[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.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Create a new possibility.

---

Grimnír pants heavily as he catches his breath. He doesn't have much strength left, and Alice isn't stopping. As he watches, the magician draws another spell card and begins chanting. He won't be able to block this attack. Is she really going to kill him this time?

"No," he whispers. "I'm not going to die here!"

His bracelet begins glowing strangely. Engraved upon it is a serpent biting its own tail. The eyes of the snake flash bright red as he watches. Then, he begins to understand.

Grimnír raises his staff as he chants a new spell. He can feel the power of the elder gods fill him as he utters each command word. This once forbidden magic is in his hands. The possibilities are endless.

He smiles confidently at the dollmaker. Alice doesn't stand a chance.

"Hey, are you alright?"

...

"Whu-what?" he mutters sleepily.

"Are you alright?" asks a familiar voice. "You were talking in your sleep."

Grimnír opens his eyes to see Alice standing over him. She looks a bit worried.

"I'm fine, I think," he manages. "I guess I was dreaming..."

"What was that spell?" she asks suddenly. "You were muttering command words."

"Huh?"

Grimnír closes his eyes as he tries to remember, but he can't recall much of the details. But he can remember something else. A single word.

"Jörmungandr," he whispers.

"..."

"Er... sorry, I don't really remember, ahahaha..."

Alice frowns at him. This time, her expression is grave.

"D-did you see Yukari again?" she whispers.

[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Alice
[X] Well she can probably stay, it couldn't be all bad.

---

"Magic Sign, 「Artful Chanter」!"

Grimnír doesn't have time to avoid the attack. He raises his hands and quickly chants a barrier spell. As he is bombarded by explosions, he focuses his mind on reinforcing the spell shield. Every second passes painfully as he blocks the attack. At any moment, the barrier can break.

The last time she broke through his shield, he spent two weeks recovering at Eientei. While she is usually calm, Master Alice can become exceptionally dangerous at times. And it seems like this is one of those moments.

After a few minutes, her barrage ends. He sighs in relief as he catches his breath. The normally timid dollmaker changes into a completely different person in battle. But it isn't necessarily a bad thing. If his life wasn't in jeopardy, he would probably admit that he finds this Alice quite attractive as well.

"W-what the hell, Alice? Are you trying to kill me again?" he cries out.

"Do you think so? What makes you think that?" she replies coldly.

Alice frowns at his puzzled expression. It lasts for only a moment, but her eyes glance at the firefly girl watching below. Then, he remembers. Master always trains him in secluded, quiet places, away from prying eyes. The noisy and energetic Wriggle Nightbug is the perfect foil to her visit.

"Damn it, Wriggle!" he whispers under his breath.

At first he thought, "Well, she could probably stay". While a little nosy, she is far more well-behaved than the stupid ice fairy or the darkness youkai. She and Alice seem to be civil enough around each other. It couldn't be all bad. What could possibly go wrong?

"You can do it, Grim!" cries Wriggle suddenly. "She isn't that tough! The black-white could do better than that!"

"Ahahaha..." he mumbles uneasily.

Alice smiles grows wider at her words. Her left eye seems to be twitching slightly. Oh wow, Wriggle. Is that bug really trying to get him killed? By the looks of it, he'll be looking at another trip to the hospital. Or worse. He better try to get Alice to calm down before she starts going spell card crazy.

"Hey Master," he says, as calmly as possible. "You said earlier that you wanted me to try another kind of magic?"

"So you were listening?" she replies. "I couldn't tell because of a certain uninvited guest."

"What did you mean when you said, 'use your own magic'?" he asks, ignoring the comment.

"I meant it exactly as I said it, 'Grim'," returns Alice. "Focus on your own unique powers. I've seen you do it before."

"B-but you said that it's too dangerous to use," he argues. "You told me never to use it."

"Your awareness and control has greatly improved," she says. "You should be able to imbue the magic into a spell card this time."

Grimnír pauses. He always wondered about how to use his powers, but is this the right time to try it? He doesn't even fully understand how they work, and he almost got himself killed last time.

"Like I explained earlier, you seem to have the ability to alter materials in ways that go beyond known magic. Patchouli said that your skill with the elements was far greater than that of most magicians. Even that Black-White said that you could dodge her spark attacks even when there is no possible direction of escape. You can cause subtle changes between planes, with unexpectedly powerful results."

"But I almost got killed last time," argues Grimnír. "And I only succeeded because I was trapped and cornered!"

Alice only smiles at him. A cold and calculating expression, this only makes him shudder. She can't possibly be thinking...

"I'm tired of waiting," she says. "You are going to learn how to use that power, or die trying. Slowly and painfully, if you choose the latter."

Before he can think of anything else, his eyes are drawn to the spell card in her hands.

"War Command, 「Doll's War」!" cries Alice.

... What the hell is she so pissed about anyway?
[ ] Create a new possibility.
[ ] Manipulate an existing possibility.
[ ] Destroy a future possibility.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Go to sleep.

---

"So tell me why you came to visit," Grimnír says.

"Eh? Do I need a reason to visit you?" replies Wriggle. She grabs another sweet biscuit and munches on it hungrily.

"... I suppose not." he says.

Since he moved out of the Human Village into the Forest of Magic, he hasn't received many visitors. While the place is a little lonely, he doesn't mind. Here, he can practice magic and develop new spells without disturbing anyone else.

He can still remember the time when he accidentally blew up the school house (thankfully, no one was hurt). Man, Keine was pissed! Somehow, he got away with only a few cuts and bruises. Who knows what would have happened if he caught her during the full moon...

In any case, he moved into a small cottage in the Forest of Magic. Here, he would be free from the daily disturbances of the village. However, another daily disturbance replaced it instead.

This youkai girl in front of him.

He doesn't remember when, but before he knew it, Wriggle started visiting him regularly. The firefly girl seemed a bit interested in his experiments, but it couldn't possibly be just that. In fact, he should just ask her straight out.

"Hey Wriggle, why do you keep visiting everyday?" he asks.

Wriggle pauses for only a split-second before replying.

"It's because I like bothering you!" she says.

He slams his palm against his head. Hard.

"..."

Suddenly, he remembers something important. Master is coming to visit today.

What was her name again?
[ ] Alice
[ ] Marisa
[ ] Yukari

You should get rid of Wriggle.
[ ] Ask her to leave politely.
[ ] Tell her to get the hell out.
[ ] Drive her out with spells.
[ ] Kill Wriggle.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Cover her with your blanket.
[X] Leave the room silently.

---

Alice is sitting on a small chair beside the bed. She cushions her head with her folded arms as she sleeps peacefully. Shanghai sits beside her, unmoving. The magician looks especially vulnerable right now. Grimnír quickly looks away, very much aware that his face must be bright red. He can't just wake her up, and staying here and staring at her sleeping face makes him feel like some stalker or pervert.

After a few moments of contemplation, he carefully gets off the bed from the other side. He checks his things, then slings the sack behind him. He probably won't need anything, but he is starting to develop a habit of carrying his stuff with him.

He takes a moment to look at Alice. Very carefully, he pulls his blanket over her shoulders. She might catch a cold, after all. With one last glance at the sleeping dollmaker, he gently closes the door and walks into the hallways of Eientei.

Before long, he finds himself lost within the labyrinth that is Eientei. Keeping his head, Grimnír carefully maps out the immediate area in his head. If he approaches this logically and consistently, he should be able to find his way to the dining room or main clinic. The thought of opening a door and running into someone changing is enough to discourage him from entering rooms randomly. He would ask for directions if he could, but he hasn't met anyone in the halls. Is it possible that the mansion staff is busy with other duties?

It takes him the better part of a half hour, but he finally finds his way to the dining room without incident. He sighs in relief as he sees a familiar face smile at him. Grimnír takes an empty seat and starts to eat dinner. Hunger is good motivation, he notes.

...

During the meal, Dr. Yagokoro explained that he had no major injuries. It seems like Alice used her dolls to catch him before he hit the ground. However, his body was severely strained by the training. She recommended that he avoid acting recklessly in the future, as he may not be as lucky the next time it happens.

She also mentioned that she developed a drug that would slow down the effects of Marisa's injury. After careful testing, they managed to stabilize her condition (he did notice that Reisen shivered slightly at the word "testing"). They have bought her at least a few more days, which is very good news.

Dr. Yagokoro did ask a single, strange question, though.

"Did you have any unusual dreams?" she asked.

Grimnír gave her a nod, but stayed silent.

"Interesting," she said. "I suppose that you'll be able to explain it better in the morning, so I won't push any further."

...

Reisen escorted him to one of the mansion guest rooms. She said that it is too dangerous to travel at night, especially during these troubled times. There is another room prepared for Alice, and Marisa's condition seems to be stable, so they need not worry. The bunny-eared girl told him that he should focus on resting.

"Doctor's orders," she says with a kind smile.

"Hmm?"

"Please don't do anything reckless," explains Reisen. "While Dr. Yagokoro's patients are generally hardheaded, I'm sure that she would appreciate it if you would be an exception."

"Is that so?"

"I would appreciate it, too, if you would take care of yourself," adds Reisen in a whisper.

After she leaves, Grimnír finds himself alone in his assigned room. After a moment, he realizes that he doesn't know where Alice's room is. Also, neither of them mentioned anything about Wriggle. He wonders idly if some information was purposely being kept from him.

"..."

But in any case, rest seems to be in order, for now.

[ ] Explore Eientei.
[ ] Try to find Alice's room.
[ ] Go to sleep.
[ ] Custom

Grimnír opens his eyes. He stares blankly at the ceiling for several minutes as he tries to clear his mind. Turning his head from side to side, he finds himself lying on one of the hospital beds in Eientei. There are curtains drawn around him, so he can't see much else.

He takes a couple of minutes to feel for his limbs. He sighs in relief when he finds that they are all intact, though he still feels pretty exhausted from the ordeal. The last thing he remembers is plummeting down toward the ground after casting that dangerous spell a second time. Under normal circumstances, he should be dead from a fall at that height.

"..."

Grimnír blinks blankly. He can feel a presence. Someone else is nearby. Only after a few minutes of scanning the area does he realize that this person is right beside him. He still doesn't understand how he didn't notice her earlier.

Alice is sitting on a small chair beside his bed. She cushions her head with her folded arms as she sleeps peacefully. Shanghai sits lifelessly against one of her arms. She looks especially vulnerable (and cute) like this.

A glance at the other side tells him that his sack is lying beside his bed. He can probably leave without waking Alice if he is careful enough.

[ ] Gently nudge Alice awake.
[ ] Pull a prank on the sleeping dollmaker.
[ ] Continue watching her sleep.
[ ] Cover her with your blanket.
[ ] Leave the room silently.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Custom

---

Yukari opens her mouth, as if to argue, but she closes it after a few moments, unable to find the words. Slowly, she lowers her eyes in apology.

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

Grimnír mumbles something in reply as he looks away to think. This is beginning to turn into something complicated. The strangest part is that she sounds sincere, but it could be another one of her tricks.

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

"Wait," he says. He has no idea why Yukari created that illusionary world, or what other devious plans she might have, but he did accept her invitation. If he plays his cards right, she might be able to help Marisa. At the very least, he doesn't want to make her his enemy.

"..."

"I guess I shouldn't have snapped at you like that," he says. "I'm a little frustrated right now, with everything falling apart and not going as planned. I'm just feeling angry because of how helpless I feel in all of this."

Yukari turns her head to face him. Grimnír clears his throat before continuing.

"W-what I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry, too," he mutters. Carefully, he looks away to hide his face. "I suppose that I did have fun with you, even if it was an illusion."

"It wasn't an illusion," she says with a smile. "And I'm glad that you enjoyed it too."

"What?" he replies. "What was that place, then?"

Yukari winks at him mischievously.

"Now that's a secret~" she returns. "No fun if I tell you right away."

Grimnír sighs in exasperation. He is beginning to tire of these games.

"Anyway, I did have a good reason to accept your invitation," he says seriously.

"And here I thought that you just enjoyed my company," returns Yukari as she looks away and pretends to wipe away a tear.

"I never said that I didn't," replies Grimnír. "But there is something else. We need your help."

Yukari's smile widens, as if she was expecting something like this. For some reason, he feels really irritated. Does she enjoy confusing him?

"Marisa is dying," he finishes.

"Huh?" mutters Yukari blankly. Whatever she was expecting, it wasn't this.

"She was attacked by someone in the Forest of Magic," he says. "The injury isn't natural. Even Dr. Yagokoro can't figure it out."

Yukari pauses to collect her thoughts. She looks quite serious as she thinks. Somehow, such an expression doesn't seem to suit her. After a few minutes, she finally speaks.

"The black-white is still needed," says Yukari solemnly. "She can't be allowed to fall just yet."

Grimnír sighs in relief. Perhaps this is the best course of action, after all. A Youkai as powerful and influential as Yukari should be able to easily resolve this incident.

"However, I can't go over to Eientei right now," she says. "It will be dangerous if Reimu finds out about Marisa. Even more so if she discovers your abilities."

"I see," he answers. He hasn't heard much about the shrine maiden, but he does remember hearing about her reckless way of doing things.

"There is another way I can help," she says. "But I need someone to do the legwork for me. And I know of the perfect person to do it."

Without warning, she raises her fan and points it toward him. He doesn't like the way she is smiling. Not at all.

"W-what?" he stammers. He has a really bad feeling about this.