September 12th - September 30th

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September 12th - September 30th

You get up a little later than usual. It's the start of your first full weekend in Grey Springs. What to do with all this free time? You look at your phone, and see you have new messages.

(!) Julian
Julian:Hey Julian:I know its early and idk if youre up yet but i cant sleep Julian:That thing in the other world really messed with me Julian:I wanna go back Julian:I want to help save Ezra Julian:But I know I cant go in alone and I bet Solomon wont let me in anyways Julian:so Julian:Can we please go back today? Or tomorrow? Julian:I think i can do it this time Julian:Confront myself and all that, yknow Julian:just let me know

(!) Robin
Robin:Good morning! I hope I didn't wake you up? Robin:I was wondering if you'd have time today to go into the portal with me? Robin:I have some ideas of how I can help, even without powers Robin:And if we can confront my Other Self, or whatever she is, maybe it'll help with waking up Ezra Robin:Even though I know Solomon said he's possessed by a whole bunch of spirits. But it'll be a start Robin:Please message me back when you read this!

[note: You can choose whether to go with Julian first or Robin first. I'll write them both out here starting with Robin. This is also a section of the game where you're free to choose how you spend your time between classes and on the weekend. I might insert them into the story later, but for now if you're curious about the other social links, go to the "episodes" page and read the entries under "characters" that pique your interest. I'll write out some scenes for different days that would happen regardless of your choices as well, I'll add them under Robin and Julian's contract sections.]

You tell Robin you'll meet her at the ruins in an hour. You tell Julian you've got other plans for the day. He seems a little disappointed, but he accepts it.

Grey Springs - Abandoned Factory

When you arrive at the Ruins, Robin is already there, accompanied by Solomon. He's in bird form, and she looks quite uncomfortable, even though he's keeping his distance.

Solomon

If I bother you so much when I'm like this, I can be human, you know.

Robin

"I know, but I should get used to you like that. This is a good opportunity to get over my fear. Even if you already don't act very birdlike." She's clenching her fist tightly to her chest. When she sees you, she relaxes a little. "Yon, you're here! I brought some things."

She rummages around in a bag she has slung around her shoulder. She pulls out a small book.

Robin

"I brought a pocket bible. I know Solomon said these things are technically not demons, but still. Just to be safe! And in case that doesn't work..." She puts the book back, and pulls out something far larger. "I also brought a kitchen knife." He lets out one loud caw. It sounds like a laugh.

Solomon

"I suppose that's better than a pool cue!"

Other World - Entrance

You make your way inside. You follow Solomon to the mismatched door, though you think you would be able to find it on your own now even without his guidance. Robin follows close behind. She has put the knife back into her bag, but keeps one hand inside of the bag to ensure she can pull it out just in case.

When you get to the door, Solomon stops and turns around to face you. He looks serious.

Solomon

"Okay, before we head inside, I have to warn you. I don't know what it's going to look like inside. It won't be like it was last time you were here. This is your Other Self, and the moment we pass the threshold it will target you."

Robin

"Okay." She takes a deep breath. "I remember the things she said last time. I think I can handle it."

Solomon

"I can't convey how intense this is going to be. Your Other Self will confront you with a side of yourself you don't like. Don't get angry, don't attack it, and most importantly, don't deny it."

Robin

"I know who I am. I'm ready."

Solomon's face relaxes a little and he quickly glances over to you, as if to ask if you're ready for a fight in case one does happen. You give him a small nod. He turns around, and opens the door.

Other World - The Deep Woods

Your surroundings change in an instant. You feel cold air on your face, smell dead leaves and hear the sounds of several insects only active at night. When your eyes get used to the darkness, you realise you're in a forest. It's night, and everything is bathed in a blue hue by the full moon overhead.

Robin

"D-did this happen the last time you came here?"

Solomon

"It's targeting you. Do you know where we are?"

Robin

"I do." She lifts her hand out of the bag a little, the knife glinting in the moonlight. "I've seen this place in my mind before. I mean, I imagined it... I don't know if it really exists."

You hear the cracking of branches somewhere below you. Orange light briefly flares up; you smell burning wood. A chanting procession of men clad in deep purple robes passes through the plains below where you are standing, before they vanish into the thick brush forming an underpass. You look at Robin, you feel uneasy and you can't hide it.

Robin

"My sister. Because she never turned up, after a while I thought she might've been spirited away. I don't know who did it, but I became convinced of it. I've thought of the forests surrounding Grey Springs a lot but after the initial search efforts were halted I never had the guts to search them by myself, so..." Her voice shakes a little, as does the hand clutching the kitchen knife. "What if she's still there?"

Just when she finishes speaking, something charges at you from behind. Before you can react, you and Solomon are being dragged through the forest. Behind you Robin is being pulled along as well, but not as roughly. A girl with a shrouded face has grabbed her hand and is pulling her along after you.

They drop you in a clearing. When you try to get up you notice your hands are bound behind your back. Solomon lets out a deep sigh beside you as he struggles to sit upright beside you. Robin stumbles forward as the girl lets go of her hand. You find yourself surrounded by faceless, muddy and gnarled figures. Some of them appear to be wearing the Grey Springs cheerleader uniform. All of them have stringy, black hair. The girl pulling Robin along begins to speak.

Other Robin

"Finally we can bring her back!"

You see Robin nervously looking at Solomon for guidance. His face is stern. Remember what I told you.

Robin

What do you mean?

She's clumsily clutching the knife in her hands, pointing it at the ground.

Other Robin

"We can trade them for her."

She points at you and Solomon. As she does, the figures around you make the same motion.

Robin

"I don't want that anymore."

Her addition of "anymore" sends a chill down your spine. Solomon's eyes are locked on Robin's back, his expression is serious. So far, so good.

Other Robin

"What do you mean? We're so close, we can't stop now. It's been ten years, we can finally see her again."

Robin

"You-- we don't know if it'll work. It's not worth the sacrifice."

You hear Solomon chuckle quietly beside you, as he echoes Robins' last word. To your surprise he has a grin on his face.

Other Robin

"What are you talking about? We found out the spirit world is real. Angels, demons, all of it! She was spirited away or sacrificed, how could it possibly be anything else?"

Robin

"If that's true, we can get her back another way. With their help."

The figures let out a noise that could be laughter. The Other Robin's face has changed; she went from excited to looking annoyed.

Other Robin

"Why would they help after you admitted you'd be okay with it if they died? Even now, you're not denying you'd trade their souls to get Wren back if you could."

Robin

"I would not--! I don't think that's the right thing to do, and just because I don't deny my thoughts that doesn't mean I don't regret them. There's a difference."

Other Robin

"You're making this more difficult than it needs to be. Nobody would even know if they went missing, it's just the new guy and... whatever he is." She points at Solomon, who gives her a small nod in return. He is still smiling slightly. "You brought the knife. You know the sigils. Just do it."

The Other Robin suddenly starts towards Robin, who reacts too late to get out of her way. At the same time some of the figures hoist Solomon up against a tree, before rebinding him to it. You're still on the ground, but one figure is holding restraining your arms, as if to make sure you won't run away.

With the help of some of the figures The Other Robin turns Robin towards you, and push her forward. The Other Robin puts her hands on Robin's to aim the knife at your chest.

Other Robin

"We're so close. Just do it."

Robin eyes are wide and fearful , her knife is shaking in her hands as she struggles against the Other Robin's grip. Her eyes flick up to meet Solomon's.

Robin

"I don't want to hurt you."

Solomon

"Don't worry, you're doing great. I'll be fine. You can get through this."

Robin wrenches her eyes shut as the knife presses into Solomon's chest. You can't tell if she's trusting Solomon and giving in or if the grip of the Other Robin has become too strong to fight against.

Robin

"This won't bring Wren back, we both know that!"

As Robin yells, the knife hits the tree. Solomon's transformed into his magpie form and flown up in the air. Robin twists around to face her Other Self, who is no longer smiling. She looks guilty, clutching her arm with her other hand. The figures have backed off.

Robin

"With the portal opening and learning that spirits are real I think there's so much we can do to find her. It might be a lot of work, and I know we're tired, but instead of turning away from others I think we should accept their help."

The other Robin begins to change shape. It grows far taller, towering over Robin. It reminds you of when Abramelin revealed himself to you. The shape has changed to a robed figure with three faces, clad in purple. It's being held up by countless hands sprouting from the robe, and a snake is tangled around its upper body. Solomon has changed back to his human form, and drapes a robe around Robin in much the same way Temperance had done to you. Robin repeats the words the shape speaks, as if she'd known them before. I am thou...

Contract Made - Dantalion, Death

Dantalion vanishes in a flash, and when the cape falls from Robin's shoulders, she's transformed. The dagger that had been stuck in the tree behind her has reappeared in her left hand, transformed into a rapier. The forest disappears; and you find yourselves back again in front of the strange door.

Robin

"Oh my god, I did it!"

She runs over to you, elation beaming on her face. You celebrate her victory together by excitedly jumping around. Solomon takes this moment to breathe a sigh of relief.

Solomon

"That was really impressive. Well done, Robin."

Robin

"T-thank you. That was really scary. But I'm also relieved, and glad I can help out! Whenever you go, I'll go with you from now on, okay?"

[Robin has joined the party yay]

- Julian's route -

When you get to the ruins you once again find Julian's made his way there before you. His pool cue is leaning on a nearby wall, and he is talking to Temperance. Unlike last time, he seems a little less uncomfortable. It might help that for once Temperance isn't making direct contact with him. He nods at you when he notices you.

Julian

"Yo." He grabs the pool cue from the wall. "Let's get to it. Solomon's around somewhere, too."

As if on cue you hear the flapping of wings and Solomon lands on Temperance's raised hand.

Solomon

"I'm here! I thought some extra support might help you relax a little, so I asked Temperance to join us."

Temperance "I believe you can do it."

Julian

"Oh, um, thank you." He clutches the pool cue a little tighter.

You enter the portal. When you get to the familiar door, you find it's no longer two different doors awkwardly fused together; its just the pine wood door with the "J" on it. Except now it looks like words have been carved into the door. It's Julian's name, over and over. It's written both large and small, in scratchy letters. It feels like it's meant to taunt Julian.

Solomon

"It's just your name," he begins. "It doesn't have any meaning unless you give it meaning."

Julian

"But it looks so... so angry. Like I did something bad."

Solomon turns around to look at Julian, his eyebrows are raised. It might just be the light from the edge of the door hitting his face oddly but his usually copper-toned eyes look bright red. You hear Temperance next to you exhale quietly through her nose.

Solomon

"Did you? Have you done something you judge to be bad? It wouldn't look like that unless it's reflecting your own feelings." He puts one hand on the door. "Remember, the only thing behind this door is part of you, not anyone else."

Julian swallows hard. He's gripping the cue with two hands. At this point he's using it more like a stress object than a weapon, you think.

Julian

"So do I just spill my guts out in there? I mean, do I accept everything he says and say sorry?"

Solomon takes a step closer to Julian. He pokes his chest with a single pointed finger.

Solomon

"There is no he, only you, it's important to remember that once you face yourself. Luckily for you you'll have a moment to gather yourself before having to speak, because me and Yon will have to beat your other self first before it'll return to looking like you."

Julian

"Oh yeah, because I stabbed h-- myself..."

You can tell he feels strange phrasing it that way. Solomon looks at you.

Solomon

"Are you ready?"

You nod. He pushes the door open. Temperance puts a hand on Julians shoulder as the four of you walk inside.

Temperance "You can do this. I can see it in your eyes."

Julian gives her an uncertain glance in response.

Inside you find his other self, still an enormous monster. It looks like it's wearing armor adorned with scorpions. It yells at you in a booming voice, but you can't tell what it's saying as it echoes through its brassy looking helmet. [fight go]

When the fight is over, you hear Julian take a deep breath behind you. It's his turn now. When the dust clears, he once again finds himself face to face with his other self. He takes a step forward. For a second, they are both silent.

Julian

"I... don't know what to say," he says with a shaky voice.

He is still holding the pool cue horizontally. He drops it down, shifting so he can hold it with one hand, leaning it on the ground like you might a walking stick. His other self looks at him. His clothing looks frayed in places, and there is a scuff mark on his face. His knuckles are bruised. It looks like he got out of a schoolyard fist fight rather than the magic-tinged battle he had minutes before with you and Solomon. You suddenly wonder how many fights Julian has been in.

Other Julian "I'm so annoying. It's no wonder no one sticks by me for long." He tries to rub the back of his hand in an effort to calm himself down but winces when he grazes his knuckles with his fingertips. "It either ends with rejection or a fight, and I never win. I'm weak, annoying, I'm not even smart. I don't have anything to offer anyone."

You hear the wood of the pool cue creak as Julian wraps his hand tighter around its end.

Julian

"I know, but I don't think others see it that way. I mean, maybe they do, but Ezra doesn't. I think thats a good start."

Other Julian

"He is in a coma because I brought him here. Robin hates me. Yon probably thinks I'm a weirdo."

Julian

"I am kinda weird! Like, I'm super impulsive, I know that. I get distracted super easily and I get hyped about stuff just as quickly as I forget about it for the next cool thing. But Yon is still here. And Solomon thinks I can do this, that I can help Ezra. I can fix what I did." He casts his eyes down. "I gotta talk to Robin, I know that. It's gonna be hard but I think it's the right thing to do." He looks back to his other self. "I have to trust people. I have to learn to stop worrying what everyone's thinking when they're around me. I want to try!"

The Other Julian begins changing form again. Julian takes a step back and jerks his head around to look at Solomon, panic in his eyes.

Julian

"Did I do it wrong again?"

Temperance "You did great."

She steps towards him, a cloak has materialized in her hands. With a sweeping motion she drapes it around his shoulders. Behind them Other Julian has taken the form of a knight, his armor shining bright as if reflecting the evening sun. Temperance closes the clasp on the cloak. Julian meekly looks at her hands as she does so.

Temperance "Turn around. Face yourself one more time."

When he does a familiar ritual takes place. With a shaky voice Julian repeats the words the shape speaks. I am thou, thou art I...

Contract made - Eligor, The Star