Rumia Quest 7: Chasing Shadows

[Raikaria]

>Smirk a bit. "Not quite."
>Time to let 'er have it!

> You unleash another Chi-blast, as Louise unleashes another ectoplasmic sphere, and Sara fires a blast matching the energy she had on her hands.

> However, that is not all, the the sword which flew through YuugenMagan releases the collected energy in multiple directions, heading for all five eyes, and the main form, something unexpected, as the time it would happen was beyond Yumeko's control, and thus, unreadable.

> The four attacks slam into YuugenMagan, and she falls to the ground, returned to her normal state.

> "Uggh... S...ariel-sama... I failed." she groans. Surprisingly, after all that, she's still conscious, and even able to sit up, although it doesn't seem like she can do much more. The eyes are closed, but watering, as if crying.

[Hanzo K.]

>Head on over and help her sit up. "Sorry about that, but you went off all crazy-like. I know you're just doing your job, but the fact of the matter is that Seiga really would have pulled a dirty trick like passing through the hills. It's what she does, she plays dirty."

[Raikaria]

>Head on over and help her sit up. "Sorry about that, but you went off all crazy-like. I know you're just doing your job, but the fact of the matter is that Seiga really would have pulled a dirty trick like passing through the hills. It's what she does, she plays dirty."

> "This is Makai. We're all crazy here." YuugenMagan says. She sounds pained.

> "... Anyway... I kinda need to rest and get my energy back, being beaten up in my energy form, let alone my spirit being beaten up, takes quite a toll on you, ya'know..." she says, before she flops over onto her back. The five eyes float onto her, looking in different directions, as if looking out for attackers.

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Have a safe rest, and if you see a woman in blue with pretzel-ish hair, don't try and take her on solo, just run. She's Seiga, my student, and she's pretty strong even compared to me. In your current condition, you likely wouldn't be able to go against her seriously."

[Raikaria]

>Nod. "Have a safe rest, and if you see a woman in blue with pretzel-ish hair, don't try and take her on solo, just run. She's Seiga, my student, and she's pretty strong even compared to me. In your current condition, you likely wouldn't be able to go against her seriously."

> YuugenMagan snores.

[Hanzo K.]

>Chuckle slightly. "Sleep tight."
>Look to Yumeko. "Let's get going."
>Let's follow!

[Raikaria]

>Chuckle slightly. "Sleep tight."
>Look to Yumeko. "Let's get going."
>Let's follow!

> Yumeko nods, and you move onwards.

> It doesn't take very long until you reach what appears to be a ruined temple. There is clearly some kind of portal, with two figures in front of it. One is Seiga, the other is, if you recall, Sariel. They appear to be in conversation.

> Then, a third figure, much smaller, child-like, comes into view. You recall this one as well, as Elis.


Sariel and Elis
The Demon and the Angel

> "It appears we have more visitors, Elis. See to them." you hear Sariel say, before the small vampire darts towards you.

> "And what would bring you of all people here, Yumeko~" Elis says.

> "We're seeking that hermit. She's an intruder Elis."

> Yumeko gets punched in the gut, with the speed and power that is a key sign of a vampire, possibly even above Remilia's level, and you hear a crunching sound, as she doubles over. There is a crack in her gut.

> "You will address me properly. Aunt Elis, if you please, Daughter of Shinki." the vampire coons.

> "Why are you so nuts? You're not even..."

> This time, Elis kicks Yumeko.

> "I'm still adopted by her. That makes me your Aunt." she says.

> Yumeko grumbles as she gets up, a small crack in her cheek now.

> "Fine... we're here seeking that hermit, Aunt, she is an intruder, and Shinki sent us to stop her." Yumeko spits.

[Hanzo K.]

>Look to ourselves, then to Elis, then to ourselves again, and then to Elis once more. "Uh, so this means we're kind of the same in a way?"

[Raikaria]

>Look to ourselves, then to Elis, then to ourselves again, and then to Elis once more. "Uh, so this means we're kind of the same in a way?"

> "What." Elis says, looking at you.

> "Do. You. Mean?" she says, getting closer.

> "You're adopted by Shinki. I'm adopted by Sariel. There's a huge difference between those, and the significance." Elis says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Aaaah. The way you were talking implied it was Shinki. Sorry about the misconception there."

[Raikaria]

>"Aaaah. The way you were talking implied it was Shinki. Sorry about the misconception there."

> "I guess you should be calling me Aunt too~" Elis says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Guess so. I take it that means Shinki and Sariel are sisters in a way?"

[Raikaria]

>"Guess so. I take it that means Shinki and Sariel are sisters in a way?"

> "No. That would make me Yumeko's Cousin. Sariel is Shinki's Mother!" Elis says.

[Hanzo K.]

>Jawdrop. "Whoa."

[Raikaria]

>Jawdrop. "Whoa."

> "Yes, Sariel is Shinki's mother. Shinki then became a God when she created Makai, but that didn't make Sariel a God. Oh, don't get me wrong, Sariel and Shinki were incredibly powerful even before Shinki created Makai, even to this day, nothing in Makai exists created by Shinki that can pose a threat to Sariel."

> Elis pauses. "Sariel and Shinki are of an ancient race from another world, known by many as Angels. However, they are not quite like legends say, behind the scenes. Sariel and Shinki aimed to create a Civilization of Magic. That is what Makai is. Shinki found the catalyst, and Sariel decided it was better for there to be a lone goddess of this world, and would not obstruct her daughter's greatness. The two drew upon energy from multiple worlds from within the Dream World, using the catalyst, and Shinki, to create a new dimension, a dimension of magic... Makai."

> "Of course, the energy needed to make Makai made Shinki seem a lot more demonic and evil in appearance. When she created Makai she technically became a Fallen Angel just before she became a Goddess, in fact, she ascended just as she was halfway through changing, which is why Shinki can form pure white wings of an angel, and demonic wings, and use both demonic and angelic powers."

> "It's all true." Yumeko says. "The reason no-one is allowed here is because Sariel prefers to stay in the shadows, and not interfere with her daughter. That is why this area is not under Shinki's control... she would also dare not oppose her mother, and Sariel has enough power of her own right to keep this area of Makai stable."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Aaaah. So that would, in a sense, make her grandma. Wow. Having a family sure is something else, huh? You never know what you'll find with a little digging."

[Raikaria]

>"Aaaah. So that would, in a sense, make her grandma. Wow. Having a family sure is something else, huh? You never know what you'll find with a little digging."

> "Yes... a family is interesting." Elis muses.

> "Well, I guess it makes sense that Shinki had to come from somewhere." Sara comments.

> "But where did Sariel come from?" Louise wonders.

[Hanzo K.]

>"...I dunno, maybe she's been around all this time? When you think about things, maybe she's been around longer than all of us put together, Shinki included."
>Pause thoughtfully. "...Seems like she's a good person to visit for advice, if she's been around for all these years. Technically, she's everyone's grandma, and from what I know of humans, people almost always go to the grandparents for advice."

[Raikaria]

>"...I dunno, maybe she's been around all this time? When you think about things, maybe she's been around longer than all of us put together, Shinki included."
>Pause thoughtfully. "...Seems like she's a good person to visit for advice, if she's been around for all these years. Technically, she's everyone's grandma, and from what I know of humans, people almost always go to the grandparents for advice."

> Sara dope-punches you.

> "Of course she's been around longer than Shinki if she's Shinki's mama, moron!"

> "Sariel does not give out advice lightly, doing so breaches her general philosophy of not interference, unless Shinki asks her to." Elis says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Ow..I was talking about taking everyone's age, including Shinki's. and comparing it collectively to Sariel's. We might exist on the same timeframe essentially, but we've each experienced our own years of lifetime."
>Beat.
>"....Wonder if she knows any good recipes for baked goods? Seeing as she's the Grandmother of Makai."

[Raikaria]

>"Ow..I was talking about taking everyone's age, including Shinki's. and comparing it collectively to Sariel's. We might exist on the same timeframe essentially, but we've each experienced our own years of lifetime."
>Beat.
>"....Wonder if she knows any good recipes for baked goods? Seeing as she's the Grandmother of Makai."

> "That's equally stupid!" Sara says.

> "Have you ever seen Shinki eat? Her kind generate their own energy, they don't need to eat." Elis says. "So she doesn't need to bake."

> "I grow tired of your rambling and questions, hermit." you hear a voice say, before Seiga suddenly gets blasted into a pillar. "I thought it would be amusing to humor you, but it's just irritating. Besides that, your intentions are hardly pure and beneficial to anyone but yourself, that much I have figured out about you from your tone and manner of speech."

> Sariel is pointing her staff at Seiga, who gets up, and dusts herself off.

[Hanzo K.]

>Let out a whistle. "Nice shot."
>Let's float over to Seiga. "Maaaaaybe you should throw in the towel and come back home, eh? After all, a smart girl knows when to cut and run. I came after you to make sure you wouldn't get yourself in too deep. You might have gotten stronger thanks to my training, but it's a bad idea to try starting something here. Even I'm not that mad."

>Then look to Sariel with an exasperated sigh, followed by a slightly worn-out looking smile. "Sorry about my Student there, she has a habit of pestering people she finds interesting, or thinks might be helpful in whatever scheme of the month she's got planned. Looks like my hunch about the dream world was right too."

[Raikaria]

>Let out a whistle. "Nice shot."
>Let's float over to Seiga. "Maaaaaybe you should throw in the towel and come back home, eh? After all, a smart girl knows when to cut and run. I came after you to make sure you wouldn't get yourself in too deep. You might have gotten stronger thanks to my training, but it's a bad idea to try starting something here. Even I'm not that mad."

>Then look to Sariel with an exasperated sigh, followed by a slightly worn-out looking smile. "Sorry about my Student there, she has a habit of pestering people she finds interesting, or thinks might be helpful in whatever scheme of the month she's got planned. Looks like my hunch about the dream world was right too."

> "You have no idea? Do you?" Seiga says. Upon being closer to her, you notice she's not hurt at all. "I wished to learn more about Makai, and, specifically, the magical energy here. You see, many magicians come here to increase their power exponentially. Now, if I did that with my dark energy, which was already comparable to you, how powerful would I become?"

> "That is not all you were after, Hermit." Sariel says.

> Seiga charges a sphere of dark energy. It feels significantly more powerful than what you've seen her use before.

> "Yes, but what I'm looking for you're in my way of getting. I want one of those catalysts Shinki used."

[Hanzo K.]

>Facepalm. "So you're aiming to become a god like Shinki did."

[Raikaria]

>Facepalm. "So you're aiming to become a god like Shinki did."

> "Yes. I didn't become a Celestial, because I wanted something... more." Seiga says.

[Hanzo K.]

>Facepalm again. "I...I have no words for that. Only facepalms."

[Raikaria]

>Facepalm again. "I...I have no words for that. Only facepalms."

> "What's wrong with having aspirations and goals?" Seiga asks.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Nothing, but you gotta know how to keep it small. Think about how things are for Shinki. She never sleeps, and is always busy managing this place to keep it from falling apart. In fact, she's completely unable to sleep due to all the energy that's contained within her. She's able to handle it, but there's a very real risk that you'll overload worse than if a human were to eat that one really spicy dish down at Mystia's."
>Then sigh. "Overall, I'd say that a person like you, who's always after the next big thrill and fascinating quirk of life, just isn't cut out for it. You'd get too bored. Remember, I trained you, and you also trained me once, years ago. You might not get bored right away, but eventually you'd run out of new concepts for life forms. You can't be the goddess of a world without life forms to provide faith and such."

[Raikaria]

>"Nothing, but you gotta know how to keep it small. Think about how things are for Shinki. She never sleeps, and is always busy managing this place to keep it from falling apart. In fact, she's completely unable to sleep due to all the energy that's contained within her. She's able to handle it, but there's a very real risk that you'll overload worse than if a human were to eat that one really spicy dish down at Mystia's."
>Then sigh. "Overall, I'd say that a person like you, who's always after the next big thrill and fascinating quirk of life, just isn't cut out for it. You'd get too bored. Remember, I trained you, and you also trained me once, years ago. You might not get bored right away, but eventually you'd run out of new concepts for life forms. You can't be the goddess of a world without life forms to provide faith and such."

> "Oh no, I don't want to become a god of my own world. I want to become a god of ours, and use the new found power to elevate Taoism, no, more specifically, Yin De Dao, to it's rightful place!" Seiga states.

[Darkoda]

And I've finally caught up again and fortunately haven't missed anything too epic yet.

>This calls for epic facepalm.
>"Didn't Kanako get herself beat up for trying that? I don't think anyone in Gensokyo wants someone ruling over them."