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

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

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

...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Umm..."

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

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

"Huh?" says Grimnír aloud.

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

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

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

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

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

---

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

One of them must be lying.

Suddenly, he feels someone tugging urgently at his robe.

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

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

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

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

"Yeah, I'm fine," replies Grimnír.

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

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

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

Alice blushes slightly, looking away from him.

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

"Well, I suppose that Reisen is -"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grimnír pauses for only a split-second before replying.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

After a few moments, he speaks.

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

Grimnír blinks stupidly before replying.

"Have one?" he repeats.

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

"A curse," he whispers.

The stranger brushes some dust off his clothes.

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

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

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

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

"Tear her apart," whispers the stranger.

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

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

Reisen is going to die.

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

If only he had more power.

Power.

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

What would you do with more power?

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

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

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

What would you do with more power?

...

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

---

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

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

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

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

"Welcome to my Scarlet Paradise," he whispers.

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

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

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

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

"Tear her apart," whispers the stranger.

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

---

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The stranger frowns and grows visibly irritated.

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

"So you met her then?" says Grimnír.

Suddenly, the stranger sneers at them.

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

Grimnír blinks stupidly. Wait... what?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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