Sakuya Quest 12 - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "Very well."

>There are a few awkward moments, as it's clear she doesn't have anything else to say. Then she heads into the old galleries without a word.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Head back to the planned meeting place with Alice.

[Hello Purvis]

> Head back to the planned meeting place with Alice.

>You do so, and happen to meet her in the front hall along the way. "Is everything ready?" she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "As ready as it will ever be."

[Hello Purvis]

> "As ready as it will ever be."

>She nods. "I'm nervous about leaving Marisa alone, but she did well yesterday. Let's go."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown a bit.
> "I can try to find someone else if need be. Or perhaps we could bring Reimu here. Did she ask you about that at all, by the way?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown a bit.
> "I can try to find someone else if need be. Or perhaps we could bring Reimu here. Did she ask you about that at all, by the way?"

>"I'd rather not," says Alice. "I mean, she's...difficult, sometimes. And no."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I suppose she is still thinking about whether or not she wants Reimu to even know. Mmm. Well, like I said, I can find someone else if you need to stay here."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I suppose she is still thinking about whether or not she wants Reimu to even know. Mmm. Well, like I said, I can find someone else if you need to stay here."

>"No, it should be fine," says Alice. "She's been doing very well lately."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "...If you say so."

[Hello Purvis]

> "...If you say so."

>She nods. "Let's go."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Where did we leave Mitsu?

[Hello Purvis]

> Where did we leave Mitsu?

>You parted ways from her at Youkai Mountain.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "All right."
> Take flight and head back to Youkai Mountain, where we left Mitsu.

[Hello Purvis]

> "All right."
> Take flight and head back to Youkai Mountain, where we left Mitsu.

>You leave the mansion-turned-shrine and take to the air, heading eastward toward Youkai Mountain. It is a long and uneventful flight. But along the way, you note that Alice seems more...animated than before. She doesn't just stare ahead with an unreadable expression; she looks around, she makes various faces. She even makes a little small talk, pointing out an unusual but ultimately mundane tree at one point. No, this squares well with your memories of the other trip that you made before. She was always animated. You wouldn't be able to tell that she was a doll if she didn't tell you.
>Soon you can see Youkai Mountain ahead; and there doesn't seem to be any sign of the flying chariot in front of it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Frown a bit.
> "Hmm. Perhaps she has gone back to Old Hometown."

[Hello Purvis]

> Frown a bit.
> "Hmm. Perhaps she has gone back to Old Hometown."

>"We could ask around," says Alice.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is there anyone in the immediate vicinity?

[Hello Purvis]

> Is there anyone in the immediate vicinity?

>There are people coming and going from the cable cars. Some are lingering about on benches.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "As good an idea as any."
> Head down to the benches with people on them.

[Hello Purvis]

> "As good an idea as any."
> Head down to the benches with people on them.

>You approach the benches. A handful of humans and part-youkai are sitting there; one family seems to be having a picnic while their child marvels at the cable cars. A couple are reading, one a newspaper and the others books. Some are just spacing out.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Are some/most/all of them within reasonable conversation distance?

[Hello Purvis]

> Are some/most/all of them within reasonable conversation distance?

>You could get closer, but yes.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Get closer.
> "Pardon me, but has anyone seen Lady Yasaka's flying chariot here recently with its kappa operator?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Get closer.
> "Pardon me, but has anyone seen Lady Yasaka's flying chariot here recently with its kappa operator?"

>"Oh, yes, actually," says one of the people reading. "It left a while ago."
>"Miss Kochiya was there!" the young girl with the picnicking family says. "She waved and she had the pinwheels and everything!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "In which direction did it go?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "In which direction did it go?"

>"West,"  says the first person.
>This isn't very helpful, pretty much everything is west of here.

>_

[Suwako Moriya]

> Does that include Haihan?

[Hello Purvis]

> Does that include Haihan?

>It certainly does.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I see. Thank you very much."