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

[DracoOmega]

>"Surely there must be more information circulating than that?"

>To Rin: Can you hear what the vice-principal is saying?

[Oldmansour]

>"Surely there must be more information circulating than that?"

>To Rin: Can you hear what the vice-principal is saying?

>"That's all she told me." Utusho says helplessly.

>Rin nods slightly, then tilts her head in the direction of Mima and Komachi, while the newly arrived van disgorges more officers, including a rather familiar woman clad in a body-concealing black trenchcoat. Komachi's doin' the talkin' now. Rin reports.

[DracoOmega]

>Rather familiar? Can we determine who it is?

>Well, what is she saying, then?

[Oldmansour]

>Rather familiar? Can we determine who it is?

>Well, what is she saying, then?

>After a moment's thought, you place the unique blue and grey shading of her hair. It's the sweeping-winged miko you saw at the Tortoise shrine last night.

>Rin hesitates, then reports, "Shut up, I get the point."

[DracoOmega]

>"Thank you."
>Let's move towards the gate and Mima and co, at least as close as we can get without crossing over some kind of boundary, figurative or otherwise.
>Let me know if you hear anything that seems relevant to what's going on here.

[Oldmansour]

>"Thank you."
>Let's move towards the gate and Mima and co, at least as close as we can get without crossing over some kind of boundary, figurative or otherwise.
>Let me know if you hear anything that seems relevant to what's going on here.

>Utsuho nods. "I think you may as well go home, though." she advises you. "I get the feeling there won't be school today."
>Ordinarily sensible advice. But Utsuho doesn't know what you do. So you move in the opposite direction, closer to the school gates. From this angle, you have a better look at the area in question, and you can see a bit of damage to the stone wall the gate is attached to that wasn't there before. The top of the wall has been gouged, deeply, almost as though something incredibly heavy landed on it. And the top of the gate on the side near that damage is damaged as well, bend inwards slightly.
>"Oh, I almost forgot." Utsuho calls after you. "I wanted to have a quick word with you."

[DracoOmega]

>Is any of the damage in an accessible area, or is that part of what is cordoned off?
>About how large is this gouge?

>Turn back
>"Yes?"

[Oldmansour]

>Is any of the damage in an accessible area, or is that part of what is cordoned off?
>About how large is this gouge?

>Turn back
>"Yes?"

>It's on the top of the wall, which isn't ordinarily accessible anyway. Unless you can fly.
>A little bit bigger than your head.

>Utsuho beckons you closer.

[DracoOmega]

>You go on ahead and take a look at what's going on.
>Approach Utsuho

[Oldmansour]

>You go on ahead and take a look at what's going on.
>Approach Utsuho

>Understood.
>Rin walks apart from you as you return to Utsuho.
>"I spoke with Yakogoro-sensei yesterday." Utsuho says in a low voice. "About your MRI. I told her about our chat the other day, and she decided to leave the decision up to you. If you're concerned about anything, you can still come in on friday. But it's your decision if you still want to, since as far as I can tell, you're symptom free."

[DracoOmega]

>"I will give it some thought, but it is good to know that she doesn't feel it strictly necessary. Thank you."

[Oldmansour]

>"I will give it some thought, but it is good to know that she doesn't feel it strictly necessary. Thank you."

>The nurse nods again. "Just let me, or someone at the hospital, know what you decide, so we can free up the time slot."
>They're talking about sending troops in. Rin reports from her position just up the road. But Komachi doesn't seem ta like the idea.

[DracoOmega]

>"I will."
>Troops? Just what do they believe is inside?
>Are there any ways into the school that do not involve the front gate? And ideally that may not be monitored?

[Oldmansour]

>"I will."
>Troops? Just what do they believe is inside?
>Are there any ways into the school that do not involve the front gate? And ideally that may not be monitored?

>Sorry, I meant the cops here. Didn't mean military. Rin sounds slightly abashed.
>The school has gates on all four sides. And the parking lot behind the school grounds is ungated, and sometimes unguarded as well. It's a bit of a school challenge to sneak in there, since you never know if Mima is watching.

[DracoOmega]

>Well, probably it is safe to assume at the moment that Mima is not, in fact, watching the back lot
>Oh. Have they not said anything at all about what they think is inside, though?
>Give a nod to Utsuho, then go catch up with Rin

[Oldmansour]

>Well, probably it is safe to assume at the moment that Mima is not, in fact, watching the back lot
>Oh. Have they not said anything at all about what they think is inside, though?
>Give a nod to Utsuho, then go catch up with Rin

>Despite what some of your schoolmates claim, she can't be in two places at once.
>Not yet... Rin sounds a bit distracted. But it's dangerous, 'least Mima thinks so.
>Your business with Utsuho completed, you make for Rin. Komachi says she doesn't want to put the people at risk.... Rin trails off and swears as you come up to stand beside her. Bad news. Whatever's in there, Wriggle-sensei's in there with it. And a couple of students, but they haven't said who yet.

[DracoOmega]

>Oh dear. Then we can't afford to wait long to gather information, if others are already in immediate danger.

>To Lily: Lily, do you know anything of what has happened inside the school?

[Oldmansour]

>Oh dear. Then we can't afford to wait long to gather information, if others are already in immediate danger.

>To Lily: Lily, do you know anything of what has happened inside the school?

>Let me try to learn a bit more. Rin offers. See if I can get some idea of what's in there.

>The winged woman, presently engaged in speaking with Koishi, looks around quickly then recovers her composure. When did you get here?

[DracoOmega]

>To Rin: Please.
>To Lily: Just a minute ago. You were here already, so I didn't know if you might know more.

[Oldmansour]

>To Rin: Please.
>To Lily: Just a minute ago. You were here already, so I didn't know if you might know more.

>With Rin still focused on Mima and Komachi, who are presently joined by the coat-clad shrine maiden, you turn your focus towards Lily. She seems much more like her usual self. Her day off yesterday, for lack of a better term, seems to have done her some good.
>A little. Lily admits. Koishi's told me.... Hang on, it's tricky talking with your mouth and your head at once.

[DracoOmega]

>Yes, I understand - it will come with practice.

[Oldmansour]

>Yes, I understand - it will come with practice.

>It's Sanae. Rin reports suddenly as Lily says something to Koishi. At least Sanae's in there, just caught her name.

[DracoOmega]

>Right.
>Continue to observe / wait for an update from Lily and/or Rin

[Oldmansour]

>Right.
>Continue to observe / wait for an update from Lily and/or Rin

>You are not waiting long before Lily gives Koishi a quick hug, and then takes to wing, heading in your direction. Definately back to her old self.
>While she is en route, Rin makes another report, Komachi and that woman next to them want to try and end this without violence, it sounds like. Rin narrows her eyes. I think that's that miko from the Shell Shrine, the one who was sweepin' the stage the other day.
>"Morning, Byakuren!" Lily calls as Rin makes her report.

[DracoOmega]

>Wave back
>"Good morning, Lily. I'm glad you seem to be feeling better today."

[Oldmansour]

>Wave back
>"Good morning, Lily. I'm glad you seem to be feeling better today."

>Lily smiles brightly as she comes in for a landing. "Right as rain!"
>But this whole mind talking thing's definately gonna take some practice.

[DracoOmega]

>All in time, I am sure.
>"But what's going on here, anyway? So far as you've heard."

[Oldmansour]

>All in time, I am sure.
>"But what's going on here, anyway? So far as you've heard."

>"Some kinda animal's got inside the school." Lily says. "Koishi said Mima-sensei didn't say what, just that it was dangerous and that no one's allowed inside." With a glance around, she adds, "Must be a really angry animal, and big too."

[DracoOmega]

>It is worse than that, I'm afraid. Try reaching out towards the school with your magical senses.

[Oldmansour]

>It is worse than that, I'm afraid. Try reaching out towards the school with your magical senses.

>Lily blinks her eyes. Don't tell me it's them again.