"It would have to be translucent - and maybe in layers one could pull apart to look - this sounds very complicated to do, actually, it is probably not worth thousands of candlemarks if the frustrating notation is at least legible." 

"You get used to it."

Nod. "Anyway, my current sense from watching you is that I see energy moving along the harmonics-pathways when you are doing sorcery, but not afterward, and the effects of the sorcery remain - whereas in our magic, most spells with a lasting effect do show up as energy to mage-sight, and last as long as the energy does." 

"Huh. I guess sorcery is setting up background conditions for a thing to be a certain way, and magery is just forcing the thing along."

"I suppose an exception would be using mage-craft to refine metal from ore, for example - it is just metal afterward, not magical in itself. I wonder if that would show up to you as altering the harmonics, though?" 

"Probably while you were doing it and not afterward? But if I transmute a metal it doesn't act harmonically odd afterward either."

"Right, that makes sense. Does it have different harmonics than the ore did, though - if you put the lights on it, would they be a little different? I am trying to figure out what sorts of underlying conditions are reflecting in harmonics." 

"Rocks are usually harmonically boring. Living things do more."

Nod. "Is there anything you would be curious to test, about interactions between our kinds of magic?" 

"I guess it's occurred to me to wonder if shields block sorcery at all. It seems to me they shouldn't but I don't know."

"I can try casting the sort of shield that would block mage-work, over your garden, and then see if this prevents you from using your sorcery on the plants?" 

"Sure."

Leareth does so. 

She grows the plant. "It's slower," she reports. "Or, well, about the same speed as when I first started. I think it's because there's harmonic effects I'm not accounting for from your shield so it's like I don't know the area well. But it's not blocking me outright."

"- That is very impressive." And a little frightening. "I wonder if I could in theory invent a type of shield that either blocks sorcery, or at least blocks your ability to analyze harmonics on a new location. It would be difficult, though, if it is possible at all." 

"I usually don't know the harmonics in detail when I cast things. All those healings and so on were done in novel locations under the assumption that the harmonics around them probably reflected the presence of a living mortal but nothing more specific. Knowing the harmonics makes me better at doing things precisely and quickly but it doesn't make or break a spell."

Leareth nods, thoughtful. "I suppose mage-sight is also not actually necessary for most spells, just something I am used to having." 

"Somebody who could see harmonics would be an amazing sorcerer. But we can't, we just do the thing with the lights and learn our way around familiar places. A proper sorcerer can cast cold somewhere new."

"Because you learn how harmonics tend to work in general, and then can guess adequately even in a new place?" 

"Because we don't rely on them. They're interesting and useful but I can learn enough with senses I actually have."

Nod. "Anyway, I had better head back to my work. Thank you for the explanation - I may come by again later and ask you more questions as they occur to me." 

"All right."

Leareth heads off. 

The usual routine resumes. Promise is offered supper at the usual time, and curious staff swing by once in a while to be impressed by her tree and garden. Copies of books she requested arrive. 

Eventually she has enough plants that she can share her salad with Sapphire at suppertime.

"It's very pretty!" Sapphire compliments her, and eagerly tastes it.