Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 3

[Hanzo K.]

>The only one who might be difficult to get in contact with is the Wood Dragon. The main thing that stood out for me was the fact that Lily and myself were deep in nature, and that area's been more developed than the others. For the Black Tortoise, I believe that going to the pond behind the shrine should theoretically work. I'm not entirely sure on how to go about calling the Fire Bird, but I presume that the same caveats apply.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>Although I suppose this is all contingent on them desiring to speak with me.

[Oldmansour]

>The Ayakashi?

>The Saigyou Ayakashi, the largest fixture in Mayoiga. It is reputed to be thousands of years old, and is always in bloom, no matter the time of year. It is one of only two standing objects to survive the destruction of Mayoiga during the Second Lunar War, the other being the Black Tortoise shrine. It is located in the back yard of the Saigyouji mansion, near the center of town. The Saigyouji family adopted the Ayakashi as their symbol about six hundred years ago, and they have known prosperity ever since, apart from the Penniless year eighty years ago, when the worldwide economy crashed virtually overnight, coinciding with the Ayakashi's petals falling.

>The only one who might be difficult to get in contact with is the Wood Dragon. The main thing that stood out for me was the fact that Lily and myself were deep in nature, and that area's been more developed than the others. For the Black Tortoise, I believe that going to the pond behind the shrine should theoretically work. I'm not entirely sure on how to go about calling the Fire Bird, but I presume that the same caveats apply.

>If you do decide to attempt to communicate with any of the other three, if that is even possible, I would suggest trying the Tortoise first. As you say, it would seem the easiest to access, and Ibuki-s... Suika and her Sisters are very permissive of visitors roaming their grounds. And her grounds are inhabited by less wild animals than ours or the Bird's. You would have the best chance of making the attempt unobserved there.

>Although I suppose this is all contingent on them desiring to speak with me.

>That is a good point. And it may not even be possible. There may be something unique about the Tiger that is not shared by His brethren that allowed the contact between you. But we cannot know for sure until we try. Kiku's humorless chuckle echoes in your mind. Listen to us, Byakuren. Discussing contacting the ghosts of the four Animal Gods as though we do so every day. I've accepted the reality of this, but, still the enormity of it makes me stagger.

[Hanzo K.]

>Let's let a slight chuckle slip through the connection as well. It is quite mindboggling, isn't it? Several days ago I never would have imagined I would even be fighting to protect this land in such a way.

[DracoOmega]

>How does a global economy crash overnight? And did it really last only a year, or is that just the common way of referring to it? What were some of the major social ramifications to this?

[Oldmansour]

>How does a global economy crash overnight? And did it really last only a year, or is that just the common way of referring to it? What were some of the major social ramifications to this?

>You're really not sure how it happened. Global economics never interested you very much. It was referred to as a year because it was about.... a year and a half later, you think, that the economy started to turn around. You are likewise hazy on the fallout details, but you know the unemployment rate around the world skyrocketed, properties and vehicles devalued enormously, and the price of food ballooned. Several banks around the world suddenly found themselves bereft of money, and the stock market in Eagleland crashed. The number of suicides that year was higher than any year in the past five hundred years. You recall it coincided with several other incidents, such as a fuel supply shortage and a bad food crop in several places. It started in Yamato and Luyang, as you recall, but it quickly spread.

>Let's let a slight chuckle slip through the connection as well. It is quite mindboggling, isn't it? Several days ago I never would have imagined I would even be fighting to protect this land in such a way.

>There is a pause before Kiku asks, in a more subdued voice, While we're discussing fighting, have you had any sense that another of the Champions have come into this world? Or that the Air demon is moving again?

[DracoOmega]

>I do not believe so, at least to the former. The air demon is concealing its presence somehow, though it is certainly still somewhere in the vicinity; I do not know what it is doing.

[Oldmansour]

>I do not believe so, at least to the former. The air demon is concealing its presence somehow, though it is certainly still somewhere in the vicinity; I do not know what it is doing.

>We can't allow ourselves to be lax as a result of that. Whatever we do today, we must remain vigilant.

[DracoOmega]

>Absolutely. While I hope we can go easy on ourselves today, I do not intend for that to be the same as complacency; I know full well how quickly these threats can strike, and am prepared to react swiftly if needed.

[Oldmansour]

>Absolutely. While I hope we can go easy on ourselves today, I do not intend for that to be the same as complacency; I know full well how quickly these threats can strike, and am prepared to react swiftly if needed.

>As am I.
>Which leaves the issue of the Water demon. I presume you haven't questioned it yet?

[DracoOmega]

>I have not. If its power is indeed the same inside our prison as it was outside, I feel that all three of us should be gathered and rested before we attempt entry. Though it should not find escape even by overpowering me, that does not mean it might not try, so I think it would be reckless to enter alone at this point.

[Oldmansour]

>I have not. If its power is indeed the same inside our prison as it was outside, I feel that all three of us should be gathered and rested before we attempt entry. Though it should not find escape even by overpowering me, that does not mean it might not try, so I think it would be reckless to enter alone at this point.

>I concur. It would be ideal if we could determine its power before any of us tried to access it more directly. You were the one who formed the prison; is that even possible?

[DracoOmega]

>When we last reached out to feel the prison, did we get a sense of the demon within it before Marisa interrupted us? Do we think we could have gotten a better sense with further time and concentration?

[Oldmansour]

>When we last reached out to feel the prison, did we get a sense of the demon within it before Marisa interrupted us? Do we think we could have gotten a better sense with further time and concentration?

>It was Marissa who interrupted you, not Marisa, but you didn't sense the demon itself when you touched its prison before. It's hard to tell if you could get a better sense with more time. From what you could determine, the walls of the bubble seemed to be opaque, and your extra senses couldn't penetrate it either, but you weren't at it for long, either.

[DracoOmega]

>I did attempt to do this earlier today, but I could not get a very good sense of what was inside the prison. It may be possible that I could do so if I spent greater time and effort at this, though it was a curiously taxing process to do at all. It may simply be that the walls of it are too thick to sense within, but I can give it another try later.

[Oldmansour]

>I did attempt to do this earlier today, but I could not get a very good sense of what was inside the prison. It may be possible that I could do so if I spent greater time and effort at this, though it was a curiously taxing process to do at all. It may simply be that the walls of it are too thick to sense within, but I can give it another try later.

>Have you fashioned a key for it yet? A physical link to the prison would probably aid you in that task.

[DracoOmega]

>...I had not, no. I had not considered that this might affect my ability to sense it - merely to enter it - and so I had not considered it necessary to fashion one until I was ready to do so.

[Oldmansour]

>...I had not, no. I had not considered that this might affect my ability to sense it - merely to enter it - and so I had not considered it necessary to fashion one until I was ready to do so.

>Even when dealing with the ethereal, a physical tie to what we attempt to connect with can be of great import. That was one of the first lessons I learned during my studies in the ways of Metal magic. When you fashioned the spell that sealed the demon, you left us the ability to create a touchstone of that sort to enable us to reach it later. I suggest crafting such a thing before attempting to reach the prison again. We have no way of knowing what could happen if you start stumbling blindly through... Well, whatever path your power- OUR power takes.
>That said, the fabrication of a touchstone like that is not always easy. But I have done so before. I can aid you in this, assuming the lessons of Metal magic can apply to this sort of power.

[DracoOmega]

>I would appreciate your insight in this matter, thank you. Though I do not think it quite so pressing as some of the other business before us presently. Assuming, at least, that the prison holds as it should.

[Oldmansour]

>I would appreciate your insight in this matter, thank you. Though I do not think it quite so pressing as some of the other business before us presently. Assuming, at least, that the prison holds as it should.

>You said you attempted to access the seal before. Were you able to gain a sense of whether it was holing solidly, or was weakening?

[DracoOmega]

>It did feel quite solid to us, yes? Assuming so, relay this.

[Oldmansour]

>It did feel quite solid to us, yes? Assuming so, relay this.

>As near as you could tell, it was solid, so you inform Kiku of this.
>My guess would be that, if it was showing weaknesses, you would have some sense of it. If you haven't, then it is holding. For now, at least.

[DracoOmega]

>Then we shall have simply to hope that it remains so, for I doubt the other demon will remain quiet for too long.

[Oldmansour]

>Then we shall have simply to hope that it remains so, for I doubt the other demon will remain quiet for too long.

>I intend to get a head start on questioning on our captive champion, as well. Now that we know there are six of them, one of each of the six elements of western magic, that gives me something specific to explore in our records. I'll try to find out of any of these six have ever been in this world before, of if any of our texts have made reference to them. It would be easier if we knew the name of its realm, but that can wait until we question it in person.

[DracoOmega]

>Reach our mind out to the Purpose for a moment: The demon's realm... do you know if it has a name?

[Oldmansour]

>Reach our mind out to the Purpose for a moment: The demon's realm... do you know if it has a name?

>I know it as their realm, or the Dark Place, or the Other Side. If they have a name for it themselves, I do not know what it is.

[DracoOmega]

>Thank you
>To Kiku again: That sounds like a very good idea. I'm afraid I don't know that I have anything as straightforwardly useful to contribute at the moment, but I will give the matter some thought.

[Oldmansour]

>Thank you
>To Kiku again: That sounds like a very good idea. I'm afraid I don't know that I have anything as straightforwardly useful to contribute at the moment, but I will give the matter some thought.

>You wouldn't happen to know of any magicians that employ this school, would you? If these Champions are rooted in that magic system, that means they have weaknesses.

[DracoOmega]

>Patchouli does not have any command of magic yet, correct?
>And does that go for Marissa as well?
>For that matter, do we know anyone else who might qualify?

[Oldmansour]

>Patchouli does not have any command of magic yet, correct?
>And does that go for Marissa as well?
>For that matter, do we know anyone else who might qualify?

>Not that you know of. She seems to have a decent knowledge of the theory and history behind sorcery, but she hasn't been allowed to learn any yet.
>Marissa has a great many talents, but magic is not one of them. She is very curious on the subject and pesters Patchouli on the matter whenever she's over, but thus far has met with little success.
>You do not know anyone, for certain, apart from the Knowledge family, but you have wondered about a couple of people. Koakuma seems to have a deep interest in the dark arts, and you've seen her compare notes on the matter with Marissa once. And one of Aya's models, a raven youkai named Nina, claims to be a descendant from a line of mages, but has thus far not demonstrated any skills herself. She says the 'bloodlines have thinned since the old days'. Most of your coworkers there seem to think she's an odd bird.