Maribel Quest Adjoining: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yeah, I haven't used them for anything, yet. I don't know that I even will, or what range of things they can be used for. But they came up in discussion with other magicians, and I figure it can't hurt to have reagents around if I'm going to be diving into this stuff. Besides, it gave me a good excuse to see a few corners of Gensokyo in the process of looking for them."

>"Ah, so you have nothing specific in mind?" Hatate says, "Why those particular items, then?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"As I said, they came up in the context of enchanting materials, when I was speaking with some other magicians."

[Hello Purvis]

>"As I said, they came up in the context of enchanting materials, when I was speaking with some other magicians."

>"Ah, you're intending to take up enchanting?" asks Hatate. "I assume that's where your talents lie?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Actually, I've been told that I have an affinity for borders. But, as a consequence, I probably have the capacity to dabble in a lot of areas. I don't really know enough about magic yet to say exactly what I intend to focus more of my time on, in the future."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Actually, I've been told that I have an affinity for borders. But, as a consequence, I probably have the capacity to dabble in a lot of areas. I don't really know enough about magic yet to say exactly what I intend to focus more of my time on, in the future."

>"Oh, very interesting," says Hatate. "So, why did you choose those exact components?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"And what exact components are you referring to?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"And what exact components are you referring to?"

>"Well," she says, "For instance, you obtained some particular moss from Miss Houjuu. An unusual first choice, wouldn't you agree?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"That's a seasoning. Nue was making ale with it."
>Assuming she doesn't seem satisfied with this: "In any event, Byakuren requested it, and I just delivered some."
>Hope that's not stretching the truth too far. It's technically correct.

[Hello Purvis]

>"That's a seasoning. Nue was making ale with it."
>Assuming she doesn't seem satisfied with this: "In any event, Byakuren requested it, and I just delivered some."
>Hope that's not stretching the truth too far. It's technically correct.

>Hatate just gives you a smile, "And you're now a chef?"
>"Interesting," says Hatate, as you elaborate, "Why didn't Nue bring it herself? She's quite closely tied with the Myouren Temple. And what was Byakuren planning with that?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, Byakuren didn't realize Nue had just bought up the entire city's supply of it, and Nue had no idea anyone else was looking for it. I believe it was used as an alchemical component, although I don't know the exact mechanics of what role it served. Remember, I'm a very early beginner at this stuff."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, Byakuren didn't realize Nue had just bought up the entire city's supply of it, and Nue had no idea anyone else was looking for it. I believe it was used as an alchemical component, although I don't know the exact mechanics of what role it served. Remember, I'm a very early beginner at this stuff."

>"Ah, I see," says Hatate. "And the water from the Sanzu River?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"....ok, I can be reasonably certain that only Renko and myself were there at the time, besides Komachi. And I very much doubt she wandered over your way dropping hints. How're you getting this?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"....ok, I can be reasonably certain that only Renko and myself were there at the time, besides Komachi. And I very much doubt she wandered over your way dropping hints. How're you getting this?"

>"I have my sources," Hatate says.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Am I really interesting enough to follow that closely?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Am I really interesting enough to follow that closely?"

>"Aren't you in the process of taking me somewhere to prove just that?" Hatate says.
>You have reached the edge of the Forest of Magic.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"That's more about Renko being interesting. I'm actually pretty uninvolved in this, but I think she'd like it if a reporter got to see it first-hand."
>"Moreover, that would have happened before I'd done anything to sound interesting, wouldn't it?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"That's more about Renko being interesting. I'm actually pretty uninvolved in this, but I think she'd like it if a reporter got to see it first-hand."
>"Moreover, that would have happened before I'd done anything to sound interesting, wouldn't it?"

>"Renko did a better job of not drawing attention," says Hatate. "You, on the other hand, naturally draw it."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Why? Because I look like Yukari?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Why? Because I look like Yukari?"

>"That's the major reason, yes," says Hatate. "But also, because you are an outsider. Naturally, there is going to be interest."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I suppose, yes. Although, Renko's an outsider, too. I will say though that it's extremely freaky to meet someone who looks so much like you. Even if she doesn't act much like you at all. ...I get the impression that having too many more people around who acted like Yukari would be a major headache."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I suppose, yes. Although, Renko's an outsider, too. I will say though that it's extremely freaky to meet someone who looks so much like you. Even if she doesn't act much like you at all. ...I get the impression that having too many more people around who acted like Yukari would be a major headache."

>"Off the record," says Hatate, "I can agree completely with that statement. What was it like?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, it was... interesting. And not just for the novelty of meeting someone who looks that much like you. She's quite unusual, but she also seemed to be pretty nice and helpful, once you get past her... oddness. If you ever get entirely past it. I think she found our resemblance even more interesting than most people do."

[Kilgamayan]

> "Like I touched on earlier, a tad eccentric, but seemingly misunderstood by the public at large. She didn't seem to mean me any actual harm."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, it was... interesting. And not just for the novelty of meeting someone who looks that much like you. She's quite unusual, but she also seemed to be pretty nice and helpful, once you get past her... oddness. If you ever get entirely past it. I think she found our resemblance even more interesting than most people do."

> "Like I touched on earlier, a tad eccentric, but seemingly misunderstood by the public at large. She didn't seem to mean me any actual harm."

>Hatate nods. "This is what I hear, but I think it's known that Yukari isn't a beast like, say, Yuka is. May I ask what you two talked about?"

>_

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh, just getting to know each other a little bit. I talked about some of the places I'd seen since I arrived here, and asked her a little bit about what she does, here."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh, just getting to know each other a little bit. I talked about some of the places I'd seen since I arrived here, and asked her a little bit about what she does, here."

>She nods, apparently for you to go on.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"There really isn't a whole lot more than that to say, really. She wasn't very specific about what she did. We talked a little about the nature of humans and youkai and what's honestly different between them. Remember, youkai essentially aren't even found in the outside world. I'd never seen one before yesterday. We talked a little about magic, and what I might eventually be able to do with my abilities. And then Yukari went off through one of those gaps of hers to go do whatever it is she does."

[Hello Purvis]

>"There really isn't a whole lot more than that to say, really. She wasn't very specific about what she did. We talked a little about the nature of humans and youkai and what's honestly different between them. Remember, youkai essentially aren't even found in the outside world. I'd never seen one before yesterday. We talked a little about magic, and what I might eventually be able to do with my abilities. And then Yukari went off through one of those gaps of hers to go do whatever it is she does."

>Hatate nods. "And that's all?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Sorry if you were hoping to get a story out of that."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Sorry if you were hoping to get a story out of that."

>"You'd be surprised," Hatate says.
>As you fly over the lake and toward the western forest, you notice a score or so of faeries lift from the trees and fly toward you.
>"I suppose it was too much to hope we'd get lucky," says Hatate, frowning. "You want to take them from the left or the right?"

>_