Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 4

[Oldmansour]

>Shake our head
>"Patchouli said that it was clearly touched by some exceptional power at some point, but couldn't tell what it was. But she did say that your family's expertise with jewels extends well into the magical realm, as well."

>"That's true." Kohaku informs you. "The Daidoujis have had an affinity for magic for several generations."

[DracoOmega]

>"I wonder then if one of you might be able to examine it? I'm doubly curious now that there seems to be some dramatic power associated with this stone, and a proper expert seems the best place to take it."

[Oldmansour]

>"I wonder then if one of you might be able to examine it? I'm doubly curious now that there seems to be some dramatic power associated with this stone, and a proper expert seems the best place to take it."

>"Well, there's not a lot I could tell you." she says with a frown. "I'm still just an apprentice. And my brother isn't with Reimu right now. But my father certainly could help you."

[DracoOmega]

>"What's the going rate for this kind of service?"

[Oldmansour]

>"What's the going rate for this kind of service?"

>Kohaku smiles. "Probably not as much as you might think. Magical services aren't always as expensive as the mundane kind." She pauses, then adds "Well, depending on which service you use and where. May I assume that you want a simple Identify service?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Um... perhaps? I'd just like to know what sort of power in it caused it to react the way it did to Patchouli's divination. Since I don't really know what to expect, I don't know what to say for after that. Does this fall under the umbrella of this Identify service?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Um... perhaps? I'd just like to know what sort of power in it caused it to react the way it did to Patchouli's divination. Since I don't really know what to expect, I don't know what to say for after that. Does this fall under the umbrella of this Identify service?"

>"I suspect so. In which case, it shouldn't cost anything."
>"Anything?" Reisen asks, startled.
>"Well, magical services don't have to be all that different from normal ones." Kohaku explains. "In our store, the cost of magic is usually mesured in the cost of the materials that need to be consumed. But a simple Identify spell is something a number of employees there can perform without any more time or effort than it would take to use a loupe to examine a jewel, including my family. Other than me. I'm not that good yet."

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, that's rather more of a bargain than I was expecting. I may actually make a point to drop by that way today, even."

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, that's rather more of a bargain than I was expecting. I may actually make a point to drop by that way today, even."

>Kohaku nods and smiles. "Our address and business hours are on the card I gave you at the Wood Dragon Shrine, if you still have it."

[DracoOmega]

>"I do."

[Oldmansour]

>"I do."

>"Now, I should ask, you hadn't had any issues with that jewel since I saw it last, had you? This was the first incident of any sort with it?"

[DracoOmega]

>"As far as I've noticed, yes."

[Oldmansour]

>"As far as I've noticed, yes."

>"Then there's no reason to expect another incident here, is there?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, Patchouli seems to think not, but I am always hesitant to make assumptions about things we do not yet fully understand. But no, I suppose I would not expect one."

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, Patchouli seems to think not, but I am always hesitant to make assumptions about things we do not yet fully understand. But no, I suppose I would not expect one."

>"There won't be any more experiments, either." Reisen assures her. Then she smiles at you. "Much as I'm sure you and Rin want to know now."

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh, I'm quite fine with waiting for an expert to take a look at it."

[Oldmansour]

>"Oh, I'm quite fine with waiting for an expert to take a look at it."

>"Well, then. I'll inform Reimu-san." The Daidouji girl bows politely. "If you'll excuse me?"

[DracoOmega]

>Nod
>"Of course."

>Let's go back to where we were before

[Oldmansour]

>Nod
>"Of course."

>Let's go back to where we were before

>Good idea. It's very cold out there. So, armed with this new source of information, you and Reisen turn away from the winter day and head back indoors. In the time that you and the rabbit were speaking with Kohaku, Sanae and Patchouli have both moved to the back sliding door. One of them has pulled back the curtains and opened the door a crack, and Sanae stands directly in front of the opening, seemingly savoring the cold breeze. It is odd to see Patchouli seeming to share in the sensation, though. She is more sensitive to the cold than other people.

[DracoOmega]

>Can we see anything of interest out the back door?

[Oldmansour]

>Can we see anything of interest out the back door?

>Nothing out of the ordinary. Just the clouds rolling through a bright, cold sky.

[DracoOmega]

>"Enjoying the breeze?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Enjoying the breeze?"

>Sanae looks back over her shoulder, a far away look in her eyes. "I need to feel the breeze on my skin. Get edgy if I don't after a while."

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Oh?"

>The green haired woman half-turns her face back towards the open door. "Bet that sounds a bit weird for a human like me, eh?"

[DracoOmega]

>"We all have our quirks. Much the same could be said for some people and crowded rooms, or too much quiet."

[Oldmansour]

>"We all have our quirks. Much the same could be said for some people and crowded rooms, or too much quiet."

>Reisen, a bit more stern-faced, takes a step forward. "Be that as it may, Sanae-chan, I need to ask you to close that door. Patchouli shouldn't be in the cold wind for long."
>"It's all right, Reisen." the mage replies in a quiet voice. "I don't really find it all that cold. Do you?" she asks both of you.

[DracoOmega]

>Don't we?

[Oldmansour]

>Don't we?

>You do. The winter wind is bitterly cold today.

[DracoOmega]

>"I find it very cold today, in fact."
>Glance around: "It's not just me, is it?"