Outside of Euna, Shokei's party is continuing their journey as they are heading to the direction where Hauntmystic has went off. Up ahead, Rei can see that there is a town that is close by at her distance. The party heads on as they made it into the town.

  "What's this pce?" Marie asked.

  "I recognized this." Rei said, looking around. "It's Britatona."

  "Britatona..." Marie said, looking around the area.

  "It seems that we made it here." Saeko said. "That pesky Necromutant still has Shokei trapped in that book."

  "Wait a minute..." Sadako said. "Something is not right here..."

  From the looks of the town, the party can see that Britatona is strange. Seeing that there was hardly any life going on in the town, Marie looks at the statue of a person.

  "A stone statue..." Marie said. She sees that the expression of the statue looks to be a sign of fear. "It looks... realistic."

  "It does..." Beatrice said, checking out another statue.

  "Hmm..." Mizuki examines the statue. "This statue isn't for show. It's a human trapped within this town's curse."

  "Hey! There's more." Saeko said, pointing to see more stone figures on the other side.

  "What the hell happened here?" Beatrice said.

  The party looks to see that Britatona appears to be under siege. There are more stone statues of innocent townspeople covered by vines from a pnt. There are statues on the ground, but neither are broken. Rei looks around as she sees the situation of the town, with her thoughts racing on her mind.

  Since the day when Shokei and I have fled...the time when we needed a breakout...and now look at this...

  The party looks around until they can see that there is only one person that does not appeared to be stoned.

  "Is that a survivor?" Marie asked.

  "I'm not sure." Mizuki said. "He could be a traveler exploring this area."

  "Let's talk to him." Rei said. "I'm sure he has something to say about this matter."

  The party approaches the man that is just looking around. The man gets his attention to see a group coming right up to him.

  "Hey!" Rei calls out to him and asked. "Do you know anything to what happened here?"

  "This town is cursed." The man responded. "Some source of evil made all the people around here turned to stone."

  "We noticed." Rei said. Then, she asked him. "Do you happen to know who or what is responsible for this?"

  "That I cannot say." The man shakes his head. "However, I do know that there are very odd noises that are heard out of the mine shaft..."

  The man points to the location of the mine, which is straight ahead to where the party is standing.

  "I'm too afraid to tell what lurks down in there." The man said. "I can say that someone, monster or some demon, is putting Britatona in ruins."

  "Hmm..." Mizuki stands still and can hear the noises out of the mine shaft. "I see."

  "We will have to go down in there to investigate." Rei said to her party. "Track the source of the problem and take it out."

  "By going down the mines?" Marie asked. "It...it might be dark down there."

  "Of course. Do we have a choice?" Rei asked her.

  "I...well, we do need to figure out the problem that is keeping the people stoned." Marie said.

  "There, that settles it." Rei said. "Let's go down there and deal with the situation."

  The party agrees and they made their way to the entrance of the mines. Rei lets the party go ahead of her and then she stands there to turn and look at the skies.

  Shokei...I know you're still caught in the enemy's trap...just hang in there, we'll find you.

  Having a moment of thought, Rei keeps up with her party into the mines.

  Somewhere around the wilderness of Euna, Hauntmystic appears in another section of the forest. With the book in her hand, she gnces at the cover for the st time. She made sure that Shokei is still trapped inside her book. The Necromutant discards the book, throwing it into the bushes, hoping that her allies will never find it. Once the book is tossed, Hauntmystic vanishes from the scene.

  Back in the story of "Woodnd of Dreams", Shokei is being held behind bars at Hogsfeet's castle. She lies on the concrete bench as she feels imprisoned once again.

  I have a bad feeling about this...I get caught by guards and being put in here and I have no idea what is happening out in that town...now I'll never escape this book...

  "Heh, you too have been captured by the Queen's guards." A voice speaks out to Shokei.

  Shokei pipes up and hears someone is talking to her in a cell next to her. She gets up and walks over to take a closer look. There, she meets someone in a fashionable witch costume.

  "Hi there!" The girl greeted Shokei. "I didn't know that you too have been caught by those guards and brought in here."

  "Yeah, you can say that." Shokei said and asked. "Who are you?"

  "Me?" The girl asked back.

  Shokei nodded.

  "Ohhh! Right! The name's Mariko." The girl introduces herself with a bow. "And just like you, I've been imprisoned inside this pce for quite a while."

  "The name's Shokei." The blonde haired greets her.

  "Shokei...that's a cool name!" Mariko said with a smile.

  "Heh heh. Thank you!" Shokei said, smiling back. Then, she gets back to the conversation. "What are you doing here? Are you the one that was putting the people in Hogsfeet in a state of despair?"

  "No way! I'll never do such vile thing!" Mariko shakes her head. "Besides, they got the wrong person."

  "I see." Shokei said. "I just came to their town a while ago and then I met someone that was telling me about the situation that is happening in the area. Then I was caught by those guards and was brought in here."

  "So...you're not the main character of this story, are you?" Mariko asked.

  "No." Shokei said. "And speaking of that, I am trapped inside this fantasynd book."

  "Me too!" Mariko said. "At least I'm not alone in here either."

  "Wait..." Shokei takes a breath and said, "You don't mean that you fell for the same trap that I did, right?"

  "Yeah." Mariko replied. "But the funny thing is that I was put in this story by a strange necromancer."

  "Ehhh?" Shokei gasped a bit.

  "Huh?" Mariko looks at Shokei, confused. "What's wrong?"

  "I knew it..." Shokei said. "That necromancer you mentioned...I know what you're talking about."

  "You...do?" Mariko asked.

  Shokei nodded.

  "Umm..." Mariko blinked, more confused. "I'm lost..."

  "Let's start over..." Shokei said. "Tell me how you got trapped in this book."

  "I was flying on my broomstick all over on Euna." Mariko tells her. "Suddenly, I came across a strange dy with a very scary looking face. She attacked me, causing me to lose my bance on my broomstick. Then, I fell and then I felt my whole self being sucked into this world in which we are in now."

  "That expins a lot why you were held here for a while." Shokei said.

  "That's my side of how I got in here." Mariko said and asked. "What about you?"

  "I was heading back to my friends to get some sleep. That's when I came across a book that was on the ground. That is when the Necromutant, Hauntmystic, trapped me inside that book."

  "That's her name?" Mariko asked. "Haunt...mystic?"

  "That's her all right." Shokei said.

  "But you said 'Necromutant'," Mariko pointed out. "What's makes her different from being a Necromancer?"

  "That person you encountered was a Necromutant." Shokei said to her. "Yes, she looks like a Necromancer, but more powerful."

  "Gee, and I thought all Necromancer were the same..." Mariko said in a guess.

  "That you wouldn't know...as for Hauntmystic, she's something else." Shokei said to her.

  "Oh...I see." Mariko said, turning her eyes on the side.

  "We seriously need to escape this book we're trapped in." Shokei said. "There must be a way out of here, but...where?"

  "I thought of the same thing too." Mariko said.

  Both girls became silent for a minute. Then, Mariko looks up at Shokei.

  "You know, it's really scary when you're being beled a witch and then you wind up in a world where you're being portrayed as the vilin in a story." Mariko said.

  "Why you say that?" Shokei asked her.

  "Because those guards are accusing me of something that I have done to their world." Mariko said. "Something tells me that those people in that town are under a curse. There must be a source of the problem that is making them miserable and in despair. Besides, I would never do any harm to anyone with magic meant for evil. I'm...not that kind of magic user who would pgue a town with innocent Hare people."

  "Hmm, I just met you here...and I don't think I know you well." Shokei said. "But we're in this together, so we'll need to work together to get through this mess we're in."

  Suddenly, Shokei and Mariko can hear footsteps. Both of them can see that there are four guards are standing there, watching them in their cells.

  "Lads! Your time has come." The guard speaks out to them. The Queen would like to see the both of you in trial. Once we release you from your cells, do not try to make any funny attempts to escape."

  Shokei and Mariko look at each other and they nodded. With their cell gates open, both of them walked through and then they're being escorted by the guards. They are forced to follow them as they are lead upstairs. As the girls are being escorted into the castle, Shokei looks around the pce and sees the castle appears to be luxurious. One thing that got her attention is the portrait of the Queen. The face of the Queen appears to be wearing gsses that are progressive in detail. As she looks around, Shokei can see that there is an iron door with two guards blocking the way.

  What's in there? Shokei thought. What could this pce be hiding? Is it really the way out of this book?

  Not having any clue to what was behind the door, Shokei looks ahead to see that she is heading into the throne room. Inside, Shokei and Mariko can see that the Queen is sitting in her throne and the Queen looks to see who her prisoners are.

  "Bow your allegiance for Queen Ogiva of the Hogsfeet Kingdom." The guard said.

  Shokei and Mariko did as they bowed in front of the Queen.

  "Hmm..."

  The Queen gets up and looks at Shokei and Mariko. The girls look to see that the Queen is checking them out as she has her eyes focused on them. Shokei looks up at the Queen, staring at her face. She takes note of the gsses that she was wearing.

  "One of you is truly responsible for putting my people in a state of despair." Queen Ogiva said to them. "Or perhaps both of you are in it together...am I right?"

  "No way!" Mariko responded to the Queen. "There's no way I would ever do that!"

  "I don't do magic at all." Shokei said. "I am not born with magic and have never learned magic at all."

  "I swear on Almighty; I would never hurt your innocent people! Never!" Mariko pleaded.

  Queen Ogiva hears what her prisoners have their say. She looks at Mariko, seeing her with an innocent look in her eyes. Shokei remained calm and can only wait to hear the response from what the Queen has to say.

  "You two..." The Queen started to speak, getting the girl's attention. "You don't look like witches at all. No. Neither of you two don't appear to be witches at all."

  "Oh...we aren't?" Shokei asked.

  "Really?" Mariko asked. "Does that mean we're..."

  "Hush young one!" Queen Ogiva interrupted, giving her the hand. "I never said that you are considered a witch. Besides, that outfit you wear doesn't tell me you're a part of them."

  "Them?" Shokei and Mariko said, confused as they look at each other. Then, Shokei said, "What do you mean by them? What are you talking about?"

  "And what is going on in this world?" Mariko asked her. "Your pce may look colorful but your people look dreary and depressed."

  Queen Ogiva hears questions being asked. Then, she walks up to a window and stares outside.

  "My Kingdom has lost its magic." Queen Ogiva said. "This Kingdom is on the brink of suffering. My people have been put under a curse that is drifting them into hatred, suffering, and depression. The Woodnd of Dreams is a pce where dreams are being made into reality. This nd of mine is filled with hopes and dreams for those who want to achieve anything in life and has hopes of becoming successful."

  Shokei and Mariko walks over to view the window with the Queen.

  "See the water fountain over there?" The Queen pointed out. "That fountain is the source for all of Hogsfeet. The fountain is the source that brings this world full of happiness, blessings, and peace. The statue is the fountain's main source of energy through the Medallion of Prophecy. With the Medallion attached to the statue, it gives our world life and energy for my people to feel hopeful and alive."

  "So that's what that encrypted hole was made for." Shokei said.

  "Yes." Queen Ogiva said. "However, the Medallion is divided by three fragments. The fragments have been stolen and have been taken by a trio of witches, called the Three Little Evils. Many of my guards have tried to stop them in keeping the fragments, but they all perished by the hands of the trio."

  "Interesting." Shokei said.

  "If that's interesting enough, our enemies have left a message for us." Queen Ogiva said. She takes out a note and gives it to Shokei.

  "Hmm?" Shokei takes the note and reads the message. "We the Three Little Evils hold possession of the fragments for the Medallion of Prophecy. Your world will suffer greatly and will be trapped in broad daylight for eternity. Try and stop us if you dare."

  "Broad daylight..." Mariko said. "You mean this world is trapped in time?"

  "No." Queen Ogiva said. "The Woodnd of Dreams cannot continue without the Medallion of Prophecy. This world is forever trapped in daytime as nighttime feels nonexistent. Without nighttime, the people of Hogsfeet cannot dream and they won't experience anymore dreams unless nighttime exists back in this world."

  "I see." Mariko said.

  "Because of this, I turn to you two." Queen Ogiva said, looking at Shokei and Mariko. "I need you to go out and defeat the witch trio that is responsible for stealing the Medallion of Prophecy."

  "Ok. How do we find this witch trio? The Three Little Evils that is." Shokei asked.

  "That you must figure out on your own." The Queen replied. "With those fragments in their possession, the trio might have split up around the Woodnd area. Your task is to retrieve the fragments back in order to restore the Medallion of Prophecy and return the Medallion back here."

  "And if we do that, you can tell us how we escape this world?" Shokei asked her.

  "That's only if you do the task that I ordered you to do." Queen Ogiva responded. "Now, leave and don't come back here until I see the Medallion in hand."

  Not having their say of words, the girls are being escorted out of the throne room.

  Leaving the castle, Shokei holds the map in her hands. The map is the whole viewpoint of Woodnd of Dreams. Shokei takes a look at the map as she tries to be familiarized with the area.

  "The Three Little Evils..." Mariko said to herself. "I wonder who they are anyway."

  "Beats me." Shokei said. "But its best we find out what they look like. We can't tell how much of a task will it be in getting those fragments from them."

  "The Queen did tell us to hunt them down." Mariko said. "Like a witch hunt I guess."

  "And yet you wear an outfit that looks more like a witch yourself." Shokei said to her.

  "Hey! You take that back!" Mariko pouted.

  "Ok ok. Bad joke. I was kidding." Shokei said, ughing a little.

  "Hmmph!" Mariko turned her head, not approving the joke.

  "Uhhh...Where are you guys going?"

  Just then, Shokei and Mariko paused as they heard someone calling out to them. They turn to see a sheep-face figure with horns, a face that Shokei has encountered before.

  "Oh. It's you again." Shokei said.

  "Yeah, its me." Egoh said. "I noticed that you two have left the Queen's castle."

  "We did." Shokei said.

  "Huh? Who's this?" Mariko asked.

  "The name's Egoh." The Druid greets Mariko. "An explorer that lives around Hogsfeet."

  "Nice to meet you." Mariko said.

  "Anyways, it seems that you two are heading off somewhere." Egoh said.

  "We are." Shokei said. "We need to find the missing fragments to restore a Medallion."

  "Really?" Egoh asked.

  "Yes. It's important if we want to save this world from the people suffering in despair." Mariko said.

  "Hmm..." Shokei thinks for a second and asked him. "Say, how do you sleep at night?"

  "Sleep? Me? Well, it's been daylight like nonstop in this world here." Egoh responded. "I sleep fine but then again, there is hardly any nighttime here."

  "Strange..." Shokei said. "Then the Queen must be right about this situation. There really is no end in daylight."

  "How come you ask?" Egoh asked her.

  "I'm curious." Shokei tells him. "But what about dreams? Do you dream when you sleep?"

  "Actually...no." Egoh replied. "I have no dreams when I'm asleep."

  "I see." Shokei said.

  "Anyways, we need your help." Mariko said to him, showing him a map. "We really need to figure out where can we start in finding the fragments."

  "Let's see here..." Egoh checks the map. "That depends where you two are heading off to."

  "There appears to be a Marsh area I see." Shokei said. "This map does not detail the areas that are in this Woodnd of Dreams."

  "Oh! That would be Marsh Woods." Egoh said, mentioning the location. "Is that where you think of heading off to?"

  "Looks like it." Shokei said.

  "That would be on the West side from here." Egoh said.

  "Great! Let's start heading over there." Mariko said.

  Together, all three of them head west to the Marsh Woods as shown on the map.