Chapter 1 - Intermission 2

Scene: A dream.

Ames
All right, nice work.

Ames
Welcome to the dream world. Maybe it's redundant, but this is our first intermission within the story... Something like that, anyway.

Ames
Anyway, it looks like your story has begun in earnest now. Or, at least, that's how it looks to me. For your carriage to be bombed, and then to find yourself wrapped up in such a strange situation -- what a calamity.

Ames
It really is a mess. I feel like getting suddenly caught up in all that panic has probably left you confused, so as I promised, I'll fill you in on what's happened.

Ames
This time, the person to remember is Muimi... Or, as she still calls herself, Noem.

Ames
In this world, this should have been the first time you met her. Compared to the others, like Suzume, Shizuru, and Makoto... Her disposition is a bit different, don't you think?

Ames
From your current point of view, she must have seemed like a strange girl who just kept going on about mysterious things.

Ames
But she's an incredibly important figure within this world. In terms of solving the mysteries swirling around this world, she's the key.

Ames
That's why everyone is after her. Your group just happened to be present in the middle of a clash between groups who wanted to capture her.

Ames
My condolences. But, well... getting caught up in trouble like this is just the life of a protagonist.

Ames
It certainly is difficult, Yuuki.

Ames
In any case, in this world, there are many mysteries.

Ames
Or rather, perhaps instead of mysteries, I should say lies. Great lies... deceptions, errors, and inconsistencies, as well.

Ames
In order to keep it so that everyone believes in these lies, there is a force that seeks to remove anyone who suspects anything. That was the group manipulating Okuto from the shadows today.

Ames
On the other side, there is a force that seeks to see through those lies and unravel the mysteries of the world. That is the secret society known as Labyrinth.

Ames
Labyrinth, seeking to reach the truth behind this world, attacked in order to capture Muimi, who held the key to that truth.

Ames
Then, they clashed with a vanguard -- Okuto and his group -- for the other side, who stood to lose if those mysteries were unraveled. That was how today's events came to be.

Ames
The result was a victory for Labyrinth. Muimi was taken captive by Labyrinth, who swiftly covered their tracks.

Ames
What's happened to Muimi since then, I don't know. Though, since Labyrinth doesn't seem to be a dangerous group, I'd like to believe that they wouldn't do anything cruel to her.

Ames
You're friendly with Shizuru and Rino, who are both members of Labyrinth, aren't you? They're good people, so they ought not to anything inhumane to her.

Ames
There was no choice but to resort to the forceful solution of ambushing and abducting her... Muimi is just that important of a figure in this world.

Ames
That's why, of course... The group opposing Labyrinth, who doesn't want these mysteries to be solved, won't give up so easily either.

Ames
After today's failure, they'll bring even more forces to bear, and their activities should become even more noticeable.

Ames
Okuto might seem to have been easily foiled today, but he surely has even more sinister tricks up his sleeve.

Ames
Be careful, Yuuki. Today may have seemed to be a misfortune, but it's a part of the grand fate that you've been embroiled in. If you let down your guard, you may wind up losing that which is most precious to you.

Ames
Carefully consider and plan out your actions.

Ames
Though, well, regardless of what I say, I know you'll find yourself caught up in trouble soon enough.

Ames
Do your best to respond to whatever happens, and as you go on living... Get closer and closer to the bottom of the world's mysteries.

Ames
First off, the group that protected you from that dangerous situation... The martial guild that Makoto is a member of, Kaon -- you should try talking with them about various things.

Ames
Right. Since they were the ones who protected you. You also seem to have friends in Kaon already, so I can leave this to you without worrying.

Ames
In the end, the only one deciding your actions is you. All I can do is give you advice when you're troubled.

Ames
I have no way of affecting the reality that you inhabit. Though it may be troublesome to have me relying on you.

Ames
Believe me when I say this, though. I'll always be your ally, Yuuki.

End of dream.