The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden hue over the shrine as Mirage Carl leaned against a tree, pting the strange new world he found himself in. He had expected something more akin to a dream, but the sense of reality in Gensokyo was undeniable.As he goward the shrine, he saw Reimu stepping out of the house, wiping her hands on a towel. She spotted him immediately and raised an eyebrow, notig he was still standing there."You're still here?" she asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and mild annoyance.

  Mirage Carl straightened up and gave her a polite bow. "I thought I'd stick around a little longer. You've been a good host, after all."

  Reimu looked at him, sidering for a moment before shrugging. "Fine, you hang around for a bit. I was going to make some tea. You want some?"

  Mirage Carl's grin widehough he was careful to keep his thoughts to himself. "I would love some."

  Reimu led him inside, where she quickly went about preparing tea in a kettle. Mirage Carl sat down at the small wooden table, his fingers idly pying with the cards he'd been holding earlier. The smell of herbs filled the air as Reimu set do of tea in front of him.

  He picked it up and took a sip, his face immediately sg in distaste. The tea had a strong, bitter fvor, and he could tell it wasn't the fi brew. Reimu, however, seemed pleased as she took a sip of her own.

  "How's the tea?" she asked, watg him with a knowing glint in her eye.

  Mirage Carl forced a smile. "It's... certainly unique."

  Reimu ughed. "Don't hold back, just say it's bad."

  Mirage Carl couldn't help but chuckle. "I wouldn't say bad... just a little too... strong for my taste."

  "Well, it's not like I have many options around here." She shrugged, taking another sip.

  Mirage Carl's fiwitched. "Allow me to make a better cup for you."With a flourish, he reached into his top hat and pulled out a small, empty teapot. He poured the remaining tea from his cup into the pot and began a few quick flicks with his fingers.

  As he stirred the air around it with his hands, the tea began to ge. The color shifted from a dark, murky brown to a warm amber. He take out a few sprigs of fresh herbs he'd picked earlier, and when he was done, he poured the tea into her cup.

  Reimu looked at him with an eyebrow raised. "What's this, then?"

  Mirage Carl simply smiled. "A little something to match the taste of your shrine."Reimu hesitated, then took a sip. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Wow... this is actually really good."

  She set the cup down, a look of appreciation on her face. "I didn't think you were capable of something like this."

  Mirage Carl chuckled. "A magi always has a trick or two up their sleeve."

  Reimu sighed, pg the cup back down. "You know, you've been standing around here for a while, but you still haven't told me much about yourself. Where are you from, anyway?"

  Mirage Carl's gaze flickered to the window, his thoughts turning inward. "I came from London. You see, I erf a trick back where I'm from... and when I opehe box, I ended up here."

  He paused, his smile fading slightly missing his grandpa. "When I appeared here everything here is o me."

  Reimu stared at him for a moment before speaking again. "Gensokyo is a strange pce, that's for sure. And the fact that you don't know how you came here... well, that's a mystery in itself."

  She tapped her fingers oable thoughtfully. "But if yoing to stick around, there are some things you should know."

  Mirage Carl nodded, eager to listen. "I'm all ears."

  Reimu took another sip of the tea he'd made for her before tinuing. "Gensokyo is full of all kinds of youkai, spirits, and gods. Some of them are harmless, others... not so much."

  She leaned forward, her expression serious. "There's one you should be particurly careful of. A youkai named Yakumo Yukari. She's aremely powerful one. Not someone you want to cross paths with."

  Mirage Carl raised an eyebrow. "Yakumo Yukari... What makes her so dangerous?"Reimu's eyes hardened. "She has the power to manipute boundaries. Space, time, even the boundary between life ah. If she wao, she could send you to another dimension or trap you in a time loop. She's not the kind you want to get tangled with."

  Mirage Carl let out a low whistle, clearly impressed by the power Reimu was describing. "Sounds like a dangerous one. I'll be sure to stay clear of her."

  Reimu gave him a wry smile. "I hope you will. And there are plenty of other dangerous youkai here, too. Don't waoo far into the forest at night, and be wary of any youkai who seem too friendly. They might not have the best iions."

  Mirage Carl nodded, abs the information carefully. "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you for the advice."

  Reimu seemed satisfied with his response. "I'm sure you'll be fine, as long as you don't get too cocky. But if you do run into trouble, you always e here. I'll help you out if I ."

  Mirage Carl smiled, his eyes sparkling with gratitude. "I appreciate that. You're quite a kied persoe your... rough edges."

  Reimu rolled her eyes, though there was a hint of amusement in her gaze. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't make me regret it."

  Mirage Carl stood up, tipping his hat. "Of course. I'll make sure to stay out of trouble."

  As he turo leave, Reimu called after him, "Hey, don't fet... you left your tea pot!"

  Mirage Carl gave a quick wink before stepping out of the shrihe evening air cool against his skin. Gensokyo was full of surprises, and with Reimu's advi mind, he k was only a matter of time before his adventure began.