>>127312 Thread one
>>128033 Thread two
[x] Shou and Hijiri both have been nothing but helpful, whether or not they're Youkai or Magician, they're obviously trustworthy
Whether or not Shou is human, or Byakuren a practitioner of magic you have no reason to believe they're anything other than the kind and welcoming people they've demonstrated themselves to be. Even during the crusades, you'd always been able to discern who was enemy and who was not, this new land should be no different, and every ounce of experience you had told you both of them were trustworthy.
"If it's alright with you, I'd be honored to stay. Miss Byakuren"
Hijiri smiles warmly, inviting you back inside the Temple. "Don't worry about being a burden, I'm sure we can find some chore or task you're suited for. Would there be any particular skills you have, or job you think you'd like?"
"Skills?"
"Crafts? Talents? Powers?"
"Well....I'm a Knight. I'm only truly skilled at war, as for powers? I'm afraid not."
"Perhaps a messenger then? Or a guard! Well, whatever we find for you I'm sure the people of the village would greatly appreciate a human presence around here. However, there might be a
slight complication with some of the more~ combat orientated tasks."
You sigh. Almost every time someone has told you there's a slight problem, it's been a very big problem. In fact, the last time you'd heard it used like that someone had told you; 'There's only a slight chance of one of those archers hitting us at this range.' You know full well how that went.
"A complication?"
"Your armor. I'm afraid the creatures that attacked you have damaged it."
"Those balls? What could they have possibly done to it?!"
"When on the hunt they emit some sort of aura. The more of them there are, the stronger the effects; reopening of old wounds, and at times they've demonstrated the ability to rust or erode metals.
Shou could probably explain it better, but from what I understand the hole in the chest has been enlarged and several of the joints rusted."
"Dirty little-" You catch yourself, quickly deciding against saying anything derisive about the horrid little monsters in front of Byakuren, who from what you've seen so far might jump into a lecture about the creatures simply doing what they do to survive.
Byakuren chuckles "Yes, we've had quite a few complaints about them over the weeks. A shame, really. They're normally rather harmless. But...They drink blood, you see; so even if they themselves only require a small amount, when too many gather they can cause deaths."
Byakuren continues discussing the creatures, but you're only half listening at this point. Your armor; there was nothing truly spectacular about it. It had been just about the same as everyone else. But it was
yours, it had saved your life more times than you could count, and probably even more times than you could ever be aware. These things had done to it what you'd spent years upon years preventing with regular maintenance, and worse yet they'd done so while you sle-
Hijiri stops, opening a door and gesturing for you to enter. Once you're inside, she follows and shuts it behind her. The room is dark; no windows, no furniture that you can see.
"What are we doing here?" You ask, you imagine Hijiri has already explained this to you, but you missed it entirely.
"You'll see." She dips into her robe, pulling forth a small scroll, which she places in the center of the room.
Byakuren claps her hands together, muttering under her breath at incredible speeds. It almost seems to be a prayer of some sort. But even from the small portions of what she's saying you can catch, it's clear it's not a language you've heard.
The scroll shakes, and then snaps open; A brilliant rainbow of colored letters bursts forth into the room, then settles down toward the ground.
Initially you believe this is just some sort of entertaining trick, however as the letters and runes fall, some halt in midair, their colors fading and the lettering morphing into terrain.
It begins with the highest points, mountains and the higher hills, but soon an entire map, vibrantly colored and real to the touch floats before you.
You reach a hand out, only to have it pass straight through. But as you make contact, a red arrow appears, floating above a location on the map.
Investigating this spot reveals it's the temple. What's more, a red line has appeared; tracing back through the forest to the representation of a Red Mansion, and back to what you presume is your starting point. You glance toward Hijiri, who is contentedly standing to the side, it seems she's quite amused by your amazement.
"This is incredible! How did yo-"
"Magician."
"Ah-...Yes. Of course."
Hijiri steps through the corner of the map, standing alongside you. She directs your attention back toward the lake, which from here you can easily see is being fed by a rather large river, sprouting forth from a mountain.
"At the base of this mountain lives a village of Youkai; the Kappa. They're friendly enough toward humans, and, of particular interest to you I feel; are considered the greatest inventors and blacksmiths in Gensokyo.
I've commissioned something from them, and had intended to send another of the Youkai in my service to collect it while you went to the human village to have your armor repaired. But given your reaction, it's obviously important to you. Important enough that you'd want only the best to repair it, yes?"
It seems once again Byakuren is giving you a choice. As you've already learned, even if those at the end of the journey are friendly, what is in-between might not be.
[] Go to the Kappa to get your repairs done (Default companion is Nazrin)
- "If it's alright with you, I'd prefer to have
-- [] Shou accompany me, given that I'm familiar with her already."
-- [] Nue accompany me, so long as I have some method to resist her powers, she'd prove an extremely useful ally."
[] Go to the Human village to get your repairs
