens his eyes. As he looks around, he sees himself surrounded by tall trees and bushes. He recognizes this place as part of the Forest of Magic, perhaps only some distance away from the battlefield. Wait... what happened?

"Haa... haa... haa..."

Heavy breathing? But he isn't panting. Grimnír quickly turns to the left to see a familiar miniature girl on the ground. She is lying on her back, breathing heavily as if exhausted.

"Y-Yukari?" he cries. "Yukari! Are you alright?"

Slowly, the tiny girl opens a single eye. Seeing that he is unharmed, she forces a smile.

"You're alive," she whispers. "That's good."

"Wait, what happened?" he says. "Can't you use your powers to gap your main body back here?"

"I tried that," says Yukari. "Something is blocking my ability. I can't reach this space."

"Is that even possible?" says Grimnír.

Suddenly, the tiny girl jerks up and coughs. His eyes widen as he realizes that Yukari is coughing blood. Does she have internal injuries? She looks up at him and shakes her head.

"I don't think I can be moved," she says. "Listen closely. I don't have much time."

A bright green light suddenly flashes toward his left. He stands up and looks toward its direction. Wriggle must be approaching this place already.

"Leave me here and run."

[ ] Escape alone.
[ ] Stay with her.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Declare your spell card, "Logos Sign,「Calculated Risk」"
---

The cloaked figure points her finger straight between his eyes. A long green dart forms at her fingertip. It glows with an eerie and strangely familiar energy. If this hits him, he is dead for sure.

"Please don't hate me," she whispers.

With only a few seconds left, Grimnír takes a gamble. He draws a spell card from his robes and carefully mutters the incantation.

"Logos Sign,「Calculated Risk」"

Suddenly, everything becomes clear in his mind. As if time is slowing down, he is able to observe and analyze every detail of the situation within a single moment. But first, he needs to learn more about his opponent. Patiently, he recalls the stranger's spell card attack on Meiling. Green luminescence... impact radius... cast delay... spiritual field... electrical interference...

The spell's destructive potential is approximately seventeen times more powerful than Marisa's "Master Spark". By generating a small anti-magic field, Meiling managed to reduce its effect greatly, but it still caused a lot of damage. The gatekeeper must be quite powerful to even survive the attack, though she most certainly won't be getting up any time soon.

Grimnír forces himself up slowly as he examines the glowing projectile at the stranger's fingertip. Destructive potential of the dart is several times weaker, but it is enough to pierce even his most powerful barrier. Estimated velocity on release is near the speed of sound. There is no way he can dodge or block this attack with his current abilities.

"Damn it," he tells himself.

But there is something strange. The energy bolt has already been fully charged one and a half seconds ago. The stranger simply hasn't fired yet. Is she hesitating?

"Good bye, Grey Wizard."

He closes his eyes to brace for the impact. Her stance is already burned in memory. By the direction and angle of the dart, he can predict its trajectory. It has 99.89% chance of hitting exactly three inches to the right of his head. Wait... it is going to miss?

Then, she fires the projectile. The ground tremors at the impact. Grimnír slowly opens his eyes to verify his calculation. To his right, he can see a deep crater on the ground. No time to think. He immediately takes this chance to fly into the air. After increasing the distance between them by a comfortable amount, he turns back at the stranger.

"I... missed?" says the cloaked figure.

As she turns around to face him, the wind blows the hood off her face. He recognizes the girl immediately.

"W-wriggle?" mumbles Grimnír.

"..."

Green hair and a cute pair of antennae on her head, she looks exactly like the firefly youkai he knows. But her clothes seem a little bit different. Several of the designs on them seem to be made up of magical runes and symbols. And as he looks closer, her eyes have a strange and cold determination in them. He never thought he would see that kind of face on this girl.

"I don't know," says Wriggle. "I don't know how this is supposed to help..."

"What are you doing?" he cries. "Why are you attacking your friends?"

"But I trust my Master," she whispers. "This is my duty... as a magician."

She raises her hand toward him, and as she mutters an incantation, hundreds of glowing green orbs start forming around her. Each of them have quite a bit of power - if even one hits him he is dead. And from their angle and position, the projectiles have a... 99.9972% chance to hit him.

"Oh shit."

The spell card is still in effect.
[ ] Try to talk to her. [Calculated Success Rate: ~23%]
[ ] Retreat back to the others. [Calculated Success Rate: ~57%]
[ ] Ask Yukari for help. [Calculated Success Rate: ~68%]
[ ] Inject yourself with Dr. Yagokoro's drug. [Calculated Success Rate: ~29%]
[ ] Use _____ magic. [Calculated Success Rate: ~12%]
[ ] Custom. [Calculated Success Rate: Variable]

Loading User Commands:
[X] Custom

---

"Don't take it personally," says the cloaked figure. "Things beyond control, both yours and mine, have brought these unfortunate, but necessary circumstances."

She raises her hand slowly and points her finger at Meiling. At that signal, the youkai hornets rush forward like a wave crashing upon rocks. The gate guard stays calm, killing off each creature with a carefully placed punch or kick. Seems like she is pacing herself, as she knows that these are only small fry. She doesn't keep an eye off the stranger for even a moment as she fights them off. Eventually, she slays the beasts, leaving a pile of dead bodies on the ground.

"Impressive," says the cloaked figure. "After all that, you still don't leave any openings? How inconvenient this is."

The girl steps slowly forward towards the battle. Her hood covers her head, but Grimnír can almost see an amused smile on her face.

"I guess I can consider this a break from work," she says. "I hope you don't mind if I try to enjoy this a little longer..."

Then, the girl holds her palms toward Meiling. She starts firing bolts of green energy at her, which the gate guard easily deflects using some martial arts technique. The barrage continues to intensify, but slowly. The stranger seems to be completely at ease as she increases the power of her attack. She adjusts the bolts according to the capacity of the gate guard. Is she playing some kind of game with Meiling?

Grimnír takes a glance at the gate guard. She seems to be holding her own, but only barely. Forced on the defensive, Meiling is unable to counterattack. At this rate, it is only a matter of time until she is overwhelmed. He bites his lip as he watches the battle. Just as he told Alice a while ago, he doesn't know how to fight. He never trained in offensive magic. However, he can't just hide here and watch.

Silently, he circles around the battlefield until he finds himself behind the cloaked stranger. He might not be able to attack her with magic of his own, but he can always try a surprise attack. His staff is sturdy and hard, and the girl doesn't seem to know he is there. Patiently, he waits for an opportunity to rush her.

A minute passes until his chance arrives. The girl lowers her guard as she yawns at Meiling mockingly. In the next moment, Grimnír rushes from behind the trees to strike her with his staff. However, things don't go as planned. Before he can get a few feet from the girl, she points a finger behind her and fires a bolt of green energy straight at his chest. The impact of the attack is enough to send him crashing down against the ground.

"Hmm, another obstacle," says the cloaked figure as she turns around to look at him. "How annoying."

Grimnír grimaces in pain as he tries to force himself up. Then, in the next moment, a red and green blur appears right behind the cloaked stranger.

"That was a mistake," says Meiling. "Turning your back on your opponent."

Her fist glowing with radiance, she strikes straight at the girl's head, reducing it to ashes in an instant. The girl's decapitated corpse falls to the ground with a sick thud. Then the body starts quivering on the ground. Without warning, it transforms into a host of bugs. Spiders, centipedes, worms, slugs, insects, and all sorts of creatures start crawling out in all directions, leaving only a burnt set of clothes.

"Opponent?" says a voice from above. "You actually thought you could defeat me? That's cute~"

High above them, with her arms folded, hovers the girl. She looks completely unharmed.

"H-How did you -"

"You showed a lot of guts back there," says the stranger. "I think I'll give you a reward. Be grateful that you have the chance to see this technique first hand."

As Grimnír blinks, the hooded girl vanishes. Then, she suddenly reappears behind Meiling. She already has a spellcard in her hands.

"Magic Sign, 「Green Stardust」"

A blinding green light erupts from her hands. Grimnír shields his eyes from the explosion, and by the time he recovers, he only sees the broken, bleeding body of Meiling lying some distance to his left. She isn't moving. Wait, where did that other girl -

"And now, as for you..."

He jumps as the cloaked figure reappears right in front of him, only a few yards away. From this distance, he can't escape even if he wanted to.

"Wait a minute... those clothes," the girl says. "The second Alice is you? I-I don't understand...."

"Second Alice?" he repeats. "What are you talking about?"

"But I have my orders," she says. "Please don't hate me. Good bye, Grey Wizard."

She points her finger straight between his eyes. A long green dart starts forming at her fingertip. It glows with an eerie energy. If this hits him, he is dead for sure.

[ ] Call out for Yukari.
[ ] Shield yourself with a magic barrier.
[ ] Declare your spell card, "Logos Sign 「Calculated Risk」"
[ ] Inject yourself with the Dr. Yagokoro's drug.
[ ] Use _____ magic.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Head into the Forest alone. Leave Mystia with Alice.

---

"Lonely and frightened," whispers Mystia. "Firefly in the darkness~"

With those last words, the sparrow girl falls unconscious in his arms. Then, they hear another loud crash from the direction of the Forest of Magic. Grimnír hesitates for a moment before speaking.

"Alice, can you do something for her?" he asks carefully.

The dollmaker steps closer to examine the wounded girl. He, too, carefully notes the locations of the broken limbs. Shanghai floats about nervously as they check her injuries.

"I can probably try to close the wounds, at least," says Alice. "This isn't my specialty, but I think I can do something."

"Alright," says Grimnír. "Can you stay here and take care of her for a while?"

"What?" she replies. "You aren't thinking of -"

"I'll be right back," he says. "Something doesn't feel right..."

Grimnír carefully lays the sparrow girl down before picking up his sack and staff. He gives Alice a little wave before walking off toward the Forest of Magic. Then, something suddenly tugs on his robes from behind. He turns around to see Shanghai pulling desperately at him, her face full of worry.

"Don't be reckless," says Alice. "We don't know what we are up against."

"I just want to check it out," he says assuringly. "If it looks bad, I'll retreat right away. I'm not stupid enough to believe that I can fight."

He gives Shanghai a small pat on the head as he pushes her tiny hands away. Then, taking a deep breath, he hops into the air and begins flying toward the direction of the noises.

...

The first thing he sees is a fast-moving red and green blur in the distance.

"Flowery Sign, 「Mountain Breaker」," it cries.

At those words, everything is filled with an explosion of colorful light. Suddenly, the whole area around is illuminated with the colors of the rainbow in a beautiful and destructive display of power. The tree, the bushes and the ground - everything that is touched by the brightest portions of the light simply shatters and turns to ash.

Grimnír covers his eyes to shield them from the brightness, and by the time he looks again, everything around the red and green figure has been reduced to a blackened crater. He slows down and watches in awe as the person lands on the ground as she rubs her knuckles. Wait, isn't that the gate guard from the Scarlet Devil Mansion?

"Not bad at all," says another voice. "If that hit, that might have hurt a little. Perhaps I have underestimated your abilities."

A small, cloaked figure steps out from the shadows of the Forest. From the person's voice, he can tell that it is a girl, but her stature is that of a child's. However, he can sense an unusual energy coming from the stranger.

"Too bad I don't have time to play with you," she says. "Why don't you just go back to your nap and mind your own business. A good servant does what she is told, after all."

"Stop pretending," says Meiling darkly. "I know that you were behind the attack at the gate."

"Eh? I don't know what you are talking about~"

"I have been on your trail for a while now," says the gate guard. "Originally, I was planning to follow until I find your hideout. But after what you did to Mystia, I couldn't just stand and watch."

"I see," says the stranger. "Pretty sharp for a simple servant. And powerful, too. You aren't what you seem to be. I really have underestimated you..."

Suddenly, the shadows behind the cloaked stranger light up with hundreds of eyes. Slow and deliberate, she motions for them to show themselves. Grimnír barely stops himself from gasping when they come out. Dozens of gigantic hornets fly out from the trees and into the open. Their eyes shine of youkai intelligence.

Meiling narrows her eyes, but she says nothing as she prepares a martial stance. Her eyes are filled with determination and focus.

"Don't take it personally," says the cloaked figure. "Things beyond control, both yours and mine, have brought these unfortunate, but necessary circumstances."

Neither of them have noticed his presence.
[ ] Help Meiling fight against the cloaked figure.
[ ] Help the cloaked figure fight against Meiling.
[ ] Don't do anything. Stay silent and watch.
[ ] Don't get involved. Head back to the others.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Approach the source of the commotion. Someone might be hurt.

---

"Let's investigate," says Grimnír. "Someone might be hurt."

"Alright," says Alice as she nods in agreement.

The two of them quickly change direction and fly toward Mystia's red-lantern stand. Or what is left of it, anyway. When they arrive, all they find are the charred and shattered remains of the little restaurant. Broken and burned pieces of wood are scattered all over the side of the road. A few of the trees nearby are still on fire, and there are several small craters dotting the ground around them.

Then, as they land to examine the damage more closely, the ground rumbles for a few moments. The tremor seems to have come from the direction of the flashing lights and loud noises. The commotion itself looks to be moving away from them.

"There," says Alice.

She points to her right, where several trees have strange burn marks upon them. He recognizes them immediately as the same type that he observed on the remnants of the street stand. If they follow this trail deep into the Forest of Magic, they are sure to discover who did this.

"Night bird... night song~" whispers a faint voice.

Grimnír turns around to see a strange blackened figure under some of the debris. His eyes widen in horror when he recognizes it as the owner of the red-lantern stand. Alice gasps and covers her mouth when she sees her (Shanghai mirrors the gesture with a tiny frightened expression of her own).

How can Mystia still sing in this state? Her hair is disheveled, and her face is caked with ash. Her clothes are tattered and burnt - black and red stains are all over her chest; her hat seems to be missing, and her ears droop sadly. Both of her arms are bleeding, and the one on the left looks broken. And her wings... oh god... one of them looks like it has been completely torn off, leaving a single bleeding stump on her back. She looks barely alive.

"Mystia!" cries Grimnír.

He immediately pushes off the debris to reveal even more injuries to her legs and lower body. This looks like a combination of a gunpowder accident and an animal attack. Very carefully, he starts examining her wounds.

"Dream in the night... red in the night~" sings Mystia.

"T-This is horrible," whispers Alice. "Who could have done this?"

"... shall crucify in the darkness~"

"Can youkai regenerate from wounds like this?" he asks.

"Youkai... in the light~"

"Eh? W-well, I think so," replies the dollmaker. "But I'm not sure. The abilities of youkai regeneration vary greatly, and Mystia isn't very powerful among them."

"Humans shall turn off the light~"

"We should take her back to Eientei," says Grimnír. "Maybe Dr. Yagokoro can -"

Suddenly, Mystia grabs on the side of his robe with her hand. He quickly moves closer to hear what she has to say.

"Lonely and frightened," she whispers. "Firefly in the darkness~"

With those last words, the sparrow girl falls unconscious in his arms. A moment later, they hear another loud crash from the direction of the Forest of Magic.

[ ] Head into the Forest alone. Leave Mystia with Alice.
[ ] Head into the Forest with Alice. Leave Mystia behind.
[ ] Stay with Mystia. Let Alice head into the Forest alone.
[ ] Stay with Mystia and Alice. Forget about the Forest.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Think about Wriggle.

---

Grimnír met several strange individuals when he arrived in Gensokyo. Marisa, the black-white "ordinary" magician, was the first he person he bumped into (quite literally). Her specialty involved powerful and flashy spells, most of which are based on light and heat. An energetic and active person, she seems to enjoy experimenting with new spells and components.

Shortly after, he met Alice, the seven-colored puppeteer. She was a master of doll craftmanship and manipulation. Quiet and composed, he finds her mannerisms quite enjoyable to watch (especially when embarrassed). She also seems to have a more confident and straightforward side to her, which he has only seen on occassion.

Then, in several strange encounters, he met the strange entity named Yukari. Her ability, the manipulation of borders, seems to be almost limitless as well as extraordinarily dangerous. However, she seems to be surprisingly responsible with her power, despite her behavior. After all, the world hasn't fallen apart yet.

"Wait, there was someone else..." he says to himself.

Wriggle Nightbug - the green-haired firefly girl. He met her on the way to Kourindou the other day. Then, he met her again at Hakugyokurou, where she asked for his help. She came with him to Eientei, where Dr.Yagokoro questioned her. Then, she... just disappeared?

Grimnír scratches his head and tries to think, but he can't remember where that girl went. In fact, what is more curious is that, more that anyone else, Wriggle was practically in every strange dream that he had. But why would that girl be in his head at all? He hardly even thinks about her.

Weird.

"Hey, Grimnír," says Alice, breaking his train of thought. "Do you see that?"

He turns to their right to see bright flashing lights coming from under the treeline. Even in the distance, he can hear several explosions and crashes. Then, after a few seconds, the lights and sounds all disappear. Seems like the commotion came from the direction of Mystia's red-lantern stand.

[ ] Approach the source of the commotion. Someone might be hurt.
[ ] That isn't any of your business. Just ignore it and head toward Eientei.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Go back with Alice to Eientei

---

"Let's go back," says Grimnír. "It will be good to see Marisa again."

"Great!" cries Alice. "Patchouli, do you mind if we take our leave."

"Don't forget to return the books," replies the pink and purple wizard.

With one last wave, the two of them set off for the exit. The hallways of the mansion are still quite empty when they walk by. And when they leave through the front door, the cluster of fairy maids is quite some distance away. Seems like they finished working on the nearer part of the mansion.

Strangely enough, he doesn't see any sign of Meiling. Even the gate looks abandoned.

"Leaving already?" says someone from behind.

"Ah!" says Alice. "Your name was Grey, was it?"

"I'm pleased that you remembered my name," replies the butler.

"W-well, it's not everyday that I meet someone as... interesting as you."

"You must be lucky then," says Grey, "To have met someone like Mr. Grimnír. I would imagine that the ability to use magic would be very useful here."

"I don't think that I was that lucky," replies Grimnír.

"How so?" asks the butler.

"I seem to attract... trouble," he replies.

"Trouble is nothing special," says Grey, "Especially around Gensokyo. Just be thankful that you haven't ended up dead yet."

The butler then clears his throat.

"I know that I am," whispers Grey.

...

The flight back to Eientei is mostly uneventful. As the afternoon approaches its end, he spots several travellers, human and youkai alike, heading back to their homes. The activity around the Human Village itself is especially noticeable. But he doesn't pay attention to it much.

Alice is strangely silent as they travel. She looks a little distracted, but she looks calm enough, so he decides not to disturb her. Grimnír yawns as they go on. He finds himself starting to daydream as they fly. They should arrive at Eientei soon, assuming they don't bump into trouble.

[ ] Think about Alice.
[ ] Think about Yukari.
[ ] Think about Marisa.
[ ] Think about Wriggle.
[ ] Think about Wriggle.
[ ] 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 unmarked envelope. Yukari was in it.
An empty syringe. Dr. Yagokoro said that its tip made from lunarian silver.
A mysterious spell book. "Theoretical Boundary Binding and Intervention"
A strange untitled book. Patchouli lent it to you.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Tell the girl to come with you.

---

"I guess that I'm supposed to open this," said Grimnír.

Seeing that there was nothing more sensible to do, he tested the door knob, and to his relief, the purple door was unlocked. He turned around and called out to the young girl.

"Hey Alice," he cried. "I found the exit, I think."

The young girl ran up to him, and without another word, she stepped through the door. He hurried after the girl and was only half-surprised that they arrived at the sunflower field. Recognizing it immediately as the one he sought earlier, Grimnír couldn't help but smile as he stepped into the afternoon sun.

"You can open them now," whispered the girl.

"Huh? What do you mean?" replied Grimnír.

"I mean what I say, and I say what I mean," she said, pouting. "You can open them now! You can!"

"What? Are you talking about the doors?" he asked.

"You can open them," said the girl. "You can open them and step into something new."

"What the... can't you just tell me clearly what you are trying to -"

Then, the world began to spin and blur. He felt world turn upside-down and inside-out as his senses were bombarded with painful combinations of flashing lights and color. He could only hear her last word before everything around spun completely out of control.

"Remember," she said.

...

Someone is calling out for his name. He is starting to lose his focus, as well as his patience. Don't they understand that he doesn't want to be disturbed? And he feels like someone shaking him now. How annoying.

"Hey! Don't just ignore me!" cries the voice.

"Eh? W-what?" says Grimnír. "Stop shaking me."

"Finally," says the voice. "Did you not hear me calling out for you all this time?"

He blinks stupidly as he recognizes the cause of the disturbance. Without putting down the book, he stares blankly at her for almost a minute before speaking.

"Alice?" he says.

"Yes, it's me," she says. "I've come back to get you."

Then, a small doll floats right in front of him, between his face and the book. A small worried expression is on its face as it gently shakes his arm. It takes him a little while to remember the name.

"I'm alright, Shanghai," says Grimnír. He immediately closes the book and gently pats her on the head. The little doll giggles silently as he ruffles her hair.

"What was wrong with him?" Alice says as she turns to Patchouli.

"Nothing," says the pink and purple wizard.

"But he wouldn't respond until now!" she argues.

"He was reading," replies Patchouli. "Focused on learning."

"..."

Alice turns around and gives him a questioning glance. He simply replies with a shrug, as he isn't exactly sure what just happened. The dollmaker frowns and sighs reluctantly.

"Well, at least you are alright," she says. "We need to go back right away."

"Go back? To Eientei?" he says.

"That's right," says Alice, smiling. "Eirin is manufacturing the cure as we speak. She said that she should have it ready by this evening. Marisa's going to be alright!"

Grimnír pauses before speaking.

[ ] Go back with Alice to Eientei.
[ ] Stay in the library a little longer.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Chase after 'Alice'.

---

From the side of his eye, Grimnír could see someone running through the woods. It was only for a moment, but it looked like a young blonde girl in a light blue dress. She had a large black book in her arms as she hurried along.

"Was that 'Alice'?" he thought.

He turned back to the Cat and gave it a polite bow.

"I shall take my leave," he said. "Thanks for the directions."

The Cat only grinned at him, and then it vanished. Grimnír waited a little, half expecting to see it again, but it did not appear, and after a minute or two he ran in the direction that the young girl went. "While I might have to visit the March Hare at some point," he said to himself; "Alice herself may be a better person to talk to." As he said this, he looked up, and there was the Cat again, sitting on a branch of a tree.

"By-the-bye, what became of the spoon?" said the Cat. "I'd nearly forgotten to ask."

"Huh? There was no spoon," Grimnír said. "And while I don't mind it, you shouldn't keep appearing and vanishing so suddenly: you could make others quite giddy."

"All right," said the Cat. This time, it vanished quite slowly, beginning with the end of the tail, and ending with the grin, which remained some time after the rest of it had gone.

"That Cat and her really aren't that different, now that I think about it," he commented.

He had not gone much farther before he came in sight of the young girl. She was standing before the tallest oak he has ever seen, and she seemed to be searching for something. Instead of the book he saw earlier, the girl now had a small doll in her hands.

"Can't find it... can't find it," she muttered as she circled the oak.

"Is your name Alice?" said Grimnír. "And what can't you find?"

"The exit," she whispered. She said nothing more as she continued circling, pausing on occasion to examine the ground closely.

As he watched the young girl, who looked around eleven or twelve years old, something strange began to happen. Everything around him was beginning to lose color ("Again", he told himself), and as he rubbed his eyes, he couldn't help but see the world in shades of grey. Even the girl's beautiful golden hair turned into the dull color of a metal fence.

"Not here," said the girl. "And not here, either."

Then, Grimnír blinked in surprise as he saw another purple door on the left side of the great oak. Still confused, he scratched his head as he approached the door, which was definitely not there before. He turned to the girl, but by her reaction, she couldn't see it.

"I suppose that I'm supposed to open this," he said to himself quietly.

[ ] Go through the door alone.
[ ] Tell the girl to come with you.
[ ] Ignore the door.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Custom

---

Grimnír stopped in his tracks and observed the strange grin in the darkness. As he watched, the grin only grew wider, as if aware (and perhaps pleased?) that he had spotted it. The grin looked good-natured, he thought. Still, it hadn't shown its face and it could be hiding a hint of mischief, so he felt that he ought to be a bit cautious.

"Well! I've often seen a face without a grin; but a grin without a face?" said Grimnír.

While he was looking at the place where it had been, it suddenly stepped out to show itself. The owner of the grin was a small blonde girl (about a foot and a half tall) in a pink and purple dress. She had a pink poofy hat with a red ribbon tied in front. As he watched in wonder, the girl pulled out a familiar looking parasol from the darkness.

"Yukari?" asked Grimnír. "So, do you just like what you see, or is there something comical I'm not aware of?"

The girl only grinned wider as she shook her head.

"I am a Cheshire cat," said the girl. She only grinned wider when he frowned at her answer.

"You don't look like a cat," argued Grimnír.

To his surprise, the girl turned around to show him a long yellow tail poking out from under her dress. Smiling at his reaction, she removed her hat to show a pair of cat ears protruding from her long blonde hair. Then, as she replaced the hat, she smiled cheerfully at him.

"You may call me Cheshire Puss, if you like~" said the Cat.

Grimnír was not much surprised at this, as he was getting so used to queer things happening. Instead, he decided to try to talk to the Cat, since it is capable of speech.

"Cheshire Puss," he began. "Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"

"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to~" said the Cat.

Somehow, this conversation felt familiar, and he thought that nothing good would come out of it, so he tried another question.

"What sort of people live about here?" he asked.

"In that direction," the Cat said, waving its parasol toward the right, "lives a Hatter, and in that direction," waving the parasol the other way, "lives a March Hare. Visit either you like: they're both mad."

"But I don't want to go among mad people," Grimnír remarked.

"Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat. "We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."

"How do you know I'm mad?" said Grimnír.

"You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."

Before he could deny it, something caught his attention, suddenly. From the side of his eye, he could see someone running through the woods behind the Cat. It was only a moment, but it looked like a young girl dressed in a light blue dress with pink ribbons. She had a large black book in her arms as she hurried along.

Was that Alice?

[ ] Visit the 'Hatter'.
[ ] Visit the 'March Hare'.
[ ] Chase after 'Alice'.
[ ] Stay with the 'Cheshire Cat'.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Drink from the third bottle, which smells of chocolate and cream.

---

Grimnír ventured to taste the contents of the third bottle, and finding it very nice, (it had, in fact, a sort of mixed flavour of custard, tiramisu, flan parfait, moist chocolate cake, vanilla icecream, and hot cocoa,) he very soon finished it off.

"What a curious feeling!" said Grimnír. "I must be going colorblind. Wonderful..."

And so it was indeed: everything in the room was a different shade of grey, and he planted a palm on his forehead at the thought that he just drank an unknown poisonous or hallucinogenic substance. He waited for a few minutes to see if he was going to start seeing flying pink elephants or other strange things of that sort. Grimnír felt more than a little nervous about this, since going colorblind isn't usually a good thing.

"For it might end, you know," said Grimnír to himself, "in my going completely blind or insane altogether."

After a while, finding that nothing more happened, he decided on checking the room for more clues, but, alas! He circled the hall once, and then twice, but found himself no better equipped to open any of the locked doors. Then, when he got back to the table, he found that all the bottles had vanished. And so did the little golden key.

"Of course they all vanished!" said Grimnír. "If they all stayed still, like good little inanimate objects, then this story would make far too much sense, now wouldn't it?"

Frustrated and annoyed, the young man started pacing along the halls, half-expecting something equally unexpected to appear. And to his surprise (and chagrin) something did. Soon his eye fell on a strange purple door that definitely wasn't there before.

"Well, why not?" said Grimnír. "Things can't get much more confusing."

He carefully checked the door, and finding it unlocked, he stepped through. And by the time he noticed, he found himself walking along a strange path in the woods. Of course, he took a glance behind him, and finding no trace of the purple door, he shrugged and continued walking.

"Which way? Which way?" said Grimnír to himself as he followed the path.

His surroundings were still in various shades of grey. Figuring that the drink might take a while to wear off, he simply continued on forward, trying as best as he can to prepare for the next foolish thing. In a place like this, he couldn't help but expect nothing but out-of-the-way things to happen, that it seemed quite dull and stupid to assume that anything go on in the common way.

So he set off on the path, and very soon he encountered something new. Grimnír would have missed it if he wasn't so observant. Near the bushes along the path, he can see an eerie grin smiling at him in the darkness. Could that be a cat of some sort?

[ ] Ignore it.
[ ] Talk to it.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Custom

---

Grimnír turned his attention back to the little three-legged table, and after a moment of hesitation, he took the tiny golden key into his hands. His first thought was that it might belong to one of the doors of the hall, so he carefully inspected each door for anything out of the ordinary. Unfortunately for him, he found that every door was not only plain and non-descript, but each looked exactly the same as the other. Then, the young man tried the key on each door, starting from the farthest, but alas! either the locks were too large, or the key was too small, but at any rate it would not open any of them.

However, on the second time round, he came upon a low curtain he had not noticed before, and behind it was a little door about fifteen inches high. He tried the little golden key in the lock, and to his great relief it fitted!

Grimnír opened the door and found that it led into a small passage, not much larger than a rat-hole. He knelt down and looked along the passage into the loveliest sunflower field he ever saw. He knew immediately that he had to get out there somehow, despite an unexplainable feeling of dread, but he could not even get his head through the doorway.

There seemed to be no use in waiting by the little door, so he went back to the table, knowing that if this story was anything like he remembered, he might find something useful waiting for him. But what he found was a bit different from what he expected.

"What the hell?," said Grimnír aloud. "Three bottles? That isn't how this goes!"

And indeed, upon the table was not one but three little bottles ('which certainly weren't here before,' thought Grimnír) and round the neck of each was a little paper label, with the words "DRINK ME" beautifully printed on it in large letters.

It was all very well to say 'Drink me,' but wise Grimnír was not going to do that in a hurry. Instead, he tugged upon the front of his robe and called upon someone named Yukari. Several minutes he spent calling for his strange companion, but alas! she did not answer. After it became clear that she was not with him, he sighed and stared back at the bottles on the table.

"Goddammit Yukari," said Grimnír. For the first time he could remember, he actually felt like he needed for her to pop out, but this time, he knew that he was alone.

Having no better idea, he turned back to the bottles and took a sniff of each. The aroma of the first bottle reminded him of mint and sweet herbs. The aroma of the second bottle reminded him of cinammon and honey. The aroma of the third bottle reminded him of chocolate and cream.

[ ] Drink from the first bottle, which smells of mint and sweet herbs.
[ ] Drink from the second bottle, which smells of cinammon and honey.
[ ] Drink from the third bottle, which smells of chocolate and cream.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Start reading the untitled book.
[X] Sit a comfortable distance from Patchouli.

---

Grimnír decides to take the seat opposite the pink and purple magician. The desk is quite wide, and there are several stacks of books between them. His view of Patchouli is partially obstructed, but from here, he can easily talk to the girl without being inappropriately close to her.

As he sits down, the magician gives him the smallest of nods (if he looked away for even a second, he would have missed it). The gesture seems to be one of approval. His seat isn't too close that he would make her feel uncomfortable, and it isn't too far that he would alienate her. He returns the gesture with a smile as he opens the untitled book before him.

"..."

The first page of the book is blank, so he immediately turns to the next. However, he doesn't see any text on the next page. Instead of words, the book contains a detailed illustration of a long, empty hall that is lit up by a row of lamps hanging from the roof. He doesn't recognize the page, and there is no caption for the picture, so he simply turns to the next page.

The next page contains a picture of the hallway from another point-of-view. This time, he can see that there are doors all round the hall, up to the end. At the corner of the illustration is a little three-legged table, all made of solid glass. There is nothing on it except a tiny key.

For some reason, this picture seems familiar, so Grimnír turns to the next page. On the next illustration, he sees a person walking down the hall. From this angle, he can see that the person is clearly a young man dressed in grey robes. There is nothing notable about the man except for a single, strange bracelet on his wrist. He squints as he examines the picture more closely. The bracelet seems to have an engraving of a snake on it. Wait, isn't that -

...

Grimnír opened his eyes and found himself in a long, low hall, which was lit up by a row of lamps hanging from the roof. There were doors all round the hall, but they were all locked; and when Grimnír had been all the way down one side and up the other, trying every door, he walked sadly down the middle, wondering how he was ever to get out again.

Suddenly he came upon a little three-legged table, all made of solid glass; there was nothing on it except a tiny golden key. Then, Grimnír realized that he was inside the book he had been reading.

"Oh, you have to be shitting me..." thought Grimnír aloud, though no one could hear him.

He quickly checked his pockets and robes, and found that he had somehow lost his sack. Aside from his robes, the only thing he had still with him was the bracelet on his wrist.

[ ] Custom

Alternate: Library Lessons

"A-are you sure that this is going to help me learn magic?"

"Correct."

"I still don't understand. M-maybe we shouldn't -"

"If you are hesitant, then I will start it myself."

"W-wait! W-what are you -"

Suddenly, Patchouli interrupts him with her lips. As Grimnír's eyes widen in shock, she continues her attack by pressing her body hard against him. The sensation of her soft, sweet lips is intoxicating, and he can feel her delicate curves rub against him through their clothing. She starts probing her tongue to part his lips, desperately seeking its partner. Then, he regains control. Immediately, he pushes away the pink and purple magician.

"N-no!" he cries out. "We can't do this! This isn't right!"

"..."

The magician lies on the ground, rubbing her arms and legs. She looks up at him, tears silently welling in her eyes.

"A-am I not good enough?" whispers Patchouli.

"Ah! W-well, that is..." mumbles Grimnír as he looks away from the girl.

"I'm worthless aren't I," she says listlessly. "I always read alone in the library. I don't go out much, due to my health. And I'm no good at talking to other people. I'm just worthless..."

"That isn't true," says Grimnír. "In fact, I'd have to say that you are actually very cute. I was just uncomfortable with the whole situation."

"Liar," replies the magician. "I'm not pretty at all."

"I'm telling the truth!" he cries. "If you weren't so beautiful just now, then I wouldn't have been so nervous. I barely stopped myself from betraying someone important to me."

Patchouli gasps slightly in surprise. As she slowly stands herself up, she looks at him seriously.

"You have feelings for someone else?" she asks.

"Well, I guess..." says Grimnír sheepishly.

"I'm sorry!" says the magician. "I-I really didn't know!"

"It's alright," he replies. "Nothing happened, so everything is fine."

"You shouldn't have lied though," says Patchouli sadly. "I know that I'm not beautiful. I'm just a lonely misfit who hangs around books all day in the library."

"I wasn't lying," returns Grimnír. "You are a lovely girl."

"Then why," cries Patchouli. "Why won't my feelings reach him?"

"Eh?"

The magician lowers her head to hide her tears.

"No matter how hard I try," she says. "No matter how often we are together, he doesn't seem to see me as anything other than a friend. I thought that I could be patient. Maybe he just needs more time, I told myself. But it hurts."

She puts her hands to her chest, holding it tightly.

"It hurts so much when I think about how alone I really am."

"..."

An awkward silence passes between them.

"Can I ask you a favor?" says Patchouli.

"Sure, as long as it's within reason," he replies.

"Will you please kiss me?" she whispers.

"Eh? B-but that is..."

"Don't misunderstand," says Patchouli. "I just want to know how it feels. I just need to be reminded of what I'm yearning for. I just want to feel a little less lonely..."

Grimnír hesitates as he thinks about his options, but as he watches the magician's downcast face, he realizes that there is only one thing to do.

"Alright," he says. "But only as a friend."

"I understand."

Still shaking a little bit, he places his hands on her bare shoulders. Patchouli gasps silently at his touch, but she doesn't run away. He immediately becomes aware that the girl is shivering, but not from the cold. Unlike her earlier attack, she seems extremely nervous as she looks away from his gaze.

"A-are you sure you can do this?" she whispers.

"Yes," he says.

She turns back to him and closes her eyes in surrender. Delicately, he lowers his lips toward her mouth. He, too, closes his eyes as he nears her lips. She doesn't resist as they make contact. In fact, she seems too nervous to kiss him back. Slowly and patiently, he rubs his lips against hers. After a few moments, she starts moving her lips, returning the kiss clumsily.

Then, to his surprise, their kiss begins to burn passionately as they feel each others' feelings. But he doesn't pull away, and neither does she. Because, he too, has been feeling alone all this time. Only a few minutes later do they finally part. When he opens his eyes, he finds Patchouli smiling peacefully at him.

Her gaze turns to the side lazily. Then, her eyes suddenly widen in horror. Her mouth opens in shock, and her hands start to turn cold. Grimnír swallows nervously as he lets go of the magician and turns around.

Standing behind him is a familiar man dressed in a simple traveller's coat and pants ensemble in the style of early 18th century Europe. The newcomer smiles hollowly at the two of them as he lowers his tray on a nearby table.

"I brought tea," says Grey, his voice completely absent of any emotion.

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

---

"Hello again Miss," says Grimnír.

"Ah!" cries the bat-winged girl. "You are the one from earlier."

"Sorry for the trouble," he says. "I was wondering if..."

"N-no problem," stammers the girl. "So you came back safely, after all. I will lead you to her right now."

"Eh? But I haven't even -"

The red-haired girl gives him a cute little wink in reply. Then, she quickly finishes shelving a few books before heading deep into the library. Fearing that he may get lost, Grimnír just shrugs his suspicions away and follows after her. She is probably the familiar that Yukari mentioned. For some reason, he can't remember her name, as it was only mentioned in passing.

Grimnír glances at the different shelves as they pass. Most of the titles are unintelligible to him, though he spots a number of books in English. Some of them are clearly related to magic, while others cover various subjects. A few, like "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "The Black Cat", seem to be from the Outside. Wait, are those first edition copies? How did they come across items like that?

...

"The magic-user has returned," states Patchouli. She turns a page of her book and continues reading, though she seems to have acknowledged his presence.

"Ah, yes," mumbles Grimnír. "About that. I'm not really a full fledged mage yet. Actually, I only started learning magic a few days ago when Marisa found me in the Forest of Magic."

"A few days ago?" repeats the magician. Her eyes pause for a split-second in mild surprise.

"From my clothes at that time, Marisa said that I must be an Outsider," he says. "I only started wearing these robes when she and Alice decided to teach me magic."

"An Outsider," says Patchouli. She continues reading, albeit a little slower.

"Yes, like that fellow Grey," says Grimnír.

"Interesting," replies the magician.

"..."

An awkward silence passes, as he isn't sure how to reply. He looks around to see that the red-haired girl has already left. Perhaps she has other work to do in the library. Alone with the elemental magician, he contemplates on how to approach her.

"E-er, Alice mentioned that you are magician as well," he says.

"Correct."

"Well, I was wondering if I could ask you to teach me a little bit," continues Grimnír. "I'm only a beginner, and I don't know much, but I'm willing to learn what I can. Please don't trouble yourself if I am being a bother, though. I'd hate to be -"

Without warning, the magician raises a hand to silence him. Then, without looking up, she points to one of the books on her desk. Grimnír glances at the book. It doesn't have any title written on it. He looks up at Patchouli, puzzled.

"I'm only lending it," she says. "Return it when you are finished."

"Ah!" cries Grimnír. "T-thank you, I think?"

Patchouli simply lowers her hand and returns to her reading. Seems like she really loves books. If anything else, she may actually be encouraging him to read. Perhaps he should visit the Voile Library again, if he has the chance. Of course, that would have to wait until his urgent business is concluded.

Grimnír takes a glance around. Looks like he is still alone with Patchouli. That red-haired girl isn't anywhere in sight. He still has quite a bit of time to kill until he needs to leave.

Read something?
[ ] Start reading the untitled book.
[ ] Start reading the book, "Theoretical Boundary Binding and Intervention"
[ ] Continue studying the beginner's magic book, "Basic Magical Theory and Simple Applications"
[ ] Look for something else to read.
[ ] Don't read.
[ ] Custom

What's a nice spot?
[ ] Sit close to Patchouli.
[ ] Sit a comfortable distance from Patchouli.
[ ] Sit far from Patchouli.
[ ] Find another place to read.
[ ] You need to leave the library.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Ask Yukari.

---

"This place will do," mutters Grimnír.

He carefully closes the door behind him, taking care not to make a sound. Thankfully, there is no one else in the room. While he was wandering the halls, he knew immediately that this room wasn't locked. There was a gaping hole in place of a door knob when he saw the door.

A small sign that read, "Private" was stuck in front of the room, almost comically, since it was the only room that was obviously unlocked. Full of boxes and bags, the room looks like a storage area. There seem to be a variety of items in the room. Some of them look like they come from the Outside.

"Hey Yukari," he says, tugging at the front of his robe. "I think we can talk privately in here. Can I talk to you for a while?"

Slowly, a small gap forms in the robe, revealing a small figure in a frilly dress. The tiny person clumsily steps out of the gap, giving him a weak wave as she does so. After yawning a little bit, the little blonde girl pulls out a parasol from the gap before floating up and taking a seat on his shoulder.

"Just napping a bit," Yukari mumbles as she looks around. "Ah, so you managed to get inside the Mansion. What did I miss?"

"You were napping?" says Grimnír.

"Conserving energy," says the girl as she yawns again. "I had to deal with some trouble with the kappa a while ago, so I let this self rest a little."

"I see," he replies. "Well, I suppose you missed a few things..."

He patiently takes a couple of minutes to explain the situation. Somehow, they managed to obtain a sample of blood, but not without making a deal with Remilia. Now he has some time to wander around the Scarlet Devil Mansion, as recommended by the vampire's friendly advice.

"Ara~" says Yukari. "So that's what she wanted..."

"You know what's happening?" asks Grimnír.

The little girl looks at him thoughtfully before replying.

"Maybe~ Maybe not~" she says. "Does it matter?"

Grimnír gives her a shrug. If she doesn't want to explain, this girl could probably talk around him for days. There isn't any need to waste time. He decides not to push the issue. They can talk about something else.

"We have a couple of hours to kill," he says. "Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"

"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," says Yukari cheerfully.

"I don't much care where -" says Grimnír.

"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," says Yukari.

"- so long as I get somewhere," adds Grimnír as an explanation.

"Oh, you're sure to do that," says the tiny girl, "If you only walk long enough."

He opens his mouth to argue, but finds that this logic cannot be denied. Then, he plants his palm on his face in frustration. Yukari only smiles wider as she watches him. She seems to be thoroughly enjoying this. Grimnír decides to try another question.

"What sort of people live about here?" he asks.

"As you already know," says Yukari. "The vampire Remilia stays here, in the second floor. There are a number of other rooms, including those for guests and those for storage. There might be a few more interesting places as well, though I don't recommend snooping around too much."

"I see," says Grimnír.

"Most of the residents stay in the first floor," she says. "The magician Patchouli and her familiar Koakuma stay in the Voile Library, which you already visited. Downstairs, you can find the dining room, kitchen, ball room, and several more rooms for various functions. The fairy maids have their quarters there, too. The chief maid, a human named Sakuya, has her own room around that floor, though I discourage bumping into her."

"Hmm," says Grimnír.

"There are two more characters of note," says Yukari. "The gate guard, whose name eludes me, stays outside. I'm not really sure where she sleeps. And the other vampire, the younger sister Flandre, stays in her own room in the basement."

"How about that butler?" he says. "I think his name was Grey."

Yukari pauses at this question for several moments. Then, she turns and frowns at him.

"That person wasn't here before..." she says slowly.

"..."

[ ] Stay in the storage room.
[ ] Head to Remilia's room.
[ ] Head to the Voile library.
[ ] Head outside.
[ ] Head to the basement.
[ ] Wander around the 2nd floor.
[ ] Wander around the 1st floor.
[ ] Custom

"He didn't say anything else?"

"No, he didn't," replies Grimnír. "He just walked away and disappeared. We didn't go after him, since it was dangerous."

She looks down into her teacup and stirs her tea idly. Then, she looks up at him, her eyes still in deep thought.

"I think I'm starting to understand," she says. "But I need some time to think..."

Grimnír only watches her. After he finished telling his story, her eyes were filled with something he couldn't place. Was it sadness? Regret? Anguish? Relief? Confusion? Or perhaps, it was a more complex combination of emotions. Vampires may feel them differently, after all.

"Anyway, as for you," says Remilia as she puts down her tea cup. "You can leave if you like."

"You are... letting me go?" says Grimnír.

"Of course not," replies the vampire. "However, I find that most humans are only useful to me once or twice in their lifetime. You can go about your own business until you are needed. I expect that you will respond to my call without question, once I give it."

"I guess I have to," he replies.

"Good," says Remilia. "Just stay within the mansion grounds for a couple of hours before you leave."

"Is that an order?" he asks.

"No," she says. "Just a little friendly advice."

...

Grimnír finds himself standing outside Remilia's chambers. Two hours is a long time. He should find something to do, unless he wants to leave immediately.

[ ] Wander around aimlessly.
[ ] Leave the mansion right now.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Stay silent.

---

"I haven't had any for a long time~" whispers the vampire. For a moment, her eyes turn glassy, as if remembering something pleasant. She starts giggling to herself, and then she gives him an almost gentle smile, with just a hint of mischief.

"..."

"Oh, don't be so nervous," she says. "It's not like I'm going to eat you or anything like that."

Without warning, Remilia vanishes from sight. Grimnír blinks stupidly for a moment, mouthing the word "huh" silently. Then, he hears someone breathing directly behind him.

"Unless you want me to~" she whispers.

"..."

Before he can turn around, the vampire grabs him by the shoulders and forces him to face forward. He struggles reflexively against the girl's hands, but to no avail. Her physical strength is definitely beyond that of a normal human. This young and beautiful girl must really be a vampire.

"Don't turn around or I will break your neck," says Remilia firmly.

Grimnír barely manages to stifle a gasp. Slowly and carefully, he nods his head to show that he understands.

"That's better," says the vampire.

She starts to loosen her grip on his shoulders, one finger at a time. Then, he feels her let go of him completely. He sighs silently in relief.

"Now take a seat over there," says Remilia. "You are too tall for me when standing."

"..."

Grimnír reluctantly obeys, taking his seat at the table once more. Just as ordered, he takes care not to turn around. He isn't in the position to refuse her, and he doesn't really feel like risking death. Yukari did say that he would have no chance against this vampire or her sister.

"Very good," she says. "Now stay very still."

"..."

He can hear her tiny footsteps as she walks closer behind him. In a few more seconds, he can feel her small hands gently stroke his shoulders and neck. She seems to be feeling around for something. Is she looking for a vein?

Before he can ask, he suddenly feels the vampire breathing heavily over the back of his neck. Remilia starts panting quietly, as if aroused. Or is she just famished? He can't tell which as he waits for her to act, frozen in place by both fear and anticipation. A faint, sweet aroma wafts into his nostrils from the girl, filling both his body and mind with wild excitement.

"Maybe... just a little..." whispers the vampire.

Suddenly, he feels her press her lips against his neck. He closes his eyes tightly as he awaits the sensation of her fangs against his skin. This must be the exchange that she meant. Blood for blood - a rather fair trade, actually. But as a minute passes, he realizes that she hasn't bit him. Slowly, he opens his eyes. Then, the girl pulls away from him softly, as if ending a kiss.

"Alright, this is enough," says Remilia.

The vampire calmly walks across the table back to her seat, as if nothing happened. She gives him a polite, business-like smile as she takes her teacup. After a sip and a biscuit, she turns to him.

"I need something from you," she says. "Rather, I need something you know. Understand that no harm will come to you if you cooperate."

"..."

"Now please," whispers Remilia. "Tell me everything you know about that human in the Forest."

Loading User Commands:
[X] Accept.
[X] Custom

---

"I want him in exchange," says Remilia.

At those words, Grimnír stays silent and takes a glance at the others. Alice looks both shocked and insulted, but she can't seem to find any words to say. Grey maintains a polite smile, though he looks a little confused. As he turns back to Remilia, he can see the vampire stare straight at him, a wide toothy smile upon her face. He takes a moment to clear his throat before speaking.

"Greedy, aren't we? Recruiting a personal harem?" he asks.

Remilia only smiles wider at those words. She takes a sip of tea before looking at him, then at Alice.

"If you don't feel that the trade is fair, then you are free to ask my younger sister instead," says Remilia. "I'm sure that she will enjoy the company."

"Ah! W-what are you saying! This is completely unaccepta-" mumbles Alice uneasily.

"I accept," he says.

"Yes, that's right!" cries the puppeteer. "There's no way he can - wait... what?"

"Wonderful!" says the vampire, clapping her hands together. "Then it is settled."

Remilia suddenly stands up and walks toward one of the numerous cabinets in the room, each easily twice her height. She opens it and starts searching for something. Then, the vampire effortlessly hovers to search the higher shelves. Her wings flap lazily as she does so. After a minute or so, she returns with something in her hands.

"This vial contains what you need," says Remilia. "A generous sample of vampire blood."

Wait a minute. Why does she have that in stock? Something is very strange here. As if reading his mind, Remilia gives him a small wink. Then, she hands the vial roughly into Alice's hands.

"Don't ask too many questions," says the vampire. "You now have what you need."

"Wait!" cries the dollmaker. "We haven't even -"

"It's alright, Alice," Grimnír says to her. "It will be alright."

"B-but -"

"Don't worry about me," he says. "Just make sure that Marisa recovers, alright? I'll be fine."

He forces a smile. For a moment, Alice looks like she is about to shove the vial back into Remilia's hands in disgust. But she calms down after looking at his eyes. Then, without warning, she runs up and holds him in a tight embrace. After a bit, he feels something hug the back of his head. Even Shanghai...

"I-I'll come back," whispers Alice softly.

They stay like that for a little bit longer before parting. Alice reluctantly pulls away poor Shanghai, who refuses to let go. When he finally turns back at the vampire, she looks extremely amused. Grey, on the other hand, looks almost apologetic.

"Grey," says Remilia. "Please escort Alice to the door."

"Of course," says Grey. "Now, Miss Alice, please come this way..."

The puppeteer holds the vial close to her chest as she follows the butler outside of the room. She pauses for a moment at the door, taking one last glance at him. Then, the door closes with one last click.

"..."

Grimnír swallows nervously as he realizes that he is now alone in the room with a dangerous and powerful vampire. As calmly as possible, he turns toward Remilia. He barely manages an uneasy smile as he looks into those deep crimson eyes.

"Well then," says Remilia. "I wonder how you taste~"

She licks her lips as she appraises him. He can't tell if she is seducing him, or she is just hungry, but he can't help but feel a little bit excited. Her ambiguous words echo in his mind again and again. No matter how hard he tries, he can't read her intentions.

"Ah! Well.. that is..." mumbles Grimnír. He almost trips on his feet as he takes a nervous step backward.

"I haven't had any for a long time~" whispers the vampire. For a moment, her eyes turn glassy, as if remembering a pleasant memory.

Suddenly, he realizes how extraordinarily beautiful this girl is, despite having a young appearance. Her skin is fair and unblemished. Her short blue hair falls neatly along her neck, contrasting perfectly with her deep crimson eyes. Her pink European style dress, though it isn't very revealing, contours and highlights her small and delicate figure.

[ ] Stay silent.
[ ] "Of the highest quality, I believe."
[ ] "Good enough, probably."
[ ] "I'm just average. Nothing special."
[ ] "Not good at all. I don't recommend it."
[ ] "Horrible. Just, horrible."
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Request for a blood sample. (Custom)

---

"So this is the magic-user," says Remilia. "Looks like another unusual Outsider has turned up, but you never mentioned him at the shrine meeting."

Alice slowly puts down her cup.

"And you never mentioned your new butler," she says coldly. "Should I remind Reimu when I see her?"

"Fair enough," replies the vampire, turning to Grimnír. "I don't suppose this one has a name, does he?"

"Grimnír," he says. "Grimnír the Grey."

"Is it, now?" says Remilia. "Interesting. This one has a lot of potential. Can I have him?"

"He is my apprentice," whispers Alice. "And we have more urgent business to discuss."

"I wonder what that could be," says the vampire, her smile growing a little wider. "Indeed, why would the puppeteer of the Forest come all the way to my home? And why would she want to speak to me?"

Alice hesitates for a moment. She takes a long sip of tea before speaking again.

"We need a sample of your blood," she whispers.

At those words, he notices Grey position his right hand beside his coat pocket, ready to pull something out. The butler maintains a polite smile, though his eyes narrow slightly. Remilia, in contrast, doesn't look surprised at all. If anything, she seems amused.

"Pardon my curiosity," says Remilia. "But isn't this situation a little awkward? Why would you need my blood?"

"We need it to save Marisa's life," says Grimnír suddenly.

He takes a glance at Alice, who looks mildly surprised at his interruption. After a moment, the dollmaker gives him a small nod of approval, though she mouths the words "be careful" silently.

"Curiouser and curiouser," whispers the vampire. "Do explain the circumstances of our good friend, the black-white."

"She is hurt," he answers. "We need your blood to cure her."

"I see," says Remilia.

The vampire nibbles on a biscuit before looking straight at him with her crimson eyes.

"What is her injury?" she asks. "I've never heard of vampire blood used in medicine."

"She was attacked in the Forest by a lunatic," says Grimnír. "Some crazy guy carrying a trident."

"Really, now," comments Remilia lightly. "A trident-wielding youkai?"

"No, he was human," he replies. "At least, I think he was."

"An ordinary human who could take down Marisa?" says Remilia. "I've never thought that possible. The black-white is surprisingly resilient."

"He... wasn't ordinary," says Grimnír.

"How so?" whispers the vampire.

"He almost killed us," hisses Alice. "He raised a strange field of influence when we went after him. We were lucky to escape unharmed."

"A field of influence," repeats Remilia. "Could you explain it in more detail?"

"We are wasting time!" cries the puppeteer. "Why so many questions? You already know what we want!"

The vampire ignores the outburst, and she calmly finishes her biscuit before speaking again.

"So you two went down the rabbit-hole to help our good friend, and they told her that they need a sample of my blood?" she says.

"Err..." mumbles Grimnír.

"I wonder if the folks at Eientei can be trusted," whispers Remilia. "Kaguya was acting odd during the shrine meeting. Even Mokou noticed it."

"Wait, we didn't -" stammers Alice.

"Alright," says the vampire. "I'll give you the blood sample on one condition."

Upon hearing those words, a chill runs down Grimnír's spine. Then, the vampire raises a finger and points it straight at him. She can't possibly be thinking -

"I want him in exchange," says Remilia.

[ ] Accept.
[ ] Refuse.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Go meet Remilia. Maybe you can get her help.

---

"Forgive me for intruding," says Grey. "The Mistress insists that you both come and meet her. I am to escort you upstairs."

"Ah! E-er..." mumbles Alice.

Surprised at the newcomer, Alice takes a glance at the other magician, but Patchouli immediately returns to her reading in response. The elemental wizard does not seem at all surprised at this turn of events.

Then, the dollmaker turns to Grimnír. He pauses for only a moment before giving her a small nod. They may as well see the vampire while they are still welcome in this place. They might not have the opportunity later.

...

The hallways of the Mansion are unusually long, so they end up with some time to talk to the butler. Grey seems to be an ordinary person, though surprisingly sociable and good with words. Grimnír simply can't understand how an ordinary person like him can end up employed by deadly vampires. But then again, this is Gensokyo.

"So Miss Alice," says Grey. "I believe that your specialty is doll manipulation and puppetry?"

"H-how did you know?" stammers Alice. "Are you sure we haven't met before?"

"There are few in Gensokyo who have such cute things following behind them," the butler says with a smile. "Does the doll have a name?"

"Ah, of course!" replies the dollmaker. "Her name is Shanghai. She is one of my best works."

"A beautiful name for a beautiful child," whispers Grey as he stops to examine the doll.

As Grimnír watches him stare at the doll, Shanghai gasps slightly in surprise to the sudden attention. She clasps her hands and turns her head away shyly. The doll is wearing an embarrassed expression upon her face, and is she blushing?

"Very impressive," says Grey as he turns back to Alice. "A beautiful name indeed, though Alice is pretty, too."

"E-e-eh? Ah!"

At those words, the dollmaker almost trips on her feet. Her face bright red, she immediately mumbles a few random words as she turns away. Alice seems to have a small smile on her face. For some reason, Grimnír feels irritated at this whole situation, though he can't understand exactly why.

"Ah, forgive me," says Grey with a small bow. "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."

"I-It's alright," whispers Alice.

"That is good to hear," replies the butler. "Now, dear guests, shall we meet the Mistress of the Mansion?"

...

In front of them, a young girl calmly sips her tea as they come in. The first thing he notices are her wings, which are similar to those of a bat. The girl smiles at his curious stare, and stretches her wings slightly in response. Yep, those things are definitely real, and unless this is some kind of illusion, they really are attached to her back. Now that he thinks about it, that sparrow youkai Mystia had wings too. Perhaps they are a common feature among non-humans.

Grey gives them both a bow before walking away. He stands patiently behind the girl, ready to satisfy her orders. Wait. Then this little girl dressed in pink is the Mistress? Yes, she does look unusual with her blue hair, red eyes, and wings, but she can't be anything more than a youkai girl.

"Have a seat," says the girl. "Feel free to have some tea and biscuits."

Alice takes the center seat across from the girl, while Grimnír takes the seat to her left. There is a third seat prepared to the right of Alice. Somehow, it seems odd that there are three seats prepared when there are only two guests. He looks up questioningly at Grey, who simply shrugs. Then, he turns to girl, who only smiles a little wider.

This girl must be the vampire Remilia.
[ ] Request for a blood sample. Don't explain the reason.
[ ] Request for a blood sample. Explain Marisa's condition only.
[ ] Request for a blood sample. Tell the whole story.

Optional (up to two):
[ ] Talk about the repairs around the Mansion.
[ ] Talk about the incidents around the area.
[ ] Talk about the Voile Library.
[ ] Talk about vampires.
[ ] Talk about Yukari.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Ask if you can borrow the book.

---

This book feels really important . But Grimnír can't just take it. Even if no one is sees him, that would be stealing. The last thing he needs are more enemies. He has enough to worry about already.

"Why don't I offer you something in return?" says Alice to the other magician. "Perhaps we can find something that you want."

"There is no need for my involvement," repeats Patchouli, not looking up. She flips another page of her book.

"Then maybe we can -"

"Excuse me," interrupts Grimnír, his voice faltering a little.

He holds the book up in front of him so that Patchouli can see it.

"May I borrow this?" he says.

"W-what? This is no time for -"

Without warning, the pink and purple magician looks up from her book. Alice jumps a bit, startled by the sudden change. Patchouli ignores her, staring first at the book, then at Grimnír.

"Do you think you can finish that?" asks the purple-haired magician.

"I think so," says Grimnír. "I can try, I think."

"Curious," says Patchouli.

She continues staring at him, as if looking right through his eyes and mind. After a couple of minutes, she turns to the dollmaker.

"If he dies, please make sure to return that to me, Alice."

"E-eh? Are you really lending something to a complete stranger?"

"Thank you very much!" says Grimnír. "I really appreciate it."

"Good luck..." whispers Patchouli as she turns back to her reading.

Wait, what?

"Anyway, there is no need for my involvement," says the pink and purple magician.

"How do you know that?" cries Alice.

Patchouli slowly raises an arm to point at someone standing behind the two visitors. Dressed in a simple traveller's coat and pants ensemble in the style of early 18th century Europe, the newcomer gives them a polite smile. Grimnír eyes are immediately drawn to the gun and holster that he wears. He knows this person.

"Good to see you again," says the man. "Grimnír, wasn't it? An unusual name for an Outsider. Did you choose it yourself?"

"..."

"And Miss Margatroid," he says, turning to Alice. "It is a pleasure to have you with us."

"Ah!" squeaks the dollmaker. "H-have we met?"

"Don't worry about it," says the man. "I was sent to fetch our guests. Lady Remilia is already waiting for you."

"But who are you?" says Alice. "I haven't seen you around here before."

"My name is Grey. I am the butler of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. A pleasure to be in your service."

[ ] Go meet Remilia. Maybe you can get her help.
[ ] Stay in the library a little longer. Let Alice deal with the vampire.
[ ] Have Grey escort you elsewhere. (Specify)
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Apologize for your sudden intrusion.
[X] Follow after Alice.

---

"Forgive our sudden intrusion," says Grimnír. "We have some urgent business with the elemental magician, but we mean no disrespect."

"N-no, it's alright!" cries the red-haired girl. "It's my fault for not noticing our guests earlier. I-I'm sorry for the trouble."

She attempts to give him a low and formal bow, and in the attempt, the topmost book of her stack starts falling. Thankfully, he manages to catch it before it hits the ground. He smiles gently at the girl as he hands her back the book.

"Careful," he says. "You might hurt yourself."

"Ah!" squeaks the girl.

"Anyway, I better follow after Alice," says Grimnír. "Good luck with your work, Miss."

"T-thanks," mumbles the girl.

Leaving the strangely winged girl behind him, he quickly follows after the dollmaker. As he approaches the two magicians, he notices that they seem to be talking about something. But by the time he walks within earshot, they both fall silent. Then, Patchouli turns to him.

"You are a magic-user," she says suddenly. From the tone of her voice, it wasn't a question but a statement of fact.

"So I'm told," replies Grimnír.

"Interesting," she says, turning back to Alice. "Is he the reason for your visit?"

"W-what?" cries Alice. "Of course not! Like I said earlier, it's about Marisa -"

Upon hearing that name, Patchouli immediately returns to her reading, as if completely disinterested.

...

"-and that's why we need a sample of vampire blood," says Alice.

"Is that so?" says Patchouli lightly. "Then why don't you ask her yourself?"

"E-eh?" cries the dollmaker. "Can't you help us convince her?"

"Not interested," replies the other magician. "There is no need for my involvement."

"B-but we need your help! Marisa is going to die if things go on like this!"

"Humans die when they are killed," says Patchouli.

Grimnír turns away from the argument. By the looks of things, the pink and purple magician doesn't want to get involved in this mess. But strangely, she doesn't seem to be trying to stop them, either. Is she planning to observe quietly from afar? Or maybe, she has other plans. He can't read her intentions at all.

"..."

Then, something catches his eye. The longer he stares, the more he feels like he needs to approach. Before he realizes it, he loses track of the magicians' conversation completely. Instead, he finds himself drawn closer to one of the shelves. Upon it, he looks at a seemingly ordinary book. But immediately, a voice from deep within whispers that this one is unique.

"Theoretical Boundary Binding and Intervention," its title reads.

For some unexplainable reason, this book feels really important...
[ ] Take the book while no one is looking.
[ ] Ask if you can borrow the book.
[ ] Ignore the book.
[ ] Custom