Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 4, Part 3

[Oldmansour]

>"Of course."
>Hand over the lunch

>The green haired woman seems to turn all of her senses on Minoriko's boxed lunch as Satori lays it out on the table in the corner of the room. She doesn't say anything, so you assume she isn't too suspicious, but you don't think you've seen anyone scrutinize a meal so closely.
>Her feelings of guilt are obviously extreme. Kiku says to you and Rin. I honestly don't know if they'll ever fade. But that aside for a moment, if I may. That splinter you saw, do you know where it came from? You said it showed you how it came to reside within Satori, but anything before that?

[DracoOmega]

>No. But... we had a very strange encounter on our way to the shrine. I assume that the answer is no, but does the name Junko mean anything to you?

[Oldmansour]

>No. But... we had a very strange encounter on our way to the shrine. I assume that the answer is no, but does the name Junko mean anything to you?

>There was a woman a year ago named Junko, who made a very sizable donation to the shrine. A gratitude for the guidance Satori offered her daughter.

[DracoOmega]

>I don't suppose you can describe what she looked like?

[Oldmansour]

>I don't suppose you can describe what she looked like?

>After a moment's thought, Kiku replies, I recall her being slightly overweight at the time, short, with badly dyed pink hair.

[DracoOmega]

>Not the same person. This woman was... I think she was confirming something about the entity we destroyed last night. She spoke of it as a lingering remnant of a much darker time, and said that the Blink Bomb 'woke it up'. I have no idea who she is or how she knows such things, and she was not forthcoming with answers, though she spoke of 'mortals' in a way that implied she wasn't one.

[Oldmansour]

>Not the same person. This woman was... I think she was confirming something about the entity we destroyed last night. She spoke of it as a lingering remnant of a much darker time, and said that the Blink Bomb 'woke it up'. I have no idea who she is or how she knows such things, and she was not forthcoming with answers, though she spoke of 'mortals' in a way that implied she wasn't one.

>Confirming how? Was she a sorcerer?

[DracoOmega]

>I don't know what she is. I tried to sense her aura, but there was... nothing - an empty space where a person should be. The whole encounter was somewhat disquieting, I must admit, though she seemed largely to align with our side of things. She even asked us to be understanding towards Satori.

[Oldmansour]

>I don't know what she is. I tried to sense her aura, but there was... nothing - an empty space where a person should be. The whole encounter was somewhat disquieting, I must admit, though she seemed largely to align with our side of things. She even asked us to be understanding towards Satori.

>Kiku struggles to keep a scowl off her face. Another complication...

[DracoOmega]

>There seems no end to such things, doesn't there? For what it's worth, she seemed satisfied that the deathbringer had been thoroughly destroyed and implied it was the last of its kind. Insofar as this can be trusted, it's nice to have a second opinion in agreement.

[Oldmansour]

>There seems no end to such things, doesn't there? For what it's worth, she seemed satisfied that the deathbringer had been thoroughly destroyed and implied it was the last of its kind. Insofar as this can be trusted, it's nice to have a second opinion in agreement.

>Well, we can leave that aside for the moment, I suppose. She said nothing more about the splinter?

[DracoOmega]

>Not really, no.

[Oldmansour]

>Not really, no.

>Hmm... Did you get any indication that the splinter chose Satori in some way? Or was she simply in the wrong place at the wrong time?

[DracoOmega]

>It may simply have been that; there can't have been many people so close to the explosion yet outside its effective range. Or perhaps the fact that she was psychically experiencing so much death made her more... susceptible to the deathbringer or more perceptible by it. I can really only guess.

[Oldmansour]

>It may simply have been that; there can't have been many people so close to the explosion yet outside its effective range. Or perhaps the fact that she was psychically experiencing so much death made her more... susceptible to the deathbringer or more perceptible by it. I can really only guess.

>Kiku makes another thoughtful noise. She seems better now, but I cannot tell how long it will last, if it lasts at all. And feelings towards her among my sisters is still strong. But I think I have an idea, a way that may help both sides.
>Your powers are unique, Lotus, in all the world. Not only did you sense that splinter, you resisted Satori's telepathy long enough to bring your power to bear against the darkness within her. Is it fair to say, in your opinion, that no one else could have helped her before now?

[DracoOmega]

>I would not feel it right to claim that there is no one in the world who could have done what I did, but... ridding her of the deathbringer felt somewhat akin to purifying a youma, and since as far as anyone knows, no one else has managed that either.... perhaps you may be right.

[Oldmansour]

>I would not feel it right to claim that there is no one in the world who could have done what I did, but... ridding her of the deathbringer felt somewhat akin to purifying a youma, and since as far as anyone knows, no one else has managed that either.... perhaps you may be right.

>What're you up to, Kiku? Rin asks her.
>Something fairly theatrical. It goes against my nature, but I think it's the best way to at least bandage the wounds here. But I may still need your help, at least one of you. My plan calls for a general assembly, and I need to make sure Satori stays safe, until I say what I have to say.

[DracoOmega]

>Well, you can certainly count on us to protect her, but what is it you had in mind?

[Oldmansour]

>Well, you can certainly count on us to protect her, but what is it you had in mind?

>Looking at her former Elder, Kiku replies, I am... uniquely qualified among the shrine maidens to understand what she went through. In a way, I went through the same thing myself. The difference is, you were there to save me from the Water Champion. Satori did not have anyone, until last night. I will try to make my sisters see that.

[DracoOmega]

>I hope your sisters listen. It would probably do Satori good if even a few of them can forgive her.
>Is there anything you'd like us to do?

[Oldmansour]

>I hope your sisters listen. It would probably do Satori good if even a few of them can forgive her.
>Is there anything you'd like us to do?

>I'm not so optimistic as to expect total forgiveness tonight. A start, for me, would be acceptable. I have enough problems as it is without worrying about what's happening while I'm away from home.
>In a word, security. Between Satori's jack and all the angry shrine maidens here, I fear there would be too much for me to keep track of if things started to unravel.

[DracoOmega]

>Where would you be having this assembly? And did you mean to do it now?

[Oldmansour]

>Where would you be having this assembly? And did you mean to do it now?

>The sacred flame chamber is the only room in the temple large enough to accommodate all of us. And I was planning to let her finish her meal, since she seems to be enjoying it.

[DracoOmega]

>You think she should be present for the assembly herself, then?

[Oldmansour]

>You think she should be present for the assembly herself, then?

>Kiku nods slightly. My sisters need to hear what I have to say to Satori.

[DracoOmega]

>I admit I am a little concerned that her sense of guilt could cause her to spontaneously insist upon taking blame for this in front of everyone. But you do make a point.

[Oldmansour]

>I admit I am a little concerned that her sense of guilt could cause her to spontaneously insist upon taking blame for this in front of everyone. But you do make a point.

>That seems to make Kiku pause. I had not considered that possibility. she admits.

[DracoOmega]

>Perhaps it might be prudent to at least 'set the stage' without her there, and establish facts and realities. And it might be better for Satori not to have to face such a potentially withering audience; the last thing she needs is more cause to feel miserable. Even if you feel the words you want to say to Satori are important, won't your sisters believe you if you relay them?

[Oldmansour]

>Perhaps it might be prudent to at least 'set the stage' without her there, and establish facts and realities. And it might be better for Satori not to have to face such a potentially withering audience; the last thing she needs is more cause to feel miserable. Even if you feel the words you want to say to Satori are important, won't your sisters believe you if you relay them?

>You raise some valid points. The tiger youkai can't quite keep a smile off her face. I knew you had an instinct for handling people.
>"Excuse me?" Satori says quietly.

[DracoOmega]

>"Yes?"