[X] You're in over your head. You can't help Ilya without Remilia's help.
- [X] Explain to Sella what you're going to do and ask her to go along with your plan.
You stare at the Soul Gem for a moment before sighing. Your hand closes and the Soul Gem vanishes. This is all too much for you, too far beyond your realm of expertise … and Deis is right. You had a lot of fun, got to meet all kinds of people, kill a lot of them, and see exciting new things - and now you're risking Ilya's life instead of going home to get help from a real magician? No. You shake your head. "No. … Sella, do you trust me? When I say that I want to help Ilya, do you believe me?" The pale servant stares at you for a long moment before bowing.
"I believe you, Lady Flandre." You take out the black rod, the thumb-length piece of ivory that will take you back to the library.
"I want to take Ilya to Gensokyo. Maybe we can do something for her here; I'm sure that if we could reach your home, they could do something for her, but I don't know how easy it would be to reach them. Maybe Tohsaka's plan will work. But … they worry me. They're chances, and there are too many things that have to go in our favor to make them worth it in my mind. But my sister and Patchouli are in Gensokyo, and they're really good magicians. They can help Ilya." You clench your fists, and your mouth works as you try to give voice to your feelings and the trust you have for your sister, but eventually you simply shake your head and look right at Sella. "I think that taking her to Gensokyo is the best way to save Ilya, but … I know I've made mistakes, and I know I don't know everything about Ilya's situation. So - I want you to decide, Sella. I think this is the best choice, but … but …." Words fail you again and you look down at the ground. You can be charismatic - it's not just your sister's talent - but you were always better at instilling fear, and an impromptu performance like this is hard for you, especially considering your feelings on the subject. You close your eyes and take several breaths, and when you look up Sella is still watching you, expression uncharacteristically closed and unreadable. She walks to the table and stares at your diagram of Remilia's spell. Finally, she nods.
"I understand, Lady Flandre. As for the decision …." She turns to look at Ilya, still lying in the circle, and at Leysritt sitting the chair by the circle, then turns back to you. "In Lady Illyasviel's name, we accept your invitation to visit your home." She bows deeply and tension floods out of you. Tohsaka edges away from you, stance shifting subtly. "When do you wish to leave?"
"The sooner the better, I think. Is there anything you, Leysritt, or Ilya are going to want?" Sella looks around the room, gazes up at the ceiling, starts to shake her head.
"Portrait." Leysritt interrupts the gesture and Sella flushes, but you nod quickly.
"My portrait of Ilya, you'll be bringing your halberd - then I'll go get Deis and Satsuki, and we can leave." Sella takes a deep breath and nods.
"Wait. Just like that, you're just going to walk out of here?" You stare menacingly at Tohsaka and she shows the jewels in her hand, prepares to use them.
"Because Ilya is important. You, ultimately, are not. You are a nuisance, and I haven't forgotten the penalty you owe me, Tohsaka, but important matters come before trivial ones. Besides, with the resources you have right now, servitude is all you can offer me that is of value, and I don't feel like suffering through your continued presence for the amount of time it would take for you to serve a proper penance." She stares at you, a little confused but clearly angry, and you huff disdainfully. "Stay, Tohsaka, and negotiate with the Japanese. Or flee to the Association you've mentioned. Keep your Servant. I will seek you out for compensation in due time; hopefully by then you will at least have become a competent mage." You walk past her and into the hall, then dash to Deis as your clones head for Leysritt's room for the portrait. The images of the city are still there; some the same, others different. Deis appears and cocks her head. "We're leaving. For Gensokyo. As soon as everyone gets together." The images wink out and she blinks over to you as Ershin rises. A gust of wind whirls around your head, ruffling your hair.
"I hope you didn't feel pressured by me," she says. You snort.
"You made a good point. Besides, coming back voluntarily because I need help, or being dragged back because I'm in too deep to even ask - I'd certainly prefer the former." She smiles and begins fading away. "Down in the workshop; I'll be there as soon as I talk to Satsuki." You dart away ahead of Ershin. Where would Satsuki be? Her room? Your room? Somewhere else? Well, if you haven't found her by the time your clones finish delivering the portrait, you can have them scour the building for her …. You see her staring out a window near her room and clear your throat. She jumps and spins around.
"Oh! Flandre-sama! Um …." You look at her as she trails off.
"Satsuki, we're going to Gensokyo." She stares at you. Realization creeps across her face and she looks back out the window.
"I … I'll be able to come back, won't I? When … when I'm more confident and I can do things by myself?" You nod and she takes a deep breath before smiling away her nervousness. "Alright! When do we leave?"
"Now." Her expression freezes and you grin before hopping forward to pick her up. She automatically puts her arms around your neck to keep herself steady as you fly through the hallways down to the workshop. You spin around to stick your tongue out at Ershin as you pass it, and it rises above the air and zips along after you, no longer walking. You set Satsuki down before you reach the workshop, letting her compose herself, and Deis flicks your forehead with a burst of wind. You glower where she might be before getting yourself ready, then the three of you walk into the workshop together. Tohsaka is in the corner, watching unhappily, almost irritatedly. Sella and Leysritt are by the circle, with the portrait, and your clones file back into you as you approach the circle. You take the black ivory rod from the table, and when everyone is ready - Satsuki carrying the portrait, Sella carrying a gasping and short-breathed Ilya - you spare one final glance at Tohsaka and snap the rod.
Unlike the white rod or the library itself, the black rod doesn't create a portal for you to walk through. Instead, there's simply an instant of disorientation before you're all standing in the library in the portal area. The portals are all gone right now, but you see Patchouli sitting at a desk and start to ask her for help. Koakuma steps in front of you and puts a finger to her lips. You scowl and look worriedly at Ilya - but she's quiet again, breathing easily in Sella's arms. Koakuma smiles; you glare at her and look at Patchouli again. The magician is watching something, and your eyes widen when you recognize it as Ilya's workshop. Tohsaka is still there, staring in shock, but so is someone you've never seen before, a tall, grey-haired old man. He seems to be staring at the point Patchouli's scrying is coming from - and then he makes a pass of some kind and the image freezes and turns grey. Patchouli sighs and shakes her head.
"So that was Kaleidoscope." You frown, unsure of how important the stranger and the 'kaleidoscope' are, and she floats out of the chair and toward you, wearing the same nightgown she always does, and looks intently at Ilya. "I don't mind, but …." Before you can finally say something, a familiar presence makes you turn around. Your sister stands at one of the entrances to the area, Sakuya at her side. She smiles lightly as she looks over your friends.
"Be welcome, Einzberns. And you, Sorceress. Be at ease, and rest without worry." She inclines her head as she welcomes them, and Sella and Leysritt bow politely, and Deis appears and nods as well. Satsuki looks around, confused; presumably, since she's you're servant, she doesn't need to be welcomed. Remilia looks at you. "Patchouli will help Illyasviel. Come with me, Flandre; I want to talk with you." Sakuya starts walking toward you, evidently to assist Patchouli somehow, and Remilia turns away. After a few steps she stops, however, and turns her head to look at you through the corner of her eye. On the one hand, you do miss her and you'd like to talk with her … but you also want to make sure Ilya is fine, and that Deis and Satsuki don't feel neglected.
What do you do?
[ ] Go with Remilia.
[ ] Stay with Ilya.
