Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 3, Part 5

[Oldmansour]

>"Only very little, but what I've heard paints it as a horrifically inhospitable place, quite outside the Champions and their kind."

>"From what I've seen, these Champions aren't exactly 'hospitable' themselves." Chisato retorts.

[DracoOmega]

>"Indeed, and yet it may be a brutal realm, even for them."

[Oldmansour]

>"Indeed, and yet it may be a brutal realm, even for them."

>"In that case, it makes sense for them to try to come here." says Komachi.
>"If you can, though, please, tell us more about this barrier you mentioned." Haruka asks.

[DracoOmega]

>"I only know a small number of details myself, but I believe it is ancient by our reckoning. Whether it was erected to imprison the Champions' kin or simply isolate the horrors of their current world, I cannot say, but I know that they were cast into that realm from ours ages ago. Apparently they have tried to return many times since, but had only been able to do so as beckoned through by someone from our world. This time is different. These Champions possess enough power to breach the barrier themselves."

[Oldmansour]

>"I only know a small number of details myself, but I believe it is ancient by our reckoning. Whether it was erected to imprison the Champions' kin or simply isolate the horrors of their current world, I cannot say, but I know that they were cast into that realm from ours ages ago. Apparently they have tried to return many times since, but had only been able to do so as beckoned through by someone from our world. This time is different. These Champions possess enough power to breach the barrier themselves."

>"Ancient.... Do you mean, before even the Dragonstorm?"

[DracoOmega]

>Does our knowledge of world history, and what the Tiger and Purpose and others have told us about the events related to the barrier, make us think that it would likely have been before this?

[Oldmansour]

>Does our knowledge of world history, and what the Tiger and Purpose and others have told us about the events related to the barrier, make us think that it would likely have been before this?

>It's entirely possible. So little is known about what came before the Dragonstorm.

[DracoOmega]

>"It seems quite likely, yes."

[Oldmansour]

>"It seems quite likely, yes."

>The big eagle nods slowly. "A relic from prehistory..."
>"Does this supposedly brutal realm have a name?" Madame Knowledge inquires. "They often do, you know."

[DracoOmega]

>"Makai."

[Oldmansour]

>"Makai."

>The bespectacled mage snorts contemptuously. "Oh, please. Makai is a myth."

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, if it is, I'm afraid it isn't one I'd ever heard of outside of this."

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, if it is, I'm afraid it isn't one I'd ever heard of outside of this."

>"Makai is the delusion of Dementiaists, and the ramblings of Warlocks. A fairy tale, and nothing more." she says with finality.

[DracoOmega]

>Dementiaists?
>"Be that as it may, these Champions clearly came from somewhere that is not a fairy tale; if you dismiss the possibility that it could be Makai, then I believe you may be left with the alternative that it is purely an enigma, no?"

[Oldmansour]

>Dementiaists?
>"Be that as it may, these Champions clearly came from somewhere that is not a fairy tale; if you dismiss the possibility that it could be Makai, then I believe you may be left with the alternative that it is purely an enigma, no?"

>"Better an enigma than an illusion." the surprisingly irritated mage states.
>During this declaration, Rin has been sniffing sharply, as though she'd caught wind of something foul, finally coughing. "Sorry." she says, wrinkling her nose. "Caught wind of somethin' nasty outside."

[DracoOmega]

>Can we smell anything ourselves?
>Just one of the usual kinds of nasty?

[Oldmansour]

>Can we smell anything ourselves?
>Just one of the usual kinds of nasty?

>Only the faint traces of strong coffee and old manure that you've been able to smell since you arrived.
>Sort of. Kinda smells like.... Acid and bad beer.

[DracoOmega]

>Is that really worse than the manure?

[Oldmansour]

>Is that really worse than the manure?

>'s stronger, aye. your kasha replies, wrinkling her nose again.
>"Whew, you aren't kiddin'." Lillian blurts, waving her hand in front of her face. "What do you feed them horses, Komachi?"

[DracoOmega]

>Stronger than the manure? Can we really still not smell anything, then?

[Oldmansour]

>Stronger than the manure? Can we really still not smell anything, then?

>Actually, you can now. Rin's description was fairly accurate. It's pretty rank.

[DracoOmega]

>Do we have any idea what it might be?

[Oldmansour]

>Do we have any idea what it might be?

>It doesn't really smell like anything specific you've ever smelled before. It is as though someone was carrying old battery acid and stale beer, and managed to spill them at the same time.

[DracoOmega]

>Can we sense anything unpleasant nearby, in a magical sense?

[Oldmansour]

>Can we sense anything unpleasant nearby, in a magical sense?

>Komachi's magical aura is as unpleasant as it's always been.

[DracoOmega]

>Other than that

[Oldmansour]

>Other than that

>Other than that, there's nothing that really registers-
>No, wait. Yes, there is. Something is emerging from hiding, a dark cresting of power preceding it. Dread bubbles acid into your stomach as you realize what it is you are sensing. It is the malign aura of the Champion of Air.

[DracoOmega]

>Where is it? How close?

[Oldmansour]

>Where is it? How close?

>Based on what you saw of this place on the way in, you believe it is coming from the police horses' stables.

[DracoOmega]

>Stand up
>"I'm afraid we're going to have to take a recess. The Champion of Air seems to have decided that now is a good time to make its presence known again."