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In Paraasilan, Esmaar, a pair of roommates are about to break a rule that, compared to the one about running in the corridors or even the one about unlicensed teleportation, is there for a good reason.
In unison, they complete their shared spell.
Brilliance in Elcenia
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cardistry
It's not the kind of magical communication he's used to, but he adapts. <I have interworld transfer magic,> he responds, and tries it.
<...Or not. What did they even do?>
<...Or not. What did they even do?>
<They summoned you at random in an ill-advised attempt to impress a classmate. It shouldn't have affected what magic you have, but depending on how your magic works, it might have made it less accessible - for example, wizardry, the kind they used to summon you, wouldn't work outside of this world.>
cardistry
Huh.
He tries a fast mass-finding spell to locate the nearest ten planets, adjusting for the fact that this dimension seems to have constant atmosphere even in deep space. That works just fine, and they're plenty far enough away, so he shifts forms (if Keo is watching, she may find that his emotions ripple strangely) and whispers the incantation that destroyed his creators' planet.
That also works.
<The rest of my magic doesn't seem to have anything wrong with it,> he says. <It's just interworld travel I can't do. No big deal, I guess. It's not like I have anywhere to be.>
He tries a fast mass-finding spell to locate the nearest ten planets, adjusting for the fact that this dimension seems to have constant atmosphere even in deep space. That works just fine, and they're plenty far enough away, so he shifts forms (if Keo is watching, she may find that his emotions ripple strangely) and whispers the incantation that destroyed his creators' planet.
That also works.
<The rest of my magic doesn't seem to have anything wrong with it,> he says. <It's just interworld travel I can't do. No big deal, I guess. It's not like I have anywhere to be.>
<I'm glad you aren't unduly distressed by the relocation. All the same, Korulen should be able to reverse the spell for you on her own after getting a familiar.>
If she notices, she doesn't comment.
If she notices, she doesn't comment.
cardistry
<I was pretty distressed at first,> he reminds her. <But yeah, a whole universe is plenty big enough for me. Especially now that I don't have to spend all my time trying not to blow any of it up.>
<The school is responsible for you regardless, so if you need anything, you can ask me. I'll notice if you think my name deliberately and firmly from any distance.>
<I'm pretty weird. But it's convenient.>
cardistry
<I guess.>
He estimates the coordinates to land on the other side of the door that he remembers led out of Korulen and Saasnil's room, and teleports back to the school.
<What kind of school is it? School of Weird Magic?>
He estimates the coordinates to land on the other side of the door that he remembers led out of Korulen and Saasnil's room, and teleports back to the school.
<What kind of school is it? School of Weird Magic?>
<School of commonplace magic. Nobody else does what I do. There'd be little point in trying to teach it.>
cardistry
<Your commonplace magic is still plenty weird to me,> he observes, peering around curiously and going up to a wall to touch it. He forgot the sensory immediacy of this form.
<It's called wizardry. Nearly anyone native to this world can learn it in one form or another.>
cardistry
This wall is a good wall. Brilliance snuggles it. Human-style tactile feedback is the best.
<How's it work? I'm not detecting any energy sources. Far as I can tell, this whole universe is magically null.>
<How's it work? I'm not detecting any energy sources. Far as I can tell, this whole universe is magically null.>
<Sounds like you only detect your kind of magic. I wouldn't expect any of the same thing to turn up in another world.>
cardistry
<...We have got to be talking at cross-purposes here,> he says. <I've been to at least a couple dozen worlds and magic worked the same way in all of them. Is my magic really popular or is your world really weird or what?>
<Maybe you mean something more adjacent than entire worlds? Or your magic will only transport you to worlds with the same magic in the first place so it can continue to operate, as some kind of safety mechanism.>
cardistry
<'More adjacent' sounds like it's on the right track. The coordinates I'm getting for this world are... kind of strange. It feels like, I don't know, like I've been jumping around between planets and now I'm in a whole different - why does this language not have a word for "galaxy"? Even "solar system" sounds wrong. Does this have to do with the thing where the whole universe is full of air?>
<Is your universe not full of air?> inquires Keo. <"Galaxy"... things don't cluster like that here.>
cardistry
<All the universes I've been to are mostly full of vacuum. Which you only barely have a word for, apparently. Planets have air, some of 'em, and moons can too if they're big enough, but in between those there's nothing.>
<I'll understand you no matter what language you speak, by the way, dragons can do that.>
<Isn't it?> she agrees. <Figuring out what questions you want to ask by examining Leraal is reasonable, but if you want to switch I'll keep up.>
cardistry
He ceases to snuggle the wall and instead wanders along the hallway, looking for a door that doesn't look like it leads to somebody's room.
There's one!
It has a sign: Stairs - Do Not Enter - Use Lifts
<Why is there a warning sign on your stairs?>
There's one!
It has a sign: Stairs - Do Not Enter - Use Lifts
<Why is there a warning sign on your stairs?>
<The stairs are badly enchanted and will get you lost. If you can teleport they're not a terrible danger, but a lot of the students can't yet.>
cardistry
<Sounds interesting,> he says. In he goes. <What happened, how'd they end up like that?>