While Seiga was not exactly expecting to get a conversation going out of nowhere, Yumemi’s overwhelming flood of words managed to reach the feat of rendering the hermit speechless. Of course, there is not much speech that can be done when there are curses being vomited in your eardrums, especially of the latter are used to way more polite manners of expressing one’s thoughts.
Then again, it still wasn’t anything close to village commoners from the Outside World, whose highest form of politeness amounted to ask why such an elegant lady was going around the country without sporting a pair of sickly deformed, bound feet. It’s the kind of stuff that makes you appreciate the subtlest thing, see?
This was why, after the initial bout of surprise, Seiga’s smile lost the hint of uncertainty it had taken on to let out a brief bout of laughter, her head bowing as if in sign of greeting or apology - perhaps none of the two, but just an excuse to recollect her self.
“Poor soul, it seems you had the misfortune of dealing with Gensokyo’s worst sides. I can assure you that it is not as bad as it seems… except for the Buddhists, but it is not the land they pollute with their presence that is to blame. Rather, they just could not keep from extending their bad influence, but alas, it is not the time to rant on such matters.”
Indeed, the issue was waved off with a gracious gesture of her hand, swatted away like some kind of annoying insect. The same hand joined the other on Seiga’s lap as she bowed slightly in front of the young girl, taking the opportunity to take a closer look to her: her vetements were nothing like she had ever seen, either in the Outside World or Gensokyo. Then again, it had been a while since she had visited the former.
“I am Seiga Kaku, hermit and practicioner - master, I would like to precise - of Taoism. I gather from your words that you already made acquaintance with my loyal servant Yoshika, and that she has not troubled you. I hope she is not doing badly…”
The hint of concern was more than evident in her voice, but she did not let it show too much; it was the kind that one would likely see on any employer when expressing worry for a significant subordinate.
“Those Gray presences are bothersome to say the least. Regardless, let us stick to matters that concern you. Where you stand right now is a place called Senkai: it is a world that stretches beyond the common boundaries of space, upon which one can stumble through certain cracks or entrances, simply put. It is also where us Taoists who entered Gensokyo reside. But what about you, my child? You do not seem to be one of Gensokyo’s residents, unlike me or anyone else I encountered. No, you carry a different kind of aura within yourself, that much would be all too evident even for one not initiated in the arts of Tao like me.”
“Let’s just hope that this worst side isn’t commonplace.” Yumemi exclaimed with a bitter laugh at her own misfortune. She really didn’t want interruptions of these kind to her research. Then again, she could always have some magical energy readings so as to help further her investigation? There may be a link between how someone felt, and their innate magic.
“Yoshika’s her name, huh?” Yumemi mostly said to herself; but audible enough for Seiga to hear. “Can’t really say we’re acquaintances. I just sneaked past, without paying too much attention to her. Either if I had, nothing I can really do to help without knowing what happened.” She continued in a plain tone of voice; not really caring about that girl. Yumemi just kept thinking about the easiest way to get back outside, and it seemed that this woman before her just knew how to. “Anyways, pleasure to meet you, miss Seiga. Can’t say I know much about Taoism besides the ying-yang symbol, and the importance of duality.”
And then, the explanation of what the endless hall of Senkai was. A pocket dimension inside yet another pocket dimension; which was metaphysically tied to a certain plane of reality, completely independent from interacting with other universes. That is, if she had understood it correctly.
Unless it was just manipulation of space, that only if someone knew about, they could enter it; unless they somehow managed to stumble upon the proper crack by chance. Anyways, the train of thought was fascinating, making her mind race about the different possibilities upon how it was born—- and how she could create something similar for her own research.
In her musings, however, she had failed to notice she was being addressed. It had taken her a few seconds to recollect herself from her own disperse thoughts, and then to try and recall what Seiga had mentioned. Something about an odd aura, and not being from Gensokyo?
“Well, I do come from outside Gensokyo, but I don’t know what that has to do with anything. I mean, and as far as I know, a human is still a human.” Unless gensokian humans were different somehow than those from outside the border. She’d have to ask, and see what those differences were, though. “But yeah. Long story short, broke through the border through sheer force, and am currently investigating magic in scientific terms.”
