Mountain City Dancing with Evil Spirits

Doctor Schneider was very busy on Monday afternoon. When Shade arrived by carriage, the doctor was counseling a patient suffering from severe recent insomnia, but he still made time to meet with Shade.

Doctor Schneider charged by the hour for psychological consultations, so he was highly skilled in hypnotherapy. Treating insomnia caused by mental illness came especially naturally to him.

Shade did not hide what he intended to do, only leaving out that he had accepted a commission from the Witches.

After hearing him out, the doctor frowned deeply and gently shook his head:

"If it isn't necessary, I don't recommend doing something this dangerous.

"But since you've already decided, I won't interfere with your choice. It's better to be careful. I don't have much advice to give you, since I've never been to the Life and Death Limbo you mentioned. It's true that you can't bring Relics into dreams, but I do have a way to keep you from being quite so helpless. Wait a moment."

He had Shade wait in the reception room while he left the room.

It was quite a while before the doctor returned, carrying a Black Crystal pendant. A finely woven black cord was connected to the crystal's golden hook with a sailor's knot at its tip. The crystal was hexagonal and flat, utterly unremarkable in appearance. Its surface was engraved with a curse written in Demon Language. A single glance at those twisted symbols was enough to evoke a sense of filth:

"This is an Alchemy Item I made myself, the 'Demon Amulet.' Hold it in your hand when entering a dream, and you'll be able to use part of a Demon's power within the dream."

The doctor handed the pendant to Shade, then added:

"Don't worry, using this power won't contaminate your