Author Topic: Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 2, part 4 (Complete) (Read 33099 times)

GuyYouMetOnline · « **Reply #510 on:** October 22, 2012, 05:46:41 AM »

>"Many of us are like that, yes, but not all of us."
>"This discussion can wait. Right now, we must cast aside this veil."

Oldmansour · « **Reply #511 on:** October 22, 2012, 05:51:20 AM »

Quote from: GuyYouMetOnline on October 22, 2012, 05:46:41 AM

>"Many of us are like that, yes, but not all of us."
>"This discussion can wait. Right now, we must cast aside this veil."

>"I feel it now. What is that?"

GuyYouMetOnline · « **Reply #512 on:** October 22, 2012, 06:38:31 AM »

>"It is what prevents you from speaking about Satori, and what is holding your body in place. I think I can remove it, but only with your aid. To start, push against it with me."
>Push at the veil the same way we just did.

Oldmansour · « **Reply #513 on:** October 22, 2012, 10:04:37 AM »

Quote from: GuyYouMetOnline on October 22, 2012, 06:38:31 AM

>"It is what prevents you from speaking about Satori, and what is holding your body in place. I think I can remove it, but only with your aid. To start, push against it with me."
>Push at the veil the same way we just did.

>"But.... Al.. All right..." the feline murmurs.
>Reaching forth with your will again, you poke the thick grey material spread over the snow leopard's mind. In your mind's eye, a swirl of grey wind and dirty snow appears by your side, forming itself into the mental self of the leopard. She, like you, reaches out with her paw and brushes the grey veil.
>Once again, you see the orange wall and steel bars before your eyes, and are assailed by a pervading sense of despair and hopelessness as you rest upon a floor made of splintery wood and needle-like straw. The snow leopard's acceptance of you, thin though it may be, offers an insight into that vision. It is her memory you see. One of them, anyway, and you have a sense that there are many, many more like it.

Hello Purvis · « **Reply #514 on:** October 22, 2012, 10:44:07 AM »

>Does the memory seem to hold any source of the veil, or does it just seem to be a thing that was hidden?

Oldmansour · « **Reply #515 on:** October 22, 2012, 10:51:09 AM »

Quote from: The Man From P.U.R.V.I.S. on October 22, 2012, 10:44:07 AM

>Does the memory seem to hold any source of the veil, or does it just seem to be a thing that was hidden?

>The memory seems to be a part of the veil, but not its source, at least as far as you can tell.

Hello Purvis · « **Reply #516 on:** October 22, 2012, 11:16:25 AM »

>Look around, and try to sense where the source may be, if there is one.

Oldmansour · « **Reply #517 on:** October 22, 2012, 11:24:26 AM »

Quote from: The Man From P.U.R.V.I.S. on October 22, 2012, 11:16:25 AM

>Look around, and try to sense where the source may be, if there is one.

>Taking a moment to conentrate, you examine the veil more closely. It seems to have been woven within and around the memories of the snow leopard. Its thickness may be being reinforced by her painful memories.

Hello Purvis · « **Reply #518 on:** October 22, 2012, 12:10:00 PM »

>"Thank you for trusting me. Can you lead me to Satori?"

Oldmansour · « **Reply #519 on:** October 22, 2012, 12:41:54 PM »

Quote from: The Man From P.U.R.V.I.S. on October 22, 2012, 12:10:00 PM

>"Thank you for trusting me. Can you lead me to Satori?"

>The snow leopard considers your request, then nods in a rather human-like way. "I believe I can."

Hello Purvis · « **Reply #520 on:** October 22, 2012, 01:01:24 PM »

>"Then please, if you would."

Oldmansour · « **Reply #521 on:** October 22, 2012, 01:07:35 PM »

Quote from: The Man From P.U.R.V.I.S. on October 22, 2012, 01:01:24 PM

>"Then please, if you would."

>"Will you remove your hand from my side?"

Hello Purvis · « **Reply #522 on:** October 22, 2012, 01:11:38 PM »

>Nod, and do so.

Oldmansour · « **Reply #523 on:** October 22, 2012, 01:18:52 PM »

Quote from: The Man From P.U.R.V.I.S. on October 22, 2012, 01:11:38 PM

>Nod, and do so.

>Taking your ring away from the snow leopard brings you fully back to reality, away from the pain of the felines memories. The female cat's fur ripples at the loss of contact between you, and she sags slightly in relief. Pulling herself together, her eyes, now lacking the intensity they shone with when she first arrived, join with yours for a moment, before she turns away from you and begins to walk.
>Hideo the fox, giving the leopard some room to move past him, looks at you and asks, "What about Kiku?"

Hello Purvis · « **Reply #524 on:** October 22, 2012, 01:22:52 PM »

>"I imagine we'll find each other when this is all done. If you see her, it would be kind of you to direct her toward me."

Oldmansour · « **Reply #525 on:** October 23, 2012, 12:45:02 AM »

Quote from: Purrvis on October 22, 2012, 01:22:52 PM

>"I imagine we'll find each other when this is all done. If you see her, it would be kind of you to direct her toward me."

>"And where will you be?" Hideo asks, of both you and the leopard.
>"Satori is home. That is where I go." the snow leopard replies.
>"I'll point Kiku there, when she's back in this world."

GuyYouMetOnline · « **Reply #526 on:** October 23, 2012, 01:07:50 AM »

>"Thank you."
>Follow the leopard.
>"May I ask your name?"

Oldmansour · « **Reply #527 on:** October 23, 2012, 01:45:20 AM »

Quote from: GuyYouMetOnline on October 23, 2012, 01:07:50 AM

>"Thank you."
>Follow the leopard.
>"May I ask your name?"

>Walking past Hideo, you start to follow the big cat. She doesn't make this especially easy on you, as the pace she moves at is not a slow one, and you are rather tired.
>"I don't have a name." the snow leopard replies. "The other shrine maidens of the shrine may call me something, but it means nothing to me."

GuyYouMetOnline · « **Reply #528 on:** October 23, 2012, 02:04:50 AM »

>"Is that how Hideo-the one who brought you to me-got his?"

Oldmansour · « **Reply #529 on:** October 23, 2012, 02:15:32 AM »

Quote from: GuyYouMetOnline on October 23, 2012, 02:04:50 AM

>"Is that how Hideo-the one who brought you to me-got his?"

>"The shrine maidens name some of us that live in this forest, and that fox spends a lot of time near them."

GuyYouMetOnline · « **Reply #530 on:** October 23, 2012, 02:56:58 AM »

>"I see."
>Continue on.

Oldmansour · « **Reply #531 on:** October 23, 2012, 04:17:40 AM »

Quote from: GuyYouMetOnline on October 23, 2012, 02:56:58 AM

>"I see."
>Continue on.

>The snow leopard proceeds about another 10 or so feet, then stops abruptly. Which, you have to admit, is a bit of a relief. You almost had to jog to keep her in sight, and you're really not up to jogging right now. The lights of the temple are just now coming into view ahead, through the trees and plants. Not really enough to light your way, per se, but enough to act as a guide. You note that the sensation of the presence of the Tiger has faded a bit as you've moved closer to the shrine.
>"I will lose the ability to speak in your way as we get closer to the shrine. Father's presence weakens."

GuyYouMetOnline · « **Reply #532 on:** October 23, 2012, 04:31:08 AM »

>"I understand."
>Continue.

Oldmansour · « **Reply #533 on:** October 23, 2012, 05:00:02 AM »

Quote from: GuyYouMetOnline on October 23, 2012, 04:31:08 AM

>"I understand."
>Continue.

>The lights of the shrine offer a level of comfort, as you try, again, to keep pace with the feline in front of you. With your destination in range, you don't have to push your weary, fatigued body as hard as you had been. On the other hand, you try not to let the snow leopard get TOO far ahead of you, as it's still the middle of the night, and you're not close enough to the shrine to let its' illumination brighten the forest in front of you.
>After a few more minutes of brisk walking, the ambient light ahead of you grows brighter and brighter, enough to let you recollect the area ahead. You're approaching it from a different angle this time, but you're heading towards the small playground on the south side of the temple grounds. The faint smell of grilling meat wafts across your nose, carried by the cold breeze that washes across your exposed skin.
>Just as the feline said, the presence of age gets thinner and thinner as you go.
>She stops again as the area before you brightens enough to let your human eyes see well enough to make out the ground ahead of you. She turns and takes a few steps to the side as you pause to catch your breath.

GuyYouMetOnline · « **Reply #534 on:** October 23, 2012, 05:10:39 AM »

>As soon as we're ready, continue on.

Oldmansour · « **Reply #535 on:** October 23, 2012, 05:28:13 AM »

Quote from: GuyYouMetOnline on October 23, 2012, 05:10:39 AM

>As soon as we're ready, continue on.

>Gathering yourself, you set off again towards the shrine. The snow leopard, however, does not move as you approach her. She merely keeps her focus on the outline of the building ahead of you.

GuyYouMetOnline · « **Reply #536 on:** October 23, 2012, 08:02:23 AM »

>"Are you coming?"
>Nod our head. "If you don't know the human gestures, do this for 'yes'."
>Shake our head. "And this for 'no'."

Oldmansour · « **Reply #537 on:** October 23, 2012, 08:16:17 AM »

Quote from: GuyYouMetOnline on October 23, 2012, 08:02:23 AM

>"Are you coming?"
>Nod our head. "If you don't know the human gestures, do this for 'yes'."
>Shake our head. "And this for 'no'."

>The leopard shakes her head no.

Hello Purvis · « **Reply #538 on:** October 23, 2012, 10:44:38 AM »

Wait, should we be going toward Satori, given that it has been stated by the Metal Tiger that meeting Satori is a bad thing?

>Examine the building ahead of us.

Oldmansour · « **Reply #539 on:** October 23, 2012, 10:52:07 AM »

Quote from: Purrvis on October 23, 2012, 10:44:38 AM

>Examine the building ahead of us.

>There are too many trees in the way for you to get a clear view at this distance and at this level of light, but from here, the temple seems to be outwardly the same as when you were here earlier today.
>At least, for the most part. There seems to be a piece of cloth, or perhaps paper, hanging from the front of the temple with some kind of writing on it, but you can't make out the lettering from here.