mysicksadlife | [003] - Voice: Excuse Me.

[003] - Voice: Excuse Me.

[She's been putting this off. Actually, she's managed to put it off for a very long time now. But as slow as she may be, she knows when there's something she needs to say.]

Look, this probably isn't how you're supposed to do this sort of thing, but I'd rather get it out there up front and over with. I'm sorry for any... strange things I may have said or done while I wasn't quite feeling like myself.

That goes for Valentine's Day, and more recently. Though I have to admit recently wasn't that bad. In fact, if it was always like that here, I could probably get used to it. Eventually. Enough to hold my complaining down to a dull roar, anyway.

So I was wondering, too, about these filial spirits. If magic is really something here, it probably behooves me to try to see it at work. Anyone willing to volunteer to let me? I'm not saying I'm going to try it out myself, or anything like that. I just want to see it.

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Someone like you?

[She's getting that impression, anyway, from the didactic way he acts as though they're in some classroom and he's giving a lecture in The Theory of Magic.]

You seem to know a lot about it, at least. And those were pretty impressive illusions.

[ Helios blinks and laughs a bit sheepishly. He'll rub the back of his neck. He shakes his head and holds up a hand as he does so. ]

Oh no. Even I still have trouble doing such things, dark magic isn't easily accessible in my world. So even knowing a good number spells is rare. Black magic is a very dangerous subject to know. But even I still have much more to learn in terms of magic. Especially since I've come here, there are so many different worlds and variations of magic in general.

[ Yes he definitely has a lot more to learn here, even if he's been here for three years now. New people arrive from different places so the amount of learning one could do is limitless. ]

I think I feel safer with someone on the light side of things. I'm not much of a moralist, but the whole 'dark side' and 'dark magic' just screams cackling hedonist witch.

I suppose it depends on how you use it. But, ah, the spells themselves are a bit morally trying. But there's no need to worry about that, not here at least, I don't think anyone here would use such things in that sort of manner. We're all rather on the light side, I suppose you could say, of things. Or least most of the people and magic users I know are.

I'd still like a better definition of 'morally trying'. [not that she's a big one for qualms of conscience, but she does want to know what he thinks she's getting into here.]

Well perhaps a better definition would be basing it on how a person has been brought up. I mean most of the spells are never usually taught, so it's a likely chance that most people would never know about their powers. But the people that do, well, it's their judgment on whether to use it for good or-or evil. Dark magic is a bit more addicting than light magic is. I suppose that's because of its origins in my world. Demons were the ones that taught humans most dark magical spells. And even then some of those spells weren't even all that bad. But you know how things are when people tamper with powers unknown. Humans unlocked darker magic from the ones initially given to us.

[ Here Helios will shrug and sigh a little shaking his head. ]

I'm not sure the reason why, but I just know that there is a very strict rule on using it. And that the Magic Council punishes all those who are found to be using it which is a step in the right direction. But that's, ah, in my own world.

I'm not a theologian, but isn't "it came from demons" usually a red flag to start with?

[Then again, she's no more religious than she is a theologian. From that perspective, she can see not particularly caring where a power comes from. But if you do believe in demons, and evil, why align yourself with it?]

Usually, yes, it is but demons in my world are somewhat different. They're not as, ah, evil and dark as most people seem to think they are. I mean I do have quite a few of them attending my school as it were. But it is that preconceived notion that all demons are evil which makes their magic dark. I suppose it also depends on how you use said magic. Even light magic can be used in a negative way

[ Helios will smile sheepishly, a hand will come to the back of his head. ] But, ah, that's enough of me talking about such things. Do you intend to ever try contacting them? The spirits I mean.

I'm not sure yet. I figured I could make the decision after I find out some more about them.

[She's running against some pretty strong biases against even believing they exist. And believing they're actually helpful is a whole new hurdle. She just figures she may as well at least try learning about them.]

I'm not even sure what all they can do. I've heard what they're supposed to represent, but not much more than that.

Well that's entirely understandable. The spirits aren't exactly defined by any given shape or form. They exist beyond our realm of vision, but they do exist here. All of them have a selected elemental property that one can harness upon contacting them. How a person goes about contacting them varies from person to person, but most people tend to come across them in areas that are synonymous with their chosen element. Sona for example, the water spirit, can be found near any one of the lakes.

[ He motions off towards the woods where the lake resides. ]

That makes sense. But what about someone like me? Not that I'm planning to try, but I have to wonder what they'd do about someone from my home.

[i.e. someone who doesn't believe in magic, from a world where it doesn't exist.]

The spirits hardly care about a person's prior knowledge on magic. They're not very picky when it comes to those sorts of things. I know a person who comes from a completely scientific world and he's managed to contact Nala, albeit with a bit of difficulty. I suppose it depends on how willing you are to, um, contact them yourself. That's the only tricky part really, but beyond that they offer their services and powers to anyone.

Isn't a bit like an atheist going into a church or something? I'm not sure what the magic equivalent is of the roof falling in, but it seems like it's tempting fate.

Mm no. [ He taps his chin with a finger shaking his head and smiling. ] The spirits aren't judgmental or anything like that. They don't exactly have...qualms towards people who lack faith. They simply exist to pass on their magics to the people who live here. So even if you're a, ah, nonbeliever and want to try to contact them, as long as you make an effort to do so the filial spirits will answer.

So there'd be nothing to lose in trying it.

[This may result in Daria giving that at least a tiny chance - mostly for the sake of proving to herself once and for all what's really going on here. But she has a feeling that's taking a big step into unknown waters she's not sure she wants to experience.]

That's right. There's no harm in giving it a shot if you really are curious about it. The spirits aren't mean or aggressive at all, so I don't see any reason not to. Then again as a teacher I fully endorse trying new things. It all depends on your personal preference however.

I guess I'm more curious about it all than really wanting to try it. Probably what would be best would be tagging along when someone else tries to contact them or whatever you do.

[ Helios smiles and tilts his head curiously back at the other. ]

Well I'm sure someone would be open towards such a thing. Contacting them isn't so much as perceiving anything physically, but more mentally. I met them through mediation actually.

Look, my little sister who believes in guardian angels still finds these fairies or spirits or whatever to be hard to swallow.

And I never believed in guardian angels.

Most stories about that sort of thing say you have to believe, so... Are you sure they'd ever talk to me even if they're there?

I'm absolutely positive! I've known and helped people contact the spirits for a year or two now. They're more...accepting and open than you'd think. All it takes is a bit of concentration and some patience and you should be able to contact them in no time at all.

You make it sound like it's not that different from studying math or science or something. [Proper steps, proper formulae, proper procedures and voila! predictable results after all.]

It...really isn't actually. I-I mean all magic has a proper method and-and formula to make it work. It just, ah, varies from place to place is all.

[ He gives an encouraging smile. ] And of course the more powerful spells tend to be harder to cast and learn.

It sounds more like you're just talking about chemistry or something now. I guess it makes sense, since alchemy led to chemistry.

Well apothecaries were the younger versions of pharmacies back in the day. But in someways occult beliefs led to some interesting ideas to be explored.

Mostly for the sake of disproving them, and discovering what was really happening instead.

[Fairness compels her to add, belatedly:]

Not that science has always done very well with that, either. We've made a lot of mistakes along the way. But we're still trying. Even I have to say there's something to be said for that.

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[003] - Voice: Excuse Me.

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