Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 3

[DracoOmega]

>"The three of us pooled our power to cast it into a prison outside of this world. It is keyed to unlock only once the demon has reformed sufficiently that Kiku can forgive it for what it has done. Which... may be a very difficult thing to achieve, even should its desire to reform be genuine. And I am quite sure it has no intention at all of changing itself at this point - it did not seem to have even occurred to it to question its doctrine, that coexistence with the people of this world is impossible and against its very nature. I am... not so convinced that this is true. The youma are beings of negative emotion, not truly sentient or capable of reasoning; the demon was not like this at all. It holds to a set of beliefs very different than our own, but it was intelligent and so I think that it can, at least in theory, choose to hold a different one. I am not sure how I can help this to happen, but I feel I must try."

[Oldmansour]

>"The three of us pooled our power to cast it into a prison outside of this world. It is keyed to unlock only once the demon has reformed sufficiently that Kiku can forgive it for what it has done. Which... may be a very difficult thing to achieve, even should its desire to reform be genuine. And I am quite sure it has no intention at all of changing itself at this point - it did not seem to have even occurred to it to question its doctrine, that coexistence with the people of this world is impossible and against its very nature. I am... not so convinced that this is true. The youma are beings of negative emotion, not truly sentient or capable of reasoning; the demon was not like this at all. It holds to a set of beliefs very different than our own, but it was intelligent and so I think that it can, at least in theory, choose to hold a different one. I am not sure how I can help this to happen, but I feel I must try."

>"Three?" She pauses and reflects. "Oh, yeah, Lily." She pauses again. "The cheerleader? How'd SHE get her ring?"
>The Kasha then does a visible double take. "You... threw it in a cell? Some kinda magic cell?" Her eyes widen. "We can DO that?"

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "'Rainbow Oubliette'. I designed that spell for the storage of that Demon. There's one other Demon out there, but I'm not sure how many separate prisons I can have at one time. I know it's not a good thing to leave them locked up all in the same prison. It would be like putting baking soda and vinegar inside a sealed jar, and then letting it sit until the jar itself shatters from the pressure. And I for one, do not want to find out what would happen to us when the prison shatters. I can only surmise that it would be bad."

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "'Rainbow Oubliette'. I designed that spell for the storage of that Demon. There's one other Demon out there, but I'm not sure how many separate prisons I can have at one time. I know it's not a good thing to leave them locked up all in the same prison. It would be like putting baking soda and vinegar inside a sealed jar, and then letting it sit until the jar itself shatters from the pressure. And I for one, do not want to find out what would happen to us when the prison shatters. I can only surmise that it would be bad."

>Rin nods. "So how many more we gonna need? I mean, is there just the one demon left?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"There is one other that is here now, and more coming."

[Hanzo K.]

>"We've gotten information that they're based on the elements. 'Champions' for the demon race for the specific element. The one currently imprisoned is a Serpentine one representing Water. Apparently they work off the Western Set. And, if the Water Champion is to be believed, the Forest Champion may well be our most difficult fight ever."

[Oldmansour]

>"We've gotten information that they're based on the elements. 'Champions' for the demon race for the specific element. The one currently imprisoned is a Serpentine one representing Water. Apparently they work off the Western Set. And, if the Water Champion is to be believed, the Forest Champion may well be our most difficult fight ever."

>"Western set of what?"

>"There is one other that is here now, and more coming."

>Rin gives you a confidant look. "We can take 'em, don't matter how many buddies they got comin'."

[Hanzo K.]

>"The western set of Elements. Fire, Wood, Water, etcetera. That group."
>Patchouli's talked at length about that set in fact, hasn't she?

[Hello Purvis]

Forest is one of the classical elements now? Wood most definitely isn't.

>"I feel the same way, but we have to proceed with care. They have little to lose in causing chaos, we have everything to lose."

[Hanzo K.]

Wood and Forest are interchangeable. Plus we already figured out they're of the western set as it is.
Also, note Patchy's Fire+Wood spellcards in the canon. As well as her Wood cards in general.

[Hello Purvis]

Those aren't classic elements. Those Chinese elements.

[Hanzo K.]

Either way, the forest champion is still a thing. And everything we've gotten heavily implies that that particular set the demons use is the western one.
Perhaps you should re-read all our conversations with Kiku?

[Oldmansour]

>"The western set of Elements. Fire, Wood, Water, etcetera. That group."
>Patchouli's talked at length about that set in fact, hasn't she?

>Rin frowns in concentration, rotating her hand and one of her tails, thinking. "The.... The, uh.... The Six Signs one?"
>Not as such, no. While her passion for magic is undoubtable, she hasn't gone into enormous detail very often. She understands that most if not all she would say would go over your heads. Plus, her speech can be a bit lofty, at times, and Rin's command of the Yamato tongue is not profound. It's a reasonable assumption that what Patchy has spoken of in terms of her magic may have gone right over Rin's head.

>"I feel the same way, but we have to proceed with care. They have little to lose in causing chaos, we have everything to lose."

>"Speakin' of 'pro-seedin', what's our next move? Find this other demon in it's hidey hole?"

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "That would seem to be the set of elements they run on. As for proceeding, I think it's best if we relax for a while. You might be full of vim and vigor, but for myself and the others, we're still recovering."

[DracoOmega]

Hang on a sec. Wasn't our next step to check out the other shrines, actually? It has a good chance to be a low-energy-expended outing (asumming nothing goes wrong) yet still useful.

[Hanzo K.]

That falls under relaxing. No rule against us stopping to enjoy the flowers along the way. Maybe grab a light snack, or some ice cream, something a girl would treat herself to when worn out or stressed.

[DracoOmega]

Well, we may be able to have a fairly relaxed time while doing it, but that doesn't mean that the aim itself is relaxation or that it should be communicated to Rin in such a fashion. This is still a very serious matter that we're investigating, and I think it's perfectly sensible to impress that upon her. Which, of course, requires explaining what we know of the Satori situation (which I hadn't yet gotten to)

>"While finding the demon is important, we currently have no clues about its whereabouts and it is concealing its presence from detection. Moreover, the others are somewhat spent from yesterday's battle - Lily in particular. If the need for confrontation with it is not immediate, it would be better if we were all gathered and rested before this. Additionally, there is... another problem afoot, somewhat closer to home."
>Frown a little

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "That would seem to be the set of elements they run on. As for proceeding, I think it's best if we relax for a while. You might be full of vim and vigor, but for myself and the others, we're still recovering."

>"While finding the demon is important, we currently have no clues about its whereabouts and it is concealing its presence from detection. Moreover, the others are somewhat spent from yesterday's battle - Lily in particular. If the need for confrontation with it is not immediate, it would be better if we were all gathered and rested before this. Additionally, there is... another problem afoot, somewhat closer to home."
>Frown a little

>Rin immediately looks around the room with wary eyes, then stops herself. "Oh, ya meant that 'figritivly', didn't ya?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh. Yes. This place is quite safe to the best of my knowledge, though it is someone else's home that is not."
>Pause a moment
>"There is a problem at the Shrine of the Metal Tiger, the nature of which we do not yet fully know. But we have been warned by the Metal Tiger himself that Satori, the head shrine maiden, is a threat to us - so much so that He briefly concealed our memories so that she would be unaware that we were told this. Several others around the shrine have had their memory altered more ominously, including Lily and Kiku, and I suspect many others. In Kiku's case, she was made to forget that she witnessed the Sacred Flame turn jet black several days ago. We... do not yet know what this means, but it seems to bode poorly. Since then, Satori has barred access to the flame, and has behaved oddly in other ways. However, there is no sign of demonic presence at the shrine whatsoever, so this event does not seem caused by them. Whatever hostile force is at work there remains unknown, and while it is unknown I think it may be even more dangerous."

[Oldmansour]

>"Oh. Yes. This place is quite safe to the best of my knowledge, though it is someone else's home that is not."
>Pause a moment
>"There is a problem at the Shrine of the Metal Tiger, the nature of which we do not yet fully know. But we have been warned by the Metal Tiger himself that Satori, the head shrine maiden, is a threat to us - so much so that He briefly concealed our memories so that she would be unaware that we were told this. Several others around the shrine have had their memory altered more ominously, including Lily and Kiku, and I suspect many others. In Kiku's case, she was made to forget that she witnessed the Sacred Flame turn jet black several days ago. We... do not yet know what this means, but it seems to bode poorly. Since then, Satori has barred access to the flame, and has behaved oddly in other ways. However, there is no sign of demonic presence at the shrine whatsoever, so this event does not seem caused by them. Whatever hostile force is at work there remains unknown, and while it is unknown I think it may be even more dangerous."

>Unlike Kiku, Rin doesn't seem fazed by your casual mention of the God who spoke with you. She does, however, draw herself close to her full height. "If Satori's a threat, then I'll go throw her in onea those myself until you can talk or beat the bad out of her. Y'all can rest, I'll handle the matchmaker. Jus' tell me how."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Calm down. We need to get more information on this whole matter first. I'd rather remove what's influencing her, not her herself."

[Oldmansour]

>"Calm down. We need to get more information on this whole matter first. I'd rather remove what's influencing her, not her herself."

>"I'd let her out once she's fixed." Rin assures you.

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh. Rin always was one for the direct approach, wasn't she?

[DracoOmega]

>"Putting that to one side for the moment, it is dangerous to confront what we do not understand - especially when she holds such sway over the minds of others. I cannot be fully certain, but... last night, when I was at the shrine, I believe that some force attempted to compel me to sleep when I made a few unsubtle inquiries about Satori's recent activities. I was very tired myself at the time, of course, but something about it did not feel right in the slightest."
>"Until we understand the situation better, I think it unwise to act, and it is certainly dangerous to expose ourselves to her presence. Kiku tells me that her deeper connection to the Metal Tiger can shield her from Satori's insight, but for the rest of us, I think it risky to even visit the shrine without immediate cause. For the time-being, Kiku herself is investigating and should alert me the moment something happens. It is her home terrain and she has protection we do not; it makes sense that she look into matters first. Though we will of course come to her aid if something dangerous occurs."

[Oldmansour]

>Sigh. Rin always was one for the direct approach, wasn't she?

>She isn't much for subtlety, no. But on the other hand, you can't help but feel a little glad that she made so assertive a decision so quickly. It's a good sign, a sign that she's feeling more comfortable saying and doing what she really feels, instead of balancing everything of her slave's instincts and training.

>"Putting that to one side for the moment, it is dangerous to confront what we do not understand - especially when she holds such sway over the minds of others. I cannot be fully certain, but... last night, when I was at the shrine, I believe that some force attempted to compel me to sleep when I made a few unsubtle inquiries about Satori's recent activities. I was very tired myself at the time, of course, but something about it did not feel right in the slightest."
>"Until we understand the situation better, I think it unwise to act, and it is certainly dangerous to expose ourselves to her presence. Kiku tells me that her deeper connection to the Metal Tiger can shield her from Satori's insight, but for the rest of us, I think it risky to even visit the shrine without immediate cause. For the time-being, Kiku herself is investigating and should alert me the moment something happens. It is her home terrain and she has protection we do not; it makes sense that she look into matters first. Though we will of course come to her aid if something dangerous occurs."

>Rin exhales, smiling softly. "Yeah, that's probably smarter. Might've got a bit carried away, there, didn't I."
>"So we trust Kiku an' let her do her thing, okay. But, can I help her out in dat? Like you said, you could use some downtime, but I'm ready fer anythin'."

[DracoOmega]

>"What I think should be our next task - Kiku's own suggestion, actually - is that we investigate the other shrines and see if we can learn whether anything has happened to their sacred flames as well."

[Oldmansour]

>"What I think should be our next task - Kiku's own suggestion, actually - is that we investigate the other shrines and see if we can learn whether anything has happened to their sacred flames as well."

>"I don't think I follow." Rin confesses. "If dis problem is with Satori, why would somethin' bad be happenin' at the other three shrines?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, I told you that the sacred flame at the Tiger shrine suddenly turned black, yes? This event itself was blocked from Kiku's memory, though she and others had witnessed it. And since then, Satori has barred the flame from view. There is clearly something significant to this event, and I think it very possible that this change in the flame represents the appearance of a malevolent force at the shrine - it did not seem as though Satori herself had caused this, though I suppose it may be possible. In any case, it may be valuable to know whether this is a localized event, or if the other shrines have been similarly affected."

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, I told you that the sacred flame at the Tiger shrine suddenly turned black, yes? This event itself was blocked from Kiku's memory, though she and others had witnessed it. And since then, Satori has barred the flame from view. There is clearly something significant to this event, and I think it very possible that this change in the flame represents the appearance of a malevolent force at the shrine - it did not seem as though Satori herself had caused this, though I suppose it may be possible. In any case, it may be valuable to know whether this is a localized event, or if the other shrines have been similarly affected."

>"Now I getcha. But, the flame at the Cat Shrine, is it... Oh, wait, no one's allowed in." Orin corrects herself, giving one of her braids a twirl. "Well, I could sneak in and... Oh, wait, you said it was dangerous. But I could sneak into the other ones if they're all locked up, have a look 'round." She grins a little. "Cats cin get anywhere."

[DracoOmega]

>Smile
>"I appreciate your enthusiasm. Though merely knowing whether they've recently been closed to the public or not may be sufficient. But I suppose we can decide that at the time."