[ He means to watch closely as Claire works with the seeds as curiosity gets the better of him - what better than a demonstration? - though he looks up at her occasionally. ]
I think that's partially because no one can agree what the Singularity is. Hell, even the nations can't. I don't agree with the Free Cities' stance on destroying it since that seems like it'd disrupt too much, but maybe they know something we don't. Or maybe the Acolytes know something we don't.
[ Claude's happier not knowing anything about them, specifically, or wherever they're jailed. What's yet to come with the execution being murmured about will only solidify that in his mind, but for now, and where he doesn't know any of that, he leans forward again to watch as the seeds abruptly turn into seedlings. ]
That's fascinating. [ Her excitement is catching, and Claude reaches out to brush one of the leaves with a fingertip tentatively to not damage it accidentally. There's so many possibilities there, and he nods at the mention of practice. ] How you found your ability sounds a lot like how I found mine: by accident. It's not the same but practice did help me refine it after a while, so I'd say this could certainly be the same. You might be able to grow a garden before too long.
[ A grin crosses his face since he's fully teasing, but: ] Unfortunately I can't promise anything quite so thrilling in the way of magic there, but I might also be able to teach you wind spells. They're mostly meant to damage but they could also come in handy on a day when there's warm weather.
[ There's the creeping feeling that if the Singularity is destroyed, they might all be destroyed along with it, or at least the magic will fail and then what? It's better not to think about it now. Instead, she's happy to focus on the magic. ]
Wouldn't that be something? To be able to grow things without worrying over harsh winters or droughts?
[ Her thoughts creep back to the discord among the factions and thinks if there's ever a crisis and food is cut off, this will come in very useful. 'Wind spells' pulls her thought back and she laughs with delight. ]
I'll use that one when I'm toiling away outside on the things I can't make go a bit faster just yet. With the right amount though, that wind could become a tornado, so I see where it might be useful defensively. Honestly, nothing to sneeze at.
[ Her tone is light, too delighted with the turn in their conversation. ]
The things I know aren't magical, but I'm always happy to pass on medical or plant knowledge.
It would. It's difficult not to only think of the hot and dry climate of Cadens and what seems like the rest of the Free Cities, but also where I came from. Being able to stabilize the output from fields in the form of guaranteed crops would make such a difference.
[ Something to consider in terms of his own gardening projects here in Abraxas that'd been placed on hold when it came to the larger, broader goals - though to be able to do it with such ease as Claire's demonstrated seems unlikely without several years of study at an academy... and one likely outside of the Free Cities which seems even less likely. Better to focus on controlling the wind since her enthusiasm is contagious once again. ]
One of the spells I know involves conjuring several small or one large wind blade and I'd imagine it makes a good substitute for harvesting crops without a scythe. Of course, I also used it to help someone jump across a gap in the floor in a collapsing building here, so in the spirit of experimenting there's probably even more yet to use it for.
[ And since she was kind enough to provide a demonstration, it's easy to do the same as Claude lifts a hand for the lesser spell. With the sigils called to mind a light breeze is called forth with only enough strength to lightly rustle the plant's leaves. ]
I didn't know any magic until I attended the academy. I'm not sure I would've ever known it otherwise, and I've heard others say the same about the magic here. That's all the more reason to take advantage of what we can learn from each other since medicine isn't something I would've known without meeting you or Nadine. [ And with a half smile as he lets the spell go to fade into stillness again, ] I think that's a good trade for all of us.
In many parts of the world for me, as well. During and after war typically comes famine. At least up to a certain point in history so far, and even then, still in certain places.
[ Money, gender, location in the world, and more all walk (an unfortunate, awful) a fine line between the haves and havenots.
His creative use of magic makes her chuckle under her breath. ] I won't be leaping across large gaps anytime soon—I should hope—and my joints will thank me for it.
[ Then she pays rapt attention to the use of his magic. Every person she's watched demonstrate their ability has captured her attention, because it's absolutely incredible to her. And the fact that she can learn with focus and study is even more astounding. Magic isn't all about human sacrifice after all. Take that, Geillis Duncan. ]
You certainly give me hope for learning more, then. Even if it's slow going, it's something to work toward. Thank you for showing me some of what you're capable of, I can see with power behind it, that would be a time and energy saver.
[ Claire smiles at the mention of Nadine, and then she's smiling at Claude's words. ]
I agree. It may sound very school-teacher of me, but knowledge is power, truly. Trust someone who traveled back in time and lost two-hundred years' worth of discoveries based on knowledge.
War does terrible things no matter where it lands, and whether one's on the 'winning' side or those who lost even more.
[ Graveness seeps into his tone there since he's in full agreement: what havoc war wreaks upon the lands where it takes place is terrible with so few - if any - exceptions. This isn't lost on him despite being on the victorious side of the one he'd lived through considering there's so much to be done and the former Empire and Kingdom have much rebuilding to do.
It's not something either of them would prefer to dwell on, he's sure, so it's easy enough to shift back to magic and the matter of knowledge. ]
Truthfully, I don't think I want to use magic to jump across anything any time soon either. I'm just glad Steve was up for it since I was happier crawling around the exterior of the building to find a way over and in to where he was.
[ That's another tangent, so with a slight wave of his had as though to brush the thought away he adds, ] And of course. Hilda and Sylvain - someone else from Fodlan - both know other spells that I'm sure they'd be happy to show you, too. None of us were proper mages, or at least I know I wasn't, but whatever we can pass on that'll be useful to someone else is something I feel secure in volunteering them to do. From what I've heard from others who've also traveled back in time in coming here, relatively speaking, it can't replace having what you're familiar with, but hopefully it'll serve as something to help nonetheless.
Any sort of reference point is helpful. I don't know what I thought time travel was, but I have to admit magic didn't cross my mind. Or it did, but it wasn't the word 'magic' that I thought of, then.
[ She shakes her head as if that will make her words more clear. ]
I'm rambling now. I've picked Hilda's brain a bit, and others have been quite gracious with sharing knowledge. Hopefully, by the next time we speak, I'll have a little more confidence surrounding...well. Everything.
[ Claire gives him a warm smile, finishing up her tea and tipping the cup back as she does. ]
To be fair, time travel's still such a strange concept to me I'm not sure I would've called it magic either. The same can be said about the Summoning ritual and how it's managed to bring us all here, but that might be getting a little too far away from the topic.
[ Tangent or not, they have a good start here. A very good one, really, and that's all the more exciting for what's yet to come between everything discussed yet and what he's sure will happen again when they do get into possible magic lessons or the comparison of what else they know from both home and here.
Even with time in the Horizon passing differently - to him, at least - it's been a while for someone who almost literally stumbled in to somewhere he didn't know and made himself at home. Claude finishes the rest of his tea as well and sets the cup back down. ]
I've taken up enough of your time for today, I think, but I have to thank you both for the hospitality and the tea. It's been a pleasure, and I'll be back sometime soon to bring the books by as promised. The confidence will come in time, I promise.
[ A smile goes with that last part since - he means it, whether it's with magic, adjusting to suddenly being in Abraxas, or anything in between. After a moment's debate he holds out a hand for a handshake, and then he's on his way. ]
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I think that's partially because no one can agree what the Singularity is. Hell, even the nations can't. I don't agree with the Free Cities' stance on destroying it since that seems like it'd disrupt too much, but maybe they know something we don't. Or maybe the Acolytes know something we don't.
[ Claude's happier not knowing anything about them, specifically, or wherever they're jailed. What's yet to come with the execution being murmured about will only solidify that in his mind, but for now, and where he doesn't know any of that, he leans forward again to watch as the seeds abruptly turn into seedlings. ]
That's fascinating. [ Her excitement is catching, and Claude reaches out to brush one of the leaves with a fingertip tentatively to not damage it accidentally. There's so many possibilities there, and he nods at the mention of practice. ] How you found your ability sounds a lot like how I found mine: by accident. It's not the same but practice did help me refine it after a while, so I'd say this could certainly be the same. You might be able to grow a garden before too long.
[ A grin crosses his face since he's fully teasing, but: ] Unfortunately I can't promise anything quite so thrilling in the way of magic there, but I might also be able to teach you wind spells. They're mostly meant to damage but they could also come in handy on a day when there's warm weather.
no subject
Wouldn't that be something? To be able to grow things without worrying over harsh winters or droughts?
[ Her thoughts creep back to the discord among the factions and thinks if there's ever a crisis and food is cut off, this will come in very useful. 'Wind spells' pulls her thought back and she laughs with delight. ]
I'll use that one when I'm toiling away outside on the things I can't make go a bit faster just yet. With the right amount though, that wind could become a tornado, so I see where it might be useful defensively. Honestly, nothing to sneeze at.
[ Her tone is light, too delighted with the turn in their conversation. ]
The things I know aren't magical, but I'm always happy to pass on medical or plant knowledge.
no subject
[ Something to consider in terms of his own gardening projects here in Abraxas that'd been placed on hold when it came to the larger, broader goals - though to be able to do it with such ease as Claire's demonstrated seems unlikely without several years of study at an academy... and one likely outside of the Free Cities which seems even less likely. Better to focus on controlling the wind since her enthusiasm is contagious once again. ]
One of the spells I know involves conjuring several small or one large wind blade and I'd imagine it makes a good substitute for harvesting crops without a scythe. Of course, I also used it to help someone jump across a gap in the floor in a collapsing building here, so in the spirit of experimenting there's probably even more yet to use it for.
[ And since she was kind enough to provide a demonstration, it's easy to do the same as Claude lifts a hand for the lesser spell. With the sigils called to mind a light breeze is called forth with only enough strength to lightly rustle the plant's leaves. ]
I didn't know any magic until I attended the academy. I'm not sure I would've ever known it otherwise, and I've heard others say the same about the magic here. That's all the more reason to take advantage of what we can learn from each other since medicine isn't something I would've known without meeting you or Nadine. [ And with a half smile as he lets the spell go to fade into stillness again, ] I think that's a good trade for all of us.
no subject
[ Money, gender, location in the world, and more all walk (an unfortunate, awful) a fine line between the haves and havenots.
His creative use of magic makes her chuckle under her breath. ] I won't be leaping across large gaps anytime soon—I should hope—and my joints will thank me for it.
[ Then she pays rapt attention to the use of his magic. Every person she's watched demonstrate their ability has captured her attention, because it's absolutely incredible to her. And the fact that she can learn with focus and study is even more astounding. Magic isn't all about human sacrifice after all. Take that, Geillis Duncan. ]
You certainly give me hope for learning more, then. Even if it's slow going, it's something to work toward. Thank you for showing me some of what you're capable of, I can see with power behind it, that would be a time and energy saver.
[ Claire smiles at the mention of Nadine, and then she's smiling at Claude's words. ]
I agree. It may sound very school-teacher of me, but knowledge is power, truly. Trust someone who traveled back in time and lost two-hundred years' worth of discoveries based on knowledge.
no subject
[ Graveness seeps into his tone there since he's in full agreement: what havoc war wreaks upon the lands where it takes place is terrible with so few - if any - exceptions. This isn't lost on him despite being on the victorious side of the one he'd lived through considering there's so much to be done and the former Empire and Kingdom have much rebuilding to do.
It's not something either of them would prefer to dwell on, he's sure, so it's easy enough to shift back to magic and the matter of knowledge. ]
Truthfully, I don't think I want to use magic to jump across anything any time soon either. I'm just glad Steve was up for it since I was happier crawling around the exterior of the building to find a way over and in to where he was.
[ That's another tangent, so with a slight wave of his had as though to brush the thought away he adds, ] And of course. Hilda and Sylvain - someone else from Fodlan - both know other spells that I'm sure they'd be happy to show you, too. None of us were proper mages, or at least I know I wasn't, but whatever we can pass on that'll be useful to someone else is something I feel secure in volunteering them to do. From what I've heard from others who've also traveled back in time in coming here, relatively speaking, it can't replace having what you're familiar with, but hopefully it'll serve as something to help nonetheless.
a wrap up soon, perhaps?
[ She shakes her head as if that will make her words more clear. ]
I'm rambling now. I've picked Hilda's brain a bit, and others have been quite gracious with sharing knowledge. Hopefully, by the next time we speak, I'll have a little more confidence surrounding...well. Everything.
[ Claire gives him a warm smile, finishing up her tea and tipping the cup back as she does. ]
absolutely, it's a wrap!
[ Tangent or not, they have a good start here. A very good one, really, and that's all the more exciting for what's yet to come between everything discussed yet and what he's sure will happen again when they do get into possible magic lessons or the comparison of what else they know from both home and here.
Even with time in the Horizon passing differently - to him, at least - it's been a while for someone who almost literally stumbled in to somewhere he didn't know and made himself at home. Claude finishes the rest of his tea as well and sets the cup back down. ]
I've taken up enough of your time for today, I think, but I have to thank you both for the hospitality and the tea. It's been a pleasure, and I'll be back sometime soon to bring the books by as promised. The confidence will come in time, I promise.
[ A smile goes with that last part since - he means it, whether it's with magic, adjusting to suddenly being in Abraxas, or anything in between. After a moment's debate he holds out a hand for a handshake, and then he's on his way. ]