The golden trove had lost it’s long time managers and while many were upset, the hotel had never been better! The frightened dragon had been replaced with a pink haired beauty, and the managers weren’t so stiff and prone to anger issues. Aria’s glowing charisma let her guide workers with ease, and Binky’s ability to duplicate herself and be in multiple places at once meant that she could monitor several parts of the hotel at once. It wasn’t even possible for Binky to get pranked by her duplicates because of all the people around. All in all, this was a huge win for everyone at the Golden Trove. Aria was at the reception desk, arranging some plants at the counter. Her butterflies might have been mere mana constructs, but they enjoyed drinking nectar as much as any butterfly. Binky was typing information into a computer. Mostly just managing incoming and outgoing guests. Everyone needed to be accounted for. [color=e3bbc6]"Thirsty?"[/color] Aria offered a cup to her apprentice. Binky shook her head. [color=baddab]”I’m fine.”[/color] She responded without looking away from the screen. Aria just shrugged her shoulders before taking a sip of her glass. A strange [url=https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgamewith-en.akamaized.net%2Farticle%2Fthumbnail%2Frectangle%2F15077.png&f=1&nofb=1]girl[/url] walked through the front door, and all anyone who saw her could think was that she was [i]beautiful[/i]. She walked up to the front counter, ignoring anyone else, and held out a hand for one of the butterflies to land on, smiling as she did. [color=f7976a]”These are wonderful. You created them?”[/color] [color=e3bbc6]"But of course!"[/color] the fluorescent winged creatures flew circles around Aria's head. [color=e3bbc6]"They love building things, but there isn't much use for them here. Well, not yet. But I'm glad you find them amusing. "[/color] With a nod, she nudged Binky. The apprentice prepared to start looking up available rooms. [color=e3bbc6]"But surely you came here to do more than just look at my friends? All of our economy forms are full, but we do have some luxury apartments that would be fitting for someone as stunning as yourself. And don't let the name fool you, they are quite affordable!"[/color] [color=f7976a]”That does sound nice. I think I might be able to handle that. Do you have any rooms for two?”[/color] the girl asked with a tilt of her head. Aria nodded. [color=e3bbc6]"All of our rooms can accommodate at least two people. The beds all sleep two, and each room comes with two dressers and a foot locker under the bed. But each room only has one bath, so you’d need to share."[/color] [color=baddab]”Unless you’d like two separate rooms.”[/color] Binky looked up from the computer. [color=baddab]”Some of our rooms have doors between them to accommodate families. So that’s an option if you need an extra bathroom.”[/color] [color=f7976a]”Just the one is fine, thank you. I’ll be meeting someone here soon, but we plan to stay a few nights. How much is it for a room, exactly?”[/color] Aria’s closed her hands together. [color=e3bbc6]"The cost of a luxury room is one silver, two if you want one on the top floor. Of course, we also accept cash payments as well as Visa and Mastercard."[/color] The girl handed over a silver coin with the hand not resting a butterfly. [color=f7976a]”That [i]is[/i] affordable. Thank you very much.”[/color] Just as she finished talking, there was a loud crash as the front door was slammed against the wall it opened towards and a certain squirrel girl walked in. [color=f26522]”Guess who!?”[/color] she shouted towards the angelic girl, causing the butterfly to flee. But that would be all she would say before she seemed to vanish out of existence. After Makoto made her appearance, Aria seemed to turn into a neon colored blue that shot towards the squirrel girl. Then when Binky blinked, the blur and Makoto were gone. [color=baddab]”Um.”[/color] Binky stood up. [color=baddab]”Aria?”[/color] There seemed to be a trail pushed through the snow outside. It went in a straight line to the center of the street, where Aria was caressing Makoto’s tail. [color=e3bbc6]"I thought I would never see you again."[/color] She hugged the tail as a tear rolled down her cheek. The angel stifled a laugh. [color=f7976a]”You’d be surprised how often something like that happens.”[/color] [color=f26522]”Oh, hey! It’s you! Nice to see you again, miss artificer!”[/color] Makoto told the girl grabbing her tail as she pat Aria on the head gently. [color=f26522]”You have no idea how helpful you were when last met!”[/color] Aria only foamed at the mouth in response. Binky was a bit more concerned with the state of the building, however. [color=baddab]”The door’s broken. Oh dear, it’s suppose to get cold tonight.”[/color] The redhead turned to Binky. [color=f7976a]”I apologize for the door.”[/color] she finally said after seeing Binky’s expression. [color=f7976a]”If you don’t mind, I could try to fix it? Or would it be better to pay for the damage?”[/color] [color=f7976a][i]Hopefully in mundane currencies…[/i][/color] she thought to herself, turning away slightly. [color=baddab]”You think you can fix it?”[/color] Binky pressed the tips of her fingers together. [color=baddab]”Well, if you could, that would be wonderful!”[/color] The girl nodded then walked over to the door. Using her magic in place of tools, she bent the hinges back into place and fused them to the wall in place of screws. Then with a flourish she waved her arm over the door, and it seemed as if the damage was reversed, leaving a perfectly intact door that she placed back on the hinges. Finally she fused the door to them as well, before testing the fixed door gently. [color=f7976a]”It’s not a permanent fix, but it should last a while. I’d feel bad if I didn’t try to undo what my friend did, though, so I hope this is acceptable.”[/color] She bowed slightly to Binky. Binky looked over what the girl had done. [color=baddab]”Temporary or not, that’s very good under such short notice! Aria and I can probably create something more permanent later.”[/color] [color=e3bbc6]"Hold up."[/color] Aria wiped the foam off of the corner of her mouth and inspected the door. [color=e3bbc6]"Well, this is quite the gathering of the minds we have here!"[/color] She spun on her heel. [color=e3bbc6]"It looks like we have a magic smith of some sort among us."[/color] She placed a hand on her chest. [color=e3bbc6]"I’m Aria, best known for my artificing shop in the overcity. Who might you be?"[/color] [color=f7976a]”Funny running into you here, then! I heard that Makoto and I are indebted to you for some of your past work. My name is Shiki, and that tail you were molesting and the girl attached to it are supposed to be my rival.”[/color] Makoto waved with a stupid grin on her face. [color=f7976a]”We’re here to visit and plan out a few things, which we could actually use your input on, if you have the spare time in the coming days.”[/color] [color=f26522]”That’s right! We’re so close to the end, so we’re taking a break from the hard work to come relax for a bit.”[/color] Makoto added. [sup][sup][color=tomato]"Did someone say the end? Yea, I’d love to chat, but there’s like, four of you there now. I think I’ll stay up here for now."[/color][/sup][/sup] Aria pointed her finger at the heavens and closed her eyes. [color=e3bbc6]"Well first of all, It’s not molesting if it’s done to the willing."[/color] She said with a grave level of seriousness. [color=e3bbc6]"But I was paid for my work, and don’t consider anyone indebted to me."[/color] [color=f7976a]"Still, it's only thanks to you that we've managed to get this far. So thank you."[/color] [color=f26522]"Hey, how do you feel about your Patron? And we should probably go somewhere where we won't be listened in on. Though miss time-skip-and-a-jump up there is welcome to come listen too, if she wants."[/color] Makoto flashed Oros a toothy grin. [sup][sup][color=tomato]"Thanks, I will!"[/color][/sup][/sup] Shiki nodded. [color=f7976a]We're also waiting on a friend to deliver a few items that she's hopefully been able to sneak out by now, but we’ve got some time.[/color] [color=e3bbc6]"Then why don’t we finish checking you in?"[/color] Aria started to walk back inside. [color=e3bbc6]"The luxory rooms are designed to be as quiet as possible. No sound gets in, and no sound gets out. It’s what allows our guests to sleep peacefully."[/color] [hr] While the wallpaper in the room gave it an oriental feel, most of the furnishings were what you’d find in a standard western hotel. Though unlike a standard hotel room, it was much larger, and sported a small living area and a full kitchen. The living room had a glass top table and a u-shaped couch facing a TV. But for their purposes, the four magical girls could sit around the table and discuss things. Aria broat some beverages for everyone to drink, and Binky conjured up some fast food. [color=baddab]”Everyone likes burgers, right? It’s the best I can do, really.”[/color] [color=e3bbc6]"It’s fine. I’m just glad you could duplicate yourself a few times to watch the front counter. Your clones are fairly competent, even if they don’t like you much."[/color] Aria looked to Makoto and Shiki. [color=e3bbc6]"To continue our discussion from outside, I’m quite fond of my patron. We’ve been through a lot together."[/color] Binky conjured a plate of potato chips, and Aria picked one up. [color=e3bbc6]"He gives me the freedom to do a great many things that I doubt I’d get to enjoy less I was solo. We go very far back, and I have no intention of betraying his trust. Even if puchuu tend to be a bit, well, you know."[/color] Shiki nodded. [color=f7976a]"You're one of the lucky ones. And not just among Puchuu, either."[/color] She leaned in, resting her elbows on her knees while Makoto took a burger and a few chips. [color=f7976a]"We're not so lucky. Makoto and I-"[/color] [color=f26522]"We're stuck with patrons who don't really like us."[/color] Makoto cut in between chews of the chips. [color=f26522]"But we're obviously not the only ones. And there are far worse Patrons out there than ours, even if ours would like nothing more than for us to be killing each other right now."[/color] [color=f7976a]"We, or I, rather, represent an organization dedicated to freeing magical beings from... well, everything. We believe that anything capable of thought and magic deserves freedom, and that means from both Patrons and the walls those Patrons have built between magi. No more monster girls being persecuted for what they are, no more fights for resources that could easily be shared, no more needless killing or forced reincarnation just to get back into the fighting again."[/color] Makoto took out a small bag and popped an acorn into her mouth, talking around it like it was a jawbreaker. [color=f26522]"Plush,"[/color] She bit into it and swallowed before continuing, [color=f26522]"there's some people we want to talk to. Imagine how much we could learn from Scáthach, for example, if she were able to reincarnate. It isn't right for some Lesser Force, even a primordial one like Fate, to determine who can and can't come back. For us magical peeps, it's just a part of life. Cutting us off from reincarnation is no different than killing a mortal in its sleep."[/color] She began to eat the burger she was given. Shiki leaned back again. [color=f7976a]"But that's all just a natural grievance. There are some things you just can't change, and a strong desire isn't enough. So what can you do, right, except try your hardest?"[/color] [color=e3bbc6]"Reincarnation is a fascinating topic. we could learn a lot from many great minds. But don’t think for a second someone wouldn’t hesitate to resurrect Hitler, Stalin, Nobunaga, or Genghis Khan."[/color] She scratched her chin. [color=e3bbc6]"Well, Genghis Khan loved to spread rumors about himself. It’s believed most of the darker things about him were just scary rumors to avoid fighting."[/color] Shiki smiled softly. [color=f7976a]"I always find that an interesting argument. Though I'll admit I'd not heard one about Genghis Khan before... And while I agree that it's a moving argument, the opposite is true as well."[/color] [color=f26522]" And I get that bringing back bad people would be bad, yeah, duh. I just want my friend back, he only got cut out because he was friends with me, and that's not fair. Getting the other magicals who were forced to stop reincarnating back is just a bonus."[/color] Makoto said. Shiki nodded. [color=f7976a]"I understand there are problems with resurrection, we don't want a rapture to occur or anything of that sort, simply for those who were as Makoto put it 'killed in their sleep' to have that undone."[/color] [color=e3bbc6]"While resurrection is something I strongly disapprove of, I am not against reincarnation."[/color] Aria placed her hands together, and a broad grin crossed her face. [color=e3bbc6]"Do you know who Su Daji was?"[/color] Shiki opened her eyes. [color=f7976a]"I believe I've heard the name before, but I don't know the specifics, personally. I'm curious what they have to do with reincarnation, though, now that you've mentioned them."[/color] [color=e3bbc6]"About three-thousand years ago, she was the consort of Zhou Xin, the emperor of China at the time. She never became a mother, and died quite young. If history is to be believed, they were not kind rulers, and were overthrown by their own people. Zhou Xin burned himself alive with all his treasure, and Su Daji was publicly executed."[/color] Aria reclined in her seat. [color=e3bbc6]"Su Daji in particular has a notorious reputation for her cruelty. There are many tales of her satisfying her curiosity in morbid ways. She saw a man walking over ice, and had his feet cut off so that she could study them in one story. Another had her commanding doctors to open up a pregnant woman so that she could ‘see what happened inside.’ She also invented a torture device: a bronze cylinder covered in oil. Exactly how it worked changes from story to story, but it was heated over coals, and victims were either tied to it or forced to ‘dance’ on top of the heated cylinder until they fell into the hot coals below. The most absurd stories have her depicted as a nine-tailed-fox, which might be the most truthful thing about her."[/color] Binky was keeping the table filled with snacks to satisfy Makoto’s voracious appetite. [color=baddab]”She sounds horrible.”[/color] [color=e3bbc6]"We’re talking about a woman who lived and died in years BC."[/color] Aria set down her cup and picked up a donut. It was pink and covered in rainbow sprinkles. [color=e3bbc6]"Most of her atrocities have no records of having ever happened. She could have been the first noble woman ever to be targeted by propaganda."[/color] Binky sighed before taking a donut for herself. [color=baddab]”And what does she have to do with resurrection and reincarnation of all things?”[/color] [color=e3bbc6]"Because she [i]was[/i] reincarnated, I spoke with her in fact. She went by the name Su Fang, maybe you’ve heard of the former hotel manager?"[/color] Aria had a full-on grin now. The extremely smug kind when you know more than everyone else in the room. [color=e3bbc6]"When you’re resurrected, you’re pretty much exactly who you were when you died. But with reincarnation, you’re made anew. You may or may not remember your old memories, but you have the ability to look at your past self objectively, as if they were a different person. It gives you a safeguard against certain types of behavior. As an example, Hitler would have the ability to experience a different upbringing, and as a result, has a greater chance of realizing that Nazi Germany was not a good thing and should not be attempted again. The caveat is that truly brilliant minds might have been a product of their time, and aren’t guaranteed to be nearly as brilliant after reincarnation. The existence of familiars also shouldn’t be discounted. They are a conglomeration of memories and have all sorts of experiences to share. If you’re just interested in creating a living account of something specific, working on a way to manufacture a familiar with said memories would probably be the safest thing. But what you’re after is bringing your friend back, not collecting long forgotten knowledge. So… Whatever."[/color] She waved her hand at Makoto. [color=e3bbc6]”Sometimes people can’t be brought back because the soul has moved to a place where even magic can’t reach them. But I digress.”[/color] Makoto's face fell, and she looked at Aria with a despondent look. [color=f26522]"Doesn't that just prove our point? Cutting off someone great from reincarnation is wrong. And it's not a good thing that that sort of power is held by things that can't understand mortals or value their lives as more than tools..."[/color] Honestly, the story had shaken her. She didn't believe her friend didn't deserve resurrection, but the power to resurrect others [i]was[/i] within the realm of what they wanted. As if reading Makoto's thoughts, Shiki responded to Aria. [color=f7976a]"Ultimately, the possibility of resurrecting someone, or some[i]thing[/i], is an unavoidable side effect. Whether to revive a genius like Scáthach would be a great debate, but to put her back into the reincarnation cycle is something I feel doesn't need debate, because it shouldn't be something that has to be done in the first place, yet it is."[/color] [color=e3bbc6]"Sounds like we agree on that point. But I don’t think you’re here to talk about resurrection VS reincarnation. You have quite the scandalous little plot going on."[/color] Aria set down her cup. [color=e3bbc6]"It sounds like you want to overthrow the patrons, break the rules of magic, and allow magical girls the ability to do things that most believe they really shouldn’t. Is that fair?"[/color] [color=f7976a]"People have put it that way before, yes. Though I'd contest that last bit."[/color] Shiki said. Makoto spoke up. [color=f26522]"I dunno if overthrowing is accurate though. If everyone is on equal ground with their patrons, is that overthrowing or something else?"[/color] She looked to Shiki. [color=f26522]"We've had that argument a lot."[/color] [color=e3bbc6]"I take it this is what you wanted to talk to me about?"[/color] The butterfly princess placed her hands in her lap. [color=e3bbc6]"I think it’s important to realize that Patrons, regardless of how cruel some of them may seem, do ultimately have a symbiotic relationship with magical girls. The rules of magic state that a patron must give up some of their magic to make a magical girl. Regardless if a magical girl is alive, dead, fighting, powerful, or weak, they occupy a part of a patron’s magic that they will never get back. It does not benefit a patron to treat its magical girls in a way that inhibits their ability to do their job, or to treat them like they are expendable. The exception to this rule is the puchu of course, as they use the fountain of youth’s mana. But they interfere with a magical girl’s life less than almost all other types of patrons. Even the more powerful patrons like horrors risk becoming weak enough to be preyed upon by other horrors, and so they operate in a way that minimizes their mana expenditure. This means maintaining their magical girls. But there’s a difference between living and being alive, isn’t there?"[/color] She tapped the side of her head. [color=e3bbc6]"We all think we want more freedom, but do we really? As children, we all wanted to grow up as fast as we could so that we could do whatever we wanted. yet the old farts all wanted to return to being children. If the rules of magic were fully removed, some patrons may not even go as far as getting a contract before acquiring a new magical girl. They might freely attack other magical girls directly, especially the more sinister forces. The rules of magic are not perfect, but I believe they are essential to keeping the peace."[/color] She folded one leg over the other. [color=f7976a]"All children must one day grow up. Even us magical girls with eternal youth, ironically cannot stay young forever."[/color] Her eyes closed and she leaned back again. [color=f7976a]"It doesn't benefit a Patron to use their magical girls as disposable, perhaps that's true for the kinds of Patrons most deal with. But there are plenty of times where a mortal magi becomes a Patron, and plenty of times where a Patron cuts off a magi and leaves them to die permanently when their mana runs out. There are too many Patrons that exist purely for the sake of destroying another Patron, or destroying a species, or who simply don't view mortals as having any value whatsoever..."[/color] Makoto nodded. [color=f26522]"Just look at the primordial forces. They're manifestations of the basic rules of a universe, yet they're still only 'Lesser Forces,' in Patron terms, right? That says something, right?"[/color] [color=f7976a]"There are countless discrepancies like that across the universes and timelines. Makoto's example of the primordials may not make immediate sense, but it shows that the 'logic' of what we call the rules of magic isn't perfect. Similarly, consider the Great Old Ones, those beyond horrors, or for an example that hits perhaps more close to home, think of the Ebon Mint. Access to a technique, making coins, has thrown off the ecology of magical entities before, and it's created countless battles over what is effectively nothing. Selfish desires to control others. Except that was already the case, the Mint simply made it more visible on a small scale."[/color] [color=f26522]"And the two of us are an example of the bigger ones. I'm the only girl my Patron's got, and I'm only around to kill Shiki and the other girls her Patron has. And vice versa; it's shit, ya know?"[/color] The artificer listened intently. [color=e3bbc6]"I’m afraid my areas of expertise are the rules of magic, and mortal medieval and feudal history. I don’t know that much about primordial forces like fate and chaos,"[/color] A few butterflies picked up Aria’s cup and flew it to her hand. [color=e3bbc6]"You would have a much easier time convincing me that the rules of magic needed to be altered. How exactly could be an interesting debate if you had the time."[/color] [color=baddab]”For myself, I think the problem is that you’re forcing these changes on everyone.”[/color] Binky gestured at herself. [color=baddab]”I enjoy the protection my patron provides me, and I’m not sure I’d be okay with it if she had a bunch of rules imposed on her to make it harder to do her job. But I do feel for you guys. That’s gotta suck…”[/color] [color=f7976a]"Regardless of the changes made, even removing the rules is simply a change in rules. Though I apologize if I made it seem like our goal was to totally remove the rules themselves. The goal is a level playing ground; we don't want to make every magi a Patron or vice versa, we want those who are enslaved by Patrons to be freed and those who work together with them to be able to do so without harm. Ending the constant fighting by those who have no real reason to fight and the suffering that comes with it."[/color] Shiki said. Makoto spoke up, turning towards Binky. [color=f26522]"If you're friends with your Patron, then what would even change? You'd just not be stuck doing what they want without the power to compromise. Good Patrons wouldn't really even be affected, at least not intentionally."[/color] Aria clicked her tongue. [color=e3bbc6]”You’ve spoken a lot about working to make changes. What have you done, and how is it going to impact things?”[/color] Shiki reached into her pocket and brought out a Purification Artifact, a small amulet. [color=f7976a]"What have we done so far... That's your question. What we've done is create a way to blind a Patron, though this requires cutting off the mana between them and the girl who goes missing for as long as it lasts. That was the first thing, and it's the only reason Makoto and I can work on the same side, rather than having to fight. This is why I'm grateful to you, because the devices she commissioned from you are what allow me to use my magic and not run out of mana while preventing Fate from watching me, or Causality from watching her. That's not to say we're exactly hiding what we're doing from them, of course. Their 'minds,' if they can be called that, are alien to us; we have no idea what or even how they're thinking, but we assume they know we're working together. They just, hopefully, don't know what it is we're actually doing."[/color] Makoto was visibly uncomfortable, and Shiki's face turned slightly annoyed as she turned the artifact over and over in her hands. [color=f7976a]"The second thing we've done is design an artifact that can corrupt, and more importantly [i]un[/i]-corrupt a magical girl, without forcing them into a contract with a Patron or totally rewriting their magic."[/color] She gestured towards Binky. [color=f7976a]"It's thanks to this timeline of this universe that it's possible, and not simply theory, that it can be done. But I digress... The third thing we've done is design an upgrade to that artifact which can allow it to be used to remove... drawbacks, let's say, things like our-"[/color] she gestured to herself and Makoto, [color=f7976a]"need to [i]consume[/i], be it metaphysical concepts or actual food, or my inefficient reincarnation method."[/color] [color=f26522]"There's a lot of other so called 'mutations' that afflict people, and shouldn't. Sure, it supposedly balances them, but if it makes them do terrible things, is that balance a good thing?"[/color] She shivered. [color=f26522]"They're making it hard to focus with that thing, for example. Proof that there's some sort of higher force setting a moral system that isn't very moral onto the magical world."[/color] She said as she pointed at the artifact her friend was playing with. Shiki nodded and continued, still toying with the Purification Artifact in her hands. [color=f7976a]"The third thing we've done is recruit someone who can actually [i]make[/i] the things, and set up a method to combine the two into a singular device. Fourth, we've built something to power this device, which when activated should provide theoretically limitless mana. The goal of this is to not only power the artifact that will end the hatred of, from, and towards so-called 'monster girls,' but to also end the fighting over mana that countless Patrons throw their magi into. After all, if there's enough food for everyone, why continue fighting over fertile fields? We're not just looking out for humans, but all magical species. Granted, there will still be fighting, but it'll be between those who wish to control others and those who wish to stop them, though that's not to say it'll be only two sides. Those fighting for control will fight others for control; there will never be a true end to all fighting, but we can alleviate much of it by breaking the stigma of dark and monster magical girls and providing mana for everyone."[/color] [color=f26522]"And if everyone has mana, then you don't [i]need[/i] a Patron anymore. You have the power to leverage your value against them. We're after a political change."[/color] [color=f7976a]"Fifth, we have plans to alter the Akashic Record, making it so that influence from the most powerful entities, such as Elder Gods, is limited. We want to have a way for mortals and magi to fight back if one decides to destroy them. Bring magical girls up to the next level so that there [i]is[/i] a playing field at all with which to even out. And lastly..."[/color] Shiki looked Aria dead in the eyes. [color=f7976a]"We have a trustworthy group to ensure that the weak have somewhere to go. We want to grow this group, create a safe space for every magi. You asked how this will affect things? I'll put it in mundane terms. What we're doing will make it so that Patrons and magi [i]must[/i] be in a symbiotic relationship, a balanced value for value relationship, not a parasitic one, or one where it's an ant and a dragon."[/color] She finally put away the Purification Artifact. [color=f7976a]"Ultimately, we want to help those who need help and hinder those who need hindering. That's what it comes down to, we're just using rather extreme methods since past attempts with lesser methods have all failed."[/color] Aria listened intently as the two rattled off everything. Binky had stopped making food and just listened to the two go on, here eyes widening with each new revelation. The apprentice pulled up a tome filled to the brim with notes, and started to jot down even more as the two continued to talk. [color=e3bbc6]"Hmmm, it’s certainly ambitious, what you’re trying to do."[/color] Aria was not smiling now. She was focused, thinking. [color=e3bbc6]"So if I understand you correctly, you have these artifacts that can interfere with a Patron’s connection with their magical girl, effectively making them ignorant to what the girl is doing. That same artifact can also regulate a magical girl’s level of corruption, and remove mental mutations. You also have a way of powering this device in such a way that it should run indefinitely. In addition to this, you have plans for limiting the influence elder gods have over this game they play with our lives. Do I understand you correctly?"[/color] [color=f7976a]"The artifact we have now, which can obscure a girl from her Patron, is not the same as the ones that we're working on. The others are in development, but yes, assuming there are no problems with finalizing them then your summary is correct."[/color] Shiki pulled out a small notebook of her own, filled with sketches of various designs of complex artifacts and held it out to Aria. [color=f7976a]"This is the culmination of countless magi spending countless hours theorizing and testing and hypothesizing and testing. This little booklet has sketches of some of the artifacts used to create the ones we're making now. But it's really due to this timeline right now that it all can come together."[/color] [color=e3bbc6]"Thank you for clarifying. I think it’s best if we simply bypass that detail for now and assume you are successful."[/color] Aria placed her hand on an arm rest. [color=e3bbc6]"I think what you’re trying to do is dangerously nearsighted. The types of magic we don’t understand far outstrip the kinds we do."[/color] [color=baddab]”The Akashic Record is no child’s toy, either.”[/color] Binky’s hands trembled as she wrote it’s name. [color=baddab]”Very powerful forces are going to try and stop you from doing anything to it. Even if you get the backing of one or two powerful patrons, almost all the others have made it the way they wish for it to be. You’ll be painting a huge target on your back, not that you haven’t done that already.”[/color] [color=e3bbc6]"I just see this ending very poorly for you."[/color] Aria shook her head. [color=e3bbc6]"There are magical girls who are just as corrupt as the most vile patrons. Giving more power to magical girls might cause patrons to find other means to continue their disputes. Your plan also assumes that it all ends with elder gods. What if there’s something above them?"[/color] It was Makoto's turn to smile. [color=f26522]"When your whole existence is built around fighting, like magical girls now, what's one more fight? Yeah, we don't understand a lot of other kinds of magic, at least we don't understand what we think exists, but what if we leave things the way they are and then some 'bigger than an Elder God' thing comes down to mess with us? We wouldn't even have a shot, but if we're gonna assume we succeed, then we'd have at least some way to fight back a little. Make things annoying for them."[/color] Oros popped up from behind the couch. [color=tomato]"Boy do I have something to tell you!"[/color] Her surprise appearance probably didn’t surprise anyone, as she had come into the room earlier just to listen in. Though it seemed now she had something to say. [color=tomato]"The real problem with this plan isn’t the ramifications and technobabble you four keep throwing at each other. The problem is that people are too set in their god damn ways."[/color] Oros climbed over the back of the couch and practically fell between Aria and Binky, who slid to either side as she flipped around into a sitting position. [color=tomato]"Everybody loves monster girls! The only reason why they’re so oppressed is because the ass-a-dentistry doesn’t have that monster girl kink, so they just butcher anything with a bit of corruption in it. Unless it’s Justine for some reason. Hell, they’re okay with Penny, who's like a purified monster girl? Still not sure how that works, but she told my patron that all monster girls with corruption are basically just a bunch of dumb cowards apparently, and being a monster girl and being corrupt aren’t the same? I don’t really understand it either."[/color] [quote] [color=9e0039]“I am a statistical anomaly just, once again, not for carrying a spark with my nature. I also never said anything about being free of corruption while being a Monster is easy. Far from it. The reason it doesn’t happen more is, in my belief, a mix of [u][b]ignorance and fear.[/b][/u] As like you most have conflated the issues. Because corruption can cause one to become a Monster Girl and purification can revert one from it, but again they are not one and the same.”[/color] [/quote] [color=tomato]"Yup! That really came out of her stupid face. But it does give some credibility to the idea that corruption and monster girls are two separate things. So I guess that means your project should work? I mean it’s the one monster girl everyone knows of who is corruption free, so her opinion has to be worth something to you losers."[/color] Oros shrugged. [color=tomato]"Anyway, the assy dentists are basically a small scale version of the patrons in that they can’t be made happy. Patrons don’t want [i]enough[/i] mana, they want [i]more[/i] mana. They want to devour the losers of this magical war, and much like google or facebook, won’t be satisfied until they’ve dominated everything."[/color] She sniffed. [color=tomato]"I mean come on, we have three, sometimes eight month long fight scenes book ended by two week long periods of SOL stuff and [i]even more fighting[/i]. I doubt we’re going to see the fighting end on account of everyone being given enough to survive."[/color] Makoto’s smile faded as she listened to Oros. Shiki sighed. [color=f7976a]"Yes, Beacon is another wonderful example of why we feel we must do this. Because like you said, they are a smaller scale version of the way Patrons are. Their Patrons, or perhaps we should call it a singular one of 'Beacon,' are some of those who have built the walls between magical girls that we wish to tear down. Specifically one of the anti-monster girl ones. There are some who argued that simply taking out the Ascendancy would solve things, but personally I believe they will continue on as long as the current systems are in place. There will always be another to take the place of the leader, and there will always be those who believe that the mutations we are afflicted with are cause for killing us. So we wish to remove those mutations, and make it so that the girls of Beacon who are more kind hearted won't be forced to work alongside those who aren't. That is the small scale example of what we're trying to do."[/color] Makoto began to say something but thought better of it and stopped, looking at Shiki and nodding. [color=f7976a]"Ultimately, we believe it comes down to this: which is better? The current state of Patrons fighting proxy wars using innocent mortals that they often enslave, often trick, often take advantage of, and rarely help? An endless cycle of magical girls killing, suffering, and dying? Or the possibility of Patrons fighting their own battles, magical girls helping or hindering based on their own values? Killing, suffering, and dying that is spread among more than just those who are taken advantage of. Will a Horror or a God be more or less likely to continue an eons old fight if it's their own existence that's in danger?"[/color] As Shiki tried to smother Oros with questions, she began to chuckle, before she broke out into laughter that belonged in an insane asylum. [color=tomato]"You’re focusing on all the wrong details. That’s not how things work here."[/color] She took a moment to catch her breath. [color=tomato]"On the scale you’re working with, things below the patron’s level aren’t even worth considering. Even most patrons! Everything that happens in our world is ultimately the choice of one of ten or so players, with the grand magistrate holding the most power over everything. A table of three members are responsible for the Doctrine Of Combat Supremacy as well as the Patron Doctrine of Fighting."[/color] Binky stopped writing. [color=baddab]”Are you referring to the Akashic Record?”[/color] [color=tomato]"Stop being canonical! Anyway, The point is that nothing you do is going to get past those guys and girls regardless of your intentions. They’re all doing this for their own amusement. Our suffering is just them blowing off steam after a hard day at work, or maybe even school."[/color] She pulled a PDA out from her cleavage and checked her scheduel. [s]still best hammerspace[/s] [color=tomato]"Which is why assuming you are going to be successful is a big mistake. If you do anything that ends the fighting, it’s just not going to work. You’ll get stopped, or your plan will have problems that you didn’t foresee."[/color] Oros fret her brow. [color=tomato]"Am I the only one who remembers how the value of coins spontaneously changed, or when magical girls couldn’t be made with red perks?"[/color] [color=f26522]"Wait, you actually believe in the Verses Theory? I mean, sure, if that's true we're sort of wasting our time, but... Even if there are things like that out there, that doesn't change the fact that we'd be helping all of [i]us[/i]. If there's only ten, then they can only focus on so many of us at a time, right? So what about all of us they aren't focusing on? Don't they deserve a chance?"[/color] [color=f7976a]"Then let's see if we're able to obscure [i]them[/i], too."[/color] Shiki said with a grin. [color=f7976a]"There has to be something we can do, and even if we can't, if we can affect positive change of any kind, it'll have been worth it."[/color] Aria looked between Makoto's group, and Oros. [color=e3bbc6]"You understand her? That's rather curious."[/color] [color=f26522]"I dunno. 'Understand' is a bit of a stretch, it just sounds similar to the Verses Theory, the idea that we're some sort of T.V. show for beings beyond Elder Gods. It's a highly debated idea among the Void Touched magi. But she said there are around ten, so if it's the Verses Theory, then it would make sense."[/color] [color=tomato]"You are seriously underestimating the Patron(s) Layered At Your Every Realm if you think being just outside their area of focus grants anyone safety. They don't just decide the lay of the land and the rules, our very thoughts come from them. Do you think your will is truly your own? It isn't."[/color] As disturbing as the revelation was, it didn't seem to bother Oros in the least. [color=tomato]"You could argue that you have a shot since you are essentially being controlled by one of those things, but that is where the Grand Magistrate comes in. There is a hierarchy for these things, and nothing happens without their explicit consent."[/color] She folded her arms. [color=tomato]"They would need to accept this reality that you are trying to build."[/color] [color=baddab]”There, erm, 'Grand Magistrates.'”[/color] Binky hugged herself. [color=baddab]”Are they always the same, erm, people?”[/color] Oros took a moment to think. [color=tomato]"No, they change sometimes."[/color] [color=baddab]”But if enough of them changed, we could expect large changes, right?”[/color] The beast girl scoffed. [color=tomato]"Well..."[/color] Shiki thought for a moment. [color=f7976a]"There [i]has[/i] to be something. But do we even need to worry about these things? If we don't bother them, then what we're doing should still work, right? Or if we can convince them to focus on something else... If you're right about these things, then I don't really know how to proceed, other than to do what we were planning and see if we can force them to interfere. If they do, then we'll learn something and might be able to think up a good reaction to them."[/color] [color=e3bbc6]"I think that’s probably for the best."[/color] Aria grinned ear to ear. [color=e3bbc6]"If we’re just a T.V. show used to entertain people, there’s also the possibility that those people’s tastes could change over time, even if the ‘big three’ never get taken off the production so to speak."[/color] [color=tomato]"You’ll see, this will all turn to ash in your mouth."[/color] Oros hissed. [color=tomato]"This science shit bores me to tears. Do you people need anything? You’re not just tipping your hand on your big secret plan to show how grateful you are to Aria, are you?"[/color] [color=f26522]"We're taking vacation while we wait for a friend, actually! But yeah, it was nice to get the opinion of one of the people who made it possible for me and Shiki to even be friends."[/color] Makoto said, smiling. [color=f7976a]"That's right. We still need her to finish what she's doing. I don't know how easy it'll be for her, but it shouldn't be too long now. And if we have to brute force it, we can always do that as well."[/color] Shiki grinned. [color=tomato]"Holy shit, this is a dangerous level of foreshadowing going on here. Who could [i]she[/i] be!?"[/color] Oros stood up. [color=tomato]"Well someone’s gotta sit behind the big desk and pretend to be working. I’ll be off. Send one of your clones to my office to empty the waste paper basket."[/color] [color=baddab]”S-sure thing, boss.”[/color] Binky called out just before the door shut behind Oros. [color=e3bbc6]"She’s a nice girl deep down, just um, a bit confused."[/color] Aria pretended to look at a wrist watch before sitting upright. [color=e3bbc6]"I do think your research will be fruitful, even if it doesn’t do exactly what you set out to do. I can’t speak for Binky, but I would personally like to see you succeed. I even think she would."[/color] Aria looked to the door where Oros left. [color=e3bbc6]"Well that does it. I need to open up my artificing shop again. There’s no reason I can’t move my store location to the Golden Trove."[/color] [color=baddab]”Now there’s an idea.”[/color] Binky tapped her chin. [color=baddab]”The Golden Trove was formerly the domain of a hiding dragon. It’s very resilient to scrying magic and things of that nature. We’d have to talk it over with Oros, but maybe this could be a sort of hub where we can do independent research and things like that, far away from prying eyes.”[/color] Binky sighed. [color=baddab]”Maybe that’s too ambitious an idea to spring on people who are just trying to have a vacation. Pretend I didn’t say anything.”[/color] [color=f26522]"Heh, if you'll give a discount, I'd be down for it. I've got a bunch of friends who would be good for that."[/color] [color=f7976a]"Well, we can talk about it another time, I think. Thank you for your time, girls."[/color] Shiki stood and bowed to Aria and Binky.