text; un: beatrix [2]

[fiendennor]

I dearly hope everyone is safe after the turmoil in Olympia.
Wyver too, I've heard, though I was fortunate enough to not to experience it myself.

Does anyone else find it odd? That tensions were suddenly inflamed in such a way. Normal people turning violent.
Or the refugees ourselves having our own aggressive tendencies reinforced and heightened.

It's hard to believe that all of this is entirely natural, or the result of simple historical tensions.
Has anyone ever experienced anything like this before? Something that has this sort of aggressive effect on the populace?

Comments

[gekkajuu]

That is true!
Honestly, I wasn't looking at it as an investigation into the causes behind the riots so much as general information?
And then if it happens again, maybe we'll know both what water was used, and what water to use to counter the effects.

[fiendennor]

Well, even so-- even if it was something just used to foment the riot, it may not be there given enough time. So time may be of the essence either way. But finding a cure would be ideal. Actually, if you can get me a sample of whatever caused this madness, I can start working on that.

[gekkajuu]

I would, but I haven't seen the mist around anymore at all.

As for the Flona water: I don't know which it was, but Mikazuki might know, since he was attacked by someone under the influence! And maybe asking around there would get you more information, too.

Thinking about it, there was a lagoon in Wyver that made people laugh. That might be a good antidote, if the mist happens again.

[That, or people will at least smile while they kill each other. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ]

[fiendennor]

I haven't, either. And I have firsthand experience of those under its influence, myself. Though further witnesses-- particularly those who were affected by it-- certainly wouldn't be unwelcome. Where is this lagoon? In the city proper?

[gekkajuu]

Oh no, just in Wyver territory. I came across it during a search for crystal drops - which you may indeed find there, if you're planning to visit.

[He'll include a crudely drawn but functional map.]

Both me and the person I was with ended up with a giggle fit, but I would recommend double-checking that the working's still the same. Again, I have no idea if these things can change...

[fiendennor]

That's good to know. I can fly there, but I don't think I'd be welcome in Wyver as a known Olympian.

Did you drink the water, or was just being around it enough? How long did it last?

[gekkajuu]

Yes, that could be tricky.
Wait - you can fly?!

We went into the water, actually! There was no effect before that, and it wore off pretty quickly once we got out of it.

[fiendennor]

So it requires submersion, or at least immersion. I'll keep that in mind, thank you. And yes, I can fly on my broom. I'd be a poor witch if I couldn't. [Like some friends she can name.]

[gekkajuu]

[A witch... But of course. Atsushi can't even bring himself to feel surprised.]

There really are all sorts of people among the refugees, aren't there?

[fiendennor]

I suppose. It's hardly unusual, where I'm from.

[gekkajuu]

Magic in general doesn't exist where I'm from. But then, abilities are not so different.

[fiendennor]

That's hard for me to imagine.
There are nonmagical communities, of course, and much of the world thinks of magic and those who practice it as archaic in many ways.

But a world without magic is hard to conceive of, to be honest.

[gekkajuu]

Magic is nothing but fairy tales, in my world.
That, or it's a considerably big secret. Even abilities are just becoming common knowledge, so I don't think that's too much of a stretch.

[He's not even going to mention what witches are supposedly like.]

[fiendennor]

I've identified three typical types of worlds that we refugees come from, insofar as magic is concerned.

1, worlds where magic is a known quantity, perhaps even common. A world like mine, for instance.
2, worlds where magic exists, but only in secret. It is not commonly known outside of select circles.
3, worlds where there is no magic.

The trouble is that a 2 and 3 look identical, from the perspective of one who isn't in on the secret.

[gekkajuu]

That's true. You can never be sure, can you?

Still, I think I would have heard something about magic if it existed in my world, probably.

[fiendennor]

What makes you think that?
If it is a secret, presumably it would be one that's very well kept.

[gekkajuu]

At least the government would know, surely? And while where I worked wasn't anything so official, they were fairly well-connected.

Some people in particular would know if it existed, I feel. And I don't see why they would have kept it secret from me.

[fiendennor]

Perhaps that's true. If you had governmental contacts, I suppose you'd be in as good a position to know as any.

But there's no being completely 100% sure, either way.

[gekkajuu]

You're right, there's definitely no being sure.

Maybe it doesn't matter, anyway. Magic or no magic, that place doesn't exist anymore.

[fiendennor]

I suppose. You're right. I'm just kind of curious, if I'm to be perfectly honest.

[gekkajuu]

It's hard to let go of the past, isn't it?

Or rather: it's hard to know how much to let go of without simply losing everything.

[fiendennor]

Exactly.
It's one thing if we're attached to physical objects or places that no longer exist.
But what about things like philosophies, or traditions?

[gekkajuu]

In a lot of ways, people are people, wherever you go. Knowing that has really reassured me.

But now I can't help but wonder if sometimes the important things are in the details.

I'm still glad to have met everyone I know now that I would never have met before! But I'm also glad to have people here I know from before. From physical places to traditions, they've witnessed more or less the same things I did.