I gathered my courage and headed towards what seemed to be a centuries old walled settlement. As I approached, I found myself the target of curious stares by many people I could only assume were rice farmers. As I approached, I found guards in armors I hadn't seen outside a museum and holding weapons I never thought I would see used seriously in this day and age. They saw me approaching and ordered me to halt, to which I complied.
"Halt! Are you an Outsider? I've never seen you around these parts. What is your name?"

"Joseph Newman. I am pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Your name and your looks… You're a foreigner as well, aren't you?"

"You would be correct, I'm not native to the land of the rising sun."

"I see… You must be confused Outlander, come with me."

The guardsman in question spoke briefly to one of the other guards, and gestured at me to follow him. Behind the walls, laid a village brimming with life. All of them dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, adding to the theme of everything about this land being antiquated, though, if modernity led to the carnage I had seen outside, then perhaps it was for the best. I got more than my fair share of curious looks, though I could detect something else in the eyes of some. Pity, it would seem. I myself was growing concerned, but I decided to wait. Soon, we arrived at an old-style Japanese Manor. It appeared that I was being taken to someone of importance,
as I knew this style of building only belonged to those rich or powerful enough to earn it.

The guard led me through the house, until we reached a room and stopped. On that room, I found we were not alone. In our company stood a young woman, likely in her early twenties at her oldest. Her hair was purple, which led me to start believing that otherworldly hair colors were natural in this strange land. Her violet eyes were unusually sharp for her age, yet her demeanor was gentle and calm. Her outfit was rich and colorful, leading me to believe she was either rich or a noblewoman. Her eyes looked up from the scroll which they previously roamed, as she studied my appearance. Shortly after, they widened in recognition. She turned towards me and nodded, leaving me slightly confused until I saw the guard sit on his knees on the ground, and following suit.

"Miss Hieda, I believe I've found the latest Outsider to have shown up."

"I see. Please, go bring Miss Kamishirasawa here. Tell her another Outsider has arrived."

"Yes Ma'am." With that, the guard stood up and left the room. Soon, a different one would take his place, no doubt that it would be foolish to leave an unknown stranger in the same room as an important noble unattended.

"Greetings Miss… Hieda was it? I am Joseph Newman, an Outsider, whatever that means. I'm afraid I'm woefully in the dark about all this."

"That's right Mister Newman. I am Akyuu of the Hieda. You must be terribly confused, finding yourself in this land, though it would seem you found your way to the Village safely. Tea?"

"Yes, thank you for the offer." Even if I did not want it, it would be rude to refuse, given the rules of hospitality, and the fact I haven't had tea in a long time. She gestured towards her retainer, and after a few minutes, he arrives with tea. Blowing at it to alleviate the heat, I calmly took a sip, before returning to telling my tale. I found that the man had put up another teacup on the table we sat by. Likely, it had been for Miss Kamishirasawa.

"Yes, with the help of one Kazami Yuuka, after I found myself in the field of sunflowers she guarded. She led me here and I presume she went to the florist."

The woman looked shocked. "Kazami Yuuka you say? The Youkai of Flowers? And no harm came upon you?"

I shrugged. "I was told that it would be a shame if I were to perish too early, as Miss Kazami put it "the flowers have taken a liking to me." All I did was treat them with the respect they deserve. You don't get to see much beauty these days. It's all fire, smoke and rubble these days due to the war." I said, as images of the things I saw flashed through my mind.

Akyuu looked pensive, seemingly deep in thought after I mentioned the war.
"This war… it wouldn't happen to be the same one other Outsiders that arrived lately have mentioned, would it? One that started a few months ago in the land of Korea?"

"You would be correct. I was in that country when it began. I escaped from Korea along with others by getting a ship to bring us to Japan, but unfortunately, roughly a month later, the war found its way to Honshu."

"Well, allow me to be the first to say this Mister Newman, welcome to Gensokyo."

"Gensokyo huh? What is this land if I may ask?"

"This land is the last refuge of the Supernatural in Japan. In here, man, youkai and God alike can be seen roaming the streets. You see, as belief in the Supernatural waned, Youkai and Gods alike began to disappear from lack of belief."

"I see, so Nietzsche was right: "God is dead and we killed him." I suppose this would explain how I saw that youkai ignore gravity so casually."

"Indeed. Though they are far from normal, most of the remarkable individuals in Gensokyo can easily achieve flight."

As we discussed some of the more specific details, a woman in blue hair and a darker blue dress arrived through the door. Her clothes were intricate, her hat being especially curious among them, almost shaped like a building. Her red eyes inspected me, likely wanting to figure out what kind of man I was. Her expression was severe, and the seriousness of the situation seemed a lot more apparent with her arrival.

"Miss Hieda, I apologize for being late. Is this the Outsider in question?"

"Worry not Miss Kamishirasawa, nothing too important was discussed yet. This would be the young man in question indeed. This is Mister Newman. Mister Newman, this is Miss Kamishirasawa, guardian of our very own History and teacher at the local school."

"Pleased to meet you."

"Likewise. I see you've had a safe arrival?"

"Yes, I came here with Miss Kazami, the Youkai of Flowers." With that said, I began describing my journey so far.

"Curious. You are more fortunate than you will ever know. Miss Kazami does not tend to take kindly to Humans in the Garden of the Sun."

"Well, she was not shy of letting me know it, that much I know for sure. I can honestly say she did me no harm outside of being… somewhat mischievous. Nevertheless, I must inquire about my situation. What does it mean to be an Outsider in Gensokyo?"

Miss Kamishirasawa sipped on her tea and thanked Miss Hieda for the hospitality for replying. "That is not an easy question to answer. To put it simply, Villagers have certain protections that make it so that even if they are found by youkai, said youkai might think twice before feasting on them, and for Spell Card Users, an unattainable target most of the time. Outsiders… they have none of these protections. Whatever was the reason that Miss Kazami spared you, it had served you well,
for if another youkai had found you first…" She did not need to finish the sentence.

My blood ran cold as I realized how close to death I had come. Yuuka herself could've killed me without any reprisal if she wanted to. My fate has been almost entirely dependent on the whims of beings who could kill me without a second thought. Still, curiosity filled me. I drank some of my tea to calm myself down and gather my wits, before asking.

"What are these Spell Card Users you mentioned?"

Kamishirasawa answered my question. "The Spell Card System was designed by the Hakurei Shrine Maiden, the Guardian of Gensokyo, to prevent fatalities during incidents. An Incident occurs when a new or even existing Youkai, or occasionally, a Human or God, shatters the order and stability of the land. The consequences of letting an incident go unsolved can be catastrophic. Thankfully, the Hakurei Shrine Maiden and several others tend to get to the root of those incidents. The Spell Cards are ways of using magic in a nonlethal fashion, one that is elegant and graceful, and allows even the weakest of fairies to beat the strongest of youkai. In theory that is. Everyone stands a chance, though without skill in dodging or wit in Danmaku, the basis of Spell Cards, one will not go far."

My face adopted a thoughtful look as I digested the information given to me. It appears this land is not without its own calamity. Though, I smiled at the fact no one had to die. Despite this land being dangerous in its own right, it was a paradise in its own way, for even when chaos struck, no lives had to end. That much reassured me. I had not traded a war-torn land for another.

"A way to battle without ending anyone's life… I am glad to have found such a place. In any case, I have managed to find my way here, and I do believe I still draw breath. This land is different from any other beyond its borders. What is there for a man of my lot, of foreign kin and foreign world?"

Miss Hieda spoke. "You're awfully well spoken for an Outsider. Normally, you would be given the choice between being escorted to the Hakurei Shrine to return to your world, or to stay in the Village, but I'm afraid that a recent influx of Outsiders who refuse to leave are straining the village's ability to properly integrate them. They refuse to return to their war-torn homes, an understandable sentiment, but still troublesome. There are even rising tensions with the local youkai, as, in their view, we are keeping them from their rightful meals."

At these words, my heart sank. Surely there had to be a way, a manner of ensuring my stay. I did not wish to die at the hands of youkai, but even less did I wish to die as another victim of the fires of war. In this land, I believe I could know peace. With a hint of desperation coloring my speech, I spoke.

"Surely, there must be a way to remain here. My chances of survival would be dubious be it outside of this village or beyond the border, but at least this land is not torn up and scarred by the war that rages on even as we speak. If I must take my chances with the youkai outside, I will, but is there nothing I can do to earn the privilege of living in this village?"

Hieda and Kamishirasawa shared a glance, and after a moment of deliberation, nodded.
Miss Kamishirasawa was the one to speak.

"There is one way Mister Newman, but I must warn you, it will be very hazardous. Fifteen Outsiders have attempted it, and none were successful. Perhaps a few still live, somewhere in the wilderness, but it is dubious. A few lived long enough to give up and asked for escort out to the Hakurei Shrine, that they may return home. There are seven trials you must partake in. Should you succeed, you will not only earn the right to live here, but you will also gain citizenship, in a sense. The protection of the Village will be enjoyed by you, and no longer shall you be seen as an Outsider. For seven days and seven nights, you will be given time and information, as well as food, drink and lodging, so that you can prepare for your tasks. When those seven days go by, you are to leave the village, and travel around Gensokyo, performing your trials. Should you at any moment return to the village by your own will without having completed the tasks assigned to you, you will be considered to have forfeit the Trials, and will be escorted to the Shrine Maiden. This is your only choice if you wish to remain in this village."

I pondered carefully upon this information. I did not fancy myself as inherently better than those who tried and failed to complete these trials, but neither did I believe in impossibility, especially after finding myself in Gensokyo. Indeed, if I were to refuse, I'd be granted safe passage back to the Outside, but that would not guarantee anything afterwards. There was no telling how long that war would last, and even then, I did not have much to return to. In the end, I found the prospect of becoming a permanent part of this world more and more enticing, despite the fear I felt at potentially meeting my end at the hands of a hungry youkai somewhere. The more I thought about it, the more I had felt that there was only one choice. I would take on these trials, and I would prevail or perish in the attempt. There would be no other outcome, I had selected my fate.

"I accept. I shall endeavor to complete these tasks that you shall reveal to me. I will return victorious, or not at all. That is my resolve."

Miss Hieda spoke, a serious expression on her features. "Very well Mister Newman. If that is the case, we have much to discuss."