Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 5, Part 2

[Oldmansour]

>Well, he did express some wariness about the issue when we first met, but I feel he was reassured by our interactions that we aren't a threat to them.

>That's good. says Reisen. Convincing the leader of a Coven should go a very long way towards convincing the rest of them.
>"What about you, Chrysanthemum?" Haruka asks the tiger. "Did you and Subala cooperate well?"
>"I would say so. We both are committed to victory, and our powers complimented each other rather well. Had we been chasing a lesser foe, I have no doubt we would have triumphed without assistance."
>"Another benefit to this exercise, for me at least, is the highlight the lack of aerial combat experts among our group. No offense, Lily."
>"None taken!"
>"While many of us are capable of flight, only Lily is a natural flyer, and she is a defensive specialist. If we had an offensive specialist that was a natural flyer, that gap would be filled."
>Haruka leans forward. "I would say you've done fairly well for yourselves even without. Still, your point is well made. Natural flight is quite a boon, not the least reason being that the Champions are all capable of natural flight. In that sense they have the edge over your group. If you can take that edge away from them, your chances of victory would be all the greater."

>Your ring pulses as she finishes that thought.

[DracoOmega]

>How strongly?

[Oldmansour]

>How strongly?

>About the same as it's always done. Haruka isn't making her own ring jump out of yours like what happened with Kiku or even Rin, but she definitely has the potential to wield your light.

[DracoOmega]

>So we think all we would need to do is present her the offer?
>There's no other mikos around at this point, right?

[Oldmansour]

>So we think all we would need to do is present her the offer?
>There's no other mikos around at this point, right?

>Yes. She has the potential, but she needs to accept it.
>None within visual range.

[DracoOmega]

>To Kiku: Haruka has the potential within her to wield the power we do - I can feel it. But making her that offer would of course reveal our 'deception' here today and you've have professional history with her that none of us do. How would you feel about that?

[Oldmansour]

>To Kiku: Haruka has the potential within her to wield the power we do - I can feel it. But making her that offer would of course reveal our 'deception' here today and you've have professional history with her that none of us do. How would you feel about that?

>You can sense the tiger's surprise, but it doesn't show on her face. You are sure? Yes, of course you are, you've done this often enough. If she has the ability to wield the power that we do, then any feelings I may have are irrelevant. Haruka's experience dwarfs all of ours, her skills are second to none, and her power would eclipse mine. I'd say it already does; with your power she may well be unstoppable, or near to it. She could be the best of us.

[DracoOmega]

>I felt it only polite to at least ask. After all, our power rests in the bonds of trust that we share and I would not wish to violate them carelessly.

>Assuming there are no further objections or reservations, respond to Haruka: "Perhaps we may."
>Pause
>I have the ability to grant the power we wield onto others - only very specific others whose hearts resonate with it properly, but... you are one of them, Hakura. You have the potential within you to wield the same kind of power we do; I can feel it clearly."

[Oldmansour]

>I felt it only polite to at least ask. After all, our power rests in the bonds of trust that we share and I would not wish to violate them carelessly.

>Assuming there are no further objections or reservations, respond to Haruka: "Perhaps we may."
>Pause
>I have the ability to grant the power we wield onto others - only very specific others whose hearts resonate with it properly, but... you are one of them, Hakura. You have the potential within you to wield the same kind of power we do; I can feel it clearly."

>Kiku smiles. Thank you. Haruka will understand the necessity of the deception. She works in secret as all the shrines do. Did. she corrects herself.

>While the other four members of your group react with varying degrees of surprise- none happier than Lily, of course- The big eagle takes that in stride. "You're asking me to join your organization? To wield the power that you do?"

[DracoOmega]

>"If you are willing. The choice is yours, of course - and abdicating your position here is no requirement, I should stress. Our interests already overlap, after all."

[Oldmansour]

>"If you are willing. The choice is yours, of course - and abdicating your position here is no requirement, I should stress. Our interests already overlap, after all."

>Haruka temples her fingers and rests her chin on her hands for a moment, taking a moment for silent thought. Her old eyes half-shut for a time, casually wandering over you and your group now and then. When she speaks at last, she meets your gaze and slowly shakes her head. "No. I'm sorry, but... No."

[DracoOmega]

>"You do not have to answer if you prefer not to, but... might I ask why?"

[Oldmansour]

>"You do not have to answer if you prefer not to, but... might I ask why?"

>It takes you a moment to get that remark in. Rin, Kiku, Minoriko and Lily all speak at once before you, each expression dismay and surprise at Haruka's choice. Haruka looks around at your group and smiles, the expression more sad than amused. "I didn't realize you all felt that way." she remarks.
>"It'd be awesome to have you with us!" Lily cries.
>Rin nods fervently as Kiku adds, "From what I've seen, you could be the best of us, Haruka-sama."
>"I'd love to have you working with us outside of here, as one of us." says Minoriko.
>"And I'd like the chance to get to know you better, too." Rin says at last. "Not just when it comes to fighting."

>Haruka takes a slow breath and nods before looking at Reisen. "And you, Poppy?"
>"I think I understand why you won't." the rabbit says. "I'm only guessing, I don't know."
>"Part of it is of course my position here." Haruka starts. "For right now, the shrine maidens here need me. My time here hasn't ended yet. But beyond that... Let me ask YOU something, Lotus. Do you know the full extent of your power, and what you can do with it?"

[DracoOmega]

>"If you are asking whether we have yet reached the ultimate limits of what our powers are capable of, then... I would say no. Every one of us has room yet to grow. But could that not be said for almost all adherents of any school of magic?"

[Oldmansour]

>"If you are asking whether we have yet reached the ultimate limits of what our powers are capable of, then... I would say no. Every one of us has room yet to grow. But could that not be said for almost all adherents of any school of magic?"

>"Realistically, no. I've lived a long time, Lotus. I've studied virtually every school of magic there's ever been on this planet, and some that aren't native to Earth. I've dabbled in many, become proficient with some, mastered a few. And every one of them has their limits. Some limits are tied to the magic itself, some to its user, some both. But your power is new. Unknown, unstudied. You're still learning yourself what you're all capable of. Do you even know what your limits might be?"

[DracoOmega]

>"...not yet, no."

[Oldmansour]

>"...not yet, no."

>"Or what you're capable of in a moment of rage?" Haruka asks.
>"Lotus isn't like!"/"That's not what she's like!" Lily and Rin say almost in unison.
>"Every human is." Haruka argues, sadly. "Every person is. Lotus, you, me. The difference is I know exactly what I'm capable of in those moments. I know what I can do with the powers I already have. To augment that with a power that has thus far unknown limits or potential, is something I cannot do."

[DracoOmega]

>"But the power you now wield is already far more than enough to do harm, were that truly your impulse. I do not see that merely adding some more on top of that could change anything fundamental about yourself or how you conduct yourself; after all, you have far more experience than any of us at battling supernatural threats."

[Oldmansour]

>"But the power you now wield is already far more than enough to do harm, were that truly your impulse. I do not see that merely adding some more on top of that could change anything fundamental about yourself or how you conduct yourself; after all, you have far more experience than any of us at battling supernatural threats."

>"It's not just 'some more'. It is the fact that I don't know how much more. How will your power interact with the magic of the Four Primes? Or the Dragon sorcery I learned on Seifeed, or the magics I learned from the people of Flonyard? Will your power interact badly with the black magic within me? And how will it affect me to gain all this new power at once?" Haruka stands. "Lotus, all the power I have is power I feel that I earned. Never have I accepted the kind of sudden power that others seek. I study, I learn. I am not saying I would never want to use the power you have. I've seen first hand the good you can do with it. But I don't know enough about it yet. YOU don't know enough about it yet."
>"Just look at what you did to the Stuntrons." she says as an example. "You transformed them completely, physically, spiritually, mentally. Do you have any idea what you could do with that kind of power? Who's to say it's limited just to the Blackbloods?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Are you... concerned that the power itself could change you?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Are you... concerned that the power itself could change you?"

>"I've seen it happen far too many times. Someone takes in a lot of power they don't understand, that they're not prepared to control. It never ends well." The slight inflection she puts on 'never' speaks to the horrors she's seen throughout her long life. "Even the most purehearted of people can be tempted, corrupted. That you made your offer to me tells me you don't believe this will happen. I can't be so sure." Then she smiles slightly. "Not yet."

[DracoOmega]

>"I cannot speak to all the unfortunate events you may have witnessed in your life, but our power is fundamentally grounded in love - the bonds of positive emotions we share with the people we care for and our determination to protect them. It is not an external power we have bent to our will, but a manifestation of the desire for good already within us."
>"But... I will not pressure you further if this is not something you feel truly comfortable about. Acquiescence not given wholeheartedly would have no meaning here."

[Oldmansour]

>"I cannot speak to all the unfortunate events you may have witnessed in your life, but our power is fundamentally grounded in love - the bonds of positive emotions we share with the people we care for and our determination to protect them. It is not an external power we have bent to our will, but a manifestation of the desire for good already within us."
>"But... I will not pressure you further if this is not something you feel truly comfortable about. Acquiescence not given wholeheartedly would have no meaning here."

>Haruka nods again. "You haven't given me much cause to doubt you. And I have seen what love can do. The man who found the cure for the Malamus plague was driven by love. But I've also seen wars started for love. The Second Lunarian War, for one. White Rose?" she says to Rin. "Tell me, what would you have done to Motormaster if he had killed Lotus?"
>"I'd have torn his head off!" the kasha replies without the slightest pause, only to realize a moment later what she just said. "I, I mean, I-"
>She is stopped by Chrysanthemum laying a hand on her shoulder. "It's all right, Rose. If you hadn't, I would have. And with fewer regrets."
>"Forgive me if I put you on the spot." Haruka says to the kasha, lowering her head. "I simply wanted to make a point. I suppose I should have asked if that is something you can even do. Is it possible for you girls to wield your power in hate? Or any other emotion, for that matter?"

[DracoOmega]

>We don't think we can, do we?

[Oldmansour]

>We don't think we can, do we?

>The possibity had never crossed your mind. You don't believe you can.
>On the other hand, you're not completely certain that you can't, either.

[DracoOmega]

>"...if I'm being perfectly honest, while I don't believe we can, it's... never actually been tested; I do my best never to hate anyone at all, even those who've wronged me."

[Oldmansour]

>"...if I'm being perfectly honest, while I don't believe we can, it's... never actually been tested; I do my best never to hate anyone at all, even those who've wronged me."

>"I can." It is Kiku who speaks. "I do not draw my power entirely from love. Not even the majority of it from love."
>"What, then?" Haruka asks her.
>The tiger looks her in the eye. "Fear."
>"Another powerful emotion."
>"One that's followed me all my life since I became a youkai. But one that I've recently learned to use for the good. To harness. I act to keep my fears from coming true. No longer am I bound by my fears or consumed by them. I use them to fuel me in ways I never have before. Lotus' power has enabled me to come to grips with my own fears and harness them. Creatures like the Champions, the Blackbloods, the Demons that dwell in the shadows. I'm afraid of what they might do if I don't fight them, and the power I have now lets me weaponize that fear."

[DracoOmega]

>"Perhaps all power can do harm if its wielder truly wishes it to do so; as you say, harm to one person has surely been done out of love for another. But one thing I do feel confident of is that this power is an extension of own hearts and wills and could never be manifested without that will being in concord with what we are doing. It is not a force from without, to be tamed and keep harnessed, but an extension of our conscious will. And I trust both my own heart and those of my companions. And you."

[Oldmansour]

>"Perhaps all power can do harm if its wielder truly wishes it to do so; as you say, harm to one person has surely been done out of love for another. But one thing I do feel confident of is that this power is an extension of own hearts and wills and could never be manifested without that will being in concord with what we are doing. It is not a force from without, to be tamed and keep harnessed, but an extension of our conscious will. And I trust both my own heart and those of my companions. And you."

>"Except you shouldn't trust me, Lotus." Haruka says, startling you. "Not so easily. You barely know me. You have no idea what might lurk in my heart. Despite all my power, there are things I can't do. If what you're saying is true, I would be released from those restraints."

[DracoOmega]

>"...it is a strange thing for someone to say that they shouldn't be trusted, least of all someone like yourself who is so clearly trusted by the people around them."