Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 2, part 2

[Hanzo K.]

>"...Ah. I was wondering about that."

[Oldmansour]

>"...Ah. I was wondering about that."

>"Excuse me." Kiku says, and reaches out to take a hold of the paper stuck to you. But she pauses after taking a hold of it. "Come to think of it, how were you able to contact Lily with this still active?" she wonders aloud, before shaking her head. "I'll assume it's some aspect of your power that I don't fully understand. We can theorize later."
>Kiku pulls the charm off your body, and instantenously, you become aware of the sensation of being surrounded by a foul dark water again. Although this sensation seems lessened, somewhat, the air a bit less foul than it was before. The bad smell in the air, now that you notice, also seems lessened, although you have a curious tingling in your nose. Like you're about to sneeze.
>You also become aware of the magical auras given off by the light-emitting paper on the wall near you, as well as another that Kiku has placed on the right hand wall down the Salt corridor, though the charm that was attached to you seems as inert as normal paper.

[Hanzo K.]

>Suppress the urge to sneeze, that we can at least suppress. "Well, it seems as if that foul feeling has lessened somewhat."
>"But yes, it's another ability. Though I too am surprised it worked."

[Oldmansour]

>Suppress the urge to sneeze, that we can at least suppress. "Well, it seems as if that foul feeling has lessened somewhat."
>"But yes, it's another ability. Though I too am surprised it worked."

>You sniff once, quietly, but fight off the sneeze. The tingling persists, though.
>"Well, we may have dealt with one threat, but I'm afraid I've discovered a complication in pinpointing our enemy." She takes a step to the side and turns side on to you, point back down the Salt corridor. "I still can't detect the demon, specifically, so I've been trying to find anomalous metal instead. There's a lot of brass metal concentrated beyond that corner down there, a much denser concentration than there should be, beyond anything I can acount for. Unless they have a group of large brass statues in there. And even then, there's something off. It doesn't feel like normal brass."
>"And on top of that, I've sensed a large chamber about 20 or so feet below us, that seems to be walled and surrounded entirely by lead, and what I think is vanadium."

[Hanzo K.]

>Raise an eyebrow. "That is rather a lot of precious metals. I must confess, that does strike me as rather odd as well. Perhaps we should consult Mr. Saigyouji on that matter."

[GuyYouMetOnline]

We have no real evidence to link what we do and hunger. Tiredness yes, which we lack in an appreciable amount, but not hunger. So the evidence doesn't really support that assumption.

Also, magically induced is still fake, and thus should be within our purview to break. We just need to find the right way.

Guy: Following that logic, let's assume Kanako did everything, and go beat her up right now. If you toss rationality out the window, then there's no point to trying to solve a problem at all.

When did I say to toss rationality out the window? I only said that we can't assume things work the way they do in real life. All that means is that they work differently. The rules are different, but there are rules.

Also, how does being magically induced mean it's fake? If, say, magic is used to burn you with fire, those burns aren't fake. Magically induced injuries are still real injuries; why wouldn't magically induced hunger still be real hunger?

[Hello Purvis]

>"Is there anything special about vanadium?"
>Presumably we are aware of lead's radiation-blocking features?

[Oldmansour]

>Raise an eyebrow. "That is rather a lot of precious metals. I must confess, that does strike me as rather odd as well. Perhaps we should consult Mr. Saigyouji on that matter."

>Kiku looks thoughtful. "I hesitate to head back upstairs, after coming this far down here. Not the least reason being, I'm not completely convinced that ooze is completely inert. I may have transformed it, and I certainly can't sense anything from it, but it was so... alien, I cannot be certain it's been destroyed. Whatever it was."

>"Is there anything special about vanadium?"
>Presumably we are aware of lead's radiation-blocking features?

>"Something about it sounds familiar..." Kiku half covers her mouth with her hand, thinking. After a few seconds, she snaps her fingers. "Now I remember. It is said to impede communication from spiritual beings of the elements fire and air, and boost communication between elementals of earth and forest. Earth and forest energy could also be transmitted more easily through it, and the reverse is true for air and fire. But no magics of our order was affected one way or the other, that I am aware of, so the properties of that particular element have not been deeply explored by the Metal Mikos."
>"I think it was also used as a defense against the magiks of the Lunarians during the Second war, but that is not my area of expertise."
>You are indeed.

[Hello Purvis]

>What do we we know about these various spirits of air, fire, and so on. Has anything we've done fallen understand that classification system, or anything we've seen the enemy do? (Or if it's easier, have either of us broken outside of it)

[Oldmansour]

>What do we we know about these various spirits of air, fire, and so on. Has anything we've done fallen understand that classification system, or anything we've seen the enemy do? (Or if it's easier, have either of us broken outside of it)

>The extent of your knowledge about the magical spirits of the various elements is not much beyond that they exist. Patchouli mentioned the six elements of magic once or twice, in passing, and that her family had a particular affinity for the element of Water, but not much else.
>You also are aware that different magics use different elements as their base. Kiku and her order, for instance, use the five elements of the Beasts: Water, Earth, Wood, Fire and Metal. As a miko of the Metal Tiger, and from what you've seen of Kiku's power, it's a very safe bet she specializes in Metal magic.
>The properties she mentioned vanadium possesses would seem to affect the Six element system of the west: Fire, Ice, Water, Earth, Forest and Air.

>The powers you've demonstrated so far do not seem to rigidly adhere to either one of those systems, or any system of magic you're aware of.
>As regards to the enemy, you've not seen much concrete about them. The two youma the first demon created were made of a gold ring, and then a gold pendant, so it's possible she could be a specialist in Metal magic herself, if not a Metal spirit, assuming such a thing exists.
>In terms of the second demon, the one you're tracking now, the sensations and phenomenon you've encountered so far would lead you to suspect that it has an affinity for Water, albeit the dark, sinister, evil side of water. Considering that Water is an element of both systems, and you know next to nothing about either one, you wouldn't be able to guess which system this demon is using, or belongs to. Assuming it belongs to either one.

[Hello Purvis]

You're a bro, Sour.

>"So, what did you see up ahead?"

[Hanzo K.]

>"Hmm...Judging from past experiences, it would seem that whatever is behind the Youma follows the elements. The first two I encountered were a gold ring, and a gold locket respectively, Metal element. And now we've encountered something possibly related to Water, that strange ooze."

[Oldmansour]

You're a bro, Sour.

>"So, what did you see up ahead?"

Thanks! ..... What did I do?

>"I've yet to actually look around the corner. I wanted to finish my scans of the lead chamber below us before I further explored the area beyond. I had just confirmed the vanadium content when I noticed you had regained consciousness."
>"Plus... Shielding charm or no, I didn't want to run across anything else while you were still incapacitated. Not without having a clear idea what I- WE were facing."

>"Hmm...Judging from past experiences, it would seem that whatever is behind the Youma follows the elements. The first two I encountered were a gold ring, and a gold locket respectively, Metal element. And now we've encountered something possibly related to Water, that strange ooze."

>Kiku gives you a small, brief smile. "An interesting theory, and clever reasoning." she compliments, before her smile fades. "However, I have to disagree with you, at least about the Metal part. I am a master of the Metal element, the strongestsecondstrongest miko at this shrine, and what I sensed in that youma back at Yakumo Jewelers was no Metal magic. It is possible, of course, that that demon has some form of metallic magic, or perhaps simply an affinity for gold, but no magic of the Metal school was in that youma. One can use metal in magic without it being Metal magic, as odd as that may sound."
>"But Water... You may have something there." The youkai pauses to draw a measured breath. "You'll recall, before we entered the record hall above, I described to you a vision of black water, of a hungering sea with no bottom, no shore. That sensation came over me again as my magic was affecting that ooze. Assuming the ooze was a creation or servant of the demon, that demon may indeed have some connection to the water element. But if it does, I would guess it is not the Water of the five elements of the Beasts, but rather some kind of water magic from its own world."

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "That is possible, but there's also a possibility for it to be metal-aligned, since the demon that created those Youma was nowhere to be found. Whereas it's quite likely that the one that created that ooze could still be around."
>"And, and you likely already know, there's another set of elemental magics, the 6 Elements. Fire, Ice, Water, Earth, Metal, and Air. So it's possible that these demons may be operating from that one."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Or, as likely, they have developed their own basis of understanding magic."
>Examine the water again. Does it seem to be staying reasonably clean?

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "That is possible, but there's also a possibility for it to be metal-aligned, since the demon that created those Youma was nowhere to be found. Whereas it's quite likely that the one that created that ooze could still be around."
>"And, and you likely already know, there's another set of elemental magics, the 6 Elements. Fire, Ice, Water, Earth, Metal, and Air. So it's possible that these demons may be operating from that one."

>"Or, as likely, they have developed their own basis of understanding magic."

>"Forest, Lotus. The Six elements use Forest, not Metal. Metal is exclusive to the elements of the Beasts."
>"But you're right, they could be employing that system, or their own. In fact, given that their kind originates from another Realm, it's quite likely indeed they would have their own magiks. The Lunarians had their own brand as well, and they originate from this Realm."

>Examine the water again. Does it seem to be staying reasonably clean?

>Which water are you referring to?

[Hanzo K.]

>"...Ah, right, forgive my little mistake. I wasn't quite thinking straight there."

[Hello Purvis]

>The water we were messing with earlier, which Kiku was working of (assuming I got my facts right)

[Oldmansour]

>The water we were messing with earlier, which Kiku was working of (assuming I got my facts right)

>The dark water was transformed by Kiku into a sheet of lead after you blacked out. It has been quite immobile since you regained consciousness.

>"...Ah, right, forgive my little mistake. I wasn't quite thinking straight there."

>"Quite understandable."
>"But on the matter at hand, I don't think we should set in stone in our minds that this demon, or any of them, are exclusive users of one element. It may well be the case that they specialize, as you say, but for all we know, this demon could introduce herself to us via a barrage of fireballs. I myself have specialized in Metal, obviously, but I can draw upon the other elements as well, other than Fire."
>Kiku pauses for a moment, as if considering what she just said, then scowls for an instant, before her face returns to normal. "The same could be true for them as well."

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "That too is a quite valid probability. We should be more careful from here, much more careful."

[Hello Purvis]

>"It would be wisest to anticipate it in every case, until we can confirm otherwise. No point in underestimating the enemy."
>Do we feel able to stand and move around decently enough that we wouldn't be a problem if something attacks us?

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "That too is a quite valid probability. We should be more careful from here, much more careful."

>"It would be wisest to anticipate it in every case, until we can confirm otherwise. No point in underestimating the enemy."

>"Agreed."

>Do we feel able to stand and move around decently enough that we wouldn't be a problem if something attacks us?

>You are currently standing, and you believe moving should pose no problem.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Shall we move on?"
>Glance toward the lead.
>"How long shall that remain there?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Shall we move on?"
>Glance toward the lead.
>"How long shall that remain there?"

>Kiku hesitates a second before answering your second question. "Ordinarily? Until I dispelled the spell. But with that ooze? I have to be honest, Lotus, I really don't know. It felt like that liquid was literally from another world. Without your efforts, I can't say that my magic would have affected it at all, let alone how long it will continue."
>Kiku gestures down at her feet, but as she does, you sense your ring react to something again. The same sensation you got outside when Kiku and Chie were together. Well, more like, half of it.
>"You may have noticed a metallic light around my legs earlier." she continues. "That was a warding spell, as well, just in case my spell against the ooze wasn't completely effective and enduring."

>"As for moving on, well, that's something else I wanted to wait for you to wake up before deciding. I was uncertain which one to explore first, and I didn't want to leave you behind, nor did I wish to carry you, for that would have left us both open to ambush."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Have you sensed anything from that direction?"
>Gesture toward the freshwater hall.

[Oldmansour]

>"Have you sensed anything from that direction?"
>Gesture toward the freshwater hall.

>Kiku shakes her head. "Nothing out of the ordinary."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Then it doesn't seem like we'd find much there."

[Oldmansour]

>"Then it doesn't seem like we'd find much there."

>Kiku nods.
>"I would start with around the 'salt' corner, where the brass is, myself. But that lead and vanadium chamber down there confused me. I find myself at a loss to explain it."

[Hello Purvis]

>"We will likely have to see it for ourselves to make sense of it, if that is possible."
>Frown.
>"Could you remind me of the mystic properties of lead? I know it's more mundane uses..."

[Oldmansour]

>"We will likely have to see it for ourselves to make sense of it, if that is possible."
>Frown.
>"Could you remind me of the mystic properties of lead? I know it's more mundane uses..."

>"I believe it to be possible." She points towards the left hand wall. "I found an inconsistency in that wall, which I believe to be a door of some kind. I haven't found the switch to activate that door, but that should not prove too difficult."
>"Lead..." Kiku makes a thoughtful noise as she searches her memory. "Well, it bears a similarity to iron in that a large number of nature spirits have a sensitivity to it, an aversion. However, unlike cold iron, lead is more useful as a binding agent when seeking to capture or restrain a spirit, as opposed to a weapon, though it can be used in that capacity. And it can be as poisonous to spirits as it is to humans."
>"Lead is fairly useful when enchanted, though not as much as silver, or palladium. And it's one of the more easily useable metals among specialists in Metal magic. That's one of the reasons I used lead on that ooze, so thta if it worked, I could use it in my spells again-"

>At that point, Lily's voice comes over your ring, and from within Kiku's robes, interrupting the feline miko. "Uh, girls? I've found something different and weird up here."