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You gawked at her as she prattled on about the thing you could only identify as the mythical Surtr in your head, and put a hand over the Big Dipper marked on your arm, feeling warmth through the sleeve as it glowed. It was worrisome. More like, it was fucking terrifying for you to think about how it was put on you by the sheer force of will of some being's hatred.
And that only raised MORE questions! About what the final result of it was! Why it could thwart Youkai, and why it could be felt by them so much. Why your actions influenced how much power it had, or otherwise.
"Question... if I happen to know who this spirit is-"
<span class="mu-s">"A spirit from the Outside, ancient as history itself. A being of apocalyptic nature, known and recorded in the legends of northern and western Europe? A swarthy one who brandishes a sword of flame itself? Named <span class="mu-g">Surtr</span>, by chance?"</span>
"...Yes... actually." You said, a bit discomforted by her casual use of the name. "...Well, uhh... if I know who they are? Why hasn't my... mark disappeared yet? I thought it was linked to knowing the identity of the layer."
<span class="mu-s">"Good question. It's because he assumed a new identity."</span>
"What?!"
<span class="mu-i">"A new identity?! But... how? What do you mean?"</span> Reimu barked.
<span class="mu-r">"I believe I know. It isn't as though he changed his name, but his nature. He hasn't become some different person, but a different type of spirit from what he used to be, evident by weaponizing his own hatred. In other words, what we have to search for isn't the identity of the spirit's person, but their being. They've become something else... maybe they now identify with a concept or an idea instead."</span> Hecatia explained it, cupping her chin; <span class="mu-r">"Hm... Surtr, eh? I'll have to look into that upstairs..."</span>
<span class="mu-g">"That would make sense, and most likely is the case. But it begs the question of how we hunt down and learn the identity it has taken on, and its plans."</span>
