Mirage Carl, still slipping through the mansion's halls unnoticed, overheard the sounds of a fierce magical battle. The air vibrated with energy, and the unmistakable crag of spells filled the space. He paused, his curiosity piqued.

  He followed the sounds, careful not to alert ao his presehe closer he got, the louder the voices became. One was unmistakably Marisa's—boisterous and filled with challehe other was a calm, almost indifferent voice from a woman who spoke with the fidence of someone who had seen it all.

  Reag the door where the sounds came from, Mirage Carl peered through a crack, his heart rag.

  What he saw was an intense magical duel. Marisa, her usual bravado apparent, was firing off bsts of energy with her usual wild energy. Her oppo, a woman with long purple hair, stood still with an aura of trol surroundihe woman's eyes glowed with quiet power as she jured a series of spells with swift, graceful movements.

  Marisa's voice rang out, full of determination. "You think you beat me, Patchouli?! I'll show you just how strong I am!"

  "Such pests," the atchouli Knowledge—replied calmly, a slight sneer in her voice. "You've no idea what you're dealing with."

  Standing by Patchouli's side, a small, red-haired girl with a mischievous grin observed the se, her eyes filled with excitement. She seemed to be enjoying the chaos, her hands csped together in a gesture of glee.

  Mirage Carl couldn't help but feel a bit out of p the middle of this magical duel. But then something else caught his eye—a straer ball trapping a small girl. Her pale blue eyes peered out from the spherical barrier, her body suspended within. Her features were soft, almost childlike, though there was an air of innoce mixed with sadness around her.

  He didn't reize her, but she seemed out of p the midst of the chaos.

  Just as Mirage Carl was about to step forward, Patchouli's cold voice cut through the noise. "You're wasting my time," she said, gng toward him. "Another pest, again."

  Mirage Carl froze. It seemed that his presence had been noticed.

  Marisa turo look at him, a grin on her face. "Hey! e help me quickly. Magi!"

  Patchouli didn't seem to care much about Mirage Carl's sudden appearahough her sharp gaze sed him for any hint of a threat. "A magi, huh? You're er than these pests. You've all e to disturb my work."

  Koakuma, standing beside her master, gave a giggle and waved at Mirage Carl. "Hello, mister magi! Do you want to join the fun too?"

  The air grew heavier as Patchouli gestured with her hand, intensifying the swirling magical currents. Fill trapped in her watery prison, looked on with a strange mix of curiosity and despair.

  Mirage Carl's mind raced. So many things were happening at once. Who were these people? What was going on with the girl trapped ier? And more importantly—how could he use his tricks to turide in his favor?