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.