Mirage Carl wahrough the darkening woods, his eyes sing the shadows as the cool night air brushed against his face. The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, leaving Gensokyo bathed in darkness, illuminated only by the faint glow of the moon above.

  After leaving Reimu's shrine, he realized he o find a pce to rest. As much as he appreciated her hospitality, they were still strangers, and imposing on her kindness didn't feel right. Besides, she seemed to enjoy her solitude.

  His footsteps were quiet, cautious as he moved through the derees. The darkness was deeper than he expected, shadows twisting and dang around him, making it hard to see. Just as he was beginning to worry about losing his way, a soft, melodic sound floated through the air.It was singiiful and haunting, carried by the night breeze. The voice was clear and sweet, yet there was something eerie about it, something that made his skin prickle.

  Despite this, Mirage Carl found himself drawn to the sound, his curiosity overp his caution.

  He followed the voice, his steps guided by the enting melody, until he found himself standing at the edge of a clearing. There, perched gracefully on a branch high above, was a young woman with long, flowing hair and vibrant, bird-like wings. She sang softly, her eyes closed, her voice weaving a hypnotic spell over the forest.

  Mirage Carl watched in silent awe for a moment before calling out, "Why are you singing here, alone in the dark?"

  The singing stopped abruptly, and the girl's eyes snapped open, glowing faintly in the moonlight. She turned her head, her gaze log onte Carl, and for a moment, her eyes gleamed with a predatory light.She smiled, a pyful yet dangerous grin. "Why, to catch humans, of course," she replied sweetly.

  "You're lucky, you know. I usually don't get visitors this deep in the woods at night."

  Mirage Carl raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Well, I must say, your song was quite lovely. I almost fot where I was."

  The girl blinked in surprise, her expression softening just a little. "You're not scared of me?"

  "Should I be?" Mirage Carl asked, a teasing smile on his lips. "I mean, you're just singing. It's not like you're attag me."The girl looked genuinely puzzled. "You're... strange," she murmured, her eyes narrowing slightly.

  "Most humans run away when they hear my voice. Some don't evehe ce..." She let the sentence hang, her grin widening.

  Mirage Carl felt a chill run down his spine, but he kept his posure. "I guess I'm just not like most humans. Besides, your song was so beautiful, it would be rude to interrupt it by running away."

  The girl's expression softened again, her curiosity growing. "You're a funny one. My name's Mystia Lorelei. I'm a night sparrow youkai. My singing makes humans go blind, you know. Haven't you noticed?"

  Mirage Carl's heart skipped a beat. Now that she mentio, the darkness around him seemed deeper than before. It was like a thick fog had settled over his eyes, clouding his vision. He could barely make out her figure, her silhouette blending into the shadows.

  Feigning calm, he replied, "Oh, I see you just fine."

  Mystia's eyes sparkled with amusement, and she let out a pyful ugh. "Liar. Humans 't see in this darkness, especially not after hearing my song. You must be pletely blind by now."

  Mirage Carl's smile widened. She didn't believe his lie. That was all he needed. A faint tingliion ran through his body, and suddenly, his vision cleared. The darkness lifted, and he could see her clearly again—her vibrant wings, her flowing hair, her mischievous eyes.But Mystia didn't seem to notice. She tialking, unaware that her power no longer affected him.

  Mirage Carl watched her carefully, his muscles tense, ready to defend himself if she attacked. His hand hovered near his coat, ready to pull out his cards or s in an instant. But to his surprise, Mystia just smiled and stretched her wings, giving them a small fp.

  "Well, since I've had my fun and you're still standing, I suppose I'll let you go." She tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with pyful mischief. "You're lucky I'm not hungry tonight," she said, her tone light and casual. "Otherwise, I might have had you for dinner."

  Mirage Carl eechless. He had prepared himself for a fight, ready to use every trick he ko defend himself. But she wasn't going to attack? She was... letting him go?Before he could respond, Mystia gave a cheerful wave. "See you around, strange human. Try not to get eaten by anyone else tonight!"

  With that, she leapt into the air, her wings spreading wide as she took flight. In the blink of an eye, she was gone, her silhouette disappearing into the dark night sky.Mirage Carl stood there for a moment, stunned by the enter. He had been ready for battle, only to find himself... spared.

  He looked up at the sky where she had vanished, his mind rag. Mystia Lorelei... a youkai who sang to blind humans, yet let him go without a fight. This world truly was full of surprises.

  A smile crept onto his face. "Well, that was iing," he murmured, adjusting his hat. "I wonder what other mysteries this pce holds."

  With renewed curiosity and a lingering sense of wonder, Mirage Carl turned away from the clearing and tinued his journey into the night, his thoughts swirling with questions about Gensokyo and the strange, beautiful creatures that inhabited it.