Perhaps so - but prior poor experience with being spied upon would naturally warrant such a reaction. It's an understandable thing. And so... I do hope that you're alright, Caleb. I could arrange to have some tea sent to Fall Dorm perhaps? Though it'd just be delivered outside the door...
If you're certain! I just wanted to be sure to offer.
And I didn't mention it earlier but - thank you, for wanting to try to trust us. I know that all of you don't have to, but you've been quite kind considering the situation.
If you have overheard anything then you must know I have a lot of skepticism of the information we have been given and the particulars of this situation. But that does not necessarily need to translate to skepticism towards people who have tried to be helpful and kind. It cannot hurt to give the benefit of the doubt.
I needn't overhear anything to understand the doubt - some others who have spoken to me expressed as much as well. It's a bit interesting to try to understand from your perspective. From ours, it sounds similarly far-fetched.
But as we try to reconcile information and find a resolution, it is nice to do so without active animosity. A surprise to me, in truth, but a pleasant one.
Different experiences are sure to lead to different impressions. For my part, I was dealing with some very dangerous people before coming here. Finding myself here suddenly, without my belongings or magic, was a little alarming, and it would take a certain degree of power to successfully pull this off.
I've never heard of your school, so I have no basis for understanding its workings.
Beauregard told me that you are part of a group of mercenaries? The Mighty Nein? (Big Nope? Very funny.) Were you in the middle of a struggle before you arrived here? You aren't injured, are you?
In truth, I've been thinking a great deal about 'magic' since you brought it up to me. Some conversations have been illuminating - Ichiro explained something to me about a 'magic that is closer to technology' and I found that to resonate more easily. But if you could explain what your magic is to me, I would appreciate it. If only so I could have a better idea of what varieties may be out there, and how to reconcile the differences.
So you know a little Zemnian? Yes, we are the Mighty Nein. I suppose mercenaries is not inaccurate. What we really are, I would say, is a group of talented people with disparate goals who wander around sometimes attempting to achieve those goals and sometimes doing things to make money. Mercenaries or sellswords gives an impression that is perhaps a little brutal, or suggests we are fighting primarily for the interests of people with money, when I would say most of what we do has been to achieve things we think are important and good. My friends are overall excellent people and I think perhaps Beauregard is selling them and herself somewhat short.
I would be more than happy to explain what I know and can do. But I suppose I will admit to you that yes, I was in the middle of a fight, and yes, I am fairly injured, though nothing life threatening, it seems.
I'm not familiar actually - but Beauregard explained it to me, and I thought it very amusing. Zemnian is a language in your world? Oh, I see. I appreciate the clarification. Beauregard mentioned that often the goal is to 'leave things better than she found them' - which I think is a lovely sentiment. Though I wonder why you don't call yourself an overall excellent person alongside your friends?
The Voucher System has been brought up to you, yes? Are you in need of any medical supplies? You have my word that should you be in need of any I will provide a full discount. If you don't wish to pay, I've told Beauregard that clean linens from Winter Dorm are welcome to be torn into makeshift bandages in a pinch.
That sounds a little bit better. You are not the first person who's said Beauregard told them we were sellswords, and it sounds a little like her to downplay it. But I think that is generally what we aim to do.
Zemnian is my native language, and the source of the name, I suppose.
Matters of my own character perhaps fall in the category of things I find a little personal for the medium.
That's good to know, and I think I can get by without needing any supplies. I'm sure I can ask my own Dorm Head for linens if it comes to it, but so far not too many problems.
Then I hope that you succeed - I've been promised a few stories for when we all get to meet in person, but I'd love to hear more from your perspective as well. Oh! How many languages do you speak? Beauregard told me she speaks all of them. I won't deny my growing curiosity but I understand. I hope you'll be patient with the number of questions I have for you in return next week.
As for the medical supplies... If you're certain - please don't push yourself regarding your injuries.
In regards to magic, may I ask how it works in your world? I understand the question is broad but I've heard of certain items serving as conduits for energy transfer, which makes sense to me when used in analogy with technology. But from what I glanced at the public forum, it seems like there are many times among different worlds.
I've been thinking of how to explain this. It is a little like explaining air to someone who lives underwater, you know? As far as the history of it, it comes from the Gods originally, but I suppose most things do. But to me it is just a force that exists in the world, and it can be used in various ways.
Four is still more than I'm familiar with. I shouldn't be asking you to teach me something when you're also a student, but I'd love to exchange interests at some time.
It does seem like a challenge to explain - but that is already something interesting. What various ways, if I may ask? Is it similar to the fiction that I've read, to cast spells to conjure fire or promote healing or generate light? Potions and charms?
[Well, Viola, have you ever played a game of D&D? It's basically like that.]
All of the above. I am a wizard of the transmutation school, meaning that most of what I do involves the modification of energy and matter. That can mean changing a person into an animal or changing a substance - copper into silver or wood into iron, perhaps. But with a little tweaking and application of some of the principles of other schools, it can mean generating flame out of the air, or even at more advanced stages bending the rules of reality - reversing gravity, halting the flow of time. Not me so much, but it's possible. Conjuring fire, generating light - I can do this. My friends have magic of other schools, including healing. Potions and charms aren't my specialty, but it can be done.
You mentioned an interest in pocket dimensions, yes? This is something I can do.
Copper into silver?! How does your economy remain stable?! But that's amazing - to be able to change resources like that...
But that's truly astounding! I did not think one person would have the power to create pocket dimensions all their own. Does this modification of energy and matter happen simply through study? Something one can learn to do?
These changes are usually temporary; only so much can be done at once and they revert when the spell concludes. Possible to do a little scam where you pay with a silver and it reverts later, but the cost of components for spells is so high that even that wouldn't get anyone very far. Permanency is possible but takes a higher level of magic and is costly.
Simply through study. Anyone can learn it, theoretically, though some have more knack than others. It can be rather academically rigorous, certain types tend to gravitate more toward it.
Oh, I see - so it can't be too harmful against the common people when one considers the resources involved... That's a relief. How interesting - it never occurred to me to think that some types of magic may be temporary only.
Truly? Could someone such as myself with no knowledge of magic then in theory visit your world and come to learn it?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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It's an understandable thing.
And so... I do hope that you're alright, Caleb. I could arrange to have some tea sent to Fall Dorm perhaps? Though it'd just be delivered outside the door...
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I just wanted to be sure to offer.
And I didn't mention it earlier but - thank you, for wanting to try to trust us.
I know that all of you don't have to, but you've been quite kind considering the situation.
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If you have overheard anything then you must know I have a lot of skepticism of the information we have been given and the particulars of this situation. But that does not necessarily need to translate to skepticism towards people who have tried to be helpful and kind. It cannot hurt to give the benefit of the doubt.
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It's a bit interesting to try to understand from your perspective. From ours, it sounds similarly far-fetched.
But as we try to reconcile information and find a resolution, it is nice to do so without active animosity.
A surprise to me, in truth, but a pleasant one.
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I've never heard of your school, so I have no basis for understanding its workings.
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(Big Nope? Very funny.)
Were you in the middle of a struggle before you arrived here? You aren't injured, are you?
In truth, I've been thinking a great deal about 'magic' since you brought it up to me.
Some conversations have been illuminating - Ichiro explained something to me about a 'magic that is closer to technology' and I found that to resonate more easily.
But if you could explain what your magic is to me, I would appreciate it.
If only so I could have a better idea of what varieties may be out there, and how to reconcile the differences.
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I would be more than happy to explain what I know and can do. But I suppose I will admit to you that yes, I was in the middle of a fight, and yes, I am fairly injured, though nothing life threatening, it seems.
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Oh, I see. I appreciate the clarification. Beauregard mentioned that often the goal is to 'leave things better than she found them' - which I think is a lovely sentiment.
Though I wonder why you don't call yourself an overall excellent person alongside your friends?
The Voucher System has been brought up to you, yes? Are you in need of any medical supplies?
You have my word that should you be in need of any I will provide a full discount.
If you don't wish to pay, I've told Beauregard that clean linens from Winter Dorm are welcome to be torn into makeshift bandages in a pinch.
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Zemnian is my native language, and the source of the name, I suppose.
Matters of my own character perhaps fall in the category of things I find a little personal for the medium.
That's good to know, and I think I can get by without needing any supplies. I'm sure I can ask my own Dorm Head for linens if it comes to it, but so far not too many problems.
What did you want to know about magic?
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Oh! How many languages do you speak? Beauregard told me she speaks all of them.
I won't deny my growing curiosity but I understand. I hope you'll be patient with the number of questions I have for you in return next week.
As for the medical supplies... If you're certain - please don't push yourself regarding your injuries.
In regards to magic, may I ask how it works in your world? I understand the question is broad but I've heard of certain items serving as conduits for energy transfer, which makes sense to me when used in analogy with technology.
But from what I glanced at the public forum, it seems like there are many times among different worlds.
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I've been thinking of how to explain this. It is a little like explaining air to someone who lives underwater, you know? As far as the history of it, it comes from the Gods originally, but I suppose most things do. But to me it is just a force that exists in the world, and it can be used in various ways.
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I shouldn't be asking you to teach me something when you're also a student, but I'd love to exchange interests at some time.
It does seem like a challenge to explain - but that is already something interesting.
What various ways, if I may ask? Is it similar to the fiction that I've read, to cast spells to conjure fire or promote healing or generate light?
Potions and charms?
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All of the above. I am a wizard of the transmutation school, meaning that most of what I do involves the modification of energy and matter. That can mean changing a person into an animal or changing a substance - copper into silver or wood into iron, perhaps. But with a little tweaking and application of some of the principles of other schools, it can mean generating flame out of the air, or even at more advanced stages bending the rules of reality - reversing gravity, halting the flow of time. Not me so much, but it's possible. Conjuring fire, generating light - I can do this. My friends have magic of other schools, including healing. Potions and charms aren't my specialty, but it can be done.
You mentioned an interest in pocket dimensions, yes? This is something I can do.
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But that's amazing - to be able to change resources like that...
But that's truly astounding! I did not think one person would have the power to create pocket dimensions all their own.
Does this modification of energy and matter happen simply through study? Something one can learn to do?
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Simply through study. Anyone can learn it, theoretically, though some have more knack than others. It can be rather academically rigorous, certain types tend to gravitate more toward it.
[You must be a big brain nerd.]
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That's a relief.
How interesting - it never occurred to me to think that some types of magic may be temporary only.
Truly? Could someone such as myself with no knowledge of magic then in theory visit your world and come to learn it?
[not that viola is a big brain nerd or anything]