Hello, ITalkToSky here.
I am sorry, but I will hurt you guys with this one, so I hope that you guys don't mind.
Please read the author's note at the end as sometimes (like this one), I will have some questions that I want for suggestion.
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All she saw were books, everywhere, on the floors, on the shelves or even in the more bizarre location like the ceilings and midair. It almost made her stop questioning the mind of the creator of the library for putting books somewhere inaccessible.
Book still was not considered a rare sight, but their popularity declined a long time ago. After the invention of the more efficient and eye-friendly display system, the sales of paper book declined. Unless someone prefers to immerse themselves in the sense of nostalgia, their houses won't even have bookcases anymore. Libraries still had some stock of paper books, but they were steadily replaced by scanned electronic version. Therefore, the sigh of so many books in the same place surprised Kirin.
"Surprise." Alice smiled knowingly.
"It is certainly an impressive library. I expected it to be more…"
"Empty, right?"
"Yes. Books aren't exactly the most common sight anymore." When Kirin finished, she turned back, taking the scene.
"I know right. I prefer them in physical form. You will have to grow use to them soon, because your job will require you to be using them. However, that comes later." The blond steps continue, leading them further into the library.
After what must have been the umpteenth turn, came upon a large table. Covered by elegant white cloth, the table looked appropriate to the atmosphere of the library. The books pilled up in many towering stacks, concealing the person sitting behind it. Kirin only noticed a flash of purple.
On her side, Kirin saw the first person after her transfer here. The mansion looked well cared for, but was far too quiet. Finally seeing a soul, the older woman let out a breath she was holding for a few second. She looked over the girl.
The respectable girl who turned around when she heard their steps was very cute. Her eyes darting around made her out to be like an adorable, huggable little animal. Kirin deemed to girl to not be passed her teen, probably around the age of Alice. She was rather developed on certain department though, which almost put hers to shame. The girl was dressed in a plain white dress with embroidered with flowery pattern, which accentuate her innocence.
"You are late." A monotonous voice rang from the other side of the table. The voice seemed austere and uncaring, to the point that made Kirin shivered a little.
"Sorry, it seemed that we took a little too much time chatting." The blond still answered cheerfully, seemingly not caring about the curtness of the other party.
"…Is she the one who had been submitting those reports?"
"Correct, she is Kirika Kirin."
"…Hm." A mumble was heard, but it was soon gone like a passing wind.
The figure behind the table moved a little. While she could make out the other party, Kirin could saw purple hair, covered by a piece of cloth. If Kirin hadn't read one of the older novel, she wouldn't know that it was called mobcap. However, she wondered what kind of taste the other girl had for wearing such thing in this day and age.
"Do you know why you are here?"
"I do not know. Nothing was written in the letter other than that I will be brought here, Mrs.?"
"Call me Patchouli. You will be getting lesson, along with this girl over here." The same disinterested voice rang.
"I will be in your care, Kirika-san. I am Shibata Mizuki, a student of this institution if you could call it that." The black-haired girl stood up and bowed politely. Her lips wore a thin smile. Kirin was a little taken by her golden eyes.
"Likewise, I am Kirika Kirin. Still, a lesson?"
"Yes, about magical material property and usage. It is only at the fundamental stage, so this girl will be attending this lesson with you just to know a few things. As a researcher on materials usage in CAD, you are required to study a little more in depth to be useful."
"While your report was rather enlightening, it would be more helpful of you know the exact nature of the substances and its creation process. While we cannot teach you about CAD, that part needs to be filled out by your own expertise. You will be learning about magic and its interaction with materials from the fundamental level in hope that it will aid with your CAD research. Mizuki is here to broaden her perspective, so don't mind her." Alice explained helpfully.
"Ano, I already attend a class of magical material science in college, so I think I can start without the fundamental." Kirin smile was business-like, a little bit on the stiff side perhaps.
While Kirin didn't have high pride, it was rather shocking for her to suddenly be receiving class, especially from someone half her age from her voice. She expected the group of genius to be on a different level, but she didn't expect a treatment on the term of amateur. To be clear, she didn't have anything against Mizuki.
"You will find much to learn here, because you have absolutely no idea about the existence of mana." The blond girl made Kirin tilted her neck.
"Mana?"
"Yes, the foundation of our magic."
"Did you perhaps mean Psion?"
"Did you sense Psion when we teleported her? No?"
"No…"
"Correct, that magic has nothing to do with Psion as with most magic we perform here. You will be learning about completely different type of magic than what is being taught from your magic university.
"How can you use magic without Psion? That is pretty much fundamental system every magic in this world run on." Kirin's voice rose a pitch.
"Kirika, what you are saying is both ignorant and arrogant. Are you claiming to know everything?" The same monotonous voice rang out as the figure behind the book stacks rose. Kirin could finally see the girl in a pale lilac nightwear.
"Magic traditionally does not involve with Psion in the first place. It existed well before the existence of modern magic. To clarify, this is not the ancient magic in your sense, but the true ancient magic. The magic that revolves around the manipulation of mana, the fundamental power that nurtured the Earth itself." Alice explained, knowing that Patchouli couldn't be bothered to explain any further.
"Alice, you are telling me that there is another system that the world didn't know about, a whole new system. Do you realize what you are saying?"
"I believe what I am trying to convey perfectly coincided with the meaning of my words." The blond girl was patient. She expected the adult to act like this after receiving such a news that would topple their whole paradigm.
"If a whole new system is there, then the world should know it then. Why hasn't anyone come out and announce it?"
"It is the secret of the world, Kirika-san." The one who answered it was, unexpectedly, Mizuki.
"What do you mean?"
"This type of magic existed since ancient time, hidden away and practiced by few. Sadly, because it was well protected and other circumstances, it was all forgotten and treated as fantasy story by the world, along with other beings." Mizuki muttered solemnly.
"Beings? What are you talking about?" Kirin felt as if her head spun. There was far too much information she had to take in and too little time.
"Perhaps we should start from the very beginning. Patchouli, can you spare us a little time. You don't have anything else after this anyway, so starting a lesson a little bit late should be alright with you." The blond turned to Patchouli and smile apologetically.
"Fine." The girl said so flatly and dropped down on her seat. Patchouli simply went silent, ignoring her surrounding and starting to read. Alice smile wryly, knowing that her tight-lipped friend will be silent for a long while.
"I hope you don't mind to, Mizuki."
"It is fine, Alice-san. I am in a mood for some story time as well." Mizuki smiled sweetly, making Alice wanting to hug her.
When she first arrived, she was just a little over ten, so Alice naturally treated her like a child. Even when Mizuki finally grew into proper lady, Alice still couldn't help but treat her like a little sister. This applied to all of people in the Scarlet Devil Mansion. Even Sakuya adored her as she watched Mizuki grew.
"Let's take a seat first, shall we?" Alice said teasingly and swiped her hand. The two chairs beside Mizuki's floated and rearrange, making a little circle facing inward. She sat down, waiting for Kirin to follow.
Kirin frowned and after a conflicting moment with herself, proceed to her own chair.
"You have many questions. I am sure, but keep on listening. Some part of this story is just a conjecture, but it is a pretty well founded theory explaining many things that we considered a fact today." Kirin only nodded to that.
"I believe that there was an author that said the oldest and strongest kind of emotion is fear. The oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of unknown. It is a very fitting quote, because it is truly the beginning of everything." The mysterious smile on Alice's lips betrayed a hint of very seasoned entertainer.
"…" Kirika was silently, but her eyes were wide. Perhaps the woman still liked her story.
"The fear of unknown and curiosity. These two conflicting emotions gave birth to many things. Don't you agree? The current technological progress is the product of curiosity and the mankind quest to illuminate the unknown. What many did not know is that as a sentient life, mankind had a pull in the flow of mana."
"You are over dramatizing it. There is no evidence that mana existed before the dawn of humanity or came into being because of humanity."
"Aww, Patchouli, do you have to ruin the story?"
"Just a fact."
"Very well, Patchouli is right. It is a situation like chicken and egg. We don't know if mana precedes humanity or humanity was the one creating mana. However, one fact is true that humanity was the beginning of many others. So, Kirika-san, if you are to give some more concrete subject to associate with unknown, what do you think they will be?"
"…Um, I am not really sure. A classic answer might be the future."
"A very nice answer, humanity never really know about what will come in the future. Some welcome it, while some fear it. I have another really nice answer for it, Darkness. In the night or unlit caves, mankind wonders what terror it contained. With all the unknown, do you think it is strange for humanity to come to believe that there is something else in the world, something different, beyond their comprehension, sometimes friendly, sometimes malevolent. The monsters in the night, the gods of nature, magic to defy destiny, it was undoubtable that mankind had made them up and believed in them, yes?"
Perhaps it was because of the atmosphere or the way Alice was telling the story, both audiences were unblinkingly enraptured. Even Mizuki who had here this story many time still couldn't help but be swept away. Patchouli could not careless, while admitting that Alice certainly was good with entertaining arts.
"The belief, in other word faith is the beginning. In making up and believing, mankind as a collective unconsciously invoked the greatest faith-based spell ever. While it is not technically a spell with incantation or traditions, its power was unquestionable. It is possibly the only magic exclusive to mankind, because of their sentience, but more importantly their number. Millions upon millions of water drops can form an ocean, agreed? Mankind has been invoking this wondrous magic since time immemorial. Yes, including you two."
"What?"
"Aha, please keep on listening, Alice is getting to the good part." Mizuki still wore her sweet smile, not minding the interruption.
"So, what is the effect of this magic, the very will of humanity? The answer to that is the creation of fantasy. The fear led them to believe in being beyond their powers, while curiosity led them to pursue the art in unlocking the world secrets. Yes, monster, gods and magic. By their very belief and fear, mankind directed mana and gave birth to many fantastical creatures and arts."
"…" Kirin opened her mouth, trying to say something, but was silenced by Mizuki's gesture.
"Throughout the ages, magic and monsters thrived together. Mankind could never understand nature, so never had the chance to disprove their fears and beliefs. Upon many years and years of reinforcement, the existence of magic and monsters were forever cemented into the existence of Earth. Until one day, mankind began to discover the nature at an alarming rate. I believe that many called it the Scientific Revolution. It was then when the mankind started to grew away from their fantasy. While the true details of fantasy were not understood by many, most still somehow believed in it, continuing its existence. No longer."
Alice leaned forward, grinning contently at the face of the girls in front of her. Patchouli stayed silent and didn't interrupt. However, she still half-heartedly listened, just in case Alice got some of the facts wrong.
"Do you still remember while mankind can invoke their faith-based magic? Their sentience allowed them to ever so slightly influence the flow of mana and their number allowed the effect to manifest. From that point on, their number exploded. On the other hand, they no longer believe in fantasy. With the growing number of humans believing that, the fantastical side of the world rapidly deteriorated. The mysterious races that used to walk the Earth dwindled to nothing and even the flow of mana, the ley line dried out like river."
At this point, Kirin frowned in disbelief. It was not every day that she listened to an outlandish tale as this. However, she felt it hard to argue for some reason. Unknown to her at the moment, Alice used her weak hypnotic magic to mellow Kirin's mind out a little. Mizuki noticed this, but didn't say anything, because Alice didn't exactly mean any harm. Normal people would just flip the table and start to think that Alice was crazy, so a little magic to ease things up couldn't hurt.
"Gods, vampire, Youkai started to disappear from the world as the very source of their existence, the mana was dried out. Since they had their own power and sentience, mankind can never really will them away like they never existed. However, with their disbelief in fantasy and common sense, the fantasy side was starved out of their nourishment, mana. The weaker races died out, while the stronger ones slumbered. Only the strongest ones had the power to resist the flow of the world. Gods belong to a special case as their very existences, as powerful as they were, hang on faith that no longer given to them."
At this point, Alice glanced toward the stacks of books and silently stare. It was sensitive information, so she wanted to confirm once again. Only when Alice saw the small nod from Patchouli did she continued. Alice sighed from the tension as she turned back to the two.
"Mizuki, you have heard this story up to this very point. However, there is a piece missing. You probably are old enough, so I will tell you the missing piece in this story."
"Alice-san? There is another part to this story. I think that this is about at the very end?" While Mizuki tried not to look dejected that Alice was hiding this story from her, she still was very excited that they were finally telling her the whole story that her eyes were sparkling.
"Yes, the story of the land we call home, the story of the Eastern Wonderland, Gensokyo…"
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Cut and take that cliffhanger. I hope you like it.
Please leave a review as it encourages me to work harder. Also, for the mean time please answer the question that I left last time.
Do you think there should be any romance in this story and between whom?