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