Maribel Quest Succeeding - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>"Ah, well. I guess that's probably all the questions I have at the moment. But if something important comes up related to this, I might have a question or two later."

>She nods. "The best I can say is not to worry about it too much However strange it all looks, it's still in proper working order."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yes, I think I'm already getting sort of used to it. Well, not exactly used to it, but you know... Anyway, thank you very much, and I'll let you know in the hopefully unlikely even that anything important comes up."
>Say goodbye and exit
>Head towards the SDM

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yes, I think I'm already getting sort of used to it. Well, not exactly used to it, but you know... Anyway, thank you very much, and I'll let you know in the hopefully unlikely even that anything important comes up."
>Say goodbye and exit
>Head towards the SDM

>"Then I hope not to see you again," says Keine.
>"Have a good one!" Marisa adds.
>You exit and make the flight to Scarlet Devil Mansion along the way, you see another group of faeries playing over the lake, firing danmaku at each other.
>Landing near the gates, you see Meiling there as always. At a glance, things seem to be more or less how you left them.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Hey there, Meiling. How's it going? I've got something to drop off to Sakuya. Can I come in?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hey there, Meiling. How's it going? I've got something to drop off to Sakuya. Can I come in?"

>"Sure," says Meiling, opening the gate. "Patchy's probably going to want a report, too."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Of course. Thank you."
>Enter the mansion and head towards the kitchen, in case Sakuya may still be there

[Hello Purvis]

>"Of course. Thank you."
>Enter the mansion and head towards the kitchen, in case Sakuya may still be there

>You enter the mansion, noticing that the girl playing fetch before is gone now.
>Entering the Mansion, you find that you do not need to go so far as the kitchen to find Sakuya. She is resting in a chair there. She nods in your direction as you enter.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Hello, Sakuya. How've things been since I left? I only have a little bit to tell you on that front, I'm afraid. Seems Daiyousei probably just came and convinced a whole bunch of fairies to leave. Not sure what they're up to. I went to Dai's place and a whole horde of fairies chased me off before I could go close. Was planning to try again later, and see if some of them have wandered off."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hello, Sakuya. How've things been since I left? I only have a little bit to tell you on that front, I'm afraid. Seems Daiyousei probably just came and convinced a whole bunch of fairies to leave. Not sure what they're up to. I went to Dai's place and a whole horde of fairies chased me off before I could go close. Was planning to try again later, and see if some of them have wandered off."

>She nods. "That narrows down the culprit, at least. For that, I thank you."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I also have something that I believe is yours."
>Show her the pocketwatch

[Hello Purvis]

>"I also have something that I believe is yours."
>Show her the pocketwatch

>You present The Pocketwatch to Sakuya.
>Her eyes widen and she leaps from her seat, crossing the distance between the two of you a distance.
>"Which one was it?" she asks, her voice very much like the tone she had when you first met. "Which one of them took it?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"What? No, the faeries weren't responsible for this one, if that's what you mean. Uh, how much do you know about the dream that everyone shared?"
>Give her the pocketwatch

[Hello Purvis]

>"What? No, the faeries weren't responsible for this one, if that's what you mean. Uh, how much do you know about the dream that everyone shared?"
>Give her the pocketwatch

>You give her the watch. She takes it gently, cradling it with her hands.
>"They didn't steal it?" she asks. "...I don't know if I should be more relieved or worried to hear that. And...a bit. It was very strange. I assume they are related?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I got the watch from Utsuho. Apparently it entered into her possession in that other world, and she gave it to me to return to you."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I got the watch from Utsuho. Apparently it entered into her possession in that other world, and she gave it to me to return to you."

>Sakuya frowns. "That makes no sense whatsoever, you realize."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Probably. I suppose in the scheme of things, it doesn't really matter. All that's important is that she found it, and returned it to you. For all the things faeries can be blamed for, this isn't one of them, thankfully."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Probably. I suppose in the scheme of things, it doesn't really matter. All that's important is that she found it, and returned it to you. For all the things faeries can be blamed for, this isn't one of them, thankfully."

>She nods. "Regardless, I owe you for this. This watch is very dear to me. Thank you."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I'm just happy to help. Especially if it means that much to you."
>"Actually, I do have a question for you, though. When I spoke to Keine shortly after I arrived, about learning to use magic, she mentioned you as someone who had a few unique tricks. I don't suppose there might be a little something you'd be willing to show me? I'm sure you're busy and all, but I was curious, so i just thought I might ask."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'm just happy to help. Especially if it means that much to you."
>"Actually, I do have a question for you, though. When I spoke to Keine shortly after I arrived, about learning to use magic, she mentioned you as someone who had a few unique tricks. I don't suppose there might be a little something you'd be willing to show me? I'm sure you're busy and all, but I was curious, so i just thought I might ask."

>She nods, then listens are you make your request. "I...don't think I can teach you what I do," she says. "It is a talent I was born with, I don't believe it can be learned."

>_

[Doll.S CUBE]

> "Oh.....is there anything that you can teach me then?"

[DracoOmega]

>"What kind of talent is it, if you don't mind me asking?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh.....is there anything that you can teach me then?"

>"I may be able to show you how to handle a knife."

>"What kind of talent is it, if you don't mind me asking?"

>"I manipulate time," she says.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Hmmm.... when Byakuren assessed my magical potential, she said that I had an aptitude for time-based magic, actually."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hmmm.... when Byakuren assessed my magical potential, she said that I had an aptitude for time-based magic, actually."

>"You...what?" Sakuya gives you a curious look. "Hm. Perhaps I can do something with you. Come."
>She starts toward the stairs leading up to the balcony.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Follow along

[Hello Purvis]

>Follow along

>You follow her as leads you up to the balcony, then through the door. You find yourself in a long stairwell leading up several floors. She leads you up the stairs, until you reach the third landing. "This should do," she says, as she offers you her pocket watch again.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Take the watch
>"Is this involved in this process somehow?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Take the watch
>"Is this involved in this process somehow?"

>"I'll help you concentrate," she says. "What I want you to do it take it in hand and let it tick. Listen only to that. Gather power around yourself, like you were going to create danmaku, and imagine the sound slowing down, as much as possible."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Follow her instructions

[Hello Purvis]

>Follow her instructions

>You follow her instructions.
>You conjure magic, and hold onto it, following Sakuya's instructions, imagining it ticking slower, and slower... And then it feels as though something within your chest breaks as the power flows out. The world has turned gray, save for Sakuya.

>_