Fiona made her way to the harbor, to a ship that would sail to Dukewood. After Fiona killed Lady Natasha, Dark Umbrella might now be after her. Dukewood is one of the largest realms in the world of Grimmhooth; it is twice as big as Dehl.
(Fffps)
Clown: "Hahahaha… (radio static)… I knew she would survive this. The Card of the Mysterious isn't enough, but Holle apparently has something to do with it."
Klara: "Your sister is interested in her."
Clown: "Hahh… my sister simply loves to spend time with pretty women. She represents Sloth, but the reason she doesn't represent Lust is my other sister, Beatrice."
Klara: "Hmm."
Clown: "Dukewood, then… If I'm not mistaken, there are many members of the Forbidden Library there."
Klara: "Not just them. Also members of the Scythe of the Grave, as well as the family of Vlad."
Clown: "Vlad…"
Klara: "And of course, the family—meaning the organization—your sister likes… the Dark Cinderella."
Clown: "Oh… hohoho… true… (radio static)… Dukewood is a wonderful realm. It's my father's favorite, because many people die there… and my father is, after all… the Grimm Reaper — Death."
(Bzzzzzzzz)(Fffps!)(old music)
Narrator: "Hello, dear ones… Welcome to Dukewood, the largest realm in Grimmhoth. Let me tell you a few things… First, of course, there's the Statue of the Weeping Maidens. This story is about six maidens who were murdered because people thought they were witches. As revenge, in their last seconds, the last of them became a real witch… and cast a curse. This curse made it so that every person in Dukewood can only reach the age of 36… otherwise, there is either death… or… you become a living doll. Isn't that fun… hahahahahaha…"
(Ffps!)
Narrator: "The curse is called the Curse of the Maidens. The only way to break it is to not be a maiden — that is… if you do not die as a virgin, you may live longer."
(At the harbor of Dehl, Ludwigsstraße 341)
Fiona: "Hmm."
(Hooooooonk!)
Fiona: "Hmm."
Attendant: "Please board… please board."
Fiona: "Hmm."
Attendant: "Ticket, please."
Fiona: "Here."
Attendant: "Hmm."
She showed her card; it said:
Name: Fiona Hamilton
Age: 20
Card: Card of the Mysterious
Nickname: Lady Mystery
Job: Detective
Organization: Dark Umbrella
Attendant: "Oh… sorry."
He let her pass. The organization Dark Umbrella is well-known and important, so its members are allowed to ride ships and airplanes like police officers or officials.
(Hoooooonk!)
Fiona: "Hahhh…"
She went inside.
Butler: "Would you like something to drink, my lady?"
Fiona: "Hmm… thanks."
She only took a piece of strawberry, ate it, and continued walking. She wore a hat, a long black outfit, and underneath a brown suit with long pants.
Fiona: "Hmm."
She went to her room.
Fiona: "Hahhh… Luckily I booked a room quickly yesterday. Otherwise I'd have to sleep in the lower section. Too many people… kids crying… it's too loud for me."
Crane: "Be honest. It's not that a child's crying annoys you — it makes you sad."
Fiona: "Not true."
Crane: "Then why did you smile at that child back then when he saw you and started laughing, and you thought I didn't notice how happy you were that he wasn't crying anymore?"
Fiona: "If you don't shut up, I'll make sure you cry all night."
Crane: "Sorry… creepy."
Fiona: "Hmph."
She lay down on the bed.
Fiona: "Hahhhh…"
Crane: "What are you planning?"
Fiona: "Go to Dukewood… and this time, without help from Dark Umbrella, continue my work as a detective."
Crane: "You killed Lady Natasha."
Fiona: "I did."
Crane: "The first time you killed a human."
Fiona: "She was a monster."
Crane: "Hmm…"
Fiona: "Hahh."
She took off her jacket.
Fiona: "I want to sleep… so I'm changing clothes. Look away."
Crane: "Oh, come on. We're almost like siblings. It's okay if I see your Body."
Fiona: "Well, strangely enough, that's not something you should say to your sister, you idiot."
Crane: "Oh… that also explains why my sister called me a creep when I was still human."
Fiona: "Turns out even a cursed being like you can be pervy, huh."
(Hooooonk!)
Fiona: "Hmm."
(A few minutes later)
Fiona: "Hahh…"
She wore only an undershirt and short shorts. She had a tattoo on her arm: a detective's hat, and beneath it a pocket watch.
Crane: "You like tattoos?"
Fiona: "I don't really care… but I did this because I thought it was cool."
Crane: "Hmm."
She had a birthmark on her shoulder. She lay down on the sofa and picked up a book titled Magi and the Tower, a short story about a woman who can only leave the tower if she finds someone who loves her and kisses her… but she finds out she was lied to and used for her beauty, which is why she was cursed and became the Cursed Woman; her name is Betty.
Fiona: "Hmm…"
Crane: "What do you think happened to Cruella?"
Fiona: "I don't know… Edwardson didn't kill her, that's for sure."
Crane: "Edwardson… a riddle."
Fiona: "I looked into it. Edwardson is not a member of Dark Umbrella. He's a mage who takes contracts, but something's off."
Crane: "Hmm?"
Fiona: "Every group he worked with… died within three days."
Crane: "Edwardson really was a riddle."
Fiona: "I should have known…"
Crane: "Be that as it may… you really should get some rest."
Fiona: "You're right… I haven't slept for four days… But first… I really want to take a shower."
Crane: "Then do it."
Fiona: "Okay… you stay here. Don't cause trouble."
Crane: "No problem."
She went into the shower.
(Splop!) (Splop!)
Crane: "Hmm…"
(A few hours later)
Fiona: "(Sleeping)… hhhh…"
Crane: "Hey… Fiona."
Fiona: "What… hmm, let me sleep."
Crane: "You've been sleeping for six hours."
Fiona: "Oh… really."
She got up.
Fiona: "Damn… I must have been very tired."
Crane: "That's normal. But look at this… out the window."
Fiona: "Hmm?"
She went to the window.
Fiona: "Ugh…"
The ship was sailing; Dukewood was visible… but it was inverted. Unlike Dehl, where the sea is above and the clouds below, in Dukewood it's the opposite — the clouds are above and the sea below. So the kingdom looked upside down.
Fiona: "Wooow…"
(Hoooonkk!)
The ship went deep into the clouds… then into a tunnel inside the clouds that connected to the sea, so ships could reach Dukewood.
Fiona: "Whoa…"
(Hoooohhhh)
Fiona: "Ugh…"
A whale… above the ship.
Fiona: "Ugh… wow…"
Crane: "Insane…"
The whale looked at her.
Fiona: "Hey…"
She smiled.
Crane: "Hmm."
But above the whale… something swam… and then she realized.
Fiona: "Ugh."
The whale was dead… and whatever swam above it… was angry.
Fiona: "Ugh."
(Crash!) (Crash!)
Fiona: "What…"
(beep… beep… beep… beep)
Warning!
Announcer (female): "Warning, warning, dear passengers… please remain in your rooms. Whatever happens, please stay… there."
(Crash!)
Fiona: "Ugh… what…"
Water entered.
Fiona: "What do we do now…"
Crane: "I don't know… damn… we're deep in the sea…"
Fiona: "Ghhhhh…"
(Crash!)
Fiona: "Hahhh…"
(Kaboom!)
The ship exploded.
Fiona: "Mmmmmm…"
There it was… the eyes of the monster. A giant kraken.
Fiona: "(What is that… ugh… a kraken? No… it's too big for a normal kraken. Could it be… the king of the seas in necromancy… the great kraken…Zeldores…?)"
She lost consciousness.
(Pump!) (Pump!)
Fiona: "Gahhhhhhhhhhh!!! (cough!)"
Crane: "Are you alright?"
Fiona: "Hahh… what…"
She was still on the ship. Everything was okay.
Fiona: "(A nightmare?)"
Crane: "You were sweating like crazy… hah… seems the shower didn't help, you'll need another one."
Fiona: "The ship… is it okay…?"
Crane: "Why are you asking?"
Fiona: "… I must have had a… dream…"
Crane: "Hmm?"
Fiona: "It was… the king of abominations in the sea… Zeldores…"
Crane: "What? That's impossible. The mage Nina killed him."
Fiona: "Sealed him, to be precise."
Crane: "Even so… no one can break that seal except her."
Fiona: "I know…"
(Hooooonnnkk!)
Announcer: "Dear passengers, the trip ends here. You have reached the Dukewood realm. Thank you for traveling with us. If you forgot something — belongings or jewelry — please contact the harbor on Ludwigsstraße in Dehl, street number 341."
Fiona: "She likes to talk."
Crane: "Well… suits the job."
The ship stopped and Fiona disembarked.
Fiona: "Ugh."
The buildings were different, somewhat old-fashioned. Some houses resembled the Age of Swords. Others were modern.
Fiona: "Oh…"
Crane: "Hmm…"
Fiona: "Where exactly are we?"
She looked at the map.
Fiona: "The Old Town…?"
Crane: "Makes sense when you look at the buildings."
Fiona: "If I remember correctly, Dukewood is the realm my original parents came from."
Crane: "Hmm."
Fiona: "You don't know anything about that, do you?"
Crane: "When your father — sorry, your adoptive father — brought me, you were already three years old."
Fiona: "Hmm…"
Crane: "Your aunt had it in her diaries, right?"
Fiona: "Mhm."
(A few days earlier)
Fiona: "Hahh… these are Aunt Elena's diaries…"
Elena's Diary: "Today I'm visiting my niece… well, she's not really that — actually my sister adopted her. She doesn't know her real parents; they simply found her in a hospital without mother or father. Perfect for a sacrifice ritual…"
Fiona: "Ugh!"
(Back in the present)
Crane: "Hmm."
Fiona: "Anyway… I have to keep going. I booked an apartment… it's actually in the Old Town."
Crane: "It's called Hoodswood, by the way."
Fiona: "Well, people just call it Hoodwood now."
Crane: "That's what I said."
Fiona: "Oh… you did… hmm."
Crane: "Hahhh…"
They continued walking. The cities were connected.
Fiona: "So there's Hoodwood, Forrerstwood, Lindwood, and Timhooth."
Crane: "Why is Timhooth called Timhooth?"
Fiona: "Probably because the statues of the maidens are in that city."
Crane: "Ahh… that could be."