text; un: beatrix [1]

[fiendennor]

Do you believe in magic?
If so, what do you know about it?

Comments

[fiendennor]

I'd be interested in having you teach me more about it, if you're able or inclined. Is it teachable? If it was invented by a man, surely it can't be inherent.

[ettersberg]

It can be taught.

[ but thomas won't teach it to someone he doesn't know. won't teach it even to most people he knows. learning it properly takes years, and teaching it means handing someone a weapon. (not only a weapon, but also.) ]

[fiendennor]

To anyone? Or only to people who have a certain gift? The magic I study could be learned by commoners, if they were interested. Most weren't. Witches from established families seemed to have an easier time of it, but I suspect that's merely due to being surrounded by it from a young age.

[ettersberg]

To anyone, though it has mostly been taught to members of upperclass families.
For no particular reason but prejudice, I suppose.

[fiendennor]

I see. It's not dissimilar where I come from. There's no physical barrier to a commoner learning magic, but most have no interest in it. Thus the community keeps its lines largely to itself.

[ettersberg]

Do they not have an interest, or are they actively excluded?

[fiendennor]

Some combination thereof.
For centuries, it was fear on their part, I believe-- they were content to let us witches perform magic to help them but scared of learning how to wield it themselves-- but in the modern era, it's disinterest or apathy. With the advent of technology, many non-magical communities see us as antiquated or behind the times.

That said, there was absolutely a current of elitism on our part. Luna Nova only began accepting students from non-magical families recently, and it would have been difficult for a commoner to learn magic without sustained formal study.

[ettersberg]

I see. In my world, most 'commoners' are not even aware of the existence of magic anymore.

[fiendennor]

That would seem to be a key difference, yes.
People are aware magic exists, whether they practice it or not. Most simply aren't interested.

There was one witch, some ten years or so ago, who tried to reignite the love of magic in the masses with wondrous shows. She found some modest success, for a time.

[ettersberg]

For a time, and then?

[fiendennor]

She vanished.

[ettersberg]

Was she ever seen again?

[fiendennor]

The performer? No. Shiny Chariot hadn't been seen for a decade, back home. She'd developed something of a poor reputation in the magic community. Many thought she was just putting on a frivolous light show, using magic for childish reasons. Perhaps the criticisms were too much for her.

[ettersberg]

I see. And what is your take on the matter?

[fiendennor]

I admired the joy she found in magic. The childlike wonder she instilled in audiences. Of course, I was a child at the time. I was something of her target audience. Still, I'll admit that was rare even in children of magic families. Most parents would never have entertained those thoughts. A girl I know who came from a commoner family was inspired to pursue magic because of Chariot. She became a very fine witch. To that end, I think that there was something admirable about her work.

[ettersberg]

Then I hope it really was only nerves and criticism leading to her disappearance and not something more serious.

[fiendennor]

[In truth, Diana knows exactly what happened to Chariot. She just doesn't feel the need to go into every little detail.] I have a feeling that she was fine, in the end. Besides which, I think her legacy would have outlasted that of her critics anyway. Were it not for the destruction of the world.

[ettersberg]

Ah, yes.

[ that is one thing none of them can ever escape, isn't it? ]

Quite.

[fiendennor]

It's possible that she's up in stasis.
To be honest, I hadn't thought to check before now.

I imagine such a witch would not be thought highly of, either, where you come from.

[ettersberg]

Not within the demimonde, no. I suppose you're right about that.

[fiendennor]

What would they have done to someone who broke the charade, so to speak? Out of curiosity.

[ettersberg]

That would depend on whether it involves a breach of the peace or not.

[fiendennor]

Say it doesn't.
Say it's... a harmless magic show that's more than just illusion or sleight of hand.

[ettersberg]

Then I would fail to see the issue.

[ him, personally - but then, he was the last sanctioned wizard, so the decision has been his for the last decades. ]

[fiendennor]

So despite the fact that your world has this masquerade as far as magic is concerned, you personally wouldn't mind it being punctured?