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

[Oldmansour]

>Do we have a clear enough view of the place from here to see that Motormaster and crew are not visible from the air? Or are we still too far away?
>If we have 10 or 15 minutes at least, are there any cafes or other very mundane places nearby where we could drop in for a few minutes and maybe bore the tengu into leaving?

>From where you are, and you can see the vast majority of the aboveground parts of the graveyard, there is no sign of Motormaster or their crew, assuming the dude in the uniform isn't part of said crew.
>And she's still back there, too.
>Taking a look around the surrounding streets, you don't see much in the way of commercial ventures around. This area appears to be heavily residential. And fairly affluent as well. There's a barber shop, a pet store- No wait a minute. On the east side of the street, across from the graveyard, there is a coffee shop/book store. That might serve the purpose. Perhaps not the best location for a cafe, directly across from such a potentially ominous locale, though that may explain it's somewhat morbid name of 'Lucretia's Last Words.'

[DracoOmega]

>Cheerful
>Let's duck in there anyway and kill a few minutes

[Oldmansour]

>Cheerful
>Let's duck in there anyway and kill a few minutes

>A sign of a morbid sense of humor, perhaps.
>Either way, it serves your purposes, so you and Rin set down on the sidewalk outside the cafe part, like any other flyer, and enter in.
>Despite the odd sense of naming the owner has, he or so runs a pretty nice looking cafe. And warm, too, which is much appreciated on cold days like you've been having. It's surprisingly spacious and offers a very wide variety of food and drink. You opt for a decaf coffee and a glazed croissant, while Rin goes for a large cinnamon bun. Which smells delicious. This actually isn't too bad at all. Were it not for your disciplined mind reminding you that you can out this way for a purpose, you could lose yourself in this little date with your lover.

>Around five minutes later, though, something very unexpected happens. As Rin is looking towards the door, it opens, and her expression changes to one of shock. Glancing in that direction, you see why. The black leather-clad Motormaster has entered the premises.

[DracoOmega]

>Look natural, don't pay too much obvious attention
>But still scan for the presence of that splinter, as subtly as we can

[Oldmansour]

>Look natural, don't pay too much obvious attention
>But still scan for the presence of that splinter, as subtly as we can

>It doesn't take much effort to sense that foul thing. The corruption you sense from Motormaster's body is even more profound than that which you saw in Satori. The shrine maiden's body was woven through with those black thorny vines, while the biker's body is practically completely black. The sensation is revolting.

[DracoOmega]

>How did we not notice this the first time?
>Does Motormaster seem to be doing anything here besides coming to get tea?
>Don't stare.

[Oldmansour]

>How did we not notice this the first time?
>Does Motormaster seem to be doing anything here besides coming to get tea?
>Don't stare.

>Perhaps because you weren't transformed the last time you saw Motormaster, your senses weren't as keen. You didn't see the corruption in Satori, either, until you were transformed and at point-blank range with her.

>Let's see. Keeping your eyes mostly averted from the imposing biker, you and Rin both take stock of their presence. Right now Moto doesn't seem to be doing much other than standing in the doorway, most likely enjoying the fact that they seem to have set the cafe's residents on edge. It's definately the type to enjoy spooking a room, from what you know of it. And it IS an imposing figure they present, with that black and purple leather outfit, the face hidden behind that purple visor and the gleaming, heavy silver chain around their waist. Two weeks ago, that sort of figure might have given even you pause.
>Not now, though, of course.
>The black-clad figure crosses the room, and Rin seems confused as she watches the biker move. Motormaster speaks with the young man behind the counter, a cat-eared young man with a yellow-jeweled circlet around his head, and while you can't quite make out what they're saying to each other, the catboy seems at ease, even friendly, with the helmeted biker.
>Mistress, didn't that corpse tell us that Moto had been drinking and drugging? Rin asks.

[DracoOmega]

>Yes, and Reisen seemed to think that was likely as well, if they were in the cemetery. Maybe they have a high tolerance for such things. The corruption inside them is absolutely unmistakable, though.
>Are they saying anything interesting?

[Oldmansour]

>Yes, and Reisen seemed to think that was likely as well, if they were in the cemetery. Maybe they have a high tolerance for such things. The corruption inside them is absolutely unmistakable, though.
>Are they saying anything interesting?

>He's talking normal. Rin replies. I mean like normal-normal. I seen people drugged up, and they don't talk normal, not at all. Drunk, maybe, but not drugged.
>Rin's ears twitch slightly. Motormaster's talking about someone called 'Breakdown', how he got tired of his whining and needed a break.

[DracoOmega]

>Well, we can't start a fight here. Let's just... wait and see where they decide to go next.
>Wait observantly

[Oldmansour]

>Well, we can't start a fight here. Let's just... wait and see where they decide to go next.
>Wait observantly

>Understood. I'll keep my ears out.
>Rin reports a fairly normal conversation between the biker and the feline, and after a few minutes the latter hands over a bag that, according to run, contains several walnut bread rolls, as well as a tray holding a sizable roast beef sandwich and a cheap beer. Evidently Moto intends to stay a while, which seems to go against what Marissa's told you of them. Supposedly only people that defeat Motormaster at bike racing see their face, and the way that helmet is built, it would have to be removed before someone to eat.
>As Motormaster sits down at the table farthest from the door, the most out of sight one there is in the place, you feel a brief pulse of malign energy from the biker. Automatically you avert your gaze from the leather-clad figure. As does Rin. As does everyone else in the room, you notice. Everyone except the feline behind the counter.

[DracoOmega]

>Automatically as in 'to try not to be conspicuous' or because we felt some actual compulsion in the malign energy itself?
>Do we sense anything unusual/supernatural from the feline? Or does he just seem to be talking this casually in the more mundane way?

[Oldmansour]

>Automatically as in 'to try not to be conspicuous' or because we felt some actual compulsion in the malign energy itself?
>Do we sense anything unusual/supernatural from the feline? Or does he just seem to be talking this casually in the more mundane way?

>Definately compulsion. A little analysis of your experience leads you to believe that that pulse was some kind of aversion spell. A way to force people not to look at someone or something. But it wasn't magic in the traditional sense. It was very much like the sensation you sensed from the titan, albeit in a more muted form. Normal people wouldn't sense the energy, just the instant need to look away from something.
>There don't appear to be any supernatural emanations from the feline. It's possible Motormaster excluded him from that aversion technique. If he was somehow immune to the spell, you can't detect how that might be.

[DracoOmega]

>Is it mild enough that we think we could push past it if we wanted to?
>Though perhaps we shouldn't, if we want to remain inconspicuous and we don't sense anything more threatening from what they're doing

[Oldmansour]

>Is it mild enough that we think we could push past it if we wanted to?
>Though perhaps we shouldn't, if we want to remain inconspicuous and we don't sense anything more threatening from what they're doing

>You believe you could, if you wanted.
>Whether or not you should is of course up to you. And at the moment, you sense no other power from Motormaster.

[DracoOmega]

>To Rin: I'm going to suggest we don't fight that aversion to look in Motormaster's direction unless anything else happens. Given what they just did, it's bound to draw their attention.
>To the whole team: I'm afraid there's been a slight change in plans. Motormaster just walked into a cafe near the graveyard to have something to eat; we were actually just waiting here for the rest of you to arrive. The corruption in them is unmistakable, but we can't start a fight in the middle of this place.

[Oldmansour]

>To Rin: I'm going to suggest we don't fight that aversion to look in Motormaster's direction unless anything else happens. Given what they just did, it's bound to draw their attention.
>To the whole team: I'm afraid there's been a slight change in plans. Motormaster just walked into a cafe near the graveyard to have something to eat; we were actually just waiting here for the rest of you to arrive. The corruption in them is unmistakable, but we can't start a fight in the middle of this place.

>Understood. I can hear him if he gets up to anything anyway.
>Kiku replies, 'Them?'
>He could have brought some of his crew with him. Reisen suggests.

[DracoOmega]

>Oh, uh... the same being that told us that Motormaster had a splinter within them also said that - at least in their current state - they were neither male nor female. Motormaster came here alone, yes.
>In fact, I believe they came here to get away from some of their crew.

[Oldmansour]

>Oh, uh... the same being that told us that Motormaster had a splinter within them also said that - at least in their current state - they were neither male nor female. Motormaster came here alone, yes.
>In fact, I believe they came here to get away from some of their crew.

>Why would they do that? Kiku asks.
>Well remember, he's not expecting trouble. Reisen points out. Not too many people ever give him trouble, and there's not a lot of trouble he can't handle. At least when it comes to run of the mill people and things.
>They said something about a 'Breakdown'? Rin asks her. That name mean anything to you.
>Yeah, that's one of his, all right. Pretty good racer, but he's really paranoid. He might even be schizophrenic. I promise you, I once saw him tear a side mirror off someone's bike because he thought the thing was staring at him. I'm not actually sure why he and Motormaster run together. Regardless, I don't think he'll be as much trouble as the others. He can be scared off.
>It may not be that simple. Kiku intones. I fear we may have another problem, Lotus. Six of them at least.

[DracoOmega]

>What do you mean?

[Oldmansour]

>What do you mean?

>I am presently near the west gate of the cemetary, and I had been attempting to scan the area for signs of that splinter. And while I have been unable to sense that, I have detected six evil energy signatures clustered within the graveyard.
>Six? Reisen asks.
>Yes. Is that number signifigant?
>Motormaster's regular crew numbers six.

[DracoOmega]

>So they may be affected, too, somehow. Does the power you sense feel similar to the deathbringer we fought?

[Oldmansour]

>So they may be affected, too, somehow. Does the power you sense feel similar to the deathbringer we fought?

>I thought that was the case myself. But it is not. These energy signatures are unrelated to that entity. They are Blackblood Jewels I am sensing.
>That's impossible. Reisen blurts. There's no way they could be Blackbloods. Someone would have noticed by now, especially with Offroad or Brake-neck.
>You're familiar with the Jewels? Kiku asks, surprised.
>Very. One of my past owners was Grey-jeweled.
>Kiku exhales sharply. That must have been difficult.
>She was better than the woman she won me from. Though not by much...

[DracoOmega]

>Do we have any idea what they're talking about?
>If not: I'm afraid I'm not familiar with these jewels of which you speak.

[Oldmansour]

>Do we have any idea what they're talking about?
>If not: I'm afraid I'm not familiar with these jewels of which you speak.

>You do not.
>Kiku answers, I would be surprised if you were. Knowledge of that nature is not widespread.
>Certain individuals in this world wear jewels of power. These jewels grant them access to pools of unique energy. They are not sorcerers in the traditional sense, their power is not like that of the divine or the arcane. But they can be just as dangerous, especially the ones that wear darker jewels. You see the Jewels come in two types: Blood and Blackblood. The difference between them is the difference between good and evil. And I mean that literally. Blackblood Jewels are inherently evil, just as Blood Jewels are inherently good.
>Unfortunately for us, it is Blackblood Jewels I sense now. Six of them.

[DracoOmega]

>What level of power are we talking about here?

[Oldmansour]

>What level of power are we talking about here?

>Potentially? Extreme.
>The strongest of the Blackbloods, the Black Jewels, could probably give one of the Champions a run for their money. Reisen adds to Kiku's reply.
>It depends on the individual. The darker, stronger, jewels are much less common than the lighter jewels. I can't determine at this point the precise levels of power I'm sensing. They are active, but they don't seem to be doing much.
>I think I can explain that. says Reisen. The Jewels counteract poisons automatically. If that is Motormaster's crew, and they are taking narcotics or drinking alcohol, you may be sensing their Jewels trying to keep them healthy. It takes an extreme amount of drugs or alcohol to affect a Jeweled Blood like they might a normal person.
>Kiku hmms, seemingly impressed. You are quite knowledgeable.
>About some things. I've had a lot of experience since I came to Earth.

[DracoOmega]

>How are they 'inherently evil'?

[Oldmansour]

>How are they 'inherently evil'?

>Kiku pauses. I beg your pardon?

[DracoOmega]

>These Blackblood jewels. What about them is 'evil'? Do they affect or influence their users, beyond simply providing a source of energy for them to use?