/jp/ - Otaku Culture

"Well, it's just...Sekai had the Young Mistress's ability to manipulate fate, didn't she? Hasn't she just guaranteed that whatever we do, it'll lead to the right outcome?" It was an interesting question. Patchouli hadn't had the luxury of conducting a full investigation into the extent of Sekai's powers, nor would she have been able to do so with her limited resources in Sekai's world, but...

"Manipulating fate isn't an exact science, Meiling." Patchouli stood, turning to stare out of the window properly. The warbler on the windowsill cast a curious glance at her fingers when she raised her hand toward it. "Nor can I say with certainty that Sekai's control of these abilities is perfect. It is possible that she wishes for us to simply act as we normally would and things will fall into place. It's possible that we are to speak to Remi, and have her try and manipulate fate to our advantage, though this would necessitate giving away a large portion of our game knowledge. Moreover, I do not know how the machinations of fate would take two interfering hands."

"I...See. Wait, game knowledge...?" Meiling's memories were still confused, it seemed.

"I spoke to you - In both worlds, as a matter of fact - about recent events feeling like a great game. It is our advantage at the moment, for no one knows the extent of our dealings with Sekai. Discarding this advantage would be foolish." Patchouli thought for a few moments. No, telling Remi would be foolish. It was not a matter of trust anymore. This was a life, and it was a life that she was responsible for. "...If I make it clear to Remi that there are reasons why I cannot tell her, she will accept that." Patchouli muttered under her breath. "We must study the book that I was given. Both of us. Together. If we are to have any chance of success, we will need to be prepared." Sekai had given them the book and she'd reworked fate. Had she gone further than she had realised? How many schemes had been rearranged? "Wheels within wheels..." Patchouli murmured under her breath.

"Sorry?" Meiling asked, frowning. "Wheels?"

"Nothing. Forget it." Patchouli shook her head. "The point is that I do not know if Sekai's manipulations were absolute, and I cannot know for sure how we are expected to proceed. The best I can do is ensure that we take every measure we can." There was lots to do. The child had been sure that the HSE would be destroyed soon, which meant that Patchouli's repertoire would be at her fingertips again. All of it. Even the esoteric spells... "You will likely undergo an extreme amount of pain, Meiling. Your body will be a conduit for Sekai's soul. Her ki, her powers, her very existence...It'll all pass through you. Are you sure that you can handle that?"

"Yes." Meiling's answer was immediate and clear. "I gave my word. We can do it, can't we? We survived in those ghostly forms for so long, after all." Patchouli found a slight smile crossing her face. Meiling's straightforwardness could be very heartening. "How will we know when to act, though?"

"I'm working on that. Remi's been having a feeling that plenty of people's fates are converging on the HSE. It's likely that there will be a battle in that place before long, and if that is the case, we may be able to manipulate events for ourselves to ensure we have the window of opportunity that we need to transfer Sekai's soul." Patchouli replied. The Chinese leaf warbler on the windowsill pecked at Patchouli's finger, then turned and took flight. Patchouli watched it leave silently. "We need to awaken you from your slumber, first of all." She turned back to Meiling. "This is your mind, Meiling. How does your time at the monastery end?"

Meiling pushed the empty plates away from her and stood. Slowly, she walked around the table to stand side-by-side with Patchouli, looking out over the mountains. "Watch the path." She murmured, looking over at Patchouli. Patchouli looked down and followed the path with her eyes. There was a figure walking up with a slow and steady gait. A woman with hair in a flaming orange, lighter than Meiling's own. "I was called away. That's all. Perhaps, one day, I'll return."

In the distance, beyond the mountains, Patchouli could see clouds. Still far off, but approaching. A distant bolt of lightning illuminated the great tree beyond. Yggdrasil. "A storm is coming, Meiling. We will have to do everything we can. Both to weather it, and to ensure the safety of the child who has entrusted herself to us." She turned to the gatekeeper. "I believe that we are ready, now. It's time to wake up."