Mirage Carl turned his attention back to Patchouli, his curiosity still piqued by the sudden appearance of the Scarlet Mist and the stras unfolding in Gensokyo. "About the Scarlet Mist," he began, his tone serious, "do you know anything about it?"

  Patchouli's eyes narrowed slightly, the first hint of cautioering her expression. "The Scarlet Mist..." she repeated, as if carefully sidering how to respond. "That's a delicate matter. I'm afraid I 't tell you much."

  Mirage Carl raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

  Patchouli sighed, gng over at Fndre, who had been silently watg from the side. "It involves my friend, Remilia Scarlet," she expined, her voice softening at the mention of her name. "I ot betray her trust by revealing too much. But... I tell you where she is."

  Mirage Carl's gaze was unwavering. "Where I find her?"

  Patchouli gave a small nod, as if resigo the fact that the question had been asked. "The Scarlet Devil Mansion's rge room is where you'll find Remilia Scarlet. But be warned," she added, her tone growing serious once more. "She is not someoo take lightly."

  Koakuma, who had been quietly the exge, spoke up. "I will guide you," she said, her voice ge firm. "I know the way."

  With that, Patchouli settled back against the floor, clearly in need of rest after the ordeal. Fndre, who had been standing by, suddenly perked up. She looked at Mirage Carl, her eyes full of excitement. "I haven't seen my sister in such a long time! I want to go with you!"

  Mirage Carl nodded, uanding Fndre's desire to reuh her sister. "Of course. We'll go together."

  Marisa, who had been the exge with mild amusement, gave a small shrug. "Well, looks like we're all headed the same way. Let's go meet that bad guy, then."

  With that, the group—Mirage Carl, Marisa, Fndre, and Koakuma—set off toward the Scarlet Devil Mansion. The journey eaceful enough, but a palpable tension hung in the air, the mystery of the Scarlet Mist and the unknown iions of Remilia Scarlet looming ahead.

  They soon reached a rge room, and there, flying in front of a massive circur window, gazing out at the ndscape beyond, her expression calm but expet, as though she had been waiting for someone.

  Koakuma stopped at the entrance of the room, her posture respectful. She gave a small bow, theurn back to her master, leaving Mirage Carl, Marisa, and Fo approach.

  Remilia didn't turn around immediately, but her voice drifted to them, smooth and elegant. "So, you've e, Fndre," she said, as though she had known the moment they arrived. "It's been so long..."

  Fepped forward, her eyes shining with excitement and longing. "Sister, I've missed you!" she excimed, her voice full of emotion. Her words were almost a whisper, full of reverence for the figure before her.

  Finally, Remilia turned around, her red eyes meeting Fndre's with a mix of affe and something else—something that might have been distant or unreadable. She extended her hand toward Fndre. "It's been far too long, my dear sister. You've grown so much that you e here to see me."

  Mirage Carl and Marisa exged gnces, quietly the se. The atmosphere in the room shifted—an overwhelming feeling of power radiated from Remilia, but it was tempered with something softer, more familial in the way she ied with Fndre.