Patchouli groaned and shifted in her seat to try to get her spine to return to a solid state. Koakuma's backrubs were... intense. It didn't help that the little devil had decided to hang onto her back. She turned her eyes on Alice, who looked far too smug. "Treachery on all sides."

Alice chuckled lightly as Shanghai stuck out her tongue. "Sorry Patchouli. I had to make a deal with the devil earlier. And I'm afraid you were the only acceptable sacrifice."

"You didn't like it Miss Patchouli?" Koakuma asked. Patchouli idly wondered how Koakuma managed to sound sultry and hurt at the same time. Perhaps it was an innate skill for her kind. Fortunately over eighty years of living with the little devil had allowed Patchouli to gain the skill to keep a straight face.

"It distracted me from the papers," Patchouli replied. She pushed herself somewhat upright, then moved one of Marisa's formula notes to the center of the table. "I still want to understand this nonsense after all."

Alice nodded. "You're right." She leaned over to peer at the paper Patchouli had selected out. "Do you think the answer is here?"

"Yes." Patchouli tapped the intricate circular design that took up most of the middle of the paper. "This is the spell Marisa cast to enchant the potion. The one truth of potion crafting and alchemy is that without magic, the results are just a slurry. If magic isn't required it's mere herbalism."

"Really?" Shanghai folded her arms as Alice blinked. "Odd that none of my books mention this."

Patchouli felt Koakuma's nod of assent from behind her. "The terms are a little unofficial. It was more important back when the church was around. That way you knew which potions you could make without revealing yourself as a witch."

"Ah that explains it." Alice turned back to the paper as Shanghai grinned. "Being a witch in Makai is a sign of power, as opposed to a trip to the stake. You wouldn't want to advertise what you could do without having magic of your own."

"That makes good sense." Patchouli shifted again to try to get Koakuma to stop pressing so closely against her back. Fortunately Koakuma took the hint and found herself a chair.

"In any case I think if we untangle the central spell I think we can figure out what happened." Patchouli looked down at the runes with a hiss of distaste. "Though I can't stand what she does to the Hebrew language. It's nearly blasphemy."

"Actually a lot of the time it is blasphemy," Koakuma said cheerily. "It's one of her good points."

"Ah, I didn't know you had it in you Marisa. I thought you were rather agnostic." Patchouli looked up at Sakuya's voice to see the maid and Marisa walking back towards them. A certain amount of spring had returned to the young witch's step Patchouli noted, along with the normal mischievous gleam in the eye.

"I figure if any god cares they'll complain. That's what Kanako did after all." Marisa dropped into a chair. "Anyway that's a double spell there Patchy. I used numerology and the syllable ordering in Japanese to get two stanzas into one."

Patchoui stared in disbelief at Marisa's smug expression. That girl really had no idea what she was doing did she? Yes you could pack more spell into a smaller area that way, and admittedly it would be quite helpful for a number of the more complex youkai spells she was researching but... Patchouli shook her head to clear the idea out. Mixing alphabets and numerological systems was a recipe for disaster.

Sakuya gave the group a bow. "Well I fear the conversation will be too complex for me to contribute, so I'll take my leave. Farewell."

"Thank you for the tea, Sakuya," Alice said. Marisa and Koakuma just waved. Patchouli simply returned to looking at the paper. Perhaps Marisa's odd spellcraft had something to do with it...

"I'm curious Marisa, why do you use Hebrew?" Koakuma asked. "You have no faith at all in the God of the plagues, and you don't use a Makai style of magic."

"I could ask the same of you ya know," Marisa said. "Why do you Makai people use it? Latin's easier, and you're more eastern than western in the end."

Patchouli looked up over at Alice. "I have to admit, that is a good question Marisa."

Shanghai hid behind her owner as Marisa and Koakuma also turned their gaze to Alice. The puppeteer blinked a few times, then closed her eyes to think. "Hm... Why use Hebrew... Ah! Now I remember." Alice pointed at Koakuma. "Mother said it was easier to create demons like her with Hebrew. The language just works better for them, and they have an easier time in the outside world. She uses Chinese for the more eastern demons."

Patchouli nodded. That made sense. She turned to Koakuma. "So that's why you claim to be Jewish."

Koakuma turned her head, sniffed and put on a pair of prop glasses. "I do not pretend to be Jewish. I am a practicing demon of the Jewish faith. I don't commit sins on Yom Kippur just for fun you know."

"You do seem to have a lot of fun doing it though," Patchouli replied. Patchouli remembered some of those attempts at sinning well. Admittedly it was much more amusing now that Koakuma could split her attention between multiple victims.

"Was that when you had the pork banquet?" Marisa asked suspiciously.

Alice nodded while Shanghai moved to inspect Koakuma's new glasses look. "Don't forget those cheeseburgers specifically made with the mothers milk."

Marisa shuddered. Apparently she still hadn't gotten over the accident with the bacon grease that had happened afterwards. It hadn't actually been Koakuma's fault that time but... "So Patchy, what did you find."

Patchouli looked back to the spell ring. "I found that your numerology gives me headaches." She scanned over the Hebrew a few more times before shaking her head. "You should just write out your secondary spell. It will save us time."

Marisa smirked, but the expression rapidly faded. "Point. Should I put it in the hirigana or kanji?"

"Both please," Alice said. "If this was a side effect then it could be from either system."

"Right." Marisa wrote out the two lines in her 'art' penmanship. Patchouli had heard that it was terrible calligraphy from Reimu, but it was a damn sight more readable in Patchouli's mind. And far better than Marisa's normal scrawl.

The four moved in to peer at the paper. "Hm..." Alice cocked her head. "That's a pretty good limitation. You specifically prevented the spell from performing Shashoku while leaving alternative paths open. Weren't you a little worried about burning yourself out though?"

Marisa pointed at the outer ring. "First rule Mima taught me, always keep your spells from pulling more power than you got. Doesn't always work but it's a good safety tip."

Patchouli raised an eyebrow. "That is good advice. I admit to skipping it sometimes for more complex spells due to the interactions, but-"

"But you should use it all the time Miss Patchouli," Koakuma's stated sternly. "You remember what happened in Makai."

"That wasn't a mistake in the spell limitation. It was a mistake in the results," Patchouli lied. She really hated being reminded of that error. To be fair that specific limiter wouldn't have helped. After all it was more a matter of numbers but-

"Ah!"

Patchouli stared down at the kanji line. Of course. "Koakuma, please figure out the numerology of the stroke count in Marisa's little sub spell here."

Marisa looked confused, while Alice and Shanghai both started in surprise. "You don't mean..."

"It's one. Wait!" Koakuma gasped then snatched up the paper, eyes running back and forth over the lines. "It's... exactly one hundred."

Patchouli nodded. "And that explains everything."

Marisa and Alice both stared at her in confusion. Patchouli stretched a little in victory. It was good to put the youngsters in their place every now and then. "This is the danger of working with multiple systems. If you use numerology one way there's a chance it will work backwards as well." Patchouli tapped the circle. "Normally if you ask a spell to do something impossible it simply fails. This spell should have failed, since it's impossible to become immortal via normal magic without becoming a magician. However you gave the spell a loophole."

"A loophole?" Marisa shook her head. "How? What does having exactly one hundred strokes mean?"

Patchouli scrawled 100 onto the paper. "In numerology pure exponentials of ten have greater meaning. They are both one and more than one. In this case you have a one going through two transitions. Thus..."

The other three women (and one doll) looked at each other then back to her. "Could you perhaps explain that again?" Alice asked.

"Perhaps a picture will suffice." Patchouli tapped her hand on the table and an illusion of the magician card popped up. "Card number one, transformed twice."

Patchouli enjoyed the silence as her reasoning slowly set in. Alice was first to realize it, as Shanghai's hand went slack. Koakuma and Marisa went slack jawed seconds later. "You mean I made it magically impossible to complete the spell as I intended, so it abused numerology to justify skipping up straight to full ageless magician?" Marisa sputtered.

"Yes." Patchouli tapped the number again. "Highly improbable. Near impossible I'd say. But with magic anything is technically possible. The sudden shift probably cured the poisons in your bloodstream. That must be how you survived the process."

There was another round of silence as everyone considered the matter.

"You are the luckiest person I've ever met, Marisa," Alice said. "It's the only way you aren't dead."

"Apparently so." Marisa sighed. "I was hoping this was because of the position of the stars or some other power beyond my control. Not because of some magical nonsense buried in my spell."

"To be fair, I don't think anyone could have seen that coming Marisa," Koakuma said. "I mean, it is something of a stretch."

Patchouli looked down at the spell again. While it rankled her traditional aesthetics it was a masterwork of potion craft and spell design. Marisa had to have spent years tweaking it over and over. Especially the rune placement. It was a dedication to the craft that most magicians just didn't have.

She looked up from the notes to Gensoukyo's newest magician. It was time to come to a decision. She had an idea where Alice stood, and she knew Koakuma had a very strong interest in the thief as well. At this point the only thing standing in her way was pride.

She nodded to herself. She wasn't Remilia. She could take some hits to her pride.

She turned her chair so she could face both Alice and Marisa. "Well then. Now that you've become a full magician Marisa I have an offer to make."

"Eh?" The Alice and Marisa spun to face her. "An offer?"

Koakuma's eyes widened and her headwings started flapping happily. "You mean-!"

"Yes." Patchouli steepled her hands. "I think it would be to our mutual benefit if we formed a coven."

The two younger magicians stared at her a bit in surprise. "Seriously?" Alice asked. "Ritual pact and everything?"

"Do people even do that anymore?" Marisa shook her head. "Sure I'm not exactly a magical history scholar, but haven't damn near all the covens broken up by now?"

Patchouli sniffed. "The best witches actually did things. Performed experiments and altered the destiny of nations. Unfortunately doing things instead of hiding in the far realms tends to have a higher attrition rate. Most magicians over a thousand years are barely worthy of the name. That Byakuren woman outdoes them, and she's quit researching the arts."

Alice raised an eyebrow at that. "So we should join you because it increases our chances of being killed?"

"If either of you two was that worried about being offed by a mob of angry villagers you'd have kept a much lower profile." Patchouli stated. "The only one of us who could disappear at this point is you Alice, and I imagine you would find that incredibly dull."

"I suppose..." Alice leaned back in her chair. "So what would this entail then?"

Patchouli nodded to Koakuma. "The contract if you would?"

"Of course!" Koakuma sprang to her feet and pulled three sheets of magical writings from her pocket and placed them down on the table. Apparently she'd been keeping it on her at all times, Patchouli mused. The little devil obviously liked the idea.

As Marisa and Alice inspected their copies, Koakuma dragged over a blackboard and pulled a pointer from her pocket. "As you can see this is a very weak contract. It doesn't disallow combat between the members, though it reinforces the spell card rules. Gensoukyo is no fun without a little action after all. Even if it's not my kind of action. I mean it would be so much better if..."

The three magicians sighed as one. "Get on with it," Patchouli muttered.

Koakuma coughed. "The main points of the compact are as follows. Research materials are shared between the members, though spells can be kept secret. That means you two can borrow books, but we get to take them back whenever we want."

"That does sound superior to the normal method," Alice replied.

Marisa folded her arms behind her head. "I dunno. I kinda like the shooting part of borrowing. Though I suppose I can pick a fight whenever."

"If you want to blast off Koakuma's clothes I'm sure she'd be willing to oblige you," Patchouli commented. She smirked as Marisa broke into sputtered protests. Fortunately Marisa was behind her so the younger witch couldn't see the expression. But since Shanghai was altering between amusement and annoyance she signalled Koakuma to continue.

Koakuma winked then tapped another point. "Since it's a ritual binding you'll also be able to combine your magics more efficiently. If you want to that is. You'll also find it easier to call upon energy sources that one of you is familiar with. So Alice and Marisa will find elemental magics slightly easier, while Miss Patchouli will have a better time with emotion based magics.

"That does sound useful," Alice said. "I've had issues with elemental spirits in the past."

"Also as part of the spell you three will be able to locate each other at any time with concentration. Of course it's not exact, and it won't pass your normal scrying wards, so no worries about anyone looking in at a bad time."

Koakuma stood up straight and tall and grinned widely. "And finally you all get me~!"

Patchouli coughed and spun to face the other two magicians. "I'd best explain it before Koakuma finds the proper double entendres."

"Aw, Miss Patchouli," Koakuma pouted. "I promise none of it will be proper." Patchouli ignored her.

"What that means is you'll be sharing the familiar bond with me," Patchouli stated. "It's something Mai worked out with Yuki. We used it to maintain my bond with Koakuma's sister Elle while still giving those two the status as her master."

Alice and Marisa nodded in understanding. "Seems like Mai really knows her demons." Marisa said. "Too bad she didn't have any slave types when I went against her in Makai. Fight was kinda dull with her just sticking to ice chunks."

"Anyway I'm not giving you Master status over Koakuma, just a link." Patchouli narrowed her eyes to make the matter clear. Koakuma was hers first until the little devil complained otherwise. "Still that does mean she'll be disposed to aid you, and have the innate mental connection to know how best to go about it."

She turned to Marisa. "Though it also means she'll know exactly how far she can push her jokes before you get really mad. You'd best be prepared for that."

"Hmph." Marisa rolled her eyes. She wasn't aware of Koakuma's true power. Oh well. Patchouli wasn't going to tell her.

Marisa tapped the table a few times. "Right, so why us?" Alice rested her head on her hands, obviously interested in the answer as well.

Patchouli first nodded towards the puppeteer. "Alice's choice should be obvious. You possibly have the most raw power among the magicians of Gensoukyo, if you ever decided to actually cut loose. In addition you have a unique magical talent in doll creation and manipulation. I don't think any other magician possesses your artistry. Finally I enjoy your presence."

She turned to Marisa. "Meanwhile you have a staggering array of skills for someone as haphazardly taught as yourself. Your ability to create new magics and steal other people's spells is both infuriating and terrifying. And your mastery of danmaku combat is comparable to the shrine maiden's." Patchouli sighed. "Finally this is the only way I'm getting my books back now that you're immortal."

Marisa laughed. "Really? I figured you'd be threatening to kill me."

"Koakuma would pout at me if I actually killed you," Patchouli replied.

Koakuma nodded. "For weeks. Months even."

"Well we can't have that," Alice commented. "So then, why only us?"

Patchouli nodded. "Well partially because there's no one else really worth inviting in. Byakuren has abandoned worldly concerns. Mai and Yuki aren't leaving their mansion in Makai. Ellen isn't the type to bind herself to a group, even lightly. Marisa's tutor Mima remains dead, which sadly disqualifies her even if she was moving about. And no one else we've met is worthy of the invitation."

"But primarily because we are uncommonly well suited for it." Patchouli looked both the other magicians in the eye. "We are all active in Gensoukyo's affairs to some degree. We have similar styles of magic, but different focuses. And we form an auspicious grouping."

Koakuma smiled. "Three ladies. The spinner, the weaver and the cutter," Koakuma pointed to Marisa, Alice and Patchouli in turn.

Shanghai fluttered around as Alice lowered her head in thought. "I see. This does make sense..."

Marisa rocked back and forth on her chair chewing her lip. Patchouli turned towards her. If Marisa agreed Alice was sure to follow.

Finally Marisa allowed her chair to fall to the ground with a thump. She looked up and Patchouli was surprised to see the young witches eyes glowing brightly. "I agree on one condition. My apprentices get access to the library too."

"You're planning on taking apprentices, Marisa?" Alice asked. Shanghai moved to flutter around the gold eyed witch. "What brought this on?"

Marisa pulled her hat brim down a bit. "It's just a thought for now. I'm not planning it soon. And don't worry about me starting a school or anything. But I wanna keep my options open."

Patchouli nodded. Well it's not like someone could do more damage than Marisa. "I'd agree to that. Alice? Your thoughts?"

Alice closed her eyes while Shanghai paced. "I think... I want to talk to someone first."

"Eh?" Patchouli blinked in surprise.

Marisa looked equally confused. "You're gonna ask Shinki?"

"No." Alice looked over at Koakuma. "I think we need to have a long talk Koakuma."

"EH!?" Koakuma flinched away as Alice's gaze fell upon her. "Why?"

Alice raised an eyebrow as Shanghai put her hands on her hips. "I believe I told you we'd have to have a talk earlier, yes?"

Koakuma's eyes opened wide. "Ah! You're right." The little devil hopped to her feet. "Lead on Lady Alice."

Seeing that her familiar was no longer in panic mode Patchouli relaxed a little as well. "Then I guess we'll wait for you here."

Marisa seemed just as confused as Patchouli felt, but the witch just waved. "Have fun you two."

Alice gave them both a nod. As the two left Alice said over her shoulder. "You two might consider talking to each other while we're out. Especially given you'll be seeing even more of each other. And of us."

Patchouli blinked and looked at Marisa. The other witch just leaned back and looked at the ceiling. Patchouli sighed. This was going to be an... interesting chat.