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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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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