The elves created secret passages everywhere

[magicalarchaeologist]

WHO: Istredd and anyone!
WHAT: Catch-all for September
WHERE: Thorne, Horizon, Nocwich
WHEN: Nebulous all over September stuff.
WARNINGS: Spoilers for The Witcher season 3! PTSD from details within the season.





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[magicalarchaeologist]

Istredd is not usually accosted so quickly after leaving a class so he's startled at first, both by the grip on his arm and Catra's obvious anxiety. It leads him to touch her shoulder gently, meant to be comforting, her concern bleeding easily into his.

"It's okay, Catra, just breathe." He knows how terrifying magic is for her, she told him from the start, and he heard more about it from Adora. They have more in common than most, which is why Istredd wants to ease her suffering. "It might have been the Singularity, it gives people abilities sometimes." Since Catra wouldn't have picked magic on her own, it's the only logical explanation.

Istredd's confused by the bird since it really should not be in the castle. "The only way to make yourself an anti-magic zone is to use a magic spell." Counter-productive, for certain, but true. Istredd glances at the bird. "Is it that? Maybe a familiar?"

[catchtheseclaws]

"I am breathing," Catra hisses, though the breathless nature of it might suggest otherwise. She forces herself to stop, and takes a deep breath, somehow managing to sound cross about it.

Okay. She can get her point across calmly. Maybe.

"I'm pretty sure it's a Horizon thing," she grumbles. "I was told it changes you the first time you go in. And I went in, and then there was that." She points an accusatory claw at the bird, who just looks pleased with themselves, blinking in the sun coming through the window. "And sometimes they say things in my head. They stopped when I told them to, though."

She forces her hand to uncurl, letting go of Istredd's elbow. But it tightens back into a fist again right away, her hackles up, ears flat, every inch of her screaming discomfort. "If they are a familiar, can I make them go away?" she asks, tone flat.

[magicalarchaeologist]

"Yes, the Singularity can do that after you visit the Horizon, something of an unexpected or unwanted gift." Istredd knows the Singularity doesn't 'think' the way humans do, so the concept of 'gift' is not the same thing, but it does bestow unexpected abilities onto the people who go through. Possibly just by absorbing the magic in the Horizon, no one knows for certain yet.

"They listened then, that's a good sign." When she told them to stop talking in her head. It's a step in the right direction. This familiar is out of control, brand new. Istredd puts a gentle hand on her shoulder to continue to be reassuring as much as he can, looking carefully at the bird.

It's possible he could force it to go, but if this is Catra's ability she would likely accidentally call it back right away. It wouldn't be that simple. "See if you can command them to go. Tell them first, and if that doesn't work, ask them to." It's hard to know if being polite will matter here or not. "Make sure you mean it."