Author's Note: Stage four! I apologize for not updating in a while, but I was busy with a few things. I'm glad to hear that my previous chapter was well-received, I was a bit skeptical about it, because it changed the usual pace of the story a bit, but looks like that I worried for nothing. This will be probably the last update for this month because I need a bit of a break, but rest assured that I will continue updating the story in December, as compensation, this will be one of the longer chapters. Anyway, there's also kudos for anybody that can spot "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" reference here. Thank you for listening to my ramblings, and please enjoy the chapter!
Sanae was floating in front of the enormous gate.
That gate was the barrier that separated Netherworld from Gensokyo.
The wind priestess met a bit of resistance when she was getting close to the barrier, however this time she was attacked by the spirits than the fairies.
It wasn't surprising for her though, the crow tengu did mention that the barrier was unstable and that it was easier to get past it, so most likely some spirits have leaked from the Netherworld. However, they weren't that much stronger than the fairies anyway, so she took care of them quickly.
But now that she took a good look at the barrier... How was she supposed to get past it? It looked very complex, and she wasn't an expert in dealing with barriers, that would be more like a job for Hakurei shrine maiden.
She thought of something silly and even thought it most likely wouldn't work, then what she had to lose by trying it? After all, you can't be held back by common sense in Gensokyo!
-I command you, in the name of the Wind Priestess of Moriya Shrine, to open the gate of this sacred land, to which Goddess herself has guided me!
As expected, nothing happened, but then somebody responded to her.
-That isn't going to work.
Sanae looked in the direction of the voice.
There was a girl floating not far from her.
She had brown eyes and short light-brown hair. She was wearing a red dress with long white sleeves and a red hat that had green shooting star decoration on the top. Furthermore, she had a winged keyboard instrument floating by her side.
-Oh well, it was still worth a try. Mind telling me, who are you?
-Lyrica Prismriver, youngest of the three sisters.
The wind priestess tilted her head questioningly.
-Three sisters? Are they somewhere nearby, or are you alone?
Suddenly, two girls flied over to Lyrica's side.
The first one had gold eyes and short blond hair. She was wearing a black dress and hat of the same color that had a red crescent moon decoration on the top. Furthermore, she had a violin floating near her.
The second one had blue eyes and wavy light-blue hair. She was wearing a white dress and hat of the same color that had a blue sun decoration at the top. Furthermore, she had a trumpet floating near her.
The one in black clothing asked the younger sister, a question.
-Lyrica, is this a friend of yours?
She nodded.
-Yes~, she's my friend.
The one in white clothing replied happily.
-How wonderful! Lyrica has finally found a friend!
Sanae scratched the back of her head awkwardly.
-Well, I wouldn't mind becoming your friend, but considering that I know you for like a minute or two, calling ourselves "friends" now would be pushing it too much...
-How about we will play a song to commemorate you becoming my friend?
The wind priestess pouted.
-Like I said, we are not friends yet!
However, they ignored her and continued their conversation.
The sister in black clothing nodded.
-That's a very good idea, Lyrica. We could use some practice before the flower-viewing concert. What do you think, Merlin?
The sister in white clothing clasped her hands together excitedly.
-I agree, Lunasa! I'd like to show my best side in front of the Lyrica's new friend!
Sanae facepalmed internally. It was obvious that they weren't going to listen to her, so she might as well just go with the flow.
-Then it's settled. Sisters! Prepare for the performance for our special guest! Though we'll never understand why, we will play this old melody for eternity.
The sisters declared Noisy Sign "Phantom Dinning"
The trio started playing the song on their instruments, and fired the danmaku shaped like musical notes at the wind priestess.
Sanae noted that the sisters were very well synchronized, the music that they have been playing was absolutely beautiful, it was like the song was born from pure emotions, and even though they were playing on their instruments and firing the danmaku at the same time, they still managed to create quite challenging pattern, but with some difficulty, the wind priestess managed to overcome the spell card.
Sanae didn't say anything, she didn't really want to interrupt the performance of the sisters, and they probably wouldn't listen to her anyway.
She declared Preparation "Star Ritual to Call the Godly Winds"
The sisters moved in sync to dodge the spell card of the wind priestess. It was really impressive that they could focus both on playing the music and dodging at the same time. She had to use her harder spell cards in order to defeat them.
The sisters declared Funeral Concert "Prism Concerto"
They fired the danmaku at Sanae, while still playing the music on their instruments. It was definitely harder than the previous spell card, but the wind priestess managed to get through it just fine.
She declared Miracle "God's Wind"
Once again, the sisters continued playing the music and dodging at the same time, however this time, they had a fair difficulty getting through it, they even played a wrong note a few times because of them getting pressured.
This was it, as long as she can dodge the next spell card of them, she might be able to defeat them with her next one.
The sisters declared Great Funeral Concert "Spirit Wheel Concerto Grosso"
They formed a triangle in which they spun around and fired their danmaku at Sanae.
The pattern of this spell card was certainly really challenging, the wind priestess had to concentrate to get through it without getting hit, but thankfully she managed it.
Sanae declared Great Miracle "Yasaka's Divine Wind"
The wind priestess was right about defeating them with this one, the trio while they tried their best, they got quickly overwhelmed by the spell card, and got pelleted by the danmaku, making them fall to the ground and stop their performance.
Sanae quickly dissolved her spell card and landed on the ground to check on the sisters.
-Is everyone alright?
They sat up straight after a moment and nodded their heads.
The wind priestess wanted to ask them a few questions concerning the barrier and the "flower-viewing" that they mentioned, but first she wanted to tell them, her thoughts about their song.
-This song that you were playing during our duel, it was really beautiful. You said that you're not sure why you're playing it, and I don't really know about your circumstances, but perhaps you created it for someone? It certainly did have a lot of emotion in it, like you would dedicate it to someone, but it's just my hunch though.
However, when Sanae said this, the trio's faces went blank, like they suddenly "shut down," then she suddenly heard a voice from somewhere.
-Please, don't tell them anything more.
The wind priestess looked around in the search for the person that said this, but she couldn't find anyone.
-Ummm, I can hear you, but I can't see you.
-Ah, my apologies. I'm afraid that, I don't have a physical body anymore, so just think of me as "voice in your head."
Sanae was confused.
-You don't have a physical body anymore? I'm not sure that I follow.
-It's a bit of long story, if you have time I can explain everything to you.
Sanae glanced at the gate to the Netherworld, she really shouldn't take too much time, considering that the Gensokyo was in danger, but she really didn't want to be rude to the voice.
She sighed.
-It's okay. I can spare some time.
-Thank you. I'll try to not take that long.
The wind priestess heard the voice exhale, then she began telling her story.
-My name is Layla Prismriver. I'm the fourth and youngest child of Prismriver family. My sisters and I originally come from the Outside World. We have been living happily there until our father managed to procure an item from Gensokyo, but unfortunately the item in question was cursed, and our father has died in "accident" because of it. This caused all of us to be orphaned, and my older sisters in grieving went their separate ways. I have stayed back at our mansion because it was the only place where I could still remember all the memories of the happy life we had together. But one night, I recalled my father's words before his death, that the item he procured, had enormous magical power and whoever could control that item's power, then they would be able to do impossible things, I was desperate to bring back these good times that I shared with my father and older sisters, so I snuck into my father's room and grabbed the item from his safe, as soon I touched the item, I could feel power from the item coursing into me, but I didn't know how to control it, then I heard a voice in my head that told me that in exchange for my life force, he would give me full control over this power. I agreed without thinking, and he took most of my life force, but allowed me to use the power for one thing that I could think of. I couldn't resurrect my father with this power, so I conjured poltergeists that resembled my older sisters in look and personality and sealed my soul in them, so I still could watch over them. I also transported the mansion here to the Gensokyo, so my "sisters" would have a better life here.
Sanae listened intently to the story that Layla told her, she felt bad for her.
-I'm sorry to hear that, you didn't deserve any of this.
-No, please don't be. It was my decision to make, and I would happily do it a second time if I had the chance, just to see again smiles on their faces.
The wind priestess nodded sadly, but after a moment she frowned.
-I don't understand one thing, though. Why can't you reveal yourself to them?
-Because I created them using all of my memories. I have been suppressing them from recalling any of their past life, while my existence isn't a bad memory by any means, they would be slowly recalling all of the memories over time because of it, and I don't wish to see my sisters depressed again. That's why, it's best for them to don't know about me. But that's okay, I'm just content with watching them over as they are playing around here without care in the world.
Sanae nodded understandingly.
-I see. I'm sorry that the things couldn't end up different for you all.
-I do wish that they would end up different too, but there's nothing we can do about it. Thank you for listening to my story. I will now return the control back to my sisters, so please avoid telling them about me.
The wind priestess nodded.
-And Miss...?
-Sanae Kochiya.
-Miss Sanae, please do get along with my sisters. They might be odd at first, but they are good people deep down.
The wind priestess couldn't hear the voice of Layla anymore, and soon she saw the sisters looking around in confusion, then they faced Sanae.
-What we were talking about?
Sanae promised Layla that she wouldn't talk about her, so she decided to play dumb.
-I wanted to ask you a few questions, but you spaced out for a bit there.
Lunasa nodded slowly.
-Ah, is that so? I faintly remember that we were talking about something else, though. I may be misremembering things... Anyway, what was that you wanted to ask?
Sanae recalled that one of them mentioned "flower-viewing concert," so it would be a good thing to ask about.
-What did you mean by "flower-viewing concert" earlier?
-The ghost princess in the Netherworld hired us to play a performance at her flower-viewing event. We weren't given any details, though.
Bingo! Looks like that ghost princess must be the mastermind behind this incident. She should hurry to the Netherworld and get her to stop stealing the spring from Gensokyo, but she still didn't know how to get past the barrier...
-Ummm, second question. Do you know how to get past this barrier?
Lunasa pointed at the barrier.
-Oh, this old gate? We just fly over it.
Really? It was that easy? But, doesn't it make this barrier completely useless if you can just fly over it?
She groaned internally at how stupid it was.
-Thank you for the information, but I need to be going now. I wish you good luck at the concert!
Sanae then flied up and waved at the sisters, then flied over the barrier into the Netherworld.
The four of the sisters waved back at the wind priestess.