Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 3, Part 4

[Oldmansour]

>"Ah, that sounds very useful. What else can you sense with it? Has it served you at all here?"

>"I'd prefer not to discuss that in too great a detail. In the event the others employ similar powers."

[DracoOmega]

>"I guess you really don't know each other all that closely, do you? Even though I gather that this mission of yours was a long time in the making."

[Oldmansour]

>"I guess you really don't know each other all that closely, do you? Even though I gather that this mission of yours was a long time in the making."

>"I can't speak for the others, but I walked paths separate than the others while honing my powers."

[DracoOmega]

>"Is that typical of your kind? Solitude, I mean. Or are there deeper social bonds that we would recognize as such among those not charged with such a specific mission?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Is that typical of your kind? Solitude, I mean. Or are there deeper social bonds that we would recognize as such among those not charged with such a specific mission?"

>"Most Children, including myself, believe we can attain greater power on our own. Free of the distractions of others, we can hone our senses, or powers, and spare no concern for anything other than our own survival."
>"But this is not a universal fact. There are some who group together, sometimes in twos, sometimes larger groups. But, I have not known many such groups to survive for very long. You see, larger groups of Children really accomplishes nothing more than attracting more of Makai's attention."

[DracoOmega]

>"Could they not also be more capable of defending themselves? More eyes to keep watch. Differing powers to fill in gaps in each others' aptitudes. People to tend the wounded, so that they might recover instead of die."

[Oldmansour]

>"Could they not also be more capable of defending themselves? More eyes to keep watch. Differing powers to fill in gaps in each others' aptitudes. People to tend the wounded, so that they might recover instead of die."

>"There is a logic to that." Louise says with a nod. "I cannot say it never works. I've simply never known it to work for very long."

[DracoOmega]

>"I gather that not very much works for very long there, for most people. I hope they will not need to endure it much longer."

[Oldmansour]

>"I gather that not very much works for very long there, for most people. I hope they will not need to endure it much longer."

>"It is an eternal test." Louise says, the faint hint of weariness in her voice speaking volumes. "But the strong survive. And the strong will be ready when the wall comes down."

[DracoOmega]

>"Would it not be better for everyone if after the wall went down, there would be no more need for them to fight and struggle at all? Certainly not against us."

[Oldmansour]

>"Would it not be better for everyone if after the wall went down, there would be no more need for them to fight and struggle at all? Certainly not against us."

>"There is no life without struggle, Magical Lotus. Makai has taught us this. If we have to fight more Terrans, then we will. But as you say, if there is no need, then conflict between our two peoples would be pointless, as far as I am concerned."

[DracoOmega]

>"I feel the same way. So long as your kind does not come here to cause conflict with us, then few will answer it with conflict in return, and I would be your ally against any who would. The peaceful future of both our worlds rests on being able to cooperate with each other - to respect each others' differences and share in our commonalities, and to seek a future as free of pointless conflict for both our kinds as we are possibly able. This I firmly believe."

[Hello Purvis]

>"May I ask a question, Louise? Once the barrier is down, and your people come to our world, what happens next?"

[Oldmansour]

>"I feel the same way. So long as your kind does not come here to cause conflict with us, then few will answer it with conflict in return, and I would be your ally against any who would. The peaceful future of both our worlds rests on being able to cooperate with each other - to respect each others' differences and share in our commonalities, and to seek a future as free of pointless conflict for both our kinds as we are possibly able. This I firmly believe."

>"Hope is not a quality we possess, Terran, so I cannot share your sentiment. But time will tell."

>"May I ask a question, Louise? Once the barrier is down, and your people come to our world, what happens next?"

>"That will be for Mother to decide."
>"And," she adds, "it depends on if the Celestials are already moving against us."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.
>"My thoughts are, if the barrier has fallen, what stops Makai from following you?"

[Oldmansour]

>Nod.
>"My thoughts are, if the barrier has fallen, what stops Makai from following you?"

>"I can draw one conclusion I could have faith in. Once Mother is on this side, we would have the power to erect a barrier of our own. Mother, we Champions, the Avatars and the Seventh. Not to mention the rest of the Children."
>"Of course," she adds after a moment, "If you are yours were also on our side, such a barrier would be even stronger."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod again.
>"But in the meantime? Before she can set it up, what stops Makai from following your people, as it followed you. Especially if the Celestials should ambush you as you come..."

[Oldmansour]

>Nod again.
>"But in the meantime? Before she can set it up, what stops Makai from following your people, as it followed you. Especially if the Celestials should ambush you as you come..."

>"If they do, then you and yours shall defend us, yes, Magical Lotus?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I don't know if I would be around to help any longer, in that sort of scenario."

[Oldmansour]

>"I don't know if I would be around to help any longer, in that sort of scenario."

>"That's up to you."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Perhaps so. But if that is the case, would I really be enough to deal with it? Enough to keep Makai from following you though?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Perhaps so. But if that is the case, would I really be enough to deal with it? Enough to keep Makai from following you though?"

>Louise frowns. "That isn't what I said, Magical Lotus."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yes, but I asked beforehand. What is going to stop Makai from following you through? Especially if anything goes wrong?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Yes, but I asked beforehand. What is going to stop Makai from following you through? Especially if anything goes wrong?"

>"Did I not answer that question?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Shake head.
>"You merely asked if I would be there. And I told you that it may not be possible. Nor might I be enough to keep things calm enough for Makai to be stopped. Nor may there been time, we've seen the Tar follow you here and it is an immobile predator. What other kinds of predators may come as well? If the barrier is down, even for a moment, would that be enough? An instant was enough to follow you, from what we've seen. It seems the predator that is Makai might not let your people go so easily, after all. This is why I ask."

[Oldmansour]

>Shake head.
>"You merely asked if I would be there. And I told you that it may not be possible. Nor might I be enough to keep things calm enough for Makai to be stopped. Nor may there been time, we've seen the Tar follow you here and it is an immobile predator. What other kinds of predators may come as well? If the barrier is down, even for a moment, would that be enough? An instant was enough to follow you, from what we've seen. It seems the predator that is Makai might not let your people go so easily, after all. This is why I ask."

>The Water demon considers your words. "It is true what you say. Makai may indeed seek to follow my kind into this world. It may not, as well, we have only the one example to draw upon. If we are all fortunate, that lone Tar pool will be all that blights your world. Of course, I do understand your concern on that issue, I simply cannot draw any solid conclusions."
>"And as for whether or not you and your allies will be there, again I say, that decision is yours."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Another question about Makai, before we consider this. You say it is a predator, yes? Does this mean that the more it devours, the stronger it becomes?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Another question about Makai, before we consider this. You say it is a predator, yes? Does this mean that the more it devours, the stronger it becomes?"

>Louise ponders your question. "As I understand, Makai doesn't gain power directly from its successes. Its power is static. But it does bring more and more power, and predators, to bear against us as Mother's power wanes."

[DracoOmega]

>"I wonder something... the barrier was only created after your kind were banished to Makai, yes?"

[Oldmansour]

>"I wonder something... the barrier was only created after your kind were banished to Makai, yes?"

>"To keep us there, yes."