Maribel Hearn Quest: ACT III - Part 2

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"Poor Miss Patchouli...."
>Sigh.

>"Yeah..." says Alice.
>A second ring of dolls is interlaced with the first. They seem to be filling the grooves carved in the ground with some kind of white powder.
>_

[Monarda]

>Look at the dolls.
>"These dolls are really cute and helpful."
>Check up on our group.

[Neovereign]

>Ask Alice: "Do you think Marisa would notice if books were missing from the house?"

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>Look at the dolls.
>"These dolls are really cute and helpful."

>The dolls are working in a perfectly organized manner. Soon, they begin cutting across the circle in unison, creating an octogram. The second row of dolls follows, sprinkling the white powder into the grooves.

>"Yeah, they are pretty helpful. Though most are limited to basic, single-minded behaviors when I'm not directly controlling them."

>Check up on our group.

>You do a click glance over your group.
>Sumireko/Matenshi are leaning against the wall, watching the preparations. Rin, Renko, and Rengeteki are close to you. Rengeteki is still holding Rin's erhu.
>Chen is standing around. Before she seems to notice something at the foot of the wall.

>Ask Alice: "Do you think Marisa would notice if books were missing from the house?"

>"It honestly depends on how recently she got them and whether or not she starts looking for one in her pile." Alice replies.
>_

[Monarda]

>"Huh..."
>Look at Chen and then check for what did she see.

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"Huh..."
>Look at Chen and then check for what did she see.

>You look over at Chen and then look at the spot on the wall she's staring at. You wonder just what she's staring- Ah, it's a mouse-hole.
>_

[Monarda]

>Turn to Rin and Rengeteki.
>"How are you two faring ? Everything alright for now ?"

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>Turn to Rin and Rengeteki.
>"How are you two faring ? Everything alright for now ?"

>"I still feel myself... growing weaker... as time goes on... but I'm still holding together..." says Rin with a weak smile.
>"I'm mostly fine." says Rengeteki, "I'll feel much better when I know Rin's safe, though...."
>She gently takes Rin's hand.
>_

[Monarda]

>"We are almost there however, once this is over we can work for an even better future, there is hope for everything and everyone, even for Layla..."
>Look away.
>"...she had no right to ignore her peers' pleas and erase their memories again though..."

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"We are almost there however, once this is over we can work for an even better future, there is hope for everything and everyone, even for Layla..."
>Look away.
>"...she had no right to ignore her peers' pleas and erase their memories again though..."

>"Yeah..." Rin frowns.

>"We'll be ready to start soon." says Alice.
>_

[Monarda]

>"Alright."
>Head to Chen.
>"How are you doing dear ?"

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"Alright."
>Head to Chen.
>"How are you doing dear ?"

>"I'm fine." Chen smiles, turning to you, "What about you?"
>_

[Monarda]

>"If you are fine then i am fine too."
>Smile back and pet her.
>"So you are eyeing that mouse huh ? So adorable."

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"If you are fine then i am fine too."
>Smile back and pet her.
>"So you are eyeing that mouse huh ? So adorable."

>Chen accepts your petting. Purring a bit.
>"Uh-huh. I saw it dart in there out of the corner of my eye... Didn't get a good look at it though..."
>_

[Monarda]

>"Well looks like it won't be leaving anytime soon with you around, ehehe."
>Keep petting her and turn to Renko.
>"Everything okay Renko ?"

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"Well looks like it won't be leaving anytime soon with you around, ehehe."
>Keep petting her and turn to Renko.

>"Hehehe..." Chen chuckles as you keep petting.

>"Everything okay Renko ?"

>"Yup." Renko smiles.
>_

[Monarda]

>"Um... hey Renko, could you use your powers to check on where is Koishi right now ? We gotta help her talk with her sister too."

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"Um... hey Renko, could you use your powers to check on where is Koishi right now ? We gotta help her talk with her sister too."

>"Well, it isn't nighttime yet... but I'll try." Renko looks up and concentrates, "Nah... Nothing. We'll have to wait till nightfall. Though it shouldn't be long."
>You notice the dolls have moved the blank doll to the center of the magic circle, which seems to have four smaller circles drawn at 90 degree angles from each other surrounding it. Alice is standing in one of them.
>_

[Monarda]

>"Huh ? What are the four circles for ? If anything, shouldn't it be only three ?"

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"Huh ? What are the four circles for ? If anything, shouldn't it be only three ?"

>"It's to mark the cardinal directions." Alice explains, "The caster needs to be standing south of the circle, while the subject to be transferred needs to be standing at the north end. Speaking of which, I need erm..."
>"Rin" says Rin.
>"...Rin to stand in the circle opposite of me. Then we can begin the ritual."
>_

[Monarda]

>"Alright, let me help you two."
>Aid Rengeteki in taking Rin to her designated spot.
>"What about the other two circles ?"

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"Alright, let me help you two."
>Aid Rengeteki in taking Rin to her designated spot.
>"What about the other two circles ?"

>You help Rengeteki move Rin to the circle opposite of Alice, and allow her to stand.
>"They'll remain unused." says Alice.
>_

[Monarda]

>"Understood."
>Back off.
>"Shall we begin ?"

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"Understood."
>Back off.
>"Shall we begin ?"

>You back away.
>Alice nods before closing her eyes.
>_

[Monarda]

>Take Rengeteki's left hand and Renko's right hand if we can.
>Watch paciently.

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>Take Rengeteki's left hand and Renko's right hand if we can.
>Watch paciently.

>You take Renko and Rengeteki's hands and watch.

>Alice begins muttering some kind of incantation and starts slowly weaving her arms through the air. Rin suddenly jolts, and a small, glowing ball erupts from her chest. Rengeteki squeezes your hand, and you can feel her start shaking.
>Rin's body quickly collapses, and seems to fade away within seconds with one final, violent distortion. The glowing ball slowly floats over the doll, and the magic circle begins to glow brilliantly as Rin's soul quickly darts inside the doll.

>The doll floats up and contorts, its physical appearance shifts from its blank slate to something that resembles Rin, even gaining a mouth in the process, before gently floating back down.
>The circle stops glowing, and Alice seems to relax a bit.

>The doll opens her eyes and sits up, looking around. It looks like Rin, though it is still quite obviously a doll, especially without any clothes on.
>_

[Monarda]

>"Rin ?"
>Keep supporting Rengeteki and approach her.
>"So how do you feel ? Are you alright ?"

[Evil_Nazgul0616]

>"Rin ?"
>Keep supporting Rengeteki and approach her.
>"So how do you feel ? Are you alright ?"

>You approach Rin with Rengeteki.
>Rin flexes her fingers and stands up, "I-I feel...."
>She spontaneously throws herself at you and gives you a hug
>"I-I feel fantastic... You don't know how relieving it feels to be alive... And not in constant pain." she tightens the hug, "T-Thank you... T-Thank all of you... "
>_

[Neovereign]

>"Is it finished? Will you be safe now? From what would've happened, at least."

[Monarda]

>"It was a pleasure Rin, i try to help everyone i can."
>Smile and hug her back.
>"It's not like i would have let you suffer and fare off by yourself, nobody deserves that fate..."