Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 4

[Oldmansour]

>"I am not wholly certain. I've just had a curious and somewhat unsettling experience. It is somewhat difficult to describe, but... you know how I said that the power flowing from Patchouli reminded me of... something? Well, the more I pondered it, the more convinced I became that there was some old memory it was linked to, something somehow shared between Patchouli and myself - something unpleasant, though I still cannot remember what. But what is more unsettling, the harder I tried to think about it, the colder the room seemed to become, like a deep chill was settling into me. I don't mean the metaphorically. I think there is something more to this than just an unpleasant memory. There seemed to be some sort of presence in the room, vaguely and briefly; I could not sense it well myself, and it started to fade as soon as my concentration was broken. But whatever this is unnerves me, and I don't want to simply let it rest without looking further."

>Rin seems to have a little difficulty following the whole of your explanation. In fact, she confirms that once you're finished by saying, "I don't know that I followed all a that."

[DracoOmega]

>"My apologies. It is hard for me to explain, since I don't understand it very well myself. But is there anything specific I can try to clarify?"

[Oldmansour]

>"My apologies. It is hard for me to explain, since I don't understand it very well myself. But is there anything specific I can try to clarify?"

>"Well this memory thing. I didn't think you and Patchy met before you moved into Moonside here."

[DracoOmega]

>We didn't either, right?
>Assuming so: "I didn't either, and yet... there is something here I still cannot shake."

[Oldmansour]

>We didn't either, right?
>Assuming so: "I didn't either, and yet... there is something here I still cannot shake."

>Correct.
>"Maybe this is because of Satori." Rin suggests. "Maybe her evil brain power knocked a thing or two loose in our heads."

[DracoOmega]

>"Perhaps. Certainly over the last week I have seen people both remember things that didn't happen and fail to remember things which did, so I can't exactly rule it out. But something about this... feels different, I think. More sinister, even. Perhaps I am completely wrong and this is nothing, but nonetheless I want to see if I can try to grasp whatever it is that is lurking there."

[Oldmansour]

>"Perhaps. Certainly over the last week I have seen people both remember things that didn't happen and fail to remember things which did, so I can't exactly rule it out. But something about this... feels different, I think. More sinister, even. Perhaps I am completely wrong and this is nothing, but nonetheless I want to see if I can try to grasp whatever it is that is lurking there."

>"I don't think that's a good idea, Mistress." Rin says, looking concerned. "I can't feel this cold, or this presence. If this is something I can't sense, I don't think I can protect you if somethin' goes wrong."

[DracoOmega]

>Smile and take her hand in ours
>"You can be here for me. In the chill of whatever lies lurking here, the thought of you made me feel a little warmer. And if I start to slip, I am sure that you will be able to help me pull myself back."

[Oldmansour]

>Smile and take her hand in ours
>"You can be here for me. In the chill of whatever lies lurking here, the thought of you made me feel a little warmer. And if I start to slip, I am sure that you will be able to help me pull myself back."

>Rin smiles. "You know I'll try as hard as I can. But are ya sure you don't want to examine this power more before you try to somethin' more dangerous?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Did you have something in mind?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Did you have something in mind?"

>Rin considers her next words. "This started when you felt that power comin' from Patchy, right? Maybe if you stuck to puzzling that one out, you'd be safer?"

[DracoOmega]

>"I felt like I was drawing something of a blank as I tried to figure out any more about it than I've already said. I don't know where it's coming from, or why, or what we can do about it. The only additional avenue I had considered is trying to examine her in person, in the hope that a physical connection might help clarify things, but obviously that presents certain... complexities."

[Oldmansour]

>"I felt like I was drawing something of a blank as I tried to figure out any more about it than I've already said. I don't know where it's coming from, or why, or what we can do about it. The only additional avenue I had considered is trying to examine her in person, in the hope that a physical connection might help clarify things, but obviously that presents certain... complexities."

>"Yeah, that's for sure." Rin mutters, looking consternated at her lack of ability to come up with a safer approach.

[DracoOmega]

>"Previously, the malign presence did seem to diminish when I turned my attention away from it and back to more pleasant things. I have no reason to think that it will not do so again. If things start to look too dangerous, I can stop."
>How cold are we feeling now? Basically the same as normal, or still some lingering effects?

[Oldmansour]

>"Previously, the malign presence did seem to diminish when I turned my attention away from it and back to more pleasant things. I have no reason to think that it will not do so again. If things start to look too dangerous, I can stop."
>How cold are we feeling now? Basically the same as normal, or still some lingering effects?

>Rin nods, still looking concerned but at least somewhat mollified.
>You do still feel the unnatural chill in your arms and legs, but it is not as pronounced as it was before Rin came into the room.

[DracoOmega]

>And do we sense anything at all directly about this presence the Purpose mentioned, aside from the chill within us?

[Oldmansour]

>And do we sense anything at all directly about this presence the Purpose mentioned, aside from the chill within us?

>Negative.

[DracoOmega]

>Nod slowly
>"Well, I am going to try again now."

>Grip Rin's hand firmly, then center our focus and reach back to that which we were inching towards before the Purpose interrupted us. Trust that we will be safe in the hands of the woman we love, whatever darkness we brush across. We will always have a warm place to return. But there is something hidden here, something important, and we must recall what it is.

[Oldmansour]

>Nod slowly
>"Well, I am going to try again now."

>Grip Rin's hand firmly, then center our focus and reach back to that which we were inching towards before the Purpose interrupted us. Trust that we will be safe in the hands of the woman we love, whatever darkness we brush across. We will always have a warm place to return. But there is something hidden here, something important, and we must recall what it is.

>The touch of Rin's hand alleviates the chill in your body a bit more as you turn your mind back towards the murky depths of your memory. But the precise memory you seek eludes you, moreso than before. It appears to have receded into the dark places of your mind, banished by the love and warmth that surrounds you.


>Byakuren Hijiri Corruption Score: 8.

[DracoOmega]

>Can we think of any way that we could better reach it? Short of completely isolating ourselves from anything positive?

[Oldmansour]

>Can we think of any way that we could better reach it? Short of completely isolating ourselves from anything positive?

>You consider using the trick of linking two rings together, like you did with Kiku and Lily, but that probably wouldn't work either. The act in and of itself is an expression of deep faith and trust.
>Failing that, your mind falls back to Satori and her psychic powers. Someone with similar powers could conceivable access your memory with less risk of exposing yourself to whatever that dark force was the Purpose sensed. Though this would entail its own risks.

[DracoOmega]

>Do we know of anyone else with similar powers?

>Stop and let out a sigh.
>"This is rather vexing, I am afraid. It feels as though embracing the comfort of your presence is actively causing the memory to retreat."
>Pause
>"That probably sounds bizarre; memories don't normally have a will of their own, and yet that is what it feels like - like the warmth of your presence has driven it further away somehow."

[Oldmansour]

>Do we know of anyone else with similar powers?

>Stop and let out a sigh.
>"This is rather vexing, I am afraid. It feels as though embracing the comfort of your presence is actively causing the memory to retreat."
>Pause
>"That probably sounds bizarre; memories don't normally have a will of their own, and yet that is what it feels like - like the warmth of your presence has driven it further away somehow."

>Not for certain. But if Satori's power was biological, and not the result of that black splinter in her mind's eye, then her sister Koishi may have similar powers.

>"Not a lot about this makes sense." Rin agrees. "But at least nothin' BAD happened. Right?"


>Byakuren Hijiri Corruption Score: 7.

[DracoOmega]

>"No, nothing bad. Well, unless you count this mystery becoming even more veiled 'bad'."
>Sigh again
>"Oh, Rin. It is not a pleasant thing to think there is something lurking in the corners of your mind that you cannot touch. Something dark. Something important. It is... unsettling."
>Let's hold her close to us for a moment. We could use the comfort.

[Oldmansour]

>"No, nothing bad. Well, unless you count this mystery becoming even more veiled 'bad'."
>Sigh again
>"Oh, Rin. It is not a pleasant thing to think there is something lurking in the corners of your mind that you cannot touch. Something dark. Something important. It is... unsettling."
>Let's hold her close to us for a moment. We could use the comfort.

>The warm embrace of the kasha banishes the cold from your body, from the room, almost even from your mind.
>Dark things are not always to be feared. the dry voice of the purpose intones. Until today, you didn't even know this thing existed. Perhaps it will fade as time passes. Or, if this is in fact connected, somehow, to the Champions and their presence in your world, then it will be taken care of once the others have been defeated.

[DracoOmega]

>Perhaps, but I do not like not knowing. I do not like to leave potential threats lurking, rather than truly understanding them. I do not like the idea that there might be something in me that is that unsettling.

[Oldmansour]

>Perhaps, but I do not like not knowing. I do not like to leave potential threats lurking, rather than truly understanding them. I do not like the idea that there might be something in me that is that unsettling.

>Take comfort in the fact that you have the strength to combat this force. Not every human does.

[DracoOmega]

>You sound as though you recognize something about it.

[Oldmansour]

>You sound as though you recognize something about it.

>I may not know a lot about your species, Hero, but I know that much at least.

[DracoOmega]

>Do you know why you might have been able to sense this presence when neither myself nor Rin could?