mes études

[beheld_beauty]

Belle studies magic.

It's tricky. Getting into and out of her rose-sphere is routine after a few days, but she still hasn't uncovered an explanation of how channeling works, though she's been informed that there are three options for how to do it (by herself, through a willing helper, or through an unwilling helper). Unlike the fourfold options for reaching the Dreamworld, this does not tell her how to begin fumbling towards a practical understanding, even though she can rule out the last one just on the basis of its description.

Beast can only do so a tiny bit of reading per day, and her pile of books that she can read shrinks much faster than his. She combs the library for multilingual dictionaries, so she can pick her way through the titles of the foreign-language books and at least prioritize them before handing them over.

Finally something in an obscure language that even Beast can barely read - Belle has to look up a lot of words - explains the channeling in a way she can understand.

Comments

[deslandes]

"Maybe that was why she screamed so much. It looks like the channel needs to be there when the spell is cast, and there wasn't anyone else around."

[beheld_beauty]

"...This having been a long time ago, are you sure all you did was run into her and laugh?"

[deslandes]

"...She might have met my father," he says.

[beheld_beauty]

Belle isn't sure what this has to do with anything, so she waits.

[deslandes]

Apparently he thinks that constitutes a complete explanation, but after a few seconds he seems to notice that Belle disagrees.

"My father was a very unpleasant person," he elaborates.

[beheld_beauty]

"...So she punished you?"

[deslandes]

He shrugs.

"I wouldn't be surprised."

[beheld_beauty]

"My impression of her sanity only drops over time. Did she at least include him? Has he got his own hiding castle somewhere?"

[deslandes]

"Oh, he was dead before I ever met her," the Beast says casually.

[beheld_beauty]

More patient waiting-for-elaboration.

[deslandes]

He blinks his large brown eyes at her.

[beheld_beauty]

Okay then.

"So," Belle says, turning to her notes, "my impression is that I'll be able to handle it for small spells - anything in the Hedge-witch book, probably, I can look for my father first once I know how to turn having decided on a channel into being able to channel a spell through same - but I don't think I'd be able to hold together any more significant concentration through the medium-sized magic, let alone the larger things that I might need to do to disenchant the castle."

[deslandes]

"And all these books are very sure that it's bad to lose concentration on a bigger spell, though none of them will tell us how."

[beheld_beauty]

"There are plenty we haven't dug into yet," Belle points out, "but yes, it's something I'd like to avoid finding out the hard way."

[deslandes]

He shrugs. "So what now, little enchantress?"

[beheld_beauty]

"We keep looking," she sighs, "so we'll at least have the option of disenchantment, maybe, when I've learned enough. The effects of willing channeling through another person aren't permanent, and from what you've told me, failing at breaking this curse is."

[deslandes]

He nods.

"...Thank you," he says.

[beheld_beauty]

"You're welcome, but you realize I'm not completely altruistic - the curse might well elect to trap me too. Just because I'm fond of this library doesn't mean I'd like to be stuck here for the rest of my life if I could instead tell Charlie I'm all right and be able to get new books when I'm done with these."

She reaches for a new book.

[deslandes]

The Beast chuckles.

[beheld_beauty]

Belle sorts books she's translated the title for one way or another into piles: probably useless, maybe useless, very advanced (theory and practice piles), need more background to determine (theory and practice), and theoretical and practical piles of most basic. The unsorted pile shrinks.

And finally she finds some usable instructions - in language she can read, even - about how to channel in each of the three ways. "Excellent," she says, setting about turning this book into notes.

[deslandes]

"Good news?" he inquires.

[beheld_beauty]

"Instructions on channeling."

The part on channeling through oneself is first. Belle reads it first.

[deslandes]

To channel through oneself, the enchanter approaches his (many of these books, despite their own illustrations, seem convinced that all magic users are male) Dream-world from the inside. He must make a Dream-gate at the borders of his mind, bring power through himself from whatever source he chooses, and channel it out of the gate and into the spell.

[beheld_beauty]

Make a Dream-gate. Ooookay. That's helpful. Or, no, there's more detail in there. Now she just has to figure out how to connect to the Sky or the Earth or the Will or the Heart. Perhaps this book has something on that, too?

[deslandes]

It does!

The Heart refers to emotions, her own or other people's - apparently using either the caster's emotions or the channel's is most efficient, but anyone present or connected to the spell can work. The Will is the caster's intentions, which if properly focused and sufficiently strong can power some small spells all by themselves.