folklorist | ϡ - Chapter Twenty; those who have gone missing [action/voice]

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ϡ - Chapter Twenty; those who have gone missing [action/voice]

[ There's a clear strained sigh coming from the opposite end of the transmission. A few moments later some shuffling as someone moves about in the background. ] Frederic's been...taken. He, um, has been for awhile. I-I wasn't supposed to make anyone worry, I'm terribly sorry for not saying so sooner. [ There's a clear tone of guilt in his voice. It goes against Frederic's wishes but he has been gone for awhile. Helios will pull out a chair and take a seat next to his journal. ]

I'm not sure when he'll back, but I thought his friends should know. I apologize for this--especially before the holiday. [ A pause accompanied by a sigh. ] I don't understand why they do such things in the first place.

[ Filtered Poorly, lol how does I technology, to Poland ]

Frederic left you a letter. He asked me to deliver it to you. Do you mind if I stop by?

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[That rationale seems strange, but who is Robert to question this kind of thing? Robert's world is so different from Helios' anyway. And what exactly is a soul made of? This is the second time they've been mentioned as something real.]

... Souls, hm? [Robert's expression looks momentarily derisive, but... He sighs.] And what if one doesn't have a soul? Since... Terra never had any evidence for any.

... Still.

[Robert looks down at his hands again. The urge to learn - to know, to see this for himself - is overpowering. Finally he looks up and kind of uncomfortably levels his gaze.]

... Do you perhaps have a... sterile cutting implement?... [Robert... really does want to see if this works. Enough that he's willing to cut himself.]

Doesn't have a soul? [ Helios is oddly without an answer. Usually soulless creatures in his world were demons and the like. But now that Robert had mentioned it in his world...it was strange to think in all honesty. ]

Really I've never thought about it really. But not having a soul...hm, it's a very interesting question. [ Helios will blink, returning to the current situation. Helios will nod and go into his room to retrieve a small knife. A small flame will erupt in his palm and he'll run the blade's edge through until it glows a light orange. ]

There. Are you sure you want to? It--you don't have to.

Well, until I came here the idea of having one seemed preposterous. And then somebody spoke of being able to see souls... and now they also apparently exist in your world. [Robert sighs a little.] It can't be helped, I suppose. Maybe Terra is simply the anomaly.

[Robert watches Helios cauterize the blade. It's... disturbing, what Robert plans to do with it. Robert doesn't think he's ever cut living skin on purpose.

But... This was for the purposes of knowledge. And it was a minor wound, and only harming himself. It was ethically justifiable.]

I... wish to... test this. I would not be a scientist if I did not test hypotheses. [Robert takes the knife. turning it over in his hands. It's a weapon. It's dangerous. On Terra it would be illegal. Robert's expression is somewhere between terrified and fascinated as he studies it.]

... Is this specifically for cutting yourself with? [A strange question to have to ask, but... Robert turns the blade so the still-hot metal hovers above his skin. He doesn't want to slice into his hand - there are too many nerves and small muscles there that could be damaged. But... there's his arm. It's already damaged, after all.

After a moment of internal struggle, Robert pulls one of his sleeves up to expose part of his arm. It's not a heavily scarred part, but Helios might notice a few strange circular scars... But his attention might be distracted by Robert clumsily slicing a line in his arm; it's only a shallow cut, just enough to cause blood to well up along its length, but it's a cut nonetheless. Robert hisses slightly at the pain, and his gray eyes cloud, but his voice is oddly professionally-detached when he speaks.]

... So what do I do with the resulting wound? [It's almost as if he hasn't injured himself at all. But that might be Robert's way of dealing with the strangeness of the situation.]

All worlds have different ideas of souls I would gather. [ He watches the other carefully handing over the blade. ]

You're quite dedicated to your work. Not that I expected anything less from someone of your caliber. [ Helios nods he makes short work of drawing a chalk like circle on the floor. It comes easily to him, like he's done it a million times before, and probably has. So now there's one white circle in the middle of him living room floor. ] A-Actually it-it is. [ It makes him sound odd actually agreeing with that, but in all honest truth he rather only have one to use than several. Not that the instrument matters. Helios does watch noting the obvious discomfort but he gives the other a small acknowledging, comforting smile. He'll hold up a finger and look over at the circle he's drawn. There's an empty space in its center and Helios quickly draw a symbol on a scrap piece of paper. He'll show it to Robert with a smile. ]

Simply draw the symbol in the center of the circle and have a clear picture of where it is you want to go. An address of the place would work as well, but for now a simple mental image will suffice.

[Robert's gaze flickers from his bleeding arm to the immaculate, precise chalk-like circle marked into the floor. It's actually strangely beautiful - and it really does remind him of the delicate silicate structures of the diatom-like organisms on Gliese 581 g.

It's just so strange that it needs blood to work. But Robert figures he's already cut himself - so why not? Plus Helios' reassuring smile makes him feel a bit better about having done it.

Robert studies the symbol drawn onto the paper. It's nothing he recognizes, but it has an organic shape that reminds him of a stomach. Odd.]

Certainly. [Robert looks at the blood on his arm. Before it has a chance to congeal, he picks it up on his fingertip and begins to meticulously replicate the symbol in the closest-to-dead-centre he can muster. It's almost a ridiculous picture - Robert oh-so-carefully painting a symbol with his blood on the floor. The detached part of his mind wonders if the stain will ever come off.

A mental picture of a region, huh? Robert's mind instantly goes to the fountain in the village square. It's an easy-to-remember landmark, after all, and so significant.] The... fountain. In the village square. Is that acceptable, Helios?

Mm yes that's perfect. Now just...step inside it and concentrate. [ If it works there's going to a bright blue ring that'll glow around the outside of the circle once Robert enters it. ]

[Here goes nothing. Robert steps into the circle and closes his eyes, still aware of the blood on his arm. He concentrates as hard as possible - and for him, that's pretty damn hard - on the image of the fountain, trying to keep it as detailed as possible. He can tell there's light glowing around him - not just see it, behind his eyelids, but feel it - but he doesn't open his eyes to look. Yet. He's afraid of somehow ruining this.

Then he feels a wrenching feeling in his stomach - a sensation very much akin to the sensation of sudden motion one experiences when one stands on a moving elevator platform. And suddenly the air around him is cold.

Freezing, in fact.

Robert's eyes flicker open. He is most certainly not at the fountain. In fact, he's only a few feet away from the door of Community Building Five. Still, the fact remains is that the spell actually worked.

It's a few moments before he opens the journal and speaks into it.]

I-I... Bloody hell it worked. But I'm n-not at the fountain. In fact, I am barely outside the building.

... Still, it... I can't believe it actually worked.

[ Just a 'Ha!' from his end. ] It worked? Wonderful! I knew it would regardless of homeworlds correlation to magical attributes.

Would you like me come back down and get you? [ He sounds rather amused. Not at the other's disbelief but the fact that it actually worked! Despite the original destination not being reached it's definately a start. ]

[Don't mind Robert, he's still being stunned over here.] Ah. Yes. I would.

... Dear gods. I... I just cast magic. I cast magic. [Robert just keeps shaking his head slowly.] I... ... How many principles of physics did I just violate doing that?

It has to be at least three.

[ Helios will be down in a few moments because he practically ran down the stairs, okay? Also he's slightly out of breath as he walks outside. ]

Robert are you...alright? [ No signs of physical injury. Helios isn't sure of his mental state however. ] I'm absolutely fascinated! I honestly didn't know if it would work given what you've told me of your world. The outcome was much better than I had predicted though.

[Yeah, Robert's mental state? That's not doing too well right now. He keeps staring down at his hands, which are noticeably shaky. Just slightly. But it's enough to tell he's honestly overwhelmed with what just happened. He's nearly constantly mumbling to himself.]

... principles of conservation of energy... a-and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, and... and... bah, I don't know... how could this happen? Terra doesn't have magic. I know it doesn't.

[He looks up at Helios almost pleadingly.]

... How did this work? Why? This isn't supposed to be possible. [A definite look of... panic, on Robert's face.] I don't understand. [And when he admits that there's a problem.]

[ Helios will be rubbing the back of his neck. He honestly didn't know how it worked but the whole thing has obviously shaken the other. ] Robert...um, perhaps it was because this isn't Terra. Luceti is known for having odd effects on people. The filial spirits, for example, let anyone regardless of being from a magicless world to use magic.

[ Helios will walk over to the other. ] You didn't make to your destination though. But it's still rather good for using it for the first time.

[After a laborious moment, Robert stands. He's still clearly unnerved, but Helios' logic does seem to be sound enough.]

... I... I thought perhaps that it was limited to only certain individuals. Like the physics here seem to be. ... [Robert takes a few slow breaths, as calm as he can make them.]

... perhaps... there is an explanation for this. Perhaps. It... It might've had something to do with the fact you prepared the spell and I simply finished it. [Really Robert is just desperately hoping that everything about Terra isn't null and void.]

True. Certain things will affect certain people more so than others. Like beings predisposed to magic. I'm certain anyone of them could preform my spell, and yet here you are semi-completing it all on your own. [ He'll walk up closer eying the other to make sure he's alright and not hurt anyway. ]

You know that actually might be the case. Considering you didn't fully reach your destination. We'd have to test it--if you'd like to try again that is. [ He says that tentatively looking back and forth between Robert and the building. ] Perhaps another time...

Let me... let me try something. [It's a shot in the dark, but Robert's mind wonders...]

... If I am correct in my hypothesis, then...

... I would need to copy that circle exactly. [Robert looks at Helios.] Is there any specific procedure or do you simply draw it? [Robert's face looks... serious. He's in full-on researching mode and his mind is already thinking of what could be happening.]

[ Helios will nod still closely keeping an eye on Robert. ]

Yes of course. Ah! N-No there isn't really. You simply need to draw it that's all.

Do you have a copy of it I could reference? And a surface upon which I could enscribe it? [Robert scans the area - there's too much snow out here.] We may have to return to your apartment... there are few places here where it would fit, if I recall the dimensions correctly.

[Robert's thinking. If the physics of their world encompass them only... then what happens if he tries to make the spell and has Helios finish it, instead?]

The apartment would be best; there's far too much snow outside to recreate it properly. [ He's mildly curious what the other's thinking. His own curiosity seemingly feeding off Robert's. ] And I most certainly do! I do always keep a book of these circles handy, you know, just in case on needs them in emergencies.

Then we should get back inside immediately. [This is enough motivation for Robert to actually head inside and start scaling the stairs. Yes, he's physically inept - but he's so focused on this now that his heavy breathing isn't bothering him.

It doesn't take him long to get up the stairs at that rate, though he's wheezing by the fifth floor. Regardless, his voice is relatively clear as he approaches the door of Helios' apartment again.]

I m-must copy exactly what you did... To the smallest detail. I need to eliminate experimental bias.

[He pauses a moment before looking over at Helios.] I will need your help to test this - if you'll agree, you'll be going to attempt to finish the spell I make.

[ Helios will follow hoping that Robert isn't overexerting himself too much. That'd be dreadful because while experimenting and testing spells is always wonderful, Helios does concern himself more with people's well being first. He will open the door for Robert to enter just then. ] Do you...want to rest a little before testing this? I'd feel awful if you got hurt or sick because of overworking yourself. [ Not that he never does that or anything. Ironic. ]

And the good thing about spells is they never run out. As long as you have the circle written somewhere it's easy to replicate.

I-I... I'm alright. [Not entirely true, but Robert doesn't want to let this thought slide before he has the chance to act on it - and he's not so out of breath that it'd be impossible for him to draw.]

May I see the c-copy of that circle? [The hitch in his breath is already decreasing as his pulse slows to normal, now that he has a moment to stand there and think. He glances on the floor where the mark was ~~(is it still there?)~~.] I should use the same thing you used to create it. These need to be as identical as possible.

If you insist. [ Helios is still mildly worried about you Robert but he does commend your tenacity for information gathering. Helios will blink and then turn to the small coffee table. ] Oh! Yes, one moment!

[ He'll go back to it then shuffling through papers before a slight 'aha!' escapes his lips. He'll turn back to the scientist handing over a sheet of paper with a black marker drawn circle in it. It's carefully drawn and extraordinarily detailed. Each inch of the circle covered with symbols that probably mean nothing to Robert. But it's like a whole language to Helios. ] Mm here it is.

[It's okay, this is worrying behaviour for most people. With Robert, the drive to know comes before most actual logical things, hence his downright irrational behaviour.

As soon as Helios hands Robert the sheet, he takes the chalk Helios had been using earlier and begins meticulously copying the exact figure. Though Robert is no artist, when he wants to be precise, he is - and so the chalk picture on the ground looks nearly-identical to the marker drawing after some time of Robert fussing over it. ]

Hopefully that is accurate enough... N-Now, you attempt to finish it. [Robert stands up, adjusting his glasses with a determined expression.]

[ Helios' eyebrow raises in surprise. ] It's very accurate for a first time drawing. Though I shouldn't be surprised considering who it is drawing it.

[ Helios will nod taking the knife used before and cleaning it, sterilizing it and then pricking his finger. With the blood he'll finish the circle on the floor. ] There. Just repeat what you did before.

Alright... ostensibly the circles are nearly identical.

Now, you do what I did before - step into the circle and concentrate on an image. If I'm correct... [Robert lets his statement hang. So far, nothing's changed.]

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ϡ - Chapter Twenty; those who have gone missing [action/voice]

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