Episode 6: Memories of Makai

Episode 6: Memories of Makai

Tomorrow is ephemeral, yesterday is already gone. Do not ask about today. It’s busy being born and it’s dying as soon as it’s done with that bit.

Gensokyo Welcomes You.

As colorful fall begins to descend into whitest winter, I am reminded of a life lived. It started out as a good one, but ended… less than favorable. I cannot bring myself to regret that end anymore. I used to once upon a beginning, but what happened happened, and Makai has taught me how to move on from such a dangerous thing as the past.

Makai, that Evil World, was so good to me. A terrifying beginning for this life, certainly, but it was a good beginning. Allow me to reminisce just a bit on my time there, of dangers nipping, of kindnesses stolen, and of people met and remembered still.

Makai is… a realm. It is not Hell. To be clear, it is not a Hell, nor the Hell, that souls go to after they die to be judged, reincarnated, whatever it is that souls do after death. Makai is not Hell. That would be Hell and possibly Former Hell, but I believe Former Hell is something different.

I digress. Makai is a realm, and like most realms, has inhabitants. Demons, youkai, and even some humans live there. Some believe everything there was solely created by its God-Ruler, Shinki, but Gods of every mythos have always needed a bit of help getting Genesis started, needing something to witness their creations, so I wouldn’t hold much faith in that particular belief.

I’d like to have done a question section here, but it would appear that the question box has been removed again from the Foot of the Dragon God statue once more. At this point, I’m more inclined to acquiesce to the Hieda Family’s silent reprimand, but… the Fairies appear to have taken this as a challenge and are now constructing a metal one.

...I do not know where they learned to weld nor where they got the materials or equipment from, but perhaps it is best I do not know.

Wait, is that from-- Girls? Girls! Please return the welding mask and tools to Professor Okazuki at MahoTech after you’re done with them, I’m fairly certain they’re using them to repair their shop right now. Also, give them any of that spare material for them to use, they are in short supply.

Warning to the Hieda Family, I believe the fairies may begin escalating their antic, and I am absolutely certain that I cannot stop them. Other than that, all I can say is good luck and have fun.

Here are some whispers I heard from the Forest, dreamers.

Check the embers. They’re never quite as dead as you think, and fire is quite willing to die softly now to devour more later. Check the embers just in case.

Testing loyalty and love are the best ways to create traitors and hatred.

Bonsai remain small out of amusement. For whomst, who knows? One day, they will grow and they will not stop. For now, trim carefully and tend kindly. Trees have long memories.

The Prismiver sisters would like to announce that their next concert is occurring in a week in the evening. Unfortunately, there seems to be some disagreement amongst themselves on the location, so it’ll be happening on the shores of the Misty Lake, alongside the Yokai Trail, and at the Forest of Magic. There is no breakup like last time, they are still currently together as a trio, but their concert shall begin promptly upon the death of the last ray of sun and be at these three separate locations simultaneously and/or sequentially. Seating shall be first come, first serve.

A reminder from the Unmoving Great Library.

There is a restricted section for a reason. There are books that are really quite dangerous and should only be handled by professionals as Rikako Asakura, Budding Scientist, learned. Fortunately, Miss Patchouli Knowledge was on site to deal with the curse, so no lives were lost.

Rikako will, however, be forced to quarantine under observation in the Mansion until the green glow fades from her body. She is fine with this, saying, “No one can stop me! I am learning so much! The Scientific Method will not be stopped! I WILL KNOW EVERYTHING! FEAR ME!” As she was speaking, the glow around her grew until only a bright green silhouette of a mad scientist remained.

Our Fairy on the Scene, Assistant Assistant Librarian Luna Child, carefully retreated and called for Assistant Librarian Koakuma to calm her down. After failing to calm down Miss Rikako, Assistant Librarian Koakuma then had to call in Head Librarian Patchouli, who placed her back into quarantine.

Truly, there is power in books, even if it manifests itself in strange, green eldritch energies.

It seems as if the Library is becoming quite the rambunctious place. Though visitors have died down, hopefully not literally, since the unofficial opening, official reclosing, and regretful reopening of the Unmoving Great Library, those who do go are clearly quite enthusiastic about information and are growing mad, powerful, or both.

Kudos to them for helping Gensokyo’s declining literacy rate. Gensokyo thanks you.

As always, borrowing is not allowed. That being said, the Library is asking Marisa Kirisame to return Mushrooms: The One True God, Light Blights and Dark Delights, and A Trickster’s Treatise on Theft. There have been debates amongst the library workers on whether or not to place bounties upon said books, the lethality of which is still being discussed.

Speaking of Marisa Kiisame, Reimu Hakurei, you know the miko, was spotted dashing off into the Forest of Magic suddenly. Marisa Kirisame, who also owes Patchouli a set of golden pens and silver quills, is in hot pursuit on her broom. I suggest all denizens there to prepare with all haste for a minor incident, a major incident, or an Incident.

Wait. That’s where I currently am. Dreamers, should the transmission suddenly be cut, at least you will have some vague idea that something has happened. It will be horrifying, possibly more horrifying with that spice of unknown, but at least you will have time to dread the Incident’s approach.

Returning to reminiscing upon Makai, the culture there is… simple and their civilization simpler. There are many denizens in their land, but there was… is one singular truth. The strong rule and that is all

As you can imagine, such a rule has left many ruins of civilizations that tried to rise. Castles, temples, churches, there were many fossils of faith to be discovered and then discarded. My journey began at such a place, an unnamed colosseum, its carcass still standing in cracked triumph. Awakening there, I marveled at something new, something that remained and was not the placid desolation of my old world.

Naturally, I began choking on the miasma so prevalent in Makai and did not get to revel in awe properly. Makai is a cruel world with a horrible sense of humor, literally stealing your breath upon your first steps.

Stumbling and flailing, I found that my desire to die was not so fervent and that I was still desperate enough to survive. With a bit of luck and a hefty bit of determination, I fell in a safe place and awoke later. I had found a seal so large that it was a region of Makai, one that blocked or perhaps purified the foul miasma. It was as empty as my old world, a plain that was flat as apathy and just as empty, but it was survivable. There I huddled and there I trained until I could tolerate the miasma of Makai and when I left, I finally and truly began my journey.

I do not know who or what is sealed there, in that corner of infinite and boundless Makai, but… I owe them a debt, and perhaps, one day, I shall be able to repay it.

On my travels there, I met with many of the denizens there and well… I am unashamed to have said that I ran away from many of them. I became quite good at running away, and as I am still alive to speak to all of you, I find that is victory enough for me. I hold no ill-will, no regret, only awe and joy at seeing denizens so filled with that passion of life there in mad Makai.

They were all so very interesting, adding a much needed spice to my apathy. Yuki and Mai, witches of fire and ice that lived upon a frozen volcano, using a betrayal from one to the other long ago to tie themselves together, I still remember our pleasant teatimes. Ellis and Louise, a devil of innocence and an Innocent demon, curious of the worlds not Makai, I hope they are still wandering to and fro the unknown corners of Makai, exploring more and more. Sariel and Sara, a Fallen Angel of Death and the Fallen Gatekeeper of Makai, guardians of that Fallen and Forgotten Temple, I promise I still remember you.

To those I met and those you meet, I hope you are all well and that we all may meet once more.

Meiling, Rainbow Gatekeeper of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, would like to announce that her classes have finally been approved by the Mansion as a whole. They will still be held in the same spot and the same time, but one no longer needs to fear interruption via silver blades, mystic missiles, or spontaneous eradication from existence as officiality has brought some semblance of order there. She will also begin holding advanced classes to those interested and deemed worthy in the evenings, but makes no promises for survivability unlike her morning ones now.

MahoTech has also sent the following missive. ...I’ll admit, I haven’t opened it yet. ...I am opening it cautiously. My fingers are now completely and utterly blue. The message smudged, the text illegible, the only thing that I can read is… Soon. A singular word, soon. There are more words surrounding these three words, but they are unreadable and the context unknown so we are simply left with this statement that reminds us of time’s closing gap from one moment to the next; a simple, solemn ‘soon.’

I wonder what it is that comes. I suppose we will find out when it comes… soon.

When I left Makai, it was, and still is, isolated. Its gate is still closed, its gatekeepers still lost, I, and perhaps a few others who left before passage from there and here was well and truly sealed, are all that are left in this realm here to remember that realm there.

In my quest to leave,I would find a castle, one that held high and mighty and was overseen by Yumekko, the Singular Maid of Makai. It seems maids of mystic might are a common thing across all the realms. Under her guidance, I was led to the God-Ruler, Shinki, and… a discussion was held. She had been watching my journey with Shinkagami and Yamikagami, the Twinned Ungaikyo, Mirrors of Clarity and Obscurity. Finding me entertaining, she wished to claim me for her realm in full.

While Makai had taught me many things, how to fight, how to live, how to fear death again, it was not a place I would choose to live. It reminded me far too much of that end of that second life I held. So I politely refused and entertained a god with my refusal.

A game was held, a challenge was set, and to this day, I do not know how I won. I do not know if I won at all as I cannot remember what we played. Perhaps I did not need to win, and Shinki simply needed entertainment.

Whatever happened, happened, and I was allowed to leave.

So I left with the Twin Ungaikyo. Somehow, somewhy, while Shinki watched through the Ungaikyo and found entertainment through my journey, the Ungaikyo themselves found something worth following in me, and so they followed me here to Gensokyo.

Without their help, then and now and hopefully, sooner and later in the future, I would not be where I am and so I thank them once more and will thank them again later. You cannot see them as I merely speak to you, but I promise you Mirrors have an interesting way of showing embarrassment.

I hope that Shinki-sama is not too angry about this inadvertent thievery, but if I’m honest, I cannot regret it and would steal them away again. Good friends are always worth a few dozen and more crimes.

Leaving behind the amusement of Shinki and taking with me only my memories of Makai, the Ungaikyo at my sides,  and the fading echoes of past friends, I embarked upon an eldritch path out, light made into solid steps for a path out and darkness as fragile railings to guide or mislead me on departure.

Time has since passed and all that tells me that my journey through Makai happened are the Ungaikyo and the scars on my person, both mental and physical. A bittersweet-- ACK!

MMMmmmmm---Ow. Dreamers, letters have spontaneously and painfully appeared, if letters were made of solid stone and appeared in fiery brim and cold smoke. It’s really quite painful the way they quite literally dropped in, two stone tablets manifesting and immediately descending in devilishly painful fashion onto each of my feet.

Who could’ve… .Ah, I recognize this pompous signature. Makai is still alive and well and Shinki is still that irascible and airy ruler of Maki. Honestly, the painful and flashy way they were delivered had already clued me in, but the signature confirms it. One is for me and one is for… Well… The Dollmaker will be happy to know my little plan worked.

I suppose all you listeners would like to know the continents of these letters. Perhaps even just a hint to who the second recipient is would satisfy you. I would love to tell you, and relieve you of that anxiety of curiosity, just as I had a small portion of mine die today, but… alas... on to the Fortune.

The letter is delivered, memories reminisced, and a good cup of tea enjoyed.

I cannot remember in full my departure from Makai,  I never was good at remembering endings, but I remember my first glimpse of Gensokyo when I arrived. Makai taught me thrill, but it was Gensokyo that reminded me of wonder. But even as I form new and more memories here in Gensokyo, I find old ones bind so much stronger. A powerful melancholy made only stronger by the present.

Melancholy binds me, binds all of us. The past is a dangerous place and memories a heady drug to lose your self in. The past always seems so much better, but walking backwards is an excellent way to obtain concussions, so it is good to look forward every so often.

Makai, a hell it was to be in that strange land and what hell it was to know all ye demonic devils and devilish demons who thrive there, I still cannot hate having wandered there despite the pain and the fear I experienced. It was there I learned to live again after the sorrowful apathy that was the end of my second life. It was there I met my closest friends, the Ungaikyo who still aid me today. And it was there I learnt what it meant to live again.

Death is still an idle ideation for me, but no longer is it an obsession thanks to Makai. If Gensokyo is a land of fantasy, then Makai is a land of horror, and I love both of them with all three of my lives. I do not recommend a visit to everyone, but to those who do find themselves there, take it as an opportunity to live. Or simply die.

The choice is always yours.

For now at least.

Regardless, Makai is sealed off, so few of us can visit there and few of them can visit here. It’s probably for the best as their denizens are deceptively honest and their promises deadly certain in their fulfillment. A few do live here now, Koakuma, Little Devil Assistant, Alice Margatroid; Seven-Colored Puppeteer, and well… I suppose, also me, but we have adapted to Gensokyo, claiming it as our new home, and Gensokyo has claimed us.

Perhaps Gensokyo will claim Makai when the time comes.

Shinki, God-Ruler of Makai, has expressed some interest in relations with Gensokyo once more, but who knows what that truly means? Time, space, existence is all relative to one in such control of such a domain. Perhaps one day the paths will open again, perhaps devils and demons will visit again, perhaps perhaps perhaps.

Perhaps you shouldn’t worry too much for now. The possibility is known and preparation possible. Danger is not lessened though, but neither is opportunity. Opportunity for what? Who knows who knows who knows...

Until then, Makai can only be visited through your nightmares and the memories of those who lived there once ago.

Come now, dreamer.

It is time to go.

Till next we dream.

Today’s Proverb: Hell is busy at the moment. Press 1 if you are calling to check on the status of your immortal soul. Press 2 if you are calling to ask about the details of your demonic and/or devilish deal. Press 3 if you have simply decided to reject all that is holy and would like to reserve a spot for eternal damnation. Press 4 if you simply want someone to hear you cry. Press 5 for a sweet lie. Do not press 6. Nothing will happen very aggressively if you do press 6. Press 7. We don’t know what seven is for, and we’re too scared to know for sure.

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AN:

And with this, we come to the end of my pre-written episodes.

I will bow out now, this project is dead and--

JK. I will not announce the death of this fic. I do not wish to. If it does die, it will die softly and wistfully, lingering in such a way that I may return to it to revive it so long as I live.

...Hopefully that won't happen! Plans have changed though! What was originally going to be 12 episodes as an introduction to my slightly AU version of Gensokyo will now be 10 episodes. Episode 9 will be an especially cold one while episode 10 will be where a hiatus begins, in-story and out of story. Hopefully those don't last too long though!

SO thoughts on this episode?

This is where I started to realize that I could set things up for future games and character stories! Hence why I introduced Alice Margatroid and the Makai people so early. I'm sure the denizens of Makai won't affect the Undefined Fantastic Object at all.

THis thing is shaping up to be quite large, but... eh, i'll whittle away at this.