After the chilling enter with Yukari, Mirage Carl and Mystia made their way back through the forest. Mystia looked exhausted, her usual eic demeanor repced by a weary expression.

  "Hey, Mystia," Mirage Carl said gently. "Why don't you head back to the treehouse a some rest?"

  Mystia hesitated, her eyes flig back to where they had seen Yukari. "A-Are you sure? What if she es back?"

  Mirage Carl smiled, trying to ease her worries. "Don't worry. I'll be fine. I'm just going to ask Reimu a few questions. I'll be back soon."

  Mystia sighed, nodding slowly. "Alright... but be careful, okay?"

  Mirage Carl gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "I will. Go o some sleep."

  After making sure Mystia was safely back at the treehouse, Mirage Carl set off toward the Hakurei Shrihe enter with Yukari Yakumo was still fresh in his mind. Her pierg golden eyes, her knowing smile, and the way she saw through him so easily—it all left him feeling uled.

  The sun was beginning to set as he arrived at the shrine. Reimu was sweeping the steps zily, her movements sluggish as she tried to fight off her drowsiness. Wheiced Mirage Carl approag, she gave him a curious look.

  "You again? Didn't think you'd e back so soon," she said, leaning on her broom.

  Mirage Carl forced a casual smile. "I ran into someone... someone who seemed to know a lot about me. It was... uling."

  Reimu raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And who was that?"

  Mirage Carl hesitated, the name almost heavy on his tongue. "Yukari Yakumo."

  Reimu's eyes widened, her grip on the broom tightening. "Yukari? She approached you?"

  Mirage Carl nodded. "She knew I wasn't from here... and she seemed really ied in me. She said she'd be watg me closely."

  Reimu let out a long sigh, rubbing her forehead. "That's just like her... stig her o everything." She looked Mirage Carl straight in the eye. "Listen, Yukari is dangerous. She trols boundaries—between pces, betweeies. She's probably the reason you're even here."

  Mirage Carl's eyes widened. "She brought me here?"

  Reimu shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not. But she definitely knows how you got here, even if she won't say it ht." She narrowed her eyes. "You said she was ied in you... did she mention why?"

  Mirage Carl shook his head. "No, but she kept calling me 'a magi without magic.' It was like she was trying to see through me."

  Reimu crossed her arms, her expression serious. "That's what she does. She watches, she waits, and she meddles. If she's ied in you, that means she thinks you're important... or at least amusing enough to keep around."

  Mirage Carl felt a chill run down his spine. "I don't like being someone's eai."

  Reimu sighed. "Well, if she's got her eyes on you, there's not much you do. Just be careful. If she wants something, she'll find a way to get it. And if she decides you're a threat... well, you won't eve ing."

  Mirage Carl took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Thanks for the warning. I'll keep my guard up."

  Reimu leaned back against the shrine wall, her gaze distant. "If you want to avoid her, stay away from pces where the boundaries are weak. She likes to hang around those pces... like the edges of reality."

  Mirage Carl nodded. "I'll remember that." He hesitated before asking, "Why didn't she attack me?"

  Reimu shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe she's just curious. Or maybe she's pnning something. With Yukari, you never really know."

  Mirage Carl looked out at the su, his thoughts swirling. "What if... she's the reason I'm here?"

  Reimu was silent for a moment before answering, "Then you're part of her game. And the only way to win... is to py along until you figure out her rules."

  Mirage Carl ched his fists. He hated the idea of being a pawn. But if that was the case, he would py the game his way.

  Reimu gave him a sympathetic look. "Just be careful. And don't get too involved with her. The st thing you want is to get tangled in her schemes."

  Mirage Carl turo leave. "Thanks, Reimu. I owe you one."

  Reimu waved him off. "Just stay out of trouble. And if you see Marisa, tell her she still owes me for that broken floor."

  Mirage Carl chuckled. "I'll pass along the message."

  As he walked away from the shrine, his mind was filled with questions. Who was Yukari really? And why was she so ied in him? Did she know about my ability?