Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 3, Part 2

[DracoOmega]

>You may have, actually. There are some in the school garden.
>Try to describe them to her

[Oldmansour]

>You may have, actually. There are some in the school garden.
>Try to describe them to her

>You start with mentioning the coloration of the flower, which makes Rin's eyes light in recognition. "Oh yeah, I remember now." she says aloud. "Wasn't in China's garden, though, was at de Claudiuses. Dere were a bunch of em floatin' around on the koi pond. Pretty flower, pretty big, too." The kasha cups her chin in thought, then nods slowly. "Lotus flower... Yeah. Yeah, I like dat. That's nice."

[DracoOmega]

>Do we know who these Claudiuses are?
>"I am fond of it, yes."
>Did Rin ever finish that back massage, or did we get distracted by conversation?

[Oldmansour]

>Do we know who these Claudiuses are?

>The name doesn't ring a bell, but you can draw some suppositions based on what Rin has said about Konngara and her family's visiting habits. For her to have mentioned the name in a casual tone, and the mention of a koi pond, means that Konngara had brought Rin to their home, and that only happened with friends of the family, or business partners. And that they were at least decent people, or Rin would have spoken a bit more formally. She always does with people who didn't treat her very well during her time with Konngara.

>"I am fond of it, yes."
>Did Rin ever finish that back massage, or did we get distracted by conversation?

>While you did get a bit sidetracked, you are also feeling much more mellow and loose than you did before Rin started. The kasha is very good with her hands.

[DracoOmega]

>Stretch a little
>"That was very nice. Thank you, Rin."
>What time is it now?

[Oldmansour]

>Stretch a little
>"That was very nice. Thank you, Rin."
>What time is it now?

>"Happy to oblige." The kasha says happily. "I can do better, once we get home, if ye like. Sittin' up and shirt on ain't the best conditions fer a proper massage."
>A little after 10 PM.

[DracoOmega]

>About how far away (and how long a trip) would the other two shrines we have not yet visited be?
>And would we expect the sacred flame to be open to the public into that time of the night?

[Oldmansour]

>About how far away (and how long a trip) would the other two shrines we have not yet visited be?
>And would we expect the sacred flame to be open to the public into that time of the night?

>There's a vague 'ring road' that encircles the outer edges of Mayoiga city, and the four shrines, more or less, lie on this road. Traveling to either the east or the west shrine from this one would be equal in length. The southern shrine, at this time of night, probably wouldn't take much longer, for although it lies on the opposite side of town and goes through the guts of the city, the traffic at this time of night should be somewhat less than in the daylight. In some places, at least.
>As for the length of the journey from here to any of them, it would depend on the mode of transport you intend to take.
>You would expect so. The Dragon shrine to the east may have tighter security than the Bird shrine to the south, but both should still be open.

[DracoOmega]

>Let's assume we catch a bus to the east shrine? How long might that take? (And how much time to get home afterward?)

[Oldmansour]

>Let's assume we catch a bus to the east shrine? How long might that take? (And how much time to get home afterward?)

>The travel time itself is likely to be around half an hour to an hour, depending on stops and traffic. Not counting wait times for the bus at each stop.
>Getting home from there, wait times aside, would probably be at least an hour, as the route is much less direct.

[DracoOmega]

>Smile
>"You make a very tempting offer."
>Since things seem to be well here, shall we perhaps try the Eastern shrine?

[Oldmansour]

>Smile
>"You make a very tempting offer."
>Since things seem to be well here, shall we perhaps try the Eastern shrine?

>Ya mean tonight?

[DracoOmega]

>It is growing a bit late for another visit, I realize, but I might rest easier to know that another shrine is also safe. Assuming, of course, that is it.

[Oldmansour]

>It is growing a bit late for another visit, I realize, but I might rest easier to know that another shrine is also safe. Assuming, of course, that is it.

>The kasha nods. Sure, if you want.

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, shall we be off, then?"
>Stand, and assuming no further events, head back to the road and wherever we would catch a bus to the other shrine.

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, shall we be off, then?"
>Stand, and assuming no further events, head back to the road and wherever we would catch a bus to the other shrine.

>Rin is quick in following you to your feet and falling in beside you. You hear a cell phone ringing behind you coming from Ran's direction, but no one stops you as you and your kasha return to the path to the shrine body.
>"Not ta con... contradict?" Rin starts, pauses for a moment to think, then nods. "Yeah, that's the word. Not ta contradict ya, but I gotta say, we head out dat way, it's going to be really late when we get back home, and we do got school tomorrow. Ain't as important as this, for sure, but you're still a student, too, and ya need your rest on top of it."

[DracoOmega]

>"Yes, it's true, I know. But if we're quick about it, we could still be home again by midnight, yes?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Yes, it's true, I know. But if we're quick about it, we could still be home again by midnight, yes?"

>Rin ticks off her fingers, doing mental calculations. "I think so. All goes right. Would have been quicker if Reisen were still around, but she's home by now."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Such is how things end up, unfortunately. But with the bus we should be alright I think, provided we don't run into any problems."

[Hello Purvis]

>Assuming we cajole Marisa into giving us a ride home from the next shrine, how long would it take?

[Oldmansour]

>Assuming we cajole Marisa into giving us a ride home from the next shrine, how long would it take?

>Assuming Marissa is home when you contact her, probably somewhere around an hour, all things considered.

>"Such is how things end up, unfortunately. But with the bus we should be alright I think, provided we don't run into any problems."

>"Cab'd be faster." Rin suggests. "Costs more, but quicker."

[DracoOmega]

>"True. Perhaps I might call for one back, if things start to run too late."
>Continue onward to the bus stop here. Let's at least see the schedule.

[Oldmansour]

>"True. Perhaps I might call for one back, if things start to run too late."
>Continue onward to the bus stop here. Let's at least see the schedule.

>You spare a glance backwards at the darkened lake, reminding yourself to return here under different circumstances. In daylight, or moonlight for that matter, this would be a very nice spot to spend some time with your friends. No obvious sign of the divinity worshipped at the shrine, but a nice place regardless.
>Keeping your senses peeled on your way back towards the shrine, just in case there's something out here in the woods that is more visible after your visit to the water, reveals nothing you didn't sense on the way in, and the lack of other people translates into uninterrupted progress.
>A little more than halfway back, however, Rin asks you, "Anythin' special to know 'bout the Scale shrine, some rules to observe or such?"

[DracoOmega]

>Are we aware of any such rules or customs there?

[Oldmansour]

>Are we aware of any such rules or customs there?

>To the best of your knowledge, the Dragon shrine has only one rule that the other shrines do not share, and that is no footwear of any kind, outside of socks, may be worn while within the shrine.
>That's the only official rule, anyway. It does have one unofficial rule as well that's unique to that shrine, and that's 'Try not to let Tenshi get too full of herself.' Or so Reimu has told you. The head miko of the Dragon shrine, one Tenshi Hinanai, has a fair sized ego, and often has a spot of trouble reigning it in when the Hakurei heir is not present. Reimu encourages people to either ignore Tenshi when she gets on herself, or deflate her ego a little. You yourself find this a little unkind, though you can sort of see her point. You've met Tenshi yourself, and Reimu is very right in her description of Tenshi's level of pride. She could be very overbearing, but she's not a bad person. Rough around the edges, definitely, but not bad.
>Knowing Rin as you do, she could very well take Tenshi's bluntness the wrong way. You have a feeling that your kasha and Tenshi wouldn't mix all that well, should Tenshi cross your path at the shrine.

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, it's custom to take off your shoes before entering, but nothing other than that."

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, it's custom to take off your shoes before entering, but nothing other than that."

>"Ain't that the custom everywhere?"

[DracoOmega]

>"I mean to say that you're supposed to keep to just your socks once inside. No slipper or sandals or anything of that nature."

[Oldmansour]

>"I mean to say that you're supposed to keep to just your socks once inside. No slipper or sandals or anything of that nature."

>Rin's ears flatten out a little, a sign of surprise you interpret. "'s a weird rule."

[DracoOmega]

>Do we have any idea the origin or purpose of this rule here?