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

[Oldmansour]

>"Right then, shall we?" Let's go on over then.

>"You go on." Rin suggests. "I'll head inside, get a bit of food ready."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Alright then. I'll leave that to you, and fill you in on what she's up to later I suppose?"
>Well, let's go and see what Patchouli's up to.

[Oldmansour]

>"Alright then. I'll leave that to you, and fill you in on what she's up to later I suppose?"
>Well, let's go and see what Patchouli's up to.

>"Sure thing."
>As Rin makes for the stairs leading to the upper apartments, you approach the purple-clad mage. "You're just in time." Patchy says, anticipation in her voice.

[Hanzo K.]

>Raise an eyebrow curiously. "Oh? What exactly am I in time for?"
>Sounds like she's up to something big for her. Perhaps she's figured out how to get past something that's been frustrating her lately?

[Oldmansour]

>Raise an eyebrow curiously. "Oh? What exactly am I in time for?"
>Sounds like she's up to something big for her. Perhaps she's figured out how to get past something that's been frustrating her lately?

>"You remember that spell I was working on before I left? Well, I've finally got it working." Then she frowns slightly. "Almost. It needs more water. I think. Or sugar ADD SUGAR!" she bellows behind her in the direction of her room. To your knowledge, that's the first time you've ever heard her shout.

[Hanzo K.]

>Raise that eyebrow again. "You don't usually shout, this must be quite important. Well, it's going to be one of the two I suppose, trial and error after all."

[Oldmansour]

>Raise that eyebrow again. "You don't usually shout, this must be quite important. Well, it's going to be one of the two I suppose, trial and error after all."

>"The formula I'm using is rather old, I had to really research it to find it. And even then, I had to substitute in the acid. Tell Nitori I said thanks for that, by the way."
>Reisen re-emerges from their apartment carrying a large cup. "How much sugar?"
>"Did you put some in yet?" Partchy asks her.
>"A little. I didn't kn-"
>"Good enough. If the ratio's wrong, we'll know for the third try. Give it here." Reisen places the cup in the out-thrust hand of her mistress.
>The rabbit gives you a cautious look. "Just in case, Byakuren, you should back up a step or two."

[DracoOmega]

>Back up a step or two and observe the goings-on cautiously

[Oldmansour]

>Back up a step or two and observe the goings-on cautiously

>The mage holds the cup under her nose and takes a whiff. "Right." Patchy crouches down and dumps the contents of the cup into the bowl on the ground, then straightens up again. Taking a step back, she extends her arm out, palm down, and a blue glow spreads out under the bowl, illuminating some sort of sigil, lines with runes and patterns of lines the meaning of which you can only guess at. And then Patchouli starts to chant.
>"Waves the caress the western lands, gather now into my hands."

>Your mystic senses register a slight spike of power as Patchouli begins her spell, which you register for the next time you encounter this type of magic. You can also sense the flow of magic in and around your neighbor. It is indeed rather different from the magic employed by Kiku, or at least the sensation it produces is very distinct.

>"Speak of clouds and rains and winds, part the veils which obscures and blinds."

>The blue light which formed the circle of magic on the ground suffuses the bowl, and the liquid within begins to bubble and steam again. You're hardly an expert on this brand of magic, but as far as your senses can tell, the spell Patchy's invoked appears to be working properly. At the very least, you don't sense anything you'd consider to be an abnormality or alarming.
>A discharge of blue electric-like energy flashes between Patchouli's hand and the bubbling container, and the mage yelps in surprise, jumping back and holding her hand.

[DracoOmega]

>"Are you alright?"
>Does she appear to be?

[Oldmansour]

>"Are you alright?"
>Does she appear to be?

>The young woman is currently cradling her hand, which... appears to be glowing blue. She gives it a shake. "That wasn't supposed to happen." she says through a grimace. Reisen, in the intervening time, has caught her master by the shoulders and is holding her protectively.
>"What happened?" the rabbit asks her.
>"I must have mis-spoken the spell."

>Your attention, however, is diverted by the bubbling liquid in the bowl. For a moment, it looked as though something had broken the surface of the pool, but only for a split second.

[DracoOmega]

>What did this thing that broke the surface look like? Could we make out any form at all?
>Stare at the bowl a moment and see if it does it again

[Oldmansour]

>What did this thing that broke the surface look like? Could we make out any form at all?
>Stare at the bowl a moment and see if it does it again

>It was too brief to get a good look at it.
>Reisen catches your eye and follows your look, narrowing her youkai eyes. And then she gasps.
>"What is it?" Patchouli has time to ask her attendant before it happens again. A tiny head emerges from the bluish liquid with a splash. The scaled, blueish-white colored, angular head that is distinctly the head of a dragon.

[DracoOmega]

>About how large is it?
>Can we actually see a body connected to it, beneath the surface of the water?
>If Patchouli attempts to do something regarding this, give her room
>If not, and it either emerges again or remains emerged, give it a tentative "Hello?"

[Oldmansour]

>About how large is it?
>Can we actually see a body connected to it, beneath the surface of the water?
>If Patchouli attempts to do something regarding this, give her room
>If not, and it either emerges again or remains emerged, give it a tentative "Hello?"

>Quite small, actually. It's head is about the size of a puppy's. It's eyes are just a bit larger than they ought to be for the size of the head they're in, but somehow the effect is more cute than disturbing.
>The surface of the liquid is still disturbed by bubbles and foam.
>Though the dragon itself provides information on its own size as it leaps out of the bowl. It's body is only a few inches long, perhaps the size of a large breed of puppy, and slightly bulbous. Perhaps the dragon version of baby fat?
>Patchouli's jaw sags noticeably. "That's not possible." Reisen, you note, takes a protective step forward.

>You, however, are a bit more diplomatic, and greet the little beast. The dragon tilts its head back, shakes its tiny head like a dog shaking off water, then stops, going stock still. In a tiny, high-pitched voice, it speaks, "Rain turning to snow past midday. Northerly winds of mild strength blowing to strong. Cloud cover most of the day."

[DracoOmega]

>To the dragon: "Is that... tomorrow's weather forecast?"

[Oldmansour]

>To the dragon: "Is that... tomorrow's weather forecast?"

>The dragon answers by forecasting tomorrow's barometric pressure.

>"That's what she was going for." Reisen informs you.
>"But a dragon.... is, impossible!" Patchouli blurts. "It, it takes decades to summon a dragon, even a whelp."

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, it seems somehow that it is not. One way or the other."
>To the dragon: "What's your name?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, it seems somehow that it is not. One way or the other."
>To the dragon: "What's your name?"

>"And it did what you wanted the spirit to." Reisen says supportively.
>"Does that look like a spirit to you?" Patchy demands.

>The tiny little whelp finishes its recitation, then pauses. It beats its little wings and lifts off from the ground.
>"Watch it, Byakuren!" Reisen calls. "It could be a wild summon!"

[DracoOmega]

>Continue to talk in a friendly tone to the dragon, though keep our awareness sharp in case it somehow decides to be hostile.
>"Do you not have one? Or would you prefer not to chat now that your business here is done?"

[Oldmansour]

>Continue to talk in a friendly tone to the dragon, though keep our awareness sharp in case it somehow decides to be hostile.
>"Do you not have one? Or would you prefer not to chat now that your business here is done?"

>Keeping a wary eye on the blue and white whelpling as it flaps its scrawny wings, you keep your extra senses sharp as well. Dragons are legendarily powerful, even a baby one is reputed to be fully capable of killing a sapient being. You'd hate to transform in front of Patchy and Reisen, much less do battle with something that only looks a few hours old, but if you need to defend yourself and your friends, so be it.
>You other senses, however, are telling you that this creature bears you no ill will. It seems to be as much magic in nature as physical, perhaps even moreso. But it seems, both outwardly and to your extra awarenesses, to be no more hostile towards any of you than Hyozan is. Who, incidentally, has poked his nose out over the railing in front of Letty's door, to see what's going on down here.

>"It might not understand you." Reisen informs you as the dragon starts to move forward. In your direction. Perhaps it is your experience fighting monsters, but you don't believe the dragon means to attack you, or anyone else. The expression on its face, such as you can tell, appears to be a cheerful, even friendly one.
>From the looks on their faces, neither Patchouli nor Reisen would agree with that assessment.

[DracoOmega]

>Smile and wave at it gently
>"I think it would be nice to talk for a little while, if you're willing. After all, it's not every day you get to meet a dragon."
>Point to ourselves. "I'm Byakuren."

[Oldmansour]

>Smile and wave at it gently
>"I think it would be nice to talk for a little while, if you're willing. After all, it's not every day you get to meet a dragon."
>Point to ourselves. "I'm Byakuren."

>The tiny whelp, now that it's closer, seems to have specks of energy crackling along the edges of its wings, almost like little static discharges as it pushes against the air.
>"Byakuren...." Reisen says, warning plain in her voice, but Patchouli holds up her arm, having pulled herself back together, silencing the rabbit.

>The dragon stops about a foot in front of you, hovering at about the level of your belly. The whelp's eyes are a very dark green with a black slit up the middle, but the serpentine orb gives you the impression of an intelligence. The size of the whelp, and the expression of its face, suggests a primitive intelligence, but definitely intelligence.
>"You didn't summon me." the whelp says in its high-pitched voice.
>"That's impossible." Patchouli gasps again, almost at the same time as Reisen gapes "It can talk?!"

[DracoOmega]

>"No, I didn't; I just happened to be standing nearby. I hope the whole process isn't too inconvenient for you? I certainly wouldn't want to think it was unpleasant."

[Oldmansour]

>"No, I didn't; I just happened to be standing nearby. I hope the whole process isn't too inconvenient for you? I certainly wouldn't want to think it was unpleasant."

>The dragon's head shakes back and forth, leaving sparks and sparkles in its wake. "But I can't stay. Mother would be furious."

[DracoOmega]

>A furious parental dragon is probably not a pleasant thing to have a hand in creating
>"Well, I'd like to think she wouldn't mind if you paused to make a friend or two along the way; I know that I always enjoy such. But I shant keep you if you have to leave."

[Oldmansour]

>A furious parental dragon is probably not a pleasant thing to have a hand in creating
>"Well, I'd like to think she wouldn't mind if you paused to make a friend or two along the way; I know that I always enjoy such. But I shant keep you if you have to leave."

>"Mother gets angry easy." The whelp says by way of explanation. It looks around, trailing more sparks behind its head. For a creature summoned from water, it seems almost more aligned with electricity, or energy, than water. "Where am I?"

[DracoOmega]

>"In the city of Mayoiga, in Yamato."

[Oldmansour]

>"In the city of Mayoiga, in Yamato."

>"Mother won't be angry about that, at least." The little whelp flutters forward, his flight decidedly ungainly, and raises himself up to see your face. "I should tell her you weren't afraid. Why aren't you afraid?"

[DracoOmega]

>"It didn't seem like you wanted to harm us, and I'd much rather assume good intentions than ill ones."