prismatica | 001

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[Edward's been seeing all of these different posts come up. It's obnoxious to him, but he can see the potential of being able to communicate with so many like this, so he decided to give it a try.]

It's come to my attention that there's a few people here who use "magic." From what I've seen, there's nothing like it where I come from and I have a few questions for anyone who's willing to answer. In science, you've got different laws that everything follows. Is that the same for magic? Does some magic have laws while others don't? Are there different fields of magic? What are they? Where does the energy or power come from? What makes it "magic" and not a field of science?

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Whatever I wanted. [She dusted off her hands.]

Were we speaking in person, that would have been my opportunity to offer you inspiration. It could also be the chance to cast a charm spell on you, or even blow you away with sheer volume. But over video, I can do nothing more than simple party tricks.

[She paused.]

Hmm, but your alchemy sounds about the same as my transmutation. The exact science of knowing what to take to build something from the ground up, as well as the tales of the Magnum Opus. Why, I've always wondered if the stone was real...

[Ed tilted his head in contemplation.]

So that one song allows you to have that much variety with the spell? Or does say, a charm spell need a different song than blowing out my eardrums?

[Ed points at the screen, picking up on something she's said.]

Right there! You just said the 'exact science of knowing what to take,' but you were referring to something you consider magic. Is there overlap where you're from, or do you consider them one in the same?

....

What's this Magnum Opus?

Some bards like specific songs for specific effects. I feel that that is quite dull. I like to keep my foes on their toes and my friends out of the deep ends.

I could sing a lullaby and ask a person to reveal their mother's secret pie recipe.

[Huh! He brought up a good point.]

You know, I suppose there is an overlap. I think when it comes to transmutation, precise math and ingredients to forge something out of its base components, I could call it a science. But to create something from nothing... I think that right there is magic.

Oh! The Magnum Opus is but one name for the Philosopher's Stone.

[Ed ponders what she said for a minute.]

Are you really creating anything from nothing though? Even with magic? You still have to cast some kind of spell to get something to appear or whatever, right?

[Therefore implying that these spells or whatever have properties that might count as 'something' that he isn't currently aware of?

His face falls at the mention of the Philosopher's Stone. He tries to cover it up, but Ed is to subtlety like a deaf person is to music.]

Right. I've wondered that myself.

For some schools of magic, you do need a physical component. For instance, one reagent for casting a fireball is guano! I'm quite glad to not be a wizard.

For some, you need only the will.

[She raised an arm to face level. With a swirl of black and a flash of feathers, a large raven appeared to perch and settle. Instantly curious, the bird pecked at the screen.]

Oh- Grackle, you silly boy...!

[She raised a finger to scratch under the beak. In response, the large bird seemed to mimic a purr.]

At any rate, I can only give you my perspective as a bard. I dabble in a lot of different things, but I can't say I've dipped much of a toe in many levels of science to give a proper comparison or contrast.

I confess that I've a lot to think about. How much of what I've seen and done is science, and what is magic? How would you define them?

[Ed's staring wide-eyed at his screen with that raven thing. From where he's watching, that could have somehow been a slight-of-hand trick like pulling a rabbit out of a hat. However, the spell she had shown him earlier where she sang was enough to at least allow Ed to give her the benefit of the doubt.]

I don't know, which is part of why I posted this in the first place. Just a couple days ago I was arguing with someone that magic was all nonsense, since where I'm from, it's just people under the misunderstanding that something can't be explained through scientific means when it really can. I guess right now, 'magic' is something I can't explain based on what I already know.

[He shrugs.]

To be honest I still feel kind of silly talking about it. I guess that's my bias talking.

[He's thankful that the whole Philosopher's Stone subject was dropped. Talk about awkward.]

Sweetheart, no! The fact that you reach out and ask about it takes you far above what I'd overheard from far too many in several of the worlds I'd visited.

You're a scientist, I presume? You wish to understand what in your world is beyond understanding, something only seen in fiction. That's admirable. I merely wish I could be of more help to you in your search.

What can you tell me about alchemy in your world? I feel as if you're bursting with stories.

[Ed laughs.]

You say that now. You didn't talk to me before that conversation!

[He gives her a nod.]

That's right. I'm a State Alchemist back where I'm from. You've been plenty of help so far, though if you're up for it I wouldn't mind seeing some of your skills in person.

[Oh no. She's said the magic words.]

Quite a bit, probably. You've already mentioned it though, so why don't you start telling me what you know about it and I can go from there?

You know, I get that a lot about me, too.

[Even her friends tend to warn others a bit about her. Still, it was good to know another who knew where his bread was buttered.]

I'd be happy to give an up-close demonstration of my abilities! It might be good practice before auditioning with the theater coming up fairly soon.

[It was no circus, but she could be an actress or a singer.]

As for alchemy, hmm... I can't say I've really delved into it. As I understand it, some folk can assemble base materials into a whole, just as I can build small contraptions and weaponry. But with the Opus, it's said that you can turn base metals into gold, or brew an elixir of youth.

Considering how old many of the alchemist's I've met have been, I can see the great appeal of such an elixir. It's an old, difficult-to-master art, one that requires whole dedication, life's work as it were.

Great! I'd be happy to demonstrate how alchemy works if you'd like.

You've got part of it right. Maybe it works differently where you're from, but for my world, you don't need a Philosopher's Stone to change one kind of metal into a different kind. That includes things like lead or iron to gold. I wouldn't advise doing that anyway though, since you have a chance of screwing up whatever economy you do that in. That's why transmuting gold is illegal in Amestris.

The first thing to understand about alchemy is 'equivalent exchange.' You can't obtain something without sacrificing something first. The laws of conservation of mass and natural providence fall under that umbrella.

[He pauses, wondering if he should mention the whole human transmutation now.]

Alchemy is a tool which can be applied to a lot of different things. You have to be careful what you're doing with it, and there are some things that shouldn't be messed with at all.

[She laughed.]

Such a law tells me that someone tried! They thought they were so clever, twirling their little beard as they dropped their funny money off at the counter for a deposit.

[So that's it, then, that's why he wanted to know more about the weight of magic versus science, and where they'd blend. Everything needed something equal in exchange. To call upon Grackle took nothing, and to sing, to create those dancing lights took borrowed power from her own blood. Was that an equivalent exchange? She had to wonder. As a living being, she was always generating energy, likely acting as her own 'battery', rather than making use of reagents.]

I see... if you don't know exactly what something is made of, if your math is wrong, perhaps.

[But no, there was something there. There was a heavier weight to that pause.]

What about, say, homunculi? Golems?

[Ed blinks in surprise. Perhaps he shouldn't be. She was the one that brought up the Philosopher's Stone, so why wouldn't she also know something about homunculi? He flounders a bit.]

Uh, well...

[This was a bit of a pickle. It was clear he knew something, but he just as clearly didn't want to share that information. Having your loved one's lives threatened for doing so would do that. For all he knew, he was the only one from Amestris stuck here, but could he really risk it? He tries to take it in a direction he might have more control over.]

There are theories about homunculi, but just theories. Making one would fall under human transmutation, which isn't something you should dabble in. My brother and I attempted it.

[He waves at her with his automail.]

There was a rebound. I haven't heard of a single attempt where the person performing the transmutation wasn't maimed or killed. I'm not familiar with golems though.

[An eyebrow quirked at the sight of the arm. So he'd lost part of himself when he and his brother performed something forbidden. Human transmutation, he'd said. Whatever did that mean, making humans? Creating a person outside of traditional means?]

That's quite alright. Outside of necromancy, at any rate, treading in the realm of the gods is unthinkable. The wheel will always spin, it's said, and no mortal should seek to grasp it and stop it.

[She smirked.]

Or the Queen may send a messenger.

[Just wait until you hear what happened to his brother.]

Necromancy? What makes that any better than any other method of trying to raise the dead?

[He tilts his head at the comment about the Queen. It's meaning is lost on him.]

Queen?

Oh, I merely speak from the perspective OF necromancers. They feel they do what they must to survive and don't care much about meddling. Other disciplines rather staunchly practice of the opposite.

[She propped her chin on both hands. The raven gave a click and grumbled an 'ooh' in response to Ed's question.]

The Raven Queen. She is the one who speaks for the Wheel, of fate, of life and death. We all have our time, and we should do nothing to change it. We can only enrich it, make the best of our time. But she must always be asked if something like a fountain of youth, an elixir of life must be made. There's a price for it, of course, so it's something seldom asked.

A most fascinating member of the pantheon, I feel.

Oh.

[Well, that was good to know. Don't scare him like that.]

It sounds a lot like what my teacher drilled into our heads. "Alchemy is the reconstruction of matter based on the knowledge of natural laws. This world flows by obeying these laws. Death, too, is a part of that flow. Accept the flow of this world."

[Ed doesn't have to know this Raven Queen to feel some sort of connection with her.]

I honestly can't imagine any such elixer to really be worth the cost.

I can understand desperation... really, I do. But it is what it is.

[She cleared her throat.]

So! I realize I've been terribly rude this entire time. I'm Madhuri.

[Ed laughs. He's been just a rude, not the he's one to actually care much about that.]

Edward Elric. Thanks for answering my questions. You've been a big help!

Always a pleasure. Allow me to put my affairs in order and we'll get in touch about a direct demonstration, Ser Elric.

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Ed would have known that Magnus Opis thing, I think. My bad~

No worries!

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wow. that's my first time posting with the wrong account. congrats! :D

LOL happens to the best of us!

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