Reimu Quest (Part 10)

[日巫子]

>"That won't work. We need to get all the salt out still, and we can't have people in the middle of the spell we're using to do it, they'd get hurt."
>"Mmmmaybe not to far from the Scarlet Devil Mansion? They're on dry land."

> "Near the Scarlet Devil Mansion...well, it's better than nothing," says Keine.  "Alright, I'll go tell the others.  By the way, the black-white stopped by earlier today."

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.
>"What'd she have to say?"

[日巫子]

>Nod.
>"What'd she have to say?"

> "She asked me about past border disturbances, and about a woman named 'Tamiko'...?  I couldn't find anything useful on either, unfortunately; there have been problems with the Boundary in the past, but nothing like this."

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.
>"I don't suppose you happen to have any records of the border's creation laying around, do you?"

[日巫子]

>Nod.
>"I don't suppose you happen to have any records of the border's creation laying around, do you?"

> "Well..."
> Keine opens her jaws wide, reaches into her mouth, and pulls out a scroll that really shouldn't have been able to fit down there.  She unfurls it partway and scrolls through it.
> "Yes, at the very beginning."

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>That was horrifying try not to stare.
>Fail.
>"...Okay, what's it say?"

[日巫子]

>That was horrifying try not to stare.
>Fail.
>"...Okay, what's it say?"

> Oh god, oh god.  You try and fail to conceal your horror.
> Keine clears her throat.  "In summary, over a hundred years ago Gensokyo was sealed off because scientific and technological advances threatened the existence of youkai.  Many powerful youkai and talented humans worked together to create the Boundary that would seal Gensokyo from the Outside World.  It took a single night, and many died in the process.  A child was linked to the barrier by blood, and became the first Hakurei shrine maiden of Gensokyo.  The surviving humans and youkai agreed to not disrupt the Boundary and to mend it as needed, as creating it came at such a high cost.  Since it was a Hakurei who was tied to the Boundary, all who came after became in charge of protecting it and keeping balance in Gensokyo.  Should the Boundary fall, catastrophe would result.  Of course, that is unspecified."

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>"Wait, who died? Why?"

[日巫子]

>"Wait, who died? Why?"

> "Most of the people who created the Boundary.  It's very tricky magic, or so I've read," says Keine.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>"Do you have anything more detailed about it?"

[日巫子]

>"Do you have anything more detailed about it?"

> "Well, what exactly are you looking for?"

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>"What do you have?"

[日巫子]

>"What do you have?"

> Keine studies the scroll with a furrowed brow.  "Not much.  I'm sure a long time ago, it would have been recorded in here in greater detail."

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Frown.
>"I...don't think writing is supposed to work like that."

[日巫子]

>Frown.
>"I...don't think writing is supposed to work like that."

> "It's not.  It's just my scroll."  Keine sighs.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>"Something wrong with it?"

[日巫子]

>"Something wrong with it?"

> "No, I don't think so.  It's really my business, anyhow," says Keine.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>"Alright, if you say so. The reason I'm asking is because we're trying to fix that-"
>Gesture toward the hole
>"And the best way to do it is to try and modify the spell that created the original barrier to fix it, or replace it. I was hoping you'd have something on the topic that had been lost. Regardless, once you've guys have evacuated, if you feel that you have something to contribute, the preliminary work is being done at the Scarlet Devil Mansion."

[日巫子]

>"Alright, if you say so. The reason I'm asking is because we're trying to fix that-"
>Gesture toward the hole
>"And the best way to do it is to try and modify the spell that created the original barrier to fix it, or replace it. I was hoping you'd have something on the topic that had been lost. Regardless, once you've guys have evacuated, if you feel that you have something to contribute, the preliminary work is being done at the Scarlet Devil Mansion."

> "I see."  Keine looks up at the sky.  "Alright, then.  Please be careful."

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>"And you keep up the good work. Thanks for watching the rear."
>Head toward the ship.

[日巫子]

>"And you keep up the good work. Thanks for watching the rear."
>Head toward the ship.

> "Okay, I will."  Keine rolls up the scroll and stuffs it back in her mouth.  This is your cue to leave her alone and go back to the ship.
> As you approach the ship, you notice that everyone is too busy moving their things away from the campsite to take much notice of you.  You don't see anyone you recognize, either.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Do we know the ship well enough to know where Byakuren or any of the rest might be lurking?

[日巫子]

>Do we know the ship well enough to know where Byakuren or any of the rest might be lurking?

> No.  You haven't spent a lot of time inside Myouren to be that familiar with it.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Look for a entrance into the ship's interior that isn't being used by the majority, and head for that.

[日巫子]

>Look for a entrance into the ship's interior that isn't being used by the majority, and head for that.

> You float around the ship until you find an open window.  Flying into it, you find yourself in a room lined with washing machines and dryers.  An electrical hum drowns out the sound of your feet hitting the floor.  Given the worn-down state of these things, most of them must not see any use.  It's no wonder; the Myouren Temple's population on a normal day is not even ten people.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Ponder where they are powering these things from.
>Then ponder if that could work for power generation for the upcoming ritual.
>Whilst pondering, make our way out of the nearest door.

[日巫子]

>Ponder where they are powering these things from.
>Then ponder if that could work for power generation for the upcoming ritual.
>Whilst pondering, make our way out of the nearest door.

> You have no idea, but it could be useful.
> You wander out the door and into the hall.  You...really have no idea where you are right now.  The walls, floors, and doors are all very plain, with few doors in sight.  You see someone turning the corner a ways ahead, leaving behind a single sock.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hey, you dropped a sock! Let me get that for you."
>Go nab that sock.

[日巫子]

>"Hey, you dropped a sock! Let me get that for you."
>Go nab that sock.

> "Hey, you dropped a sock!  Let me get that for you," a girlish voice calls back.  You run to grab the sock, and see a short girl with teal hair and fluffy brown ears standing there with a laundry basket.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Oh right, Echoes the pup.
>Toss the sock into the basket.
>"Is Hijiri around here anywhere?"