voidtreckernet | [Nebula 3, morning] Nothing ventured...

[Normally Zelgadis keeps the camera off when using the ICP. Today he's not doing so.]

Since missions seem to come around every month, I wanted to get this out of the way before we end up on some strange new place, but after the train picked up new passengers.

I want to talk magic. And I don't mean everyone's weird powers, but the sort where you learn and cast spells. Because it occurs to me that it might be possible for one person to replicate another world's spells using their own magical framework. Well, not impossible. Worth testing.

If that's interesting to you, I'll be in the library for most of today, but I can hear the ICP. Might help to hash out the theory before we experiment.

[Zelgadis looks like he's about to end the message, and hesitates a moment.]

Also, it might be worth discussing what limits there are on magic. I know what sorcerers in my world consider difficult problems, but not if those are universal.

[another hesitation]

I have a particular interest in magic used to transform. It's not something I've had much luck with in my own world.

[This time he does end the message posting. He doesn't want to publicly ask straight out. Well, not yet. He's not feeling desperate yet. But he has to know, and if this also turns out something everyone finds useful, so much the better.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

... I knew someone who was cursed to be turned into another species. We had to lift the curse first before we could use the spell. So was it a spell or was it a curse?

The costs can come later. First we need to determine if the spell is even possible.

Right. Right.

[Zelgadis isn't sure how he feels about someone else being stuck like he is. He wouldn't wish it on anyone, but... it is weirdly comforting to think that he's not the guinea pig for this spell, and that someone, somewhere understands what this is like]

I don't think it was a curse. The person doing it was experimenting with chimera and wanted to see if he could transform a human as a test.

Of course, he told me that it was a gift to make me stronger...

[Yes, he's bitter.]

[His lip curls a bit and he looks away, taking a deep breath. Experimenting... it's an important part of magic, but not under false circumstances. He collects himself and looks back at Zelgadis.]

If it was just that... then... well. What we'd need is an amount of clay that weighs the same as you and gemstone dust.

For what it's worth... I am sorry you had to go through such a thing.

Right. The train sells things. I don't know how much that costs, but I can get the points.

[he shouldn't have gotten the sword, then]

{He's still looking very stunned. Zelgadis did not expect this to work, even as he is going full in on the spell.]

... I know it's a lot to take in. Do you... need to talk about it?

[He's not the best person for it, but he's the person who's here.]

I guess. Just... I've been looking for years. Even found out that it's impossible in my own world, from my... the person who did it. And I don't think he would lie under the circumstances.

Finding out it is possible, just not in my world two months after coming here, just by asking... It's a lot. Hard not to believe it's another false lead.

... Chasing after something impossible... I know how that feels. I... have been looking for something that I do not know if it exists in my world. A solution to a problem of my own making.

[He looks away, staring at the floor.]

If someone simply presented it to me, I would likely be similarly shocked. ... but I've seen it before. How uncomfortable someone can be in their own skin.

[Caleb looks back at Zelgadis, though doesn't quite meet his gaze.]

If I can help with that... I will.

Thank you.

What is the problem, if you don't mind me asking?

[He hesitates. He can't go into all of the details - that's too personal. How to put it...]

I... I killed - or was... pushed into killing - two people who were very important to me.

[Zelgadis winced]

Yeah... my world's magic can't help with that.

[Which... he'd been hoping he could repay Caleb easily, and this was not going to be the path.]

It's all right. I...

[His feelings on it are more... complicated, these days.]

Let's work on your end before you even think of trying to repay me.

I am going to repay you, though. I don't know if I can, but I will try.

I - ah. It's not - suit yourself.

[A small blush makes its way across his cheeks. It's really not necessary... but he won't say no.]

Look, this is something I need to do, for my own conscience, even if you didn't ask for payment. You're essentially a stranger to me, and are offering this.

... I understand. No, I would feel the same way. I... ah. Am just not used to...

[Feeling like he deserves gratitude.]

Anyway. It will take some time to acquire the items needed. And we'll have to find a suitable space for it. The last time we did this, the bathtub we used as a lining shattered.

[...]

Was anyone hurt?

No one except the bathtub.

That's a relief. I'm told the train itself is pretty tough, but that might not apply to the furnishings.

Well, we don't need a bathtub, and we don't have one anyway. It was more for comfort's sake.

[Nebula 3, morning] Nothing ventured...

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