Diego, Nacht, and Kisa have now been traveling as a team for three days. Isolde wants to speak with them.
Isolde: "Good, you three… I can see you've gotten a bit better. I think you already know that Tales feed on the dukh of the beings they kill…"
Diego: "What's dukh?"
Nacht: "Spirit—basically the Tales' food."
Isolde: "When Tales consume 100 dukh, they grow stronger and grant another weapon form. At 500, they can grant a new transformation."
Diego: "Oh… I see. And how do I know if my Tales are eating it?"
Nacht: "Simple. If you destroy a core, they feed on its spirit. You'll only notice if you watch them closely."
Diego: "Got it."
Isolde: "Anyway… I'm introducing someone today. From now on he'll also be responsible for many members."
She opens the door—and in steps… not quite a normal man. A young man with white hair and a single-eye monocle. An arrow pierces his head, entering from the left side and exiting the right.
Einstein: "Morning. I'm Einstein. From now on, I'll be the one giving you missions."
Isolde: "It's not that you can't accept other requests. It's that you'll handle missions—important ones—and necessary assignments."
Nacht: "Got it… like Layla."
Isolde: "Exactly."
Einstein: "So, here's the thing. We have no free members at the moment, so I'd like to ask two things. First… I'd like to live in your tower for now."
Diego: "Huh?"
Nacht: "Ah… great. I'd just gotten used to the rookie…"
Kisa: "Yes… Another person! If you don't have a room, you can sleep in mine!"
Nacht: "(Sweats) That… sounds… wrong."
Diego: "(Sweats) So wrong…"
(Introductions)
Kisa: "Doctor… please be gentle."
Einstein: "You'll just have to scream a little. Open your mouth so I can check your fever."
She opens wide; he sets a thermometer on her tongue.
Einstein: "Oh… it says you're at thirty-nine degrees. Don't worry… with me, you can beat it."
Kisa: "Oh dear… I can't wait."
(Spit—pffft!)
Nacht: "(…No, that mustn't happen… If anyone 'takes' Kisa, it'll be me.)"
Diego: "Uh… Nacht."
(Silence.)
Nacht accidentally said it out loud.
Kisa: "What do you mean 'takes'?"
Einstein: "(Sweats) … (Great. A jokester.)"
Isolde: "(Sweats)… The youth of today…"
Einstein: "You were pretty pervy when you were young too… and that's despite being blind."
Isolde: "Oh, come on… sometimes you need to have fun."
Einstein: "So you still like under—"
Isolde: "(Ding) … hehe. That was just an accident… hehe…"
Einstein: "(Sweats)… So the answer's probably yes. Man… I'm starting to doubt you're blind."
Isolde: "I told you I'm half-blind…"
Einstein: "Well, lucky us, then."
Isolde: "(Ahem!)… Back to the topic… Einstein."
Einstein: "Okay. Second request… I want you to take a mission for me."
Nacht: "A mission?"
Einstein: "Yes. In a castle in the region of Kättle lives a witch—perhaps one of the Forbidden Library."
Nacht: "Ugh…"
Diego: "Ugh."
Kisa: "Huh…"
Einstein: "What's wrong?"
Nacht suddenly stands and grabs Einstein's coat.
Nacht: "You're sure she's one of them…?"
Einstein: "Hey… hey—hands off!"
Nacht releases him.
Nacht: "Sorry."
Einstein: "Ahem. Anyway—the witch used to live there. That means maybe she doesn't live there now. But according to a few sources and adventurers, they've heard things… and strange phenomena occur. It may be that the witch never truly abandoned the place, or someone else now lives there—maybe under her orders, maybe unrelated. We don't know. Kättle is about four hours from here. You leave tomorrow. Prepare yourselves."
Nacht: "Hmmm."
They return to the tower. Einstein follows.
Einstein: "So this is the tower… highly interesting."
Nacht: "Hmm."
Kisa: "Master, your room is right up there at the top. You're lucky."
Einstein: "You think so? (Kisa Schenkovic. A nice, cute girl. Naive. Scary ability.)"
Kisa: "Hehe. What's your first name, actually?"
Einstein: "Me?… Johan."
Kisa: "Johan?…"
Nacht: "Hmm?… Johan? (Odd name.)"
(Tap! Tap! Tap!)
Diego: "Oh… I didn't see you, Layla."
Layla: "Hmm?… Yes… Huh?… Master Einstein?"
Johan: "Oh… Layla."
Layla: "What are you doing here?"
Johan: "I'm looking after things here… that's all. I'll be living in the tower."
Layla: "Hmph… I see."
Johan: "(Layla Smirnov. Probably very cold; likes to show skin—back, stomach, long legs. A cheeky girl… but a hot one.)"
Layla: "All right then, I'm off."
(Meanwhile)
Nosferatu: "Hehehe… what's the matter?"
"Please… please, let me go…"
Nosferatu: "Come on. Let me have some fun."
[Scene removed—see end note.]
Lupin: "Ahhh…"
(Splutch!)
Lupin: "…Hmm."
Nosferatu: "…Now come here, little one."
[Scene removed—see end note.]
Nosferatu: "You're cute…"
[Scene removed—see end note.]
Lupin: "Come on, Fiona."
"Mmm."
Nosferatu: "Don't interrupt. I'm busy…"
(A few hours later)
Nosferatu: "Hahh…"
Lupin: "I'm surprised you let them leave alive."
Nosferatu: "…Hahh… I felt sorry for them, that's all—and I was tired."
Lupin: "Whatever."
(Back to Nacht, Diego, and Kisa)
Nacht: "Johan… that guy puts me on edge…"
Lissana: "Meow."
Nacht: "Oh, Lissana… Are you hungry?"
Lissana: "Meow."
She licks his cheek. He rubs her head.
Nacht: "It's okay. Your food's coming right up."
(Meanwhile)
Kisa: "Haaahh…"
Kisa sleeps. Beneath the blanket she wears nothing except her pants with suspenders covering a bit of her chest.
Kisa: "Haaahh…"
(The next day)
Einstein: "All right… get going."
Kisa: "Aren't you coming?"
Einstein: "I only issued the mission, nothing more. Oh—take this."
He hands them a bat-shaped device.
Einstein: "You can use it to talk to me. Off you go, you three."
Nacht: "Mhm."
Diego: "(Snore)"
They board the wagon and set off.
Einstein: "…(Grin!)… hehe."
They travel toward Kättle, a very cold region known as the Ice Region.
Nacht: "What do you think of this Einstein?"
Kisa: "Hmm?"
Diego: "Hmm? He's kinda creepy."
Kisa: "Huh? I thought he was nice."
Diego: "(Sweats) Not to me… He's annoying."
Nacht: "That's not the point… Something's off about him. His aura… I couldn't read it."
Kisa: "Now that you mention it, I felt that too… and I sense magiya better than you two."
Nacht: "I don't know what he's planning or how he did it… but we need to stay alert."
Diego: "Hmm."
Nacht: "Anyway, let's think about the mission. Kättle is very cold—so cold they say even your eyes can freeze; people always wear goggles."
Diego: "Whoa."
Kisa: "Creepy…"
Nacht: "It's also one of the most dangerous regions—many Vinka, monsters, and other beings."
Kisa: "In a cold place… I don't like that."
Diego: "What about the castle?"
Nacht: "It was built about a thousand years ago. No one knows its story."
Diego: "A thousand years?"
Nacht: "It's called La Plas… I don't know why. Either way, stay sharp in case a witch really is there."
The wagon continues. It drives itself: a living carriage with a mouth and two big eyes in front. It doesn't speak, but it's alive in its own way. Kättle is vast; it'll take three or four days to reach it.
(Meanwhile)
"Haaahhh…"
"Lady… what troubles you?"
"It's been a long time since anyone visited me…"
"Haaahhh…"
(Blub! Blub!)
"Hmmm…"
She carries a book. She has a nasty wound on her neck and a small one on her arm. She wears a cropped top, short pants, only the upper thighs covered. White hair, green eyes.
"…Whatever. I'll go to sleep now."
She rises.
(Tap! Tap!)
(Back to Kisa, Nacht, and Diego)
Kisa: "Mmmm… (munch)… mm."
Diego: "Mm… amazing. Who made all this?"
Nacht: "I did."
Kisa: "It's so tasty…"
Diego: "What is everything?"
Nacht: "Sandwiches with Vinka meat, lettuce, tomatoes, and a few sauces."
Diego: "Did you say Vinka?"
Nacht: "Oh—yeah. Vinka meat is edible for us—at least the animal-type Vinka."
Diego: "I see."
Nacht starts eating too.
Diego: "And who made this red drink?"
Kisa: "Oh, me… It's cherry juice."
They drink.
Diego: "Oh…"
Nacht: "Tastes great…"
Kisa: "Hehe… I put my heart into it."
Diego: "And I only made this."
He shows a soup, looks like "mio" soup.
Diego: "Someone made it for us once; since then I learned to cook it. I think it's called mio soup."
Nacht: "Hmm."
Kisa: "Hmm."
They try it.
Nacht: "Whoa… this is actually good."
Kisa: "Wow…"
They eat until done.
Kisa: "That was delicious. Thank you."
Diego: "Hahh… I'm full."
Nacht: "All right, I'll get up."
Kisa: "Oh, wait, Nacht… You've got sauce on your cheek."
Nacht: "What?"
Kisa: "I'll wipe it."
She licks it away with her tongue.
Nacht: "Ugh!"
Diego: "Huh!"
Kisa: "…Huh? What?"
Nacht: "Ugh!"
He gets a nosebleed and falls backward.
Nacht (thinking): "(She… she… licked my cheek… she even brushed my lips…)"
Diego: "Hey… Kisa, I've got something on my cheek too."
Kisa: "Huh?… But that wasn't there. Also, what's with Nacht's… bell down there…"
Diego: "What do you mean 'bell'… don't tell me—"
Nacht stands and covers himself.
Nacht: "…Sometimes… guys… get… um… excited, and that causes… stuff."
Kisa: "Oh… for us women it gets wet."
(Pfffffffff!)
Both boys drop with nosebleeds.
Kisa: "Huh?"
Diego: "Thanks… for the… info…"
Nacht: "Ugh… we… knew that…"
They stand again.
Diego: "Kisa, awkward question."
Nacht: "What are you even going to ask?"
Diego: "Is it true that, uh… you know… sizes… vary?"
Nacht: "Are you stupid?"
Kisa: "Oh. Yes… that's how it is. I don't know if there's a way to measure it… that depends on them…"
Nacht: "Oh… really."
Diego: "Wow."
(Bzzzt)
Einstein: "Sorry to interrupt, but where are you now?"
The bat-comms crackle.
Einstein: "Hmm?"
Diego: "Oh, right… the device."
Nacht: "We're on the border between Aschwold and Kättle."
Einstein: "Understood. One more thing: if you find the witch… bring her in alive if possible. Only kill if you have no choice."
Nacht: "All right."
Einstein: "Also—be careful at night. Creatures called Jedi appear there—dangerous and aggressive. They're known for tearing their victims apart and eating them. Stay alert."
They're now in a cold place, on the Kättle–Aschwold border.
(Meanwhile)
"Please… please… haaahh…"
Einstein: "It's all right. It's all right, girl… I just want to test something."
(Split!)
"Aaargh… gaagh…"
(Splutch!)
Einstein: "Damn…"
(Meanwhile)
Everyone gets ready for sleep—Kisa too—but this time she can't sleep because of the curse.
Kisa: "Haaahh… hahh…"
She goes to the side room: a tiny space where they store things or rest alone; there's a small sofa.
Kisa: "Gahhh…"
(Splutch!)
Her back slowly opens; ghostly hands pull it wide.
Voice: "Heeellooo… Kisaaa… hehehe…"
Kisa: "Ghhh… go… back in."
Voice: "Hehehe… Didn't you miss me…?"
Kisa: "Please…"
(Splop!)
Blood pours from her back.
Kisa: "Haaahh… haaahh…"
" Hehehe…"
A dark shape with white eyes and teeth grips Kisa's lower jaw.
Kisa: "Mmm… please…"
" Hehehe…"
Blood spills from her back—then, suddenly, it closes and retreats… but not to leave her alone. This time it opens Kisa's abdomen and emerges.
Kisa: "Urk…"
(Splutch!)
Kisa: "Urk… gghh…"
" Hehehe… Kisa… Kisa…"
From blood loss, Kisa faints; the banshee vanishes. Gretel appears and starts stitching Kisa's wounds.
Kisa: "Haaahh… haaahh…"
She's wearing only her pants and suspenders, which cover just a bit of her chest.
Kisa: "Haaahhh…"
She opens her eyes.
Kisa: "Huh?"
She stands, looks at her own belly, and touches it.
Kisa: "Haaahh… looks like… it's over… haaahh…"
Next day. The journey continues.
Diego: "Where's Kisa?"
Nacht: "Showering."
Diego: "Is she okay?"
Nacht shrugs. Diego suddenly gets a bad idea.
Diego (thinking): "(Hey, I can finally see Kisa's whole body…)"
He sneaks toward the bathroom—but a hand clamps down on him.
Nacht: "Hold it, rookie. Planning something?"
Diego: "Huh… no… hehe."
Kisa showers.
(Drip, drip)
Kisa: "Haaahhh…"
Kisa: "Haaahh… Not… now… not… now… haaah… not now…"
Blood again flows from her back.
Kisa: "Haaahh…"
Her cheeks flush red.
Kisa: "…Haaahh…"
She turns the water hotter.
Kisa: "Haaahh… It's easing again…"
(Meanwhile)
Diego: "Hahh…"
Nacht: "What's wrong? Bored, rookie?"
Diego: "How long are you going to call me 'rookie'? I'm not new anymore."
Nacht: "Want a different nickname…?"
Unmoved as ever, cold eyes without emotion, Nacht reads a book.
Diego: "What are you reading?"
He peeks—it's a book about women.
Diego: "Huh?"
Nacht: "Shhh… Kisa mustn't know. It's not what it looks like… I'm researching Kisa's condition…"
Diego: "Hmm."
Nacht: "I got the book from a woman who said she's a doctor—met her at a library. Kisa's condition, endometriosis, causes abdominal and back pain, spotting, heavy periods, inflammation… pregnancy can be difficult… also nausea and vomiting."
Diego: "I see."
Kisa: "What are you two talking about?"
Kisa suddenly appears at the door.
(Shock)
Diego: "Whoooa!"
Nacht: "Whoooa!"
Nacht throws the book out the window.
(Whoosh!)
Diego: "Nothing."
Nacht: "Exactly—nothing… ugh."
Diego: "Ugh."
Kisa's in a bathrobe.
Kisa: "What…?"
Diego: "Get dressed…"
Kisa: "What?"
Diego: "What?"
Nacht: "(Sweats)… haaahh…"
Nacht palms his face.
Nacht: "What an idiot."
Kisa: "Hmm… I'll go change. Do you know when we'll arrive?"
Nacht: "I think in two days. I heard there's a town nearby—should we rest there?"
Diego: "Good idea."
Kisa: "Fine by me. I'll get changed."
She heads to her room.
Diego: "Uh… Nacht… the book…"
Nacht: "Doesn't matter. I read the last line… It isn't curable."
Diego: "Oh…"
Nacht: "Good news is it isn't constant. It's not every day—more like some cases: weekly or even monthly, for example."
(Meanwhile)
Kisa finishes changing.
Kisa: "Okay… I'm ready."
(A few hours later)
They reach a city named Lumilaakso. It sits in a valley; the buildings cling to its sides. Below, like in Aschwold, you can't see the bottom. Are there monsters down there too? The city is popular and has around thirty-two thousand inhabitants. The buildings are styled like the colorful Russian models in photos—red, white, other colors—only smaller.
Kisa: "Wow…"
Nacht: "Careful not to fall… Wait… Where's the rookie?"
The rookie? He's gotten lost, wandering the city without paying attention.
Diego: "Oh… I guess I got lost."
He walks until he bumps into a girl.
Diego: "Oh—sorry…"
"Huh?… Oh… no problem… ugh."
He doesn't recognize her—but she recognizes him. Nosferatu. It's her. She smiles.
Elli: "Hey… Are you new here?"
Diego: "Oh, yeah… With my group… but… I got lost."
Elli: "Oh…"
(Growl)
His stomach rumbles.
Elli: "How about you come to my place? You're hungry."
Diego: "Uh… well…"
Elli: "Come on…"
She smiles. He nods and follows.
Elli: "Wait here."
She stops in front of a house.
Diego: "You live so close."
Elli: "Yes. Very close."
She opens the door. He waits outside like a kid.
(Splutch!)
(Splutch!)
(Splutch!)
Elli: "Good… everyone inside is dead. Now I'll bring my wolf in. I can't hold back anymore."
She drools.
Elli: "I can't wait… He'll be mine… He'll satisfy me… First, we clean up."
A mouth appears on her hand and devours the corpses.
Elli: "There… all set."
She opens the door.
Elli: "You can come in."
He steps inside.
Elli: "Have a seat. I'll cook."
(A few minutes later)
Elli: "Done."
Diego: "Thanks. I don't want to trouble you."
He stands, but she rests her hand over his.
Elli: "Wait…"
Diego: "Huh?"
Elli: "Leaving already?"
Diego: "Yes."
Elli: "That's not nice. Why the rush… when we could have fun?"
Diego: "What… do you mean?"
She holds his cheeks and kisses him.
Diego: "Mmm…"
Elli: "Hahh…"
Diego: "What…"
Elli: "Ah… you're sweet… you know that?"
She presses closer.
Elli: "I can't hold back…"
Diego: "Uh… um…"
Elli: "Well…?"
She cups his face again.
Elli: "You're really cute…"
Diego: "Uh… I…"
Elli: "Don't you want to kiss me? I'm lonely… Nobody likes me…"
Diego: "Uh…"
Elli: "You can be rough if you like. I don't mind."
(Ayo?)
Elli: "Well…?"
Diego: "…Ugh…"
Diego hesitates; she continues to touch him. She's beautiful; her lips taste like fruit; her kiss is soft and warm—exactly what he imagined.
She lies beside him.
Elli: "Hehe… ugh."
He clings to her back.
Elli: "My, my… So you do want to…"
She kisses him again.
(Meanwhile)
Nacht: "Tsk… seriously, where did he go?"
Kisa: "Hmm… Huh… Hey, Nacht…"
Nacht: "What?"
She tugs his coat; he turns.
Kisa: "Isn't that Diego—or am I seeing things?"
Nacht: "Huh?… Ugh!"
Kisa: "Oh… looks like he found a pretty woman. Let's leave him alone."
Nacht: "(Vein) Leave him alone… He just wandered off… and now this?"
Kisa: "Shouldn't we at lea—"
(CRASH!)
He boots the door.
Kisa: "Knock… (Sweats)"
Nacht: "Oh… right… you have a point."
Kisa: "(Sweats)… uh…"
Nacht is about to go in, but Kisa stops him.
Kisa: "Wait, Nacht. That's unfair to Diego."
Nacht: "We don't have time."
Kisa: "That doesn't matter. It's rude to him—and to her. She isn't a prostitute. She's a normal girl. They're just having fun."
Nacht exhales and decides to wait for Diego to finish. Then Kisa senses an evil aura.
Kisa: "Ugh!"
Nacht: "Ugh…"
He feels it too.
(Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!)
A strange figure passes by—tall but thin like a stick. A black hat and gentleman's suit… a gentleman's hat.
Nacht: "Huh."
Kisa: "Ugh…"
They tremble. The aura is vicious. Nacht glances at the face: no eyes, only a very large mouth twisted in a wicked grin. A cigarette dangles; he lets it fall.
"…ka… boom."
(Kaboom!)
The massive explosion destroys the entire street.