Loading User Commands:
[X] "Gate"

---

Gate - a point where entry or exit is controlled. When closed, it prevents passage. While open, it allows the flow. This is the essence of Boolean logic. Absolute truth or absolute falsehood - only one can exist at any single point in time or space. There is nothing in-between.

At that moment, it came upon him like the sea crashing upon the rocks. A high wave that comes once every hundred years. In an instant, he understood.

Grimnír looks back at Marisa. Then, he smiles.

"Heh, that's a good face," she remarks. "You are actually starting to look like a magician for once."

She raises her arm and points at him cheerfully.

"Prepare yourself, apprentice," she says. "As your Master, I'll punish you kindly!"

He only gives her a small nod. He can't act too confident just yet. Even if the concept is solid, he still needs to test certain things. And even if it works, his chance of victory is still quite small. If he makes even one mistake, it's all over.

"If this hits, it's really going to hurt!" she cries.

The witch raises her mini-hakkero at him. From this distance, he can easily dodge a linear attack. However, he relents. This is the perfect chance to test his theory. If it fails here, then there isn't any point in trying anything else. Even if it will risk his life, he will stand his ground.

"Love Sign, 「Master Spark」!"

He holds out his hand and forms a barrier wide enough to block the attack. From this distance, it won't look any different from an ordinary barrier. Normally, he wouldn't have enough power to block against her full strength. Logically, this attempt would be suicide. But this time is a little different.

Soon, the blast completely engulfs the barrier, and by the time her attack ends, the forest behind him is reduced to fire and ashes. For a moment, Marisa's eyes widen in horror. But in the next -

"Ah!"

She barely dodges his laser attack. Not much larger than the width of his wrist, the beam barely misses her. The witch turns to see the wizard hovering unharmed to her right. He doesn't have a scratch on him.

"Wow! I didn't think you could block that completely!"

Grimnír only smiles back at the girl. Looks like it works.

At this point she still didn't realize what he did. He most definitely didn't block her spark attack. That would be impossible for a magician of his level. The destroyed bamboo stalks behind him were proof that he didn't block the flow of her beam. Instead, he took the concept of "Gate" and applied it to his barrier magic. What followed was a simple but powerful ability.

A Temporary Barrier

The barrier need not block an attack completely. He only has to maintain it's strength for a split-second so he can avoid the attack. Then, once out of harms way, he can release his focus on the barrier and let the attack flow through harmlessly. This way, he can defend against attacks that are several times more powerful than his own capacity. And since he only has to keep the barrier up for a moment, he saves his own magical energy as well. If he only raises barriers in this way, then he can use his power to form even larger shields or even multiple shields at different points.

Rising from inside, he could feel it - the urge to go on and risk his life on this gamble. Even if it is only a small chance, the possibility of winning exists! He only needs to prepare a scenario that even she can't escape. Yes! As long as he uses his wits, he can defeat this witch even with his inferior power. A spell card duel isn't a battle of raw strength, but one of the mind, after all. With this, he can -

"Ara? So this is were you two have been playing~"

"M-Marisa! What the heck are you thinking!"

But their epic battle will have to be postponed for now. Seems like two newcomers have come to end this beautiful starry night.

...

Back at his room, Grimnír finally realizes how tired he is. The futon looks so comfortable.

[ ] Pass out. Let's continue this tomorrow.
[ ] Pass out. Let's forget that this ever happened.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Extra lessons? Why not?

---

"Stop running, ~ze!"

Grimnír barely dodges another volley of green bolts.

"D-damn it! You said that this was training! What the hell?"

Marisa smiles cheerfully back at him.

"Alice told me that you learned some new tricks. Why don't you show me, apprentice? I won't hurt you ~ze."

The witch raises her mini-hakkero right at him. At this range, he won't be able to dodge it in time. Without hesitation, he starts muttering the spell commands to form a barrier between them.

"Well.. not too much, anyway," she adds as an afterthought.

Suddenly, he finds himself engulfed within a huge beam of light. Somehow, his barrier manages to keep the attack from hitting him, but the spark itself is wider than his spell shield. All he can do is keep his focus on the barrier. For several seconds, he wonders to himself if this is the end. Then, without warning, it stops.

Grimnír slowly peeks from behind the spell shield. Somehow, he feels really irritated when he sees her face. The black-white is smiling as wide as a Cheshire cat.

"Wow! You really can block it! I didn't think that you could ~ze!"

He lowers his barrier and frowns hard at her.

"Wait a minute. You didn't know I could do that?"

"Not at all! I thought that I'd send you to the hospital with that attack!"

"What the hell? Are you crazy?"

"Crazy? Of course not! If I sent you the hospital, then I could nurse you back to health ~ze..."

Marisa smiles brightly at him. Her cheeks are even slightly pink, as if a little embarrassed that she said such words. But what the hell? She would send him to the hospital for such a stupid reason? This girl is impossible!

"Unacceptable," he cries out. "I won't accept that sort of reasoning!"

"Uwaaa! Such a scary face ~ze! He is angry now! What am I going to do, ~ze!"

"..."

At that moment, something in him cracked.

Grimnír raises arm and aims his palm right at this wicked witch. His mind is clear, and his concentration is flawless. He doesn't have a mini-hakkero, but he most certainly doesn't like this someone in front of him. And he definitely doesn't draw his power from 'love'.

The little details don't matter. He smiles darkly as he feels something warm start collecting in his palm. Marisa's eyes widen when she sees his hand shining brightly.

Laser is not difficult.

...

When he opens his eyes, only the burnt earth and forest greets him. Grimnír's face turns pale white. Oh God, did he just...

"Marisa! Are you alright!" he cries out.

Something black and white and slightly charred steps out of the broken bamboo stalks below. After coughing a few times, she picks up her broomstick and inspects it closely. She calmly takes a moment to brush off the dust and leaves from her skirt before looking up. The witch laughs loudly and gives him a thumbs-up. He hurries down and offers to help her, but she just shakes her head. The witch stands up on her own and looks straight at him with her clear and golden eyes.

"You figured it out pretty quickly," she says.

"I-I'm sorry!" he cries. "I didn't think that it would actually work."

"Don't mind it! In any case, I'm still standing, and so are you."

She smiles mischievously at him. Her eyes shine with excitement.

"Let me tell you something good," she says. "Come closer for a bit."

He takes a few steps closer. Suddenly, Marisa grabs him in a headlock. Then, she whispers something into his ears.

"It will take more than 'laser' to take me down."

Grimnír now has a means of attack. But if he is to survive this evening, he needs something else. A way to visualize his ability into something clear. A method for defining his will into this world. A means of focusing his powers.

A "concept".

[ ] "Servant"
[ ] "Mirror"
[ ] "Gate"
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] It would be nice to bump into Marisa.

---

Grimnr looks up. He isn't even surprised anymore. Of course this would happen. A wonderfully convenient coincidence. Convenient for who? Well, not for him. Not at all. He couldn't help but plant his palm firmly upon his forehead.

"Eh? Are you having a headache ~ze?" asks a voice from above.

Marisa is sitting on the roof of the mansion, smiling cheerfully at him.

"What are you doing up there," he says back. "That's dangerous."

"It's fine, it's fine. I just like the view up here. Kinda feels closer to the stars. You know - the stars, ~ze."

He pauses for a moment and considers heading back inside and ignoring her. But then, doing that seems to be too harsh. Even for him. So instead, he does the opposite. A couple of seconds later, he lands beside the black-white magician.

"Marisa, can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"How are you feeling?" he says.

She smiles a little wider before responding.

"I'm fine, ~ze! It will take more than that to kill someone as awesome as me!"

"Heh, I guess Dr. Yagokoro was right. You really are fully recovered. You even managed to fly around and level a third of the mansion, after all. I suppose that it was a foolish question."

"Ahahaha! It was really nice of Eirin to let us stay the night. I really thought she was going to attack us when she stepped out of her dingy lab."

Grimnr shudders slightly as he remembers the cold anger in the eyes of that lunarian doctor.

"Hey, we aren't really guests," he reminds her. "She said that we should stay the night so that we could help with the repairs tomorrow morning..."

"Details, details," she says carelessly. "Anyway, forget about that for now ~ze."

"Uh..."

Marisa suddenly points at the sky.

"You should sieze the moment!" she cries out. "Live each day like it's your last, and die with not a single regret! Shine brightly like a star before you vanish."

"Stars don't vanish," he reminds her.

"Er... what was it again? Ah! Like a shooting star ~ze!"

"A shooting star?"

Marisa stretches her arms enthusiastically.

"Yep," she says. "They last only for a moment, so they have to work their hardest to shine brightly!"

"I see," he replies. "Sound like too much trouble though. I think I'll pass."

The witch frowns at him for a moment. Then, she lowers her head and slowly removes her hat.

"Is that how it is?" she whispers.

"Er... that isn't really what I -"

"It's decided then!" she cries. "Looks like you need some extra lessons, you clueless apprentice! Be thankful that someone as awesome as I has taken pity on you!"

"..."

She doesn't look like she is joking.

[ ] Extra lessons? Why not?
[ ] Refuse. Maybe next time.
[ ] Sneak away quietly.
[ ] Custom

Marisa smiled the brightest of smiles. She waved at them as she ran up excitedly. Then, she extended her arm to shake Suika's hand.

"Hey Suika!" she said. "Long time no see!"

At the time, Grimnr didn't notice anything wrong. Everything up to this point seemed normal (or as close to normal as it could be, since this was Gensokyo, after all). He couldn't see Marisa as anything but a cheerful ordinary magician.

"Marisa!" cried the Oni. "What are you and that one doing here?"

Suika raised her arm towards Alice. He frowned. Don't point at Alice like that. It's rude.

"W-well... t-that is..."

Suddenly, an icy voice interrupted her.

"Hey Marisa," whispers Alice. "Why the stuttering? Just yell at her like you always do. 'Bitch, get out of the way!' Like that."

The dollmaker narrowed her eyes and smirked.

"Don't tell me that 'We'll be in for it if she gets mad!'," she said coldly. "I don't think that we can just walk away, now that we -"

Grimnr turned back toward Marisa, and his eyes widened in shock. Neither Suika nor Alice have noticed it yet, but there was no mistaking it. Marisa's mini-Hakkero was already in her hand. With a calm expression, she slowly raised it right at Suika's face.

"Magicannon, ?Final Spark?" she declared, a bright smile upon her face.

As the world turned white, he stepped back. But he knew that it was already too late. He closed his eyes and braced himself for the impact. And then, without warning,

He fell.

...

He can't remember the details, but by the time he stopped falling, he was already sitting in a cozy armchair in front of another familiar face. His head was still spinning violently, and he felt like vomitting. Across from him, the other person put down her teacup and gave him a tiny smile. There doesn't seem to be anyone else in the room.

"Would you like to have some tea?" she asked.

"..."

"With me," she added, perhaps as an afterthought.

Sitting in front of him was the third troublesome blonde that was missing from his current predicament. The Youkai of Boundaries: Yukari Yakumo. Strangely enough, she doesn't seem to be the cause of his trouble. This time, at least.

"..."

Slowly, he looked down to see a small tray upon a tea table. Upon it were some teacups and sweet biscuits. He gave the girl a questioning glance.

"There isn't anything strange in it," she answered.

"I never asked," he said with a smile.

"Of course you didn't," said the girl with a smile that mirrored his.

He carefully took the teacup to his lips, sipping slowly. This tea...

"Earl Grey?" he asked.

"The finest blend in London, 1845," she answered.

"1845? But this isn't wine," he said.

"That's the year it came from," she said. "1845, fresh."

"Is that so?"

He took another sip. It really is a fine blend.

...

Peaceful.

He never expected it, but that was the only word he could use to describe the time that he had spent with her. They stayed together like that, sitting and talking. Sitting across from each other, a comfortable and safe distance. Talking about nothing important, nothing serious. Everyday things and everyday thoughts.

In that quiet little sitting room, he felt that time stood still. He could hear the sound of her cup hitting the saucer as she put down her tea. He felt her looking at him with gentle, unhurried eyes. He saw her smile at him simply, without a trace of malice.

And he smiled back.

...

Everything was still a mess when they returned, of course. Somehow, the place had turned into a massive battlefield. Yukari disappeared with a wink, giving him a look that said, "You can clean up your own mess." So the rest of the evening was spent trying to do exactly that, though for the most part, it didn't go as planned.

"Haa..."

Grimnr looks up from his bed, staring at the ceiling as he collects his thoughts. His head is starting to clear up, and the numbness in his legs is starting to disappear.

For some reason, he can't sleep.

Slowly, he gets up. A walk would be nice. The night air would definitely do him some good. After stretching his arms and legs a few times, he prepares to head outside.

[ ] It would be nice to bump into Alice.
[ ] It would be nice to bump into Marisa.
[ ] It would be nice to bump into Yukari.
[ ] It would be nice to have the evening to myself.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Remember what Yukari did.

---

"Sorry, but I don't drink," said Grimnír firmly.

No way was he going to drink out of that suspicious gourd. Sake that an Oni drinks? From the beginning, he had felt something dangerous from her brand of alcohol. Such a thing would probably knock him out cold, if he wasn't careful.

"Hehehe... you don't drink, eh?"

"W-well, I drink a little bit," he admitted. "But I don't really drink as a habit, and rarely do I consume anything stronger than wine."

This statement was the complete truth. He had hoped that it would be enough. Clearly, he was mistaken. Suika only smiled wider, a malicious glint in her eye.

"Err... Suika? W-why are you smiling like that?" said Grimnír.

"Smiling? Now why was it, I wonder~" replied the Oni.

Suika took a long swig from her gourd. For a moment, he thought that the discussion was over. But when her eyes suddenly met his, he saw what she was thinking. Immediately, he formed a barrier between them, but he was already too late. In the next second, the Oni was already standing right in front of him. His eyes widened in horror as -

"Chuu~"

The Oni had forced her lips onto his. He tried to pull away, but he couldn't escape. The girl had already grabbed the back of his head to hold him in place. Her grip was incredibly strong. Then, he suddenly felt her tongue push desperately between his lips. He couldn't help but open them in surprise. That was a mistake.

"Mmph!"

Suika had not swallowed a drop of the sake from earlier. Instead, she was forcefully pouring the alcohol from her mouth into his. His face quickly turned red as the powerful drink went down his throat. By the time she had let him go, his head was spinning and he could barely stand up. W-what the hell? Normal humans can't possibly drink something as hazardous as this!

"Good stuff, isn't it?" whispered Suika. "Would you like to taste a little more~"

He only looked back at her silently. Partly because he was tempted to say "Yes", as the girl's innocent expression was incredibly cute, and partly because he couldn't think properly anymore because of the alcohol. Unsatisfied by his response, the Oni opened her mouth to argue.

"..."

But then, they weren't alone in the hallway anymore. In fact, by the look of Alice's pale white face and Marisa's strained grin, they hadn't been alone for the past several minutes. His head only pounded more painfully as he struggled to think of a way out of this mess.

The man named Grimnír manages to make it back to his room. His head pounds painfully as he looks around for his futon. It really hurts his head. He shouldn't have drunk so much.

"..."

Wait.. was he drinking? What was he drinking? He struggles with himself as he tries to remember... yet the last few hours. Nothing registers. Huh?

Suddenly, he sneezes. Is he catching a cold? He shivers slightly as he makes his way across the room. Something feels strange... almost inconsistent. But then, he starts to recall the events that led to this. Almost too conveniently. But of course, he can't realize it.

"Ah..."

Suika answered the riddle correctly, and he told her so. Then, things went crazy. He doesn't understand exactly what had happened next, but it somehow involved the following: Alice frozen in place, Sake, An ever-smiling Marisa, A kiss (accidental?), A lesson about easy lasers, Shanghai hug, Shattered barriers, An overturned salt shaker, Yukari's grin, Teleportation, Numerous holes in the wall and roof, Rice cakes, Reisen hiding under a table, A dance around a bonfire, Patchouli excusing herself quietly as she leaves, A three-way duel, Being tied up and gagged for half an hour, Someone whispering to his ears "It's needle time", and a welcoming party.

"Ugh..."

Shit. Shouldn't have drunk so much. Or something. Suddenly, the bed looks really comfortable. But before he falls asleep...

[ ] Remember what Alice did.
[ ] Remember what Marisa did.
[ ] Remember what Yukari did.

A Tremor

Darkness.

I fell once more into the truth that I had forgotten. All around swirled the lost memory... the fragments of ebony. Like picking up the pieces of a broken mirror, any effort was futile. It was pointless to ponder; pointless to comprehend. The endless days of searching and seeking had finally come to an end. After living like Sisyphus for a moment and an eternity, I found it.

I didn't know if it was a curse or a miracle.

Each time I closed my eyes, I remembered that wonderful dream. Of friends and family I never met. And of whom I never will, now that I have found the truth. But I don't mind. I had always believed that the truth was preferable to lies, no matter how painful it was. Perhaps, deep inside, I had always known. Childlishly, I refused to accept it, as it was something I could not understand. Something beyond the experiences and imagination of an ordinary person.

Yet, from the beginning, I knew that it wouldn't last.

I always felt that something was strange. If I were to describe it, I felt like there was always a loose thread in this fabric called reality. A place, a person, a series of events - it didn't matter which. At times, it would be the smallest of coincidences. But then, even the simplest of things can give birth to doubt. A doubt that grew into the realization of truth.

That I was standing at the end of the world.

So I fell once more into the truth that I had forgotten. Yet I had no regrets. Because I knew that the truth would always be preferable to lies. And everything would turn out fine, now that I had returned here, to the end of the world. I closed my eyes and smiled. The memory of a passing dream is enough for me. I can rest now.

Or so I had thought.

Without warning, a single ray of light flashed upon me from the heavens. As if to wake me... no, as if to mock me. I cringed and struggled. I waved my arms in defiance. Yet that light would not give up. Despite my refusal, I found myself drawn to it. This was a disaster... no, a catastrophe. Everything I had sacrificed would be for naught. Yet, I could not resist. Or rather, it only took one more push.

She called out my name.

And the world trembled.