Grimm

[Grimm]

Are you sure you can carry all that stuff? Why don't you lighten your bag?

This place is too dangerous for you. Pleae come back when you're stronger.

[Mojo]

Just let me read it. I'll go bring them out afterward. Please?

Just leave me alone! I know you're going to run away with it if I give it to you.

I swear I'll give it back to you. Just for one minute. How about thirty seconds? Ten seconds, then?

No! I'm not even going to let you touch it!

Come on, it's me, Mojo. Don't you trust me?

No, I don't. I may trust Mojo, my sister in faith, but not Mojo, the mage.

Oh, come on! You're a priest? You're supposed to have faith in everyone! Why are you treating me like a thief?

I only have faith in Him, and He's telling me not to trust you.

I'm not hearing anything!

Of course not. Only His servants can hear him.

Sure thing. Any time you want,

[

Thank you. I'm sorry, but I've heard you fighting, even from that far corner of this dungeon.

You have? We must have been really loud. I suppose that wasn't very smart of us.

Oh, this is great! Instead of fighting, why don't we ask this adventurer who is right?

Adventurer, if you're not busy, would you hear us out?

I see. It's a shame that you can't seize on such a great opportunity.

Please feel free to come back if you change your mind.

Let me hear it.

Okay, this is going to be a long story. Let me have some water first.

Adventurer, did you know these catacombs under Geffen once were quiet and filled with special energy instead of monsters?

Back then, only a couple of monsters showed up once every decade or so.

*Glances at Mojo*

Why are you looking at me?

Some mages decided to erect an ivory tower of their own. They searched everywhere in the continent and settled on the ground above these catacombs.

That was the beginning of the tragedy.

It's been said all mammals have curiosity that rivals their appetite, but mages... are the worst.

Anyway, these mages, after they built the Geffen Tower, took notice of the blasphemous creatures that sometimes appeared in the catacombs.

They conducted various experiments to understand the special energy that reanimated the dead.

And as if that wasn't enough, those mages used their magic and replicated the reanimating process.

That went horribly wrong. The special energy that surrounded the catacombs exploded, bringing back all the dead buried in them.

Those arrogant mages crossed the line! They tried to play God!

Hey, I'm one of them, and I'm not going to let you talk bad about my predecessors like that!

How am I defaming them when I'm only telling the truth?

What do you think, Adventurer? Would you trust someone so reckless with important tasks?

But wait, Adventurer. You haven't heard my side of the story.

We understand the things that we want to study can be dangerous, so we try our best to be careful.

My predecessors may have been too enthusiastic to study what's underneath their tower, but it was that enthusiasm that made Geffen grow into the city of magic that it is.

Rune-Midgarts is flanked by Arunafeltz and Schwarzwald, the two strongest nations of the continent, and its magic power is what keeps them at bay.

And that's the only reason that kept the Church from further pressing this matter,

even though it doesn't change the fact that you woke the dead.

Curiosity is what fuels our life. It's the seed of development. Adventurer, would you hesitate to go to a new world because it's dangerous?

We mages are just like you adventurers in that sense. I knew you'd understand me.

You heard that, Father Grimm. Now show me the notebook.

No. Adventurer, you agreed with me that she's not trustworthy.

You also agreed with me on the value of curiosity.

I've heard both of you, but neither of you told me what you were fighting for.

Oh, I'm sorry. The Church of Rune-Midgarts periodically sends its priests out to these catacombs to maintain peace.

I'm one of them, and I happened to pick up a notebook just before you found us.

Yes. It looks like it belongs to one of the Geffen Tower mages. It has Bomi written on its cover, which I think is the name of its owner.

But none of my guildsmen has such a name. I read the book, and she did sound like she was one of us. Not anymore, though.

Not anymore?

You're pretty sharp, Adventurer. That's right. I checked with my guild and found out there was someone named Bomi. She just disappeared one day, though.

Do you think this notebook belongs to her? But why was it here?

That was the same question we asked at first. That didn't matter anymore once we read what was written in the book.

What's written in it is unsettling, but what's more serious is? You'll have to read it yourself. Just don't open the last page.

So you're okay with this adventurer reading it, but not me.

Please take a look.

I placed my hand on the book Father Grimm was holding. Suddenly I felt dizzy as the air around me shimmered. Carefully, I opened the notebook.

[Daily Journal]

I fainted in the middle of learning a new spell, again.

My low stamina and insufficient mana are always the problem. I thought I could make up for my weak constitution with magic. Of course, even that required some minimal stamina, but I didn't have even that.

I'm too tired...

I saw Sophia drinking a mana potion. Maybe potions are the answer to my never-ending search for physical support.

I wonder if there are special potions that could improve me physically. Then, I could become stronger at last.

All the potions I found didn't help improve my weak constitution. All they do is boost strength that's already there.

Maybe I should try to formulate stamina and mana potions on my own.

I learned about the catacombs under the Geffen Tower while I was in the library, reading about the tower's history.

How are the dead reanimated? What kind of vital force keeps them moving?

I need permission to enter the catacombs. I'm going to check them tomorrow.

The dead don't talk. There's nothing I can find out from them.

I've found traces of experiments everywhere. Some of my peers must have been here before I have.

I'm especially tired today. I'm going to bed early tonight.

The bats in the catacombs drink blood from the zombies, probably because there's nothing else to eat.

Every day, I spend most of my energy keeping the bloodthirsty bats at bay. I'd get killed if I didn't stay near the exit.

I'm tired.

Today, I heard some strange noise in the catacombs. The zombies and bats were strangely quiet.

Maybe I should explore deeper into the catacombs tomorrow, while the monsters hide from whatever that noise is.

That was the last entry. I took my hand off the notebook. Father Grimm closed the notebook.

This is notebook is both a diary and research journal.

Indeed. It shows how its owner studied those blasphemous creatures to create stamina and mana enhancers.

Yes, it is. My guild would love to study this notebook. Most records from the same era have been lost.

The content of this notebook isn't what causes me alarm. Didn't you detect some strange energy when you touch it?

This book is sustained with its owner's spiritual energy, and it's pulling those who gaze upon it into the world inside it.

And that's why I want to see the notebook so badly. I want to know how it contains a world inside it and why it was only discovered now.

Mage, you stay out of this! This notebook is taking people to some place we don't know. And the gateway is in the last page.

I scanned it for any malicious intent, but I didn't sense any. I think its owner just needs help with some unfinished business.

So were you arguing about which one of you should go to that place?

No. The other members of my group and two mages are already there. They just haven't returned.

You? Well, you're more reliable than this sister here, but are you sure?

I want to repay you for healing me. Also, after listening to you both, I think it's better I go. Do you want me to go bring back your colleagues?

No. I just want you to find them and make sure they're okay. If they need help, please provide it to them. If they have a message for me, then please let me know.

I wish I could go with you, but my group needs me here.

I can't trust her with the notebook. If something happens to it, the people inside it might not be able to come back.

This does it! Father Grimm, put that book down. Let's fight!

Then I'm going to go with the Adventurer!

No. You're staying with me. Don't you dare touch the book.

Why are you doing this to me? What have I done to you?

Brother Jojo asked me to never let you touch the book. Do you not remember that?

No, I don't remember. When Sister Gem returns, I'm going to tell on you!

Now, Adventurer. Let me know when you're ready.

Do you want to enter the notebook? Are you ready?

Not a problem. Just let me know when you are ready.

Then, let me open it.

I placed my hand on the notebook, and Father Grimm opened it to the last page. Suddenly, my vision got blurry as I felt my body being transported to some place.

Listen to me, or you can always go back to the Tower.

No!

Ah, there you are! How was that place?

I'm glad you came back safely. Is everyone in there okay?

I relayed what happened in the notebook to Father Grimm and Mojo, and told them that the others decided to stay to keep an eye on the vampires.

Wow, the same place in another plane of existence! I've never heard of this before! How does it work? This notebook has got to have something to do with it.

And vampires who understand humans? My goodness!

I can't stay here. Father Grimm, I have to go in there. Let me go, please!

No. Never. Keep your hands to yourself.

Adventurer, thank you for venturing into that mysterious place for us. It'll be greatly appreciated if you visit my colleagues there and bring news from them to me sometimes.

I can do that too, you know. You just have to give me a chance!

Adventurer, thank you. Feel free to come to me if you want to enter the notebook again.

Adventurer, do you want to enter the notebook?

Good luck.