(open.) sing it low or sing it loud

[courtmagic]

Who: Merlin and others.
Where: Sometimes the Temple, sometimes the forest.
When: Early September.
Rating: Just PG for now.
What: The Circle's gained a new wizard. He explores, and tries to not get ill.

[this is not a dream. a dream doesn't feel like this - he's trekked across enough of them in the centuries to know. and still, he wonders, because of how different it all is. that woman, and her beautiful eyes - Astoria, she'd called herself. he'd been half numb, struck and dazed when the world beneath his feet did not give. magic at the far reaches of himself, a memory halted in the process of becoming an action.

the world behind his eyes has gone silent, and he marvels at it. the sheer expanse of the unknown. Merlin breathes air utterly new to him, and cannot decide if this is for good or ill. it is, and he must adapt. freedom at a price, or the illusion of such. there is much to contemplate, but as ever, the only road ahead is forward.

--

of course, he explores the Temple. it's where they're supposed to be, after all, a place with rooms and beds and one he finds unoccupied with a single to lay his head. but beyond that, he wanders, peeking in at various areas. the kitchen is where a hopeful might look to find someone else doing the work of cooking that he can charm the result out of - why bother if he could simply get it for free? other times he's in the halls, seemingly searching for something. not someone, of course. that would be asking for far too much. but when evening falls, he heads to the outskirts, to watch the sky, a figure in pure white robes. as long as he can, he observes the stars, eyes as intent as a navigator as he traces where they are now.

but the illness is all too apparent. the sickness that infested the land cannot be lifted by hands that haven't been fully summoned, the flowers that could trail behind him not so much as sprouting. only their scent that clings to his clothes, and so he moves outward. can't stay in one place too long, trying to minimize his exposure, and the forest beckons. easy to wander, easy to take a rest nestled up a tree, where the sound of soft snoring gives away his napping, dozing with a few of the nymphs climbing on him. other times, he finds himself at the bank of water, sitting down and humming quietly a song he remembers to amuse himself, considering the plight of what's occurred. but as it happens, sometimes he is trying to converse with the sprites, so worked up are they. it doesn't seem to be excellently going, if his small frown says anything, but they'll notice a newcomer before he does, allowing enough time for greeting.]

[[ooc: please feel free to drop me a note if you'd prefer an individual starter! these can be any time, except for stargazing. choose your own adventure, and hit me with something else if it strikes your fancy!]]

Comments

[teratias]

I know enough to say that you're excluding the Fifth, since it relates to time travel and that is definitely a component of this experience.

[Waver's words are wary, carefully said, eyeing Merlin up and down.]

And I know enough to say you're from a different point in time than I am too.

[courtmagic]

But the Fifth can't be applied the same way as it usually is since it generally assumes one world from which to alter the timelines. Multiple worlds converging into one - it's a new hypothetical to be considered. If you have a theory on it, by all means, tell me.

[the staff in his hands comes to rest against his shoulder, his thumb rubbing against the smoothed wood.]

As to my point in time, that depends on you confirming yours. Then we can say if I am from your past or your future.

[teratias]

It's the Second, Third, and Fifth Magics being combined, as far as I can tell. [But his theories are private for now.] There are people who have memories returned to them of events that happen after they've been drawn into this Circle.

[The staff is...unusual. Waver's eyes rest there.]

No one uses staffs. You're from well before the 1990s.

[courtmagic]

In birth, yes. But that's not my point in time.

[he contemplates the idea of three major Magics being combined. Perhaps there could be a Sixth added in...]

Your jump to the 1990s says that you're from around that era.

[teratias]

You're a Fifth Magic user?

[Waver's first thought isn't Heroic Spirit at all.]

...Yeah, around them.

[courtmagic]

Ah. Your future, then.

[and yet, he has the staff. by now, it's as much habit as anything else.]

There's a lot to happen in the world in the next few decades. I can say that without interference.

[teratias]

[Waver pauses, his eyes going from the staff to Merlin. He doesn't like when mages do this, and Merlin's cryptic response sets every part of him on edge.

Thankfully, being sick does some wonder to dull what would otherwise be a snappy response.]

So you're from point A in time but coming from point B in a future well beyond the 90s, which means you're either an actual Magic user, some kind of Heroic Spirit, or something else that.

[courtmagic]

Exactly.

[the answer is all of the above.]

And you're a Master from a Grail War in that era. [his eyes go to Waver's hand, the red marks there.] Just as a guess, Fuyuki?

[teratias]

Wait, was that a yes to both?!

[Waver tenses immediately, both of his hands curling into fists. Being face to face with another Caster so very soon after dealing with his war's caster, it is simply defense.]

What of it? And which future war are you from then?

[courtmagic]

It was a yes to the "something else like that".

[composed, almost relaxed, he looks at Waver carefully.]

Does the word "Chaldea" mean anything to you?

[teratias]

...Caster. You're your war's caster.

[Merlin's question cuts the tension brewing up in Waver's body, and he tilts his head slightly.]

No?

[courtmagic]

[hm. he didn't want to say too much right now, then - just to keep the future flowing in the right direction.]

Firstly, I'm not from a Grail War. Just wanted to clear that up.

[and the amount of Casters in Chaldea? too many.]

Secondly, I can tell you a few things. That what you do is acknowledged, and that your destiny gains you allies who may call you by another name. If they appear here, they will still be so, though you may be younger than the one held in their memory. Your path will lead you to a strange fate, greater than you can envision for now and more precious than any worldly thing.

[there is a feeling of reality in his words, less recounting facts and more the weight of a prophecy. even absent the Sight, he can do this.]

I'll let you think that over while you consider if you really want to know what the future holds. Being able to be surprised is good for you.

[teratias]

[Why!!! Are mages!!! Like this!!!

Waver's sick enough that it takes him a few quiet moments to really process what Merlin has said, but then there's a low, growling anger that they're so damn cryptic that it may as well not said anything here at all.]

So what, you were an oracle too?

[He...is not happy about that.]

Also you could at least explain what a Chaldea is now that you've done all your mystic vague crap! You could've saved your breath in that case, especially if you're worried about screwing up time flows or whatever! [Ugh!] Do all your legends note that you're this annoying too?

[courtmagic]

Actually, they all paint me as rather helpful. I should know, because I have an interest in what people are saying about me. Though they all think I'm some old man with a beard...

[because he is helpful, when he's not being a plague on someone's life.]

[teratias]

Jeez, at this point you might as well give me your True Name so we can move past it and onto more important crap!

[He lets out a soft sigh, shaking his head.]

Mordred didn't make a guessing game out of it, at least...

[courtmagic]

No, she was always too eager to show off, and that hasn't changed in this place...

[but enough of the game, then, and a hint of a smile curves his lips.]

Let me introduce myself, Waver Velvet. My name is Merlin.

[teratias]

...Ugh, I really do attract annoying servants, don't I?

[Waver shakes his head, miserable. First Rider, then Mordred, and now this. But then the revelation hits him like a load of bricks. He was talking normal shop with Merlin, without ever getting into any question of being smart or good enough to understand theory. That's!!! That's!!!!!]

I'm not surprised that you don't have a beard then. No Heroic Spirit looks like their depictions in art.

[courtmagic]

[calling him annoying is pretty much par for the course when it comes to Merlin getting insulted. he's fine. instead, he soldiers on, not knowing Waver's inner conflict over their discussion.]

No, but they could at least have kept from making me an old man in everything.

[look at this figure. he may be old but he's still got his looks.]

[teratias]

Everyone depicts Mordred and King Arthur as guys, so you've gotten off easy in comparison.

[He folds his arms over his chest, pausing to sniffle and try to hold in a rather big sneeze.]

Explains why you thought forest spirits would help though. And you're never going to give any further explanation on Chaldea, huh?

[courtmagic]

Now, I didn't say that. But it's a tale for when you're at your best, not sniffling through the forest.

[he's not going to state the obvious that the reason Arturia was seen as a man was because that was what she wanted. no, Waver doesn't want the king's tale. not yet.]

[teratias]

[He'd probably just take Iskandar's side anyway.]

Fine, then let's get back to theories on what's going on, either with this sickness crap or how all the Magics are interacting. You get to pick.

[courtmagic]

The Magics. I can discuss the sickness with nearly anyone - I haven't yet found someone who can discuss how this redefines the limits of Magic humans know.

[at heart, he's a nerd.]

[teratias]

Okay. [!!!!!]

Tell me what you're thinking first, then I can give you anything else you've missed due to my simply being around here for longer.

[courtmagic]

Like you've said, there's Fifth Magic woven into this - selecting people from different parts of a timeline - and obviously, the Second, since moving to another world truly is part of this. The reason I mentioned the Third earlier was because of how we've been brought in - summoned, I'd guess, although strangely and somewhat incompletely. Alternately, we're being controlled.

[come, Waver. sit with him, because he's going to take up space under a tree and let one of the nymphs crawl on his arm.]

There's a system I know of that could take a number of souls to another place, another part of the timeline. But shifting that many to a new world, as appears to be the plans...that's different. So many interlocking points.

[teratias]

I think the Third Magic may or may not apply, honestly. If people are being pulled from different timelines, isn't that just the operation of parallel worlds and time travel? The only point the Third Magic comes in is if something is spirit and spirit alone.

[Waver sits down across from Merlin warrily, putting some space between them. Besides being a mage, Merlin is also Merlin and that legend has a reputation.]

Let me complicate that second point for you. There are people here who have been pulled from point A. In dreams, they have lived through new experiences in seeming real time, let's call that point B, so that it's as if they've been gone for a night or two of sleep here, but their memories represent a different gap in time all together. [Canon updates. He means canon updates.] How does that factor into the system you know of?