text; un: beatrix [1]

[fiendennor]

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

Comments

[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?

[ettersberg]

I don't think a harmless display of magic would puncture it. People would believe it a trick.

[fiendennor]

I suppose that's fair enough.
It's a reasonable judgment, for a world where magic is only considered tricks.

[ettersberg]

Precisely.