Loading User Commands:
[X] Look for the dining room and eat. Can't let Keine's cooking go to waste.
[X] Crack open your spellbook and start studying. A nimble mind takes every chance to gain more knowledge.

---

Grimnír heads out of the room and is enraptured by a delicious aroma. Using his nose, he quickly finds his way to the dining room. He sees on the table a glass of water, a bowl of rice and a portion of meat stew. The presentation of the food is simple, but he has little doubt about its taste. He immediately takes a seat and starts eating. Despite his hunger, he can't help but notice how well the food was prepared. The most delicate hint of herbs and honey stimulate his taste buds. And if these are only leftovers, her freshly cooked dishes must be absolutely exquisite.

Halfway through the meal, he remembers his magical studies. He opens the beginner's magic book and starts studying as he eats. After all, a nimble mind takes every chance to gain more knowledge. His experience with the fairies only prove that he must improve his skills if he wants to survive in Gensokyo.

Recalling the final spell he used in the battle, he quickly browses through the book and searches for any references to it. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to fall under the standard elemental or spiritual categories. He sighs as he takes another mouthful of meat. Yukari mentioned that it was a unique ability, so he isn't really surprised that it isn't mentioned in a standard spellbook. He wonders idly if there are any magicians who are familiar with a larger variety of magic. He doesn't feel like he can trust Yukari, especially after what she did. And he has a really bad feeling about randomly experimenting with the spell.

After finishing the meal, he takes a peek out of a window. From here, he can see Keine teaching her class, though he can't hear much. He needs to thank her for her help, and perhaps he get the name of the person who brought him safely to the village. As a school teacher, she must be knowledgeable about the village, so he can probably ask more about this place as well.

From the window, something suddenly catches his attention. There is a well-dressed man standing outside of the school. He seems to be watching Keine closely, though Keine is too busy with her class to notice. He paces back and forth in front of the school for a few minutes, as if in deep thought. Finally, the man nods to himself and walks into the school.

Grimnír can't help but feel that the situation looks out of place.

[ ] Head to the school and look for Keine. You need to talk to her.
[ ] Head to the school and look for the man. Something is off.
[ ] Stay in the house and continue studying. Stay focused on learning magic.
[ ] Go back to sleep. Maybe that will help clear your head.
[ ] Wander aimlessly outside. Might bump into something interesting.
[ ] Custom

[X] Inventory
A neatly handwritten note. Alice left it earlier.
A long walking stick. It looks sturdy.
A hooded cloak. It can cover your head from the rain.
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.

[X] Magic
"The Unravelling" [_____ magic]. Very dangerous, you'd rather not use it.
??? [defensive magic, earth element]. Not very effective, perhaps you need practice.
??? [offensive magic, fire element]. You think you can try it.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Try to focus your eyes. Something is wrong.

---

Grimnír tries to focus his eyes. A predominantly blue blur seems to be talking to him.

".. you ... water?" it asks.

He doesn't recognize the voice, but it doesn't sound hostile. He nods slowly as he struggles with himself. The pain is slowly fading as his brain starts registering input from the real world. It takes him a few moments to adjust to the air pressure, gravity, and the other natural sensations.

"Here," the voice says.

He thanks the blur as he clumsily takes the glass in his hand. After a few tries, he manages to bring it to his mouth. The cool water flows down his throat. It reminds him of fresh spring water. His vision continues clearing as he drinks the whole glass.

"Are you alright now?" the voice asks, worried.

He turns to see that the owner of the voice is a woman. She has deep brown eyes and long bluish-silver hair. She is wearing a dark blue dress with short, white sleeves and a red ribbon tied to the bottom of the collar. She has a strange, box-shaped hat with strange glyphs inscribed along its side and a red ribbon tied on top. He sighs in relief.

"Definitely not Yukari," he mutters. His vision is almost completely recovered, and the pain has vanished completely. He offers the woman a weak smile.

"Good to hear that you're alright. When you got here, you were unconscious. You didn't look like you needed medical attention, so I left you here for a while to tend to the students," she says.

"T-thank you," he manages. "Where am I? I don't remember what happened very well."

The woman nods.

"You are in the Human Village. A friend of mine said she found you knocked out somewhere on the path from the Forest of Magic. You were really lucky that she passed by, you couldv'e been eaten by wild youkai."

He absentmindedly rubs his legs as he recalls the encounter with the fairies and Yukari. The parasol lady gave him a real scare. But it was just a dream, wasn't it?

"I suppose so. Gensokyo is far more dangerous that I thought," he says.

The woman nods in agreement.

"You must be from the Outside. No one from the village is reckless enough to travel alone these days. Even the youkai living here tend to travel in groups now." she says. "What's your name?"

"Grimnír the Grey," he manages.

"The Grey," she repeats with a puzzled look.

"Just Grimnír will do. It's a long story."

"Well then, Mr. Grimnír, I am Keine Kamishirasawa. I teach a school here in the village."

"I see," he says.

"I left some food for you in the dining room. I hope you don't mind leftovers," she says. "I need to head back to my class right now. I'll be at the school if you need me for anything urgent."

"Thank you very much."

Keine leaves the room. He sits up on the bed for a few minutes, reorienting himself with the waking world. He surveys the room to see that his things were left on desk to the right. The room itself has simple furniture and decoration, but it was done in good taste. He turns to the left and looks out of the window. He can see Keine walking toward a larger building nearby. That must be the school.

Grimnír stands up and stretches. His body feels normal, but somehow he feels drained. He walks over to the desk and collects his things. A loud grumble reminds him that he hasn't eaten anything today. Keine said she left food somewhere.

[ ] Go back to sleep. Maybe that will help clear your head.
[ ] Look for the dining room and eat. Can't let Keine's cooking go to waste.
[ ] Search the house. Perhaps you can find something useful.
[ ] Head to the school. You can probably ask Keine a few things.
[ ] Wander aimlessly outside. Might bump into something interesting.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Awaken.

---

Grimnír wakes with a start, cold sweat dripping down his forehead. He forces himself to sit up as he surveys his surroundings. He seems to be in a bed of some kind, but he doesn't recognize the room. He slowly turns his head from to side to side when suddenly...

"Argh!"

Head is burning. Heat. Sear. Immolate. Need something to cool it. Need ice. Heat. Sear. Immolate. Mind is on fire. It's burning harder.

{Heat. Sear. Immolate. Sacrifice}

"Urgh!"

Cut. Slice. Sever. Head is being torn apart. Losing focus. Cut. Slice. Sever. Losing control. Who am I?

{Cut. Slice. Sever. Dissection}

He collapses on the bed, unable to move. The burning and the cutting are too painful - beyond wounds and injury. As his vision blurs, he wonders if his very existence is being torn apart. Is this the end? Dying in some unknown land for no reason. This is so unfair. Just when I thought I started to understand. Understand? What is he trying to understand? The concept is fading away. Everything is so confusing. He should just close his eyes and leave it all to the others. The others? He frowns as he sees her crying face. He would be leaving her, if he died like this. But that shouldn't matter. After all, he is only...

"... you ... right? ... an... me?"

A voice? Maybe he is starting to hallucinate again. Just forget it.

"..ey! ... help ... you!"

Again he hears it. Such a bother, interrupting his rest. Who is making that racket?

"... recover? .... Eientei.. cine."

Three times. Not a dream. Not an illusion. Not a trick. Focus. Align. Harmonize.

Grimnír forces himself to sit up, but his vision isn't clearing. There is someone else in the room. A woman with long hair. Can't make out other details.

{Isn't that cute?}

[ ] Use offensive magic. It must be Yukari.
[ ] Use defensive magic. It must be Yukari.
[ ] Use _____ magic. It must be Yukari.
[ ] Try to speak. Something is wrong.
[ ] Try to stand up. Something is wrong.
[ ] Do nothing. Something is wrong.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Stay in the shadows; don't let yourself be seen.
[X] "You are no guest, interloper. Stay where you are or this conversation will be over before it begins."

---

"You are no guest, interloper. Stay where you are or this conversation will be over before it begins."

The woman who calls herself Yukari chuckles. A sly smile forms in her lips.

"So you are here, after all. I was hoping I didn't make a mistake somewhere."

Grimnír grits his teeth.

"Why did you come?" he asks.

Yukari covers her mouth with her fan as she tries to face toward his general direction.

"I've come to help you out, of course," she says. "Your ability is quite unique, even among the poweful inhabitants of Gensokyo."

"..."

"I am very interested in helping you develop that ability further. I have a similar power, so perhaps I am best suited for the task."

Grimnír pauses. He does need to know more about his ability, and why he was sent here. But he isn't sure if he can trust this woman.

"Why don't we meet somewhere in Gensokyo then?"

"Ara? But that can be quite inconvenient. The others do not have enough understanding to help you the way I can."

"And why should I trust you after forcing your way in here? This place is mine. I do not recall inviting guests."

Yukari lowers her fan. Her face has a serious expression. Somehow, it doesn't seem to fit this woman.

"Your power is dangerous. Not only to yourself, but to everyone around you. Perhaps even much further than that."

"..."

"Even I know when it's time to get involved. There is too much at risk here."

Grimnír watches in silence. Is it really that dangerous?

"All I ask is that you show yourself. I will take care of the rest."

Suddenly, he cringes. He feels like he is suffocating. Somehow, he feels like he is losing control.

"W-w-what are you doing?" he shouts.

"You caught me at a really bad time, I was in the middle of a discussion. If I stay any longer, Reimu and the others might suspect something."

He coughs and chokes painfully. How can he even feel pain in this place?

[ ] Give in.
[ ] Awaken.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Blue and White.

---

Darkness.

He stands alone once again in the darkness.

But he knows he isn't alone.

[~You learn quickly.]

He has seen this before, why should he be surprised?

[~I suppose you're right.]

He sighs. At least he isn't dead yet, since he is in this place. Why is he here?

[~That's partially my fault, I didn't think you would reach your limit too quickly.]

He frowns. Passing out in the middle of the road isn't exactly what he had in mind.

[~Forget it, you have something more important to deal with.]

Such as?

[~Let me get to it then, you need to...]

...

[~Wait, something is wrong.]

Huh?

[~Someone is trying to force their way in here.]

Impossible. This place doesn't even exist, in the strict sense.

[~She is very powerful, I'll have to leave you, for now. I can't let her know about us.]

Us?

[~Stay in the shadows or leave this place. Remember that this place is yours until you are seen.]

Wait.

Suddenly, he hears a crack to the left. He turns and spots the strangest sight - a deep tear in the darkness; it almost looks like a gash or a deep wound. Within the portal, countless eyes blink and peer out from some indescribable flowing substance. Before he can say anything, someone steps out of the portal.

He doesn't recognize the newcomer. She has long blonde hair and dark, golden eyes. She is wearing a pink and purple dress adorned with unusual markings and red ribbons. She is carrying a pink parasol as she steps daintily onto the darkness. She pauses for a moment to straighten herself up and replace on her head a strange cloth hat with a red ribbon on its front.

"Excuse my intrusion. May I speak with you for a moment?" she asks. She turns head from side to side, as if looking for someone.

He remains silent. This woman is an intruder, and despite her polite tone, she gives him a bad feeling.

"Are you in here? My name is Yukari, and I've come to help," she says as she smiles brightly. While she sounds honest, her eyes fail to hide a glint of malice.

He takes a few silent steps backward. This person is dangerous.

"I would really appreciate it if you show yourself. It is quite rude to treat a guest like this."

You are no guest.

[ ] Walk in view of the parasol lady.
[ ] Wait in the shadows.
[ ] Awaken.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Try to use _____ magic.

---

Grimnír closes his eyes once more and attempts to clear his mind.

[~Let go of despair]

Calmness. Acceptance. Peace.

[~Let go of the world]

Blank. Emptiness. Essence.

[~Let go of the self]

Selfless. Absence. Void.

[~Let go of everything]

.

He opens his eyes and the moment seems like an eternity.

It is not the knowledge of the universe, nor the understanding of all things. It is not the wisdom of history, nor is it the soul of man. It is not the comprehension of laws and omens, nor is it the strength of the mind. But he can see it all - the threads that bind this world called Gensokyo together. He can see beyond it - threads that weave in and out of this world and countless other universes. The threads flow like a living river, unbound by life and death. The threads defy reality, unbound by space and time. The threads exist and do not exist, unbound by definition.

[~This is just a glimpse of your world, through the eyes of...]

Everything is so clear now.

He blinks and sees the globes of light fly toward him. This situation seems to small and petty, compared to what he has seen. But even such a simple encounter must be resolved.

[~The Unravelling]

"The Unravelling!"

For a moment, the field between the Grimnír and the fairies blurs, then turns into an indescribable miasma of color and shape. Then it collapses into itself with a deep unearthly rumble. He watches as the fairies panic and flee into the forest.

The globes, the path, the trees, and everything within a five meter radius just vanished - as if it never existed. Even its memory is slowly fading away.

[~This is your power.]

Grimnír's vision blurs once more, but this time due to a sudden exhaustion.

[~This is why I sent you here.]

He is going to collapse. His body has reached its limit.

[~You are my...]

Everything turns to black.

[ ] Brown and Red.
[ ] Red and Pink.
[ ] Blue and White.