They returned to the city. Nacht declined the reward, saying they didn't deserve it because they failed to save the villagers.
(Patch!)
Nosferatu: Hahhhh…
(Bloob!)
Nosferatu: Hmm… you again. I figured you might still be alive.
Lupin: Hehehehehe… of course. Did you think I'd just leave you alone?
Nosferatu sighed and transformed into a young woman.
Lupin: Oh… you're a pretty one.
Nosferatu: Got a problem with that?
Lupin: Nope.
She had short black hair, a beauty mark beneath her mouth, and red eyes.
Nosferatu: So… what do you want, Lupin?
Lupin: To form a team.
Nosferatu: We were created by different witches. That'll never work.
Lupin: So what? I still want to work together.
Nosferatu: Your goal, then. What is it?
Lupin: What else? I want to throw the world into chaos. That's why we were made.
Nosferatu: Hmph… hehehe… I see. In that case, I'm in. Where are we going?
Lupin: To the underworld region… Kuiluun.
Nosferatu: Oho… I like the sound of that, hehe…
They continued on.
Nosferatu: Sorry about earlier, about splitting your face.
Lupin: It's fine, it's fine. But you owe me.
Nosferatu: I'll repay the debt—count on it.
Lupin: Bold of you.
Nosferatu: My path is already chosen.
Lupin: Hmm?
Nosferatu: That wolf boy… he looked interesting. I'll be seeing him again.
Lupin: Hmmm…
Nosferatu: The tales say the wolf is the most ominous Märchen of all. That's why they call him the Big Bad Wolf. Heh… haaaah… my dear wolf boy… hehehe…
(Four hours later)
They were back at the tower in the guild's city.
Nacht: First, let's go into my room.
They stepped inside.
(Meow!)
Kisa: Oh… a cat.
Diego: A cat…
Nacht: This is Lissana. My little sister.
Kisa: Your sister?
Diego: I thought they were all gone. That's what you said, Kisa.
Kisa: I thought so too.
They were stunned.
Nacht: It happened eight years ago.
(Eight years earlier)
The Zephyr family kept many magic books and Märchen. Torso, Nacht's father, said:
Torso: Listen, Nacht. Whatever happens, we must never use our magic to harm people.
His oldest sister, nineteen at the time, had once been one of the Witches of the Forbidden Library.
Lia: Nacht, whatever happens, protect your siblings.
There were Lissana, Luiz, Miku, Hans, Frederik, and Temari.
Nacht: I will.
But then, on a certain night—
Nacht: Haaah…
(Splop!)
Nacht: Mother… wh—
Lia: Oh, Nacht… I planned from the start to use you all for a ritual, to complete a magic beast… Frankenstein.
A towering creature loomed.
Lia: Hhh…
She gripped Nacht by the throat.
Lia: Nacht.
Nacht: Ghhh…
Lia: I'll place a curse on you now—on you and the other children, your father's children.
Nacht: Hahh…
The curse fell upon them. The children screamed.
Nacht: Gaaaaaaaaaargh!
(Splatter!)
Hans's head exploded.
Nacht: Ugh…
Hands burst from Frederik's mouth, seized Temari, and his jaw unhinged unnaturally, biting away half her head.
Nacht: Stop! Aaaaaaargh!
Miku: Brother…
Nacht: Miku…
Miku: Argh… ghhh…
She transformed into a grotesque monster.
Miku: Graaagh… dearest brother.
Nacht: Ghhh—argh!
She slashed Luiz in two.
(Splatter!)
Nacht: Ugh…
Miku: I don't want this… ghhh… aaargh…
Frederik fell next.
Then Miku turned toward Nacht and Lissana, but collapsed, dead. The curse had been too strong.
Lissana: Aaaaaaaaargh.
Nacht: No—Lissana. Argh.
He clutched his chest and looked at his elder sister, who only smiled.
Nacht: Aaaaaaargh… Big Sister… I will find you. I swear I will find you. Be accursed.
Lia: Hehe… Nacht.
She lifted his chin.
Lia: I'll be waiting… hehe.
He collapsed.
Lissana: Brother… brother…
Darkness. Lissana stood before him.
Lissana: Brother… brother… please wake up… brother…
He opened his eyes.
Lissana: You're awake. What a relief.
Nacht: Lis… sana.
Lissana: I just wanted to tell you one thing. Save me, brother.
Nacht: Where are you?
Lissana: We are going to be cursed.
Nacht: What?
She began to fade.
Lissana: I love you, dear brother.
Hours later, Nacht awoke.
Nacht: Ugh… Huh.
He looked at his hands, then around him.
Nacht: My… my siblings…
(Meow!)
He turned at the sound.
Nacht: A cat…
(Meow!)
Something was off: its eyes were green, like Lissana's, its fur dark like her hair. The necklace was the same one she'd worn.
Nacht: Lissana… is that you?
Lissana: Meow… meow.
She had only one eye, one ear was missing.
Nacht: Lissana.
He hugged her.
Nacht: I'm so glad at least you survived.
Lissana: Meow.
Nacht: It's okay. I'll heal you. I give you my word.
Lissana: Meow.
Then he noticed something else—why hadn't he died?
Nacht: Wait… something's wrong with me.
He stood and saw it—blood, and half his body had been severed.
Nacht: Hahh… aaaaaaaaaaaargh.
Hands erupted, knitting his body back together.
Nacht: Hahh… what…
He touched his neck. It felt stitched.
Nacht: What… is happening… I don't understand…
A voice came from a book labeled Grimm: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
A strange figure appeared.
Ichabod: This is more of a pact, my friend.
Nacht recoiled at the headless figure.
Nacht: Who are you?
Ichabod: I am Ichabod. That's me, my friend. And the owl is Crane. You're wondering why you're alive. It isn't because of a curse. It's because of your book, Grimm: Sleepy Hollow.
Ichabod walked on, carrying his head.
Nacht: I've had that book since I was a child. I didn't know I was a Märchen user. Why didn't you appear when my sister massacred our family?
Ichabod: You fool—who gave you the book?
Nacht: It was… Lia. My older sister.
Ichabod: Exactly. I don't know why she chose you. Never mind. Without me, you'd be dead. And you can't die—you are cursed.
Nacht: You just said it wasn't a curse.
Ichabod: I meant the regeneration. That's me. You, however, were cursed—yet kept a human form. Look under your arms.
Nacht looked and saw feathers.
Ichabod: You were turned into a crow. You're living thanks to me, the Märchen of Sleepy Hollow.
Nacht: Hahh…
Ichabod: One more thing—your sister can be restored as well.
Nacht: How?
Ichabod: She won't be fully healed; she'll always carry the cat within. But she could regain her human form.
Nacht: How?
Ichabod: You'll need a certain potion. Finding it could take a year, ten years, a hundred, or a thousand. But with it, she could at least transform back into a human.
Ichabod paced.
Ichabod: I'll ask once more. Will you make a pact with me? If you refuse, you won't die, but you will become a crow.
Nacht: Let's do it.
Ichabod: Quick answer.
Nacht: For my sister, I'll do anything.
Ichabod: Hahahaha… I like you. You're like her… your big sister. How chilling.
(Back to Nacht, Kisa, and Diego)
Nacht: So—that's my story. I won't blame you if you don't believe me.
Kisa stood and walked to him.
Kisa: Diego, could you give us a minute?
Diego: Okay.
He left the room.
Nacht: Kisa… I'm sorry I never told you this.
She hugged him as he sat.
Kisa: You poor thing… You must have been so lonely. It must have been terrible, Nacht.
Nacht: Kisa… are you crying?
Kisa: Yes. It must be hard—dying and coming back again and again. That must hurt. Poor Nacht.
She held him tight, his head against her shoulder.
Kisa: It's okay. I'm here. We're here. You don't have to carry it all alone. If you need a shoulder, I'll be that shoulder. Just hold on. Let it out.
He clutched her and wept. She kissed the top of his head.
(A few minutes later)
Diego opened the door. Nacht was asleep, his head in Kisa's lap.
Kisa: Shhhh…
Diego: He fell asleep?
Kisa: Mhm. Poor thing—looks like he hadn't slept in days. Even boys like him need comfort.
Diego: You're really compassionate.
Kisa: Nacht was the first to treat me kindly. I'm a shy, quiet, naïve girl with frightening powers. He didn't hold that against me.
(Memory)
Kisa sobbed. Nacht stood there with a Vinka's head in his hand.
Nacht: Did the guild do something to you?
Kisa: They don't like me. They're afraid of my powers.
He sat beside her.
Nacht: I see. Don't take it to heart… Kisa, right?
Kisa: Mhm.
Nacht: I'm Nacht. I've only been here four months. You've been here a month, right?
Kisa: Mhm.
Nacht: Nasty scar on your neck.
Kisa: I know. It's from my mother.
(A few days later)
Layla: Kisa.
Kisa: Huh?
Layla: Why are you here?
Kisa: To be a hunter.
Layla: You're nothing but trouble.
Kisa: That's not true.
Layla: Show us your Märchen.
Kisa: No.
Layla: Do it.
Layla's Märchen flared. She lunged. Gretel appeared at the last moment. The others recoiled.
Kisa: Stop, Gretel. Now.
Gretel vanished.
(A few minutes later)
Nacht: What happened here? Why is there so much blood on the floor?
A member answered vaguely. Nacht hurried off.
Nacht: And you all did nothing?
He seized the man's shoulder. A dark aura seeped out.
Nacht: Touch her again, and you'll be short a hand.
The man backed off.
Nacht headed for the tower. Blood dotted every stair.
He heard strange sounds, cracked Kisa's door open. Something clawed its way out of her back, ripping the stitches. Blood sprayed. It struck her head again and again.
Kisa: I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…
Ichabod: A banshee. A curse spirit. Her curse binds spirits to her will. Likely from an artifact.
The spirit calmed and slipped back inside. Gretel quickly stitched Kisa's back closed. Kisa retched and steadied herself.
The door opened.
Kisa: You saw.
Nacht: So that's your secret. I see.
She staggered, tried to swing at him, nearly fell; he caught her, then went down with her. She landed on him.
Kisa: Please… don't tell anyone… I'll do anything…
Nacht: Get off.
He pushed her gently aside.
Nacht: And now there are tears and vomit on my suit. Tch.
He left.
(The next day)
Kisa went to the guild, terrified he had told everyone. A member called to her to come eat. Nacht walked past her in silence. She realized he hadn't told.
They later met by the lake. She suddenly hugged him and they toppled. She thanked him again and again. He flushed, flustered, but said there was nothing to thank him for. She asked why he kept her secret.
Nacht: Because you asked me not to.
He turned to the lake, calm and distant again.
Kisa: Then… can we be friends?
Nacht looked at her and couldn't say no.
Nacht: All right.
(End of memory)
Kisa: He doesn't look like it, but he's kind. He doesn't talk to people much, and he sounds cold sometimes, but he's a good boy.
Diego: Oh.
Kisa: Diego, you're a good person too.
Diego: And you're a wonderful girl.
Kisa: Really? Hehe.
(Meanwhile)
(Gag!)(Splatter!)
Nosferatu: Hmm.
Lupin: Nosferatu.
Nosferatu: Use my true name—Ryo.
Lupin: All right then, Ryo. How old are you?
Ryo: By human reckoning, eighteen. But I actually turned two hundred recently.
Lupin: Oh… a hundred years younger than me.
Ryo: I'm bored. Isn't there anything to do around here?
Lupin: There's a city nearby. Lots of people.
Ryo: Good. That could be fun.
(Back to Kisa, Diego, and Nacht)
Kisa: I have an idea.
Nacht: An idea?
Diego: What kind?
Kisa: Let's form a trio.
Nacht: What, with the newbie and you? I don't mind you. The boy annoys me.
Diego: Not cool. You're boring.
Kisa: Come on—you two worked well enough together, didn't you?
They bickered, then Kisa made them stop.
Kisa: Let's make a group.
Nacht: You mean, let's form a group.
Diego: Just us three?
Kisa: Yes.
Diego: What about Layla?
Nacht: Her? Forget it.
Kisa: I wouldn't mind her personally.
Nacht: She can't stand you.
Kisa: That's true.
Kisa: So—what do you say?
Diego: I'm in.
Nacht: Fine. Could be fun.
Kisa: We need a name.
Diego: Yeah.
Nacht: Nacht Crows?
Diego: That's just you. It should fit all of us.
Kisa: Funny Hunters?
Diego: Uh…
Nacht: Not very cool.
Diego: Phantom of Grimm.
Kisa: That sounds cool.
Nacht: Not bad. Maybe longer. Dark Phantom of Grimm.
Kisa: I've got it: Phantom of Grimm.
Nacht: That could work. Fits us.
Kisa: Then the tower's name will be The Tower of Phantom and Grimm.
Diego: That sounds cool.
Nacht: Fine by me.
Kisa: Yes.
(Meanwhile)
(Patch!) (Patch!)(Vrooom!)
So… it's time…
(Glurgh)
It's time… for my entrance.