A short, dead serious chapter with a longer one following on Friday to end the week. Mysteries will be revealed!

Day 6 part 2

I woke up late in the morning with a strange voice resounding in my dreams.

Well regardless I exit my new home, the 'dome' and head past my seemingly loyal minions... I have a thin layer of permafrost on my skin at all times now, to avoid assassination until I know whether I can trust them or not.

While out I greet Yumi who seems thrilled by her good fortune. Something about a three-something with the twins...

I wish her well in her endeavors and go out hunting.

I found a few crab outcasts and ate them.

Returning home I met the siren again.

“I had such fun with the pirates the other day. What say we go after something bigger next time?”

“Sure Yumi, next time. I'm a bit tired now.”

“Are you alright? Well get some sleep, it'll help with that.”

I rest up for the day. There was something I meant to do...

But it wasn't important.

Day Seven

Still tired. The statue was meaningless after all.

I wander through the cave without defenses, testing the snail sincerity.

No attacks, or even a hint of aggression. Perhaps I should wipe them out anyway, just be careful...

First though I go hunting.

I meet the siren again who seems upset.

She accuses me of something but it isn't important.

Later on I see her again near the cave and she seems happier. I'm glad.

I try to clear my head by sleeping again.

I have bad dreams.

Day Eight

Things are clearer now.

I ignore the snails as they pose no threat.

I meet a large shark that tries to claim this area as its own.

I use my magic and eradicate it. Huh. That was easy...

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I see Yumi who looks worried for me.

I don't really know what is wrong, I feel fine.

I go home again only to meet Yumi waiting on my door and unhappy but less concerned.

She wants to go hunting sometime tomorrow.

Something about tougher enemies to fight.

It sounds interesting as nothing I choose to do right now seems to make me enthusiastic.

I agree quickly, she is my friend and I feel sorry I made her upset.

I feel I should have gone somewhere today too, but it doesn't come to mind.

I sleep again, the dreams are calmer, relaxing.

Day Nine

The snails are waiting for me, they give me a report on their current activities.

Half-way through this, one stabs me.

The agony is excruciating!

I move to protect myself but the toxin has already paralyzed me.

I don't seem to mind this very much.

“I apologize for the rudeness of this method, great Ensuikage...” The one-eyed masked cone-shell says. “You are not poisoned with our venom but that of a neighboring clan's. We did not seem to be able to reach you directly through words as you seemed to be ignoring them. This venom halts the body and provokes the mind.”

“Our reasoning is this: you are being deceived.”

“You do not seem to realize; you are talking with two entirely different sirens every day.” The snail explains. “Of those, one seems to be using a controlling jutsu on you...”

What we learned in this short episode:

Squid is slowly being brainwashed.

Squid's prosopagnosia has left him unable to notice the difference between one siren and another since the beginning of the story.

The snails are completely honorable.

Someone will die next chapter...

Another person will wish they were dead.