This assumes that Dedolere is subject to Sabrina's range limits, which seems a very odd thing to assume if Dedolere is an ontological threat on par with UKG or Homucifer. But even then, assuming there's a range limit from Dedolere that she can use her powers at? If Sabrina was made from Walpurgisnacht (or even moreso if she was made from Ultimate Kriemhild Gretchen), then there's a very good argument that those witches are part of her, and thus part of Dedolere. What range limits apply for affecting yourself? Hell, even beyond that, we know that ordinary witches can influence people at a distance from themselves:
My contention here is that Dedolere is not
inherently a UKG tier threat, rather, she quickly
becomes one. The "Hilarious bootstrapping process" Firn mentioned seems more fitting for something with a trick up its sleeve to
grow that strong, not one that's there already.
Which isn't to say it's an impossibility, just that something
more than raw power has to be happening.
Likewise, my point about acting while we're away is not simply a mater of our range. If Dedolere was Feathers, I would expect our person to be the
epicenter of such effects. Casting such a wide a shadow of calm around us sounds more like destructive interference between us and another presence.
You know, I really should have waited to have this realization until after we were done talking to Homura.
[X] Remain calm about any sudden insights.
Honestly, I'd rather just embrace that we'll think of things when we think of them.
For all I'm arguing with you, a lot of that is because I hate being certain too soon and you are making me
alarmingly certain.
As such no small part of me wonders if the reason we're not hearing Dedolere's voice anymore is because the community has been deathly afraid of how our hypothesizing and realizations would affect Sabrina's train of thought, to the point of making explicit emergency rewrites to votes on it even.
If that voice reflects our own fears and thoughts, then it will never come when we fear our own thoughts intruding on our mind.
--------------------------------------------
As a side note, since you're back in
Our Benefactor, does it read to you that Mami was struggling with trying to deny the Witchbomb that day? One of the things she said right before we went into our barrier was kinda her line for trying to rationalize away the lichbomb: "Magic can do amazing things."
From that moment:
"Sabrina..." Mami says hesitantly, cradling her elbow in one hand cupping her chin with the other. "Have you tried..." She trails off, and shakes her head. "No, never mind."
"Hm, Mami?" you say encouragingly, smiling at her.
Mami shakes her head again, but she reluctantly continues, hesitance in her words. "Have you... tried making an actual Barrier?" She abruptly waves her hands frantically in a pacifying gesture. "It's just an idea!"
"I did, actually," you say. "It... well, it worked. I managed to make a Barrier."
"Oh," Mami says. "Oh."
"Um, Mami?" you ask, directing a quizzical expression at her.
She doesn't respond immediately, before she slowly shakes her head again, eyes refocusing on you. She assays a little smile. "No... it makes sense," she murmurs. "Magic can be strange, and... wonderful, and I've never heard of anything like your powers, so it stands to reason, right?" She steps forward, arms spreading in an unspoken request for a hug.
And from the lichbomb:
Mami looks increasingly distressed, worried lines forming around her eyes, still puffy and red from her crying. "What is it, Sabrina?"
"We- Magical girls can survive injuries that would normally kill people... Injuries that can kill instantly." You swallow again, but it doesn't really budge the lump in your throat. "Impossible injuries. You- we can survive them."
Mami blinks. "Y-yes, magic can do amazing things..."
You shake your head. "Mami, with healing, we can walk away from a severed head, or having your lungs, and heart, and half your torso gone. Oriko did. Masami did."
A cringe. "W-with m-magic, m-miracles can h-happen..."
Because, well... it occurs to me that she was hiding under the idea that, if it's magic, then she doesn't have to explain it.
And I don't put it past Firn to make a play on a meme like that.
