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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[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.]

The fountain again is it? [ Helios nods eyes closing as he steps into the circle--confident and sure that it'll work. Except it...doesn't. There's not light burning his eyelids and there's certainly no absolute silence as one travels through space to their destination. His green eyes open wide first a startled expression then just plain old confusion. ]

It--it didn't work. [ What. Wait. ] It didn't work?

[Robert counts the beats before he can call the results of his experiment. One second, two seconds, three seconds...

Nothing. The circle doesn't glow. It doesn't react to Helios' obvious concentration.

It's just a plain chalk circle with a bloody symbol in the centre.]

I was right.

Let me see if I can delineate my hypothesis. [He pauses, thoughtfully, studying Helios' puzzled expression.] I thought that, perhaps, our physics in Luceti are restricted to our selves, by whatever manner the Malnosso use. It certainly would explain why our bodies behave differently to the same situation...

According to this hypothesis, when you drew that first circle, it was... your own physics acting on that circle, as a consequence of you drawing it. And that was why it remained magical, even after I finished it.

[He continues after a moment.]

But when I drew it - even though it was identical - and you finished it... My physics were acting on the drawing as I made it. Meaning it is nothing more than a chalk drawing.

[He looks pointedly at Helios.] Evidence that my world has no magic.

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

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