Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 3, Part 6 [COMPLETED]

[Oldmansour]

>"Forgive me my ignorance, but what do you mean by 'remaining'?"

>Haruka smiles. "Hardly ignorance, Lotus, if your powers aren't sensitive to this sort of distortion. You see, after the city was destroyed by the Lunarians during the last war, the ground the city stood on became defiled. Stained by the grievous loss of so many innocent lives. Over the years, the shrine maidens and other practitioners of good magic that have come here have healed the wounds inflicted on the area by that day."
>"But there are some wounds that just won't stay closed." Giada says sadly.
>The Fire miko sighs. "Unfortunately, she is right. Some spots in the city have resisted all efforts to purify them. And the acts of those like Scatterclaw are hardly helpful. Him and his kind are like insects gnawing on an open wound."

[DracoOmega]

>"And he picked one of those places for himself to live."
>"I wonder what draws someone to such a lifestyle...."

[Oldmansour]

>"And he picked one of those places for himself to live."
>"I wonder what draws someone to such a lifestyle...."

>"Unhallowed ground is to some people like a sunny beach is to others." Haruka replies. "And there are some drawn to the power. Unhallowed ground offers benefits in many of the same ways hallowed ground does, for those whose alignment is of that nature. Scatterclaw is one of these people. The power he wields seems to be amplified by the place in which he lives. And the darkness corrupting the ground is strengthened by his power. A perfect cycle of darkness."
>"There are holes in the world." Giada adds, her quiet sibilant voice making the phrase sound even more sinister than it might normally. "He is drawn to the blood."

[DracoOmega]

>Pause. Ponder. For as much darkness as swirls around the man, if no one has been able to find evidence of any acts of true malice, how much of this might be hearsay? Tales born of someone with unsettling habits and choice of domicile. Perhaps even he could be somewhat misunderstood?

>To Haruka: "In any case, you said there was another you believed may know something reliable about Makai, yes? I respect that you wish to keep their identity private, but might it be possible for you to ask them a few questions about it on my behalf and relay what they feel they can share?"

[Oldmansour]

>Pause. Ponder. For as much darkness as swirls around the man, if no one has been able to find evidence of any acts of true malice, how much of this might be hearsay? Tales born of someone with unsettling habits and choice of domicile. Perhaps even he could be somewhat misunderstood?

>To Haruka: "In any case, you said there was another you believed may know something reliable about Makai, yes? I respect that you wish to keep their identity private, but might it be possible for you to ask them a few questions about it on my behalf and relay what they feel they can share?"

>You are always the kind to give one the benefit of the doubt, after all.

>"That, I can do." the miko says confidently. "What would have me ask?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Anything they know about the barrier that isolates Makai and its origins, as well as past incursions from there into our world - while the Champions have been the first in quite some time, as I understand, there have been others. In fact, any information at all about their kind and its history would be of interest to me. I apologize for these being very general and encompassing questions, some delving into history so ancient that knowledge of it seems quite a longshot for nearly anyone, but it would be remiss of me to pass up the chance to learn even a little bit more than I already do - even small details can be potentially helpful in this conflict."

[Oldmansour]

>"Anything they know about the barrier that isolates Makai and its origins, as well as past incursions from there into our world - while the Champions have been the first in quite some time, as I understand, there have been others. In fact, any information at all about their kind and its history would be of interest to me. I apologize for these being very general and encompassing questions, some delving into history so ancient that knowledge of it seems quite a longshot for nearly anyone, but it would be remiss of me to pass up the chance to learn even a little bit more than I already do - even small details can be potentially helpful in this conflict."

>Haruka chuckles briefly. "General indeed. But very well, Lotus, I will ask the questions you have asked of me. Especially if it will convince you to stay away from Scatterclaw and his ilk. It may take more time, but fighting these Champions is dangerous enough without inviting even more danger."

[DracoOmega]

>"I appreciate it, thank you."
>Take a moment and appraise the room to see if anyone else appears to have anything to add or ask. If they appear not, "Well, I think maybe that will do for the time-being?"

[Oldmansour]

>"I appreciate it, thank you."
>Take a moment and appraise the room to see if anyone else appears to have anything to add or ask. If they appear not, "Well, I think maybe that will do for the time-being?"

>"Don't have any other psychopaths to name drop?" Chisato asks Giada a little acidly.
>"That will do, little sister." Haruka rebukes the swallow. To you, a bit less sternly, she says, "You need nothing more from us, in terms of accommodation or the like?"

[DracoOmega]

>"At this point, nothing more than we've already discussed, I think."

[Oldmansour]

>"At this point, nothing more than we've already discussed, I think."

>Haruka nods, then stands. "Well. Until tommorow, then."
>"That means it's time for paperwork, sarge." Luc says with an amused smirk to Komachi.
>The chatty officer smiles a bit ruefully. "You sure you don't wanna stick around for a few more hours, Lotus?"

[DracoOmega]

>Smile a little ourselves
>"Didn't you want me to take a few shots in your general direction first?"

[Oldmansour]

>Smile a little ourselves
>"Didn't you want me to take a few shots in your general direction first?"

>"That'll work." she replies happily, standing herself. She then jogs to an open part of the room, then turns and holds her arm out, palm facing outward. A translucent square of purple and black energy wavers into view in front of her. "Fire away."

[DracoOmega]

>"I'll start with something gentle."
>Aim a Scarlet Lotus at Komachi's shield, but fire with only a relatively slight amount of power. And if we can, aim so that our attack would not actually hit her, even if the shield fails to block it - over her shoulder at an empty wall or something.

[Oldmansour]

>"I'll start with something gentle."
>Aim a Scarlet Lotus at Komachi's shield, but fire with only a relatively slight amount of power. And if we can, aim so that our attack would not actually hit her, even if the shield fails to block it - over her shoulder at an empty wall or something.

>Standing and taking careful aim, you, much more quietly than previous uses, unleash your Scarlet light. Responding to your lack of any desire whatever to harm Komachi, only half a dozen white and red orbs emerge from the tip of your scepter, and them not as large as you usually get. The shotgun pattern of your bolts result in three of them actually bypassing the seargent, two going to her right and one over her head. The other three shots strike the black barrier before Komachi and all three pop on the shield, sending faint waves of red and white energy across the face of her shield but failing to penetrate it.
>Despite this, however, Komachi still jerks her hand back sharply, letting out a sharp "Yow!", looking for all the world like someone who just received a massive static shock as she cradles her hand.

[DracoOmega]

>Cringe slightly
>"Are you alright?"

[Oldmansour]

>Cringe slightly
>"Are you alright?"

>"Fine, fine, just... That stung." she replies, shaking her hand. "That was like a shock. Haven't had that happen in a long time." She flexes her hand a couple of times, then shrugs. "Now that I think about it though, I guess it doesn't surprise me that much."

[DracoOmega]

>"What do you mean?"

[Oldmansour]

>"What do you mean?"

>"Well, your power's good." Komachi says, that lazy smile returning to her face. "And mine's evil. As some old friends of mine would say, you do bonus damage against me."

[DracoOmega]

>"Can power wielded by a good woman for a good cause truly be called 'evil'?"

>Concerned frown
>"But in any case, I am afraid I tried to be as gentle as I could with that; anything flying around in a real battle would be far stronger."

[Oldmansour]

>"Can power wielded by a good woman for a good cause truly be called 'evil'?"

>Concerned frown
>"But in any case, I am afraid I tried to be as gentle as I could with that; anything flying around in a real battle would be far stronger."

>"Nuclear power's the same whether you put it in a bomb or a generator." Komachi counters. "Same with steam. Use it in a gun or a train, steam power's steam. And I've seen good magic used by bad guys as well, girl. If I had the time, I could tell you a story or two."
>"Hey, no need for frowns." the seargent replies easily. "It worked. Test was successful enough for me."
>"Even with the sting?" White Rose asks.
>Komachi nods. "I still stopped those shots. Could've handled a few more too I think, just got caught off guard. And a neutral mage wouldn't have that happen to them, and there's lots more of them on the force than there are like me." she says with a mote of pride in her voice.

[DracoOmega]

>"I do stress that the power in that blast was minor compared to one fired with the intent to damage, but I will defer to your assessment of your fellow officers. I do not plan for any of them to have to make use of this tactic in the first place."

[Oldmansour]

>"I do stress that the power in that blast was minor compared to one fired with the intent to damage, but I will defer to your assessment of your fellow officers. I do not plan for any of them to have to make use of this tactic in the first place."

>"Ah, just means I'll tell them not to underestimate any shotgun magics." Komachi replies easily.

[DracoOmega]

>Nod
>"As you wish."

>To those assembled: "Well, I believe we all have our own business to attend to. I wish to thank you once again for your wiliness to join your resources with ours for this endevour. We shall be in touch."
>Assuming nothing else happens, let's take our leave and start heading to the Shrine of the Metal Tiger.
>About how long do we estimate it would take to get there from here?

[Oldmansour]

>Nod
>"As you wish."

>To those assembled: "Well, I believe we all have our own business to attend to. I wish to thank you once again for your wiliness to join your resources with ours for this endevour. We shall be in touch."
>Assuming nothing else happens, let's take our leave and start heading to the Shrine of the Metal Tiger.
>About how long do we estimate it would take to get there from here?

>"Take care, Lotus." Hauka replies, bowing formally.
>"And thanks again!" Komachi calls after you as you and White Rose take your leave.

>That would depend on how you wish to travel.

[DracoOmega]

>How long on foot?
>How long if we were to get a bus from here? A taxi?
>Given Kiku's earlier estimates and the present time, how much time do we think we have to get there and do stuff before the ritual is likely concluded?

[DracoOmega]

>Is it after sunset?
>Let's put enough distance between this place so that we don't risk someone seeing the cell phone we claimed not to have, then call a taxi

[Oldmansour]

>Is it after sunset?
>Let's put enough distance between this place so that we don't risk someone seeing the cell phone we claimed not to have, then call a taxi

>Yes. Not much after, you would guess.
>Due to the philosophy of the Saigyoji's when they designed this park, there are no roads within wide enough to accommodate automobiles. So, after making sure you and White Rose are out of range of the police box, and making sure the two bird mikos are not flying overhead, you place a call to a cab to meet you at the park exit nearest you.
>Not ten minutes later, you reach your destination and spy the vehicle in question, a green and black affair from the same company who served you and Rin yesterday. In fact, as you climb aboard, you discover that it is the exact same car, driven by the same man, Kyle the cabbie, who greets you with a friendly "Howdy, ladies."

[DracoOmega]

>"Good evening."
>"We'll go to the Shrine of the Metal Tiger, please."

[Oldmansour]

>"Good evening."
>"We'll go to the Shrine of the Metal Tiger, please."

>"Ah, the west temple, very good." the chatty cabbie replies, setting off forthwith into the snowy streets. "Couple of pretty young girls like you need advice in love?" he inquires.