Keine Quest (Part 6): Broken History (Complete)

[Hello Purvis]

>"We're not going to be able to stop this, are we?"

[DracoOmega]

>"We're not going to be able to stop this, are we?"

>"I- I don't think so," Mugetsu says, tearing her eyes away from it. "Not like this. Maribel doesn't fully understand what she did, and there isn't time for her to figure it out. We can flee to elsewhere in the dreamscape; the phenomenon should be confined to here. We can regroup."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Alright, let's go."

[DracoOmega]

>"Alright, let's go."

>With a nod, you and Mugetsu fly to intercept Maribel and Marisa.
>The fissure shudders again and its tendrils surge outward. The remaining Gengetsu glances towards it and has just enough time to utter a last cry of rage against the world before being swallowed inside. A large crack tears along the space between you and Marisa and dozens of splinters fan out from it towards you, devouring the world in their wake.
>"Hang on!" Marisa cries as her broom suddenly surges forward, leaving a trail of light in its path. You glance back at the fissure. You're not going to be able to outrun it. You're not even going to be able to crest the divide to Marisa before it catches you... You can feel the fissure gaining on you; reality falling apart behind you.
>Mugetsu looks towards Maribel and Marisa as you race away. It's gaining on them, too; fractures in space and dream chasing after them like a dozen chaotic serpents. They're not going to make it, either. You not going to be able to reach them.
>You feel Mugetsu take your hand in hers and speak a single word, quiet word: "Go."
>She yanks firmly on your arm and you lurch towards the ground, turning your head towards her just in time to see her flicker and vanish into the air. The world behind you is dominated by an enormous purple scar, voracious and devouring. And next it will devour you. You feel yourself tumble into the undergrowth, foliage rushing up around your limbs and across your face. The expected impact with the ground never comes.

[Kasu]

> Blink.
> Look around.
> Check on headache.

[DracoOmega]

> Blink.
> Look around.
> Check on headache.

>You blink. You still seem to be intact, and you don't recall feeling yourself get splintered or scattered across the inside of the dream. In fact, it takes you a moment to realize you're standing upright. Weren't you just falling a moment ago? How'd that happen?
>You look around. You seem to be inside some bushes. You can see an open area just outside them, but not very clearly through the foliage. Is... that a wall, a little ways away?
>Your head is still in unpleasant shape, to be honest, but it seems to be improving much more quickly than you would have expected, given how immensely terrible it was only a few minutes ago.

[Hello Purvis]

>Massage forehead and temples.
>Emerge from the foliage.
>Look for the others.

[DracoOmega]

>Massage forehead and temples.
>Emerge from the foliage.
>Look for the others.

>You give your forehead and temples a brief massage. It is so nice to be able to live inside your own head again. Hopefully the remainder of this headache will fade in short order.
>You attempt to extricate yourself from the bushes, which proves to be a little more problematic than you'd anticipated. The foliage is quite dense, and you seem to be somewhat caught in the branches. Still, after a little struggling you pull yourself free.
>You are in a small, but well-tended garden. There are several tasteful groupings of plants and small trees in framed beds, and a groomed walkway running among them. Some distance ahead of you is a red brick wall. You see an ornate wrought iron gate set into this wall, some distance to the left. Looking behind you, it seems you were inside a large ornamental bush of some sort. You don't seem any immediate sign of anyone else.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Maribel? Marisa?"
>"Any other M names out there?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Maribel? Marisa?"
>"Any other M names out there?"

>You call out to your companions, but receive no response.
>"Nope," Mystia cries. "I'm totally not lying in wait out here to ambush you again."
>"Hey!" say Murasa. "At least you didn't spend the whole quests sealed Underground."

[Hello Purvis]

>Walk along the wall in the direction that is less difficult-looking to traverse.
>Massage headparts as needs be.

[DracoOmega]

>Walk along the wall in the direction that is less difficult-looking to traverse.
>Massage headparts as needs be.

>There are groomed paths going in each direction. You head in the direction of the gate, and as soon as you're clear of the cluster of trees you emerged in, the large red mansion to your left becomes immediately visible. It's not quite an accurate replica, but the intended resemblance is very clear.
>You continue trying to sooth the throbbing in your head with your hands. And the very least, nothing is currently shooting, chasing, or trying to crush your skull. That alone helps a little; it could almost seem peaceful.

[Hello Purvis]

>Circle around to the front gate. Let's see what she thinks of Meiling.

[DracoOmega]

>Circle around to the front gate. Let's see what she thinks of Meiling.

>You move around to the front gate, curious to see what Maribel's Meiling looks like. Rather to your disappointment, you see no one standing near it at the moment.

[MysTeariousYukari]

> Approach the gate.
> "Hello? Is anyone their?"

[DracoOmega]

> Approach the gate.
> "Hello? Is anyone their?"

>You walk up to the gate from the inside. You think the pattern of the ironwork is slightly different than the real one, but it's a very close approximation.
>You call out. There is no response for a moment, then a voice comes from some distance behind you. "Is there something I can help you with?"

[Blitzer]

>Turn around before responding.

[DracoOmega]

>Turn around before responding.

>You turn around to find the source of the voice and see Sakuya standing in front of the doors of the mansion, regarding you with a sort of neutral curiosity.

[Blitzer]

>Consider if there really is anything she or any of the residents can help us with. We're just checking out this SDM, right?

[E-Nazrin]

>Of course, this is the SDM of Maribel's dreams, isn't it?
>Any hint of this Sakuya having that limp?

[DracoOmega]

>Consider if there really is anything she or any of the residents can help us with. We're just checking out this SDM, right?

>You aren't certain how much a creation of someone else's dream can help you with. How connected is she to Maribel's own thoughts?

>Of course, this is the SDM of Maribel's dreams, isn't it?
>Any hint of this Sakuya having that limp?

>That does seem likely. Maribel had mentioned seeing it to Renko. At least a little. You don't know what degree its visualization is still connected to Maribel, in this space.
>She hasn't moved yet, that you've seen.

[Hello Purvis]

>"I hope so. I'm a little lost. You haven't seen Marisa around, have you?"
>Are we inside or outside SDM?

[DracoOmega]

>"I hope so. I'm a little lost. You haven't seen Marisa around, have you?"
>Are we inside or outside SDM?

>"I'm afraid I don't know anyone by that name," Sakuya responds. "But you're welcome to step inside, if you wish."
>You are inside the gates, but outside the mansion itself.

[Hello Purvis]

>"That's a very kind offer. Marisa is a black magician, favors a large pointed hat, she has blonde hair, tends to wear a white apron."

[DracoOmega]

>"That's a very kind offer. Marisa is a black magician, favors a large pointed hat, she has blonde hair, tends to wear a white apron."

>Sakuya frowns and shakes her head. "I'm afraid I've seen no one matching that description. We haven't had many visitors lately."

[E-Nazrin]

>"Oh? What visitors have you had, then?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh? What visitors have you had, then?"

>"There was a young human girl a little while ago," she says. "I think she was traveling. Otherwise I have seen no one."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Would you be so kind as to describe her? I may be looking for her, as well."

[DracoOmega]

>"Would you be so kind as to describe her? I may be looking for her, as well."

>"She was about this tall," Sakuya says, gesturing in the air next to her. "Blond hair, dark purple dress. She wore a white mop cap. A rather curious but gentle sort."

[Hello Purvis]

>"If you could introduce me, I would be grateful."