[b][i][u]Location: Fleeting Memories School - 2nd Year Classroom C[/u][/i][/b] [i]The teacher was already in class, but he hasn't started the lesson yet. This gave time for the students to chat. That was also sufficient time to Auror get curious and ask about Marina to Veronica.[/i] [img]https://i.imgur.com/ATGUitS.png[/img] Auror: I got a message from Vivi and I got good and bad news. The good news is that it seems like Marina is going to stay the second period in the library, studying. This means we're one step ahead of getting some info about the Nightmare incident. [img]https://i.imgur.com/Gn9v7w7.png[/img] Auror: The bad news is that Mia's supervising her with Coach Genji. I bet he's there to hit on Marina so it's his own bad luck, but I really didn't want the Holy Order involved in this now... [b][i][u]Location: Fleeting Memories School - Library[/u][/i][/b] [i]Just as Auror said, Marina waas in the library, alongside Mia and Genji. She needed both of them to gain the permission of being absent during the second period. However, while she was trying to get the information she needed, she had to be cautious with them. She couldn't let the truth slip out, especially with Mia in the same room.[/i] [img]https://i.imgur.com/4CNGJSh.png[/img] Marina: ... [img]https://i.imgur.com/17RMteQ.png[/img] Genji: So uh, why do I need to be here again? [img]https://i.imgur.com/zvjKnFL.png[/img] Mia: Even if I am a knight and a member of the Student Council, only the President has the authority to be alone with a student when a period starts. The other members need a teacher. [img]https://i.imgur.com/Mu8VaE4.png[/img] Genji: I see. Well then, what are you studying? [img]https://i.imgur.com/J9MDBGz.png[/img] Marina: There is something I need to discover so I can confirm an hypotesis of mine. While I am here, I need to do reports back to my homeland so I must use this time. [img]https://i.imgur.com/gxY7PLX.png[/img] Mia: I see. Well, if this will not bother your studies here, then I have no objections. [img]https://i.imgur.com/3xK7Mbp.png[/img] Marina: I assure you that it shall not. Now, I must continue so I humbly request moments of silence. [img]https://i.imgur.com/mxGJGK3.png[/img] Genji: A'ight. I'll just hang around the rest of the library. [i]Marina returned to her focus while Genji decided to walk around the library, seemingly bored. Mia, on the other hand, was curious about what Marina was studying.[/i] [img]https://i.imgur.com/zXLpfG5.png[/img] Mia: Marina, if I may ask, what exactly are you pursuing in those books? [img]https://i.imgur.com/MZy8PIf.png[/img] Marina: This... I cannot answer until I reached a conclusion. [img]https://i.imgur.com/901Fzf5.png[/img] Mia: But can't you just tell me what is this hypotesis of yours? [img]https://i.imgur.com/jqyoftR.png[/img] Marina: I am very sorry but it will remain confidential until the answer has been breached. [img]https://i.imgur.com/zvjKnFL.png[/img] Mia: Understood. This is a particular matter of yours, but I only wanted to know. I shall inquire about it no further until you've achieved it. [img]https://i.imgur.com/ALLkS8t.png[/img] Marina: Well then, if you excuse me. [img]https://i.imgur.com/DEL0dJO.png[/img] Marina: (I need to discover if this is truly the case. If it confirms to be, then this will become a problem...) [b][i][u]Location: Spring Zone - Streets[/u][/i][/b] [i]Kaito, who had been gone from school ever since lunch, actually left for the Hakurei Shrine. He wasn't able to think on classes, only worrying if Lucent was OK.[/i] [img]https://i.imgur.com/QeNuVlu.png[/img] Kaito: (I need to confirm if he's OK or not. It's the only way of putting my mind at ease. Even if the others will pull my ear later...) [i]He followed the directions and arrived at the shrine. However, upon climbing the stairway, he found nothing.[/i] [img]https://i.imgur.com/a532uBK.png[/img] Kaito: Wait, where's the shrine? Wasn't it supposed to be here? Alice: Hmm? What is this? [i]As he heard the voice, Alice and Jin were right behind him.[/i] [img]https://i.imgur.com/i2yhT0K.png[/img] Alice: This is where the Hakurei Shrine is supposed to be, isn't it? [img]https://i.imgur.com/3iIzZff.png[/img] Kaito: Uh... y-yeah. [img]https://i.imgur.com/UWsb3vZ.png[/img] Alice: But there's nothing here. It's just an empty space. [img]https://i.imgur.com/tqfHLBg.png[/img] Kaito: I'm finding it weird too, miss. I came to see if my friend was OK, but now there's nothing here. [img]https://i.imgur.com/ngTQBQn.png[/img] Jin: ... Alice, there's something going on. [img]https://i.imgur.com/vDVUdnu.png[/img] Alice: What do you mean, Jin? [img]https://i.imgur.com/2ljnxNw.png[/img] Jin: Don't you feel like something's really off? Like there's a force right here blocking the shrine? [img]https://i.imgur.com/a532uBK.png[/img] Kaito: A force? [img]https://i.imgur.com/HGLjikU.png[/img] Alice: Hmm... [i]Alice walked forward and tried to touch the thin air. Suddenly, she felt something like a wall. It was a barrier. A complex and unnatural one which she wouldn't be able to break.[/i] [img]https://i.imgur.com/i2yhT0K.png[/img] Alice: A barrier? And this isn't from Reimu at all... [img]https://i.imgur.com/qupLCEM.png[/img] Jin: I felt this high spiritual force... but it's completely dark. It's different from what Reimu's able to do. [img]https://i.imgur.com/BVcdHPh.png[/img] Alice: Our contact at the phone was cut short, so I thought something was off. Now with this barrier here, it's certainly abnormal. [img]https://i.imgur.com/h67mUM4.png[/img] Alice: The problem is that I think I can't break the barrier. It's from a power that's very different, compared to ours. [img]https://i.imgur.com/4b0HCfQ.png[/img] Kaito: Then... the shrine is just beyond this barrier, right? [img]https://i.imgur.com/vDVUdnu.png[/img] Alice: It seems that way, but we're currently not able to breach it at all. [img]https://i.imgur.com/2ljnxNw.png[/img] Jin: Let me try something out. Maybe there's a way to open a crack on it. [img]https://i.imgur.com/bmqMyi9.png[/img] Alice: Sure, go ahead. [i]Jin stepped forward and began to meditate. His energy began to charge as he tried to figure out the barrier's weak spot.[/i] [b][i][u]Location: Glory Star Orphanage - Kiragi Starlight's Room[/u][/i][/b] [i]Kiragi was petting Ictio at his room. Suddenly, Umbra felt something.[/i] [b][i]BGM:[/i][/b] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQWxacBeMss]The Secret Whispers -0.2 Ver.-[/url] [img]https://i.imgur.com/7AmSr90.png[/img] Umbra: !! [img]https://i.imgur.com/EVzmQXt.png[/img] Kiragi: Did something happen, Umbra? [img]https://i.imgur.com/9S6co1u.png[/img] Umbra: It did. I felt a hidden fluctuation in reality not too far from here. This is definitely not good... [img]https://i.imgur.com/8ohyuBZ.png[/img] Ictio: Uh oh, bad thing is happening! Bad thing! [img]https://i.imgur.com/4KLRCXU.png[/img] Kiragi: Oh no, if that's the case then we gotta help! [img]https://i.imgur.com/i5X9Eab.png[/img] Umbra: We need to get after the source and stop it. If it's a Nightmare, we might be able to push it away. Lord Kiragi, we'll leave and we'll be back soon- [img]https://i.imgur.com/f5nFkR2.png[/img] Kiragi: No way, I'm going with you! [i]The twins looked at each other and then looked at Kiragi, totally against his decision.[/i] [img]https://i.imgur.com/iIczHsM.png[/img] Umbra: I don't want to disrespect your wish, but Amara will definitely scold you if you leave. [img]https://i.imgur.com/cVyb5Sg.png[/img] Ictio: She'll get really, really angry! It's best if you don't go, Lord Kiragi! [img]https://i.imgur.com/f5nFkR2.png[/img] Kiragi: Nuh-uh, I'm going too! I know Lady Amara will be angry with me lots, but now I wanna help too! I can't let my brothers and sisters in danger! [i]The twins looked at each other once more and while Ictio smiled, Umbra sighed hardly.[/i] [img]https://i.imgur.com/i5X9Eab.png[/img] Umbra: Just don't blame me if she gets angry with you... [img]https://i.imgur.com/itYnUcw.png[/img] Kiragi: I won't, don't worry! [img]https://i.imgur.com/hayOLFX.png[/img] Ictio: Then what are we waiting for? Let's go, guys! [img]https://i.imgur.com/7FHpAOX.png[/img] Kiragi: Let's escape through the back! There's a secret route I know! [img]https://i.imgur.com/9S6co1u.png[/img] Umbra: Why would an orphanage need a secret route...? [i]Kiragi jumped from his window and led the sprites to the scret route he knows.[/i] [b][i][u]Location: Hakurei Shrine?[/u][/i][/b] [b][i]BGM:[/i][/b] [i]The Secret Whispers -0.2 Ver.-[/i] plays here too [i]Reimu had the kids' room sealed somehow. She and Cookie were unable to understand what was happening, since all phone lines were cut.[/i] [img]https://i.imgur.com/Yqa41fW.png[/img] Reimu: I managed to get their number from the kid's cellphone, but we don't have any signal in here somehow. My conversation with Alice was cut down too... [img]https://i.imgur.com/NodlO6Q.png[/img] Cookie: But all electricity was working a while ago. What could have happened? [img]https://i.imgur.com/Wz0A4b7.png[/img] Reimu: I don't know... and for some reason, we can't get past the front door. [img]https://i.imgur.com/HuUPB0L.png[/img] Cookie: This might be an alternative shrine. [img]https://i.imgur.com/v0dypAV.png[/img] Reimu: It could be... after all, I'm feeling spiritual hostiles in the vicinity and I swore I put up a barrier to guard us from those sorts of threats. [img]https://i.imgur.com/AD6OlmR.png[/img] Cookie: Yeah, not to mention the big amount of darkness around us... what this could even mean...? [img]https://i.imgur.com/JoJ10Ma.png[/img] Reimu: What we do know is that it has some relation to the power of the boy... as a dream eater. [img]https://i.imgur.com/YNj0xUD.png[/img] Cookie: Can't you make contact with someone? Anyone? [img]https://i.imgur.com/tk8bmv1.png[/img] Reimu: I can try, but if we're locked in a parallel dimension, this will take some time. [img]https://i.imgur.com/YNj0xUD.png[/img] Cookie: Well then, take your time. I'll guard you if anything happens. [img]https://i.imgur.com/9zA4Ndn.png[/img] Reimu: Are you sure? You've just returned recently... [img]https://i.imgur.com/agd9Niv.png[/img] Cookie: Don't worry. Just do it. [img]https://i.imgur.com/k34FJHT.png[/img] Reimu: Alright then, brace yourself. [i]Reimu began to concentrate in hopes of reaching someone else. Cookie stood steady and on guard to attack any opponent that would come in their way.[/i] [hider=Phantom Phenomena: Lucent Vermillion - Part II] [b][i]BGM:[/i][/b] [i]Aqua -0.2 Ver.-[/i] still playing [i]Lucent kept fighting against his reflection, who seemed to attack endlessly against him. The last batch of projectiles coming from it seemed fierce. Even if they had the same attacks, something made the reflection stronger.[/i] [img]https://i.imgur.com/Kub07aL.png[/img] Lucent: No matter what projectlies I hit, they don't reach it in time. It doesn't seem to be getting tired either... [i]The reflection vanished twice before attacking him from behind with crows. Lucent managed to shield on time as the reflection vanished once again.[/i] [img]https://i.imgur.com/vK3uHoL.png[/img] Lucent: W-Where did it go now? [i]Suddenly, an amount of 10 copies appeared, walking around Lucent. They kept repeating words, all of them equivalent to Lucent's innermost doubts.[/i] [img]https://i.imgur.com/6bnyeSO.png[/img] "I'm nothing more than a murderer." "There's no way I can uphold my promise with the others." "My power hurts people and I can't even control it..." "To suffer like this must be my punishment..." "My friendship with the others is nothing but a lie." "Who am I to save the future of the town?" "My parents hate me... that's why they left." [img]https://i.imgur.com/TuhT9uk.png[/img] Lucent: Stop it... stop it...! [i][color=ed1c24][b]"No one will miss me if I disappear..."[/b][/color][/i] [img]https://i.imgur.com/bkej3Go.png[/img] Lucent: I said STOP!! [i]At his scream, wolves appeared and dashed at all of the copies until no one was there. Soon, the true reflection came out of the mirror once again.[/i] Lucent: Y-You're lying... none of this... is what I think... none of it! [i]The reflection suddenly charged and then started to gleam. Lucent prepared himself, though still in shock.[/i] [/hider]