Despite the dark atmosphere

[curiousdiscoverer]

They are in a derelict warehouse, the owner was quite happy to rent the place, it was easy to see why, it took all day to clean the floor and create a space to properly write the spell circle.

Despite the dark atmosphere, their purpose was far from evil.

Franklyn observed Ada draw the circle, while Maeghan read a book, using her cloudpine to support herself more comfortably. Maeghan looked bored, but Franklyn knew she really wanted this to work more than she was letting on.

Because if this worked, Franklyn would have magic, actual personal magic, the first male witch in this world.

Actually, the second male witch in this world, since this spell was meant to bring a male witch from another world so they could do another spell to copy them.

When Ada completes the last line of herbs in the cycle, Franklyn helps her memorizing the spell’s verse.

“Nothing will go wrong,” Maeghan assures Franklyn when Ada starts speaking the spell...

Comments

[intricate_engineer]

"Yea we share! Well, technically there are regulations but everyone ignores them."

[between_worlds]

"No, that's fine."

[of_all_trades]

"I love ignored regulations!" Franklyn says cheerfully.

He then turns serious.

"This might turns into a practical lesson about the mechanics of traveling..." he says "with daemons I mean."

"Maybe the... people that can't fly should take a cab?" Ada says.

[not_without_scars]

"Taxi drivers are the worst at trading favors," Maeghan says with the tones of someone remembering several annoying experiences.

"We already dropped something on our way here," Ada points out "I don't want to find out what happens if his Daemons is hurt in the state he is."

[of_all_trades]

"According to the Alethiometer he is extremely immortal," Franklyn says "but I don't want to test that. I have some money with me and we have more at home, we can negotiate," He turns to Alex and Glen "Do you guys have any preferences?"

[intricate_engineer]

"I want to fly. Alex'll fine?" Glen turns to give Alex an entreating look.

[between_worlds]

Alex sighs, "Fine."

[of_all_trades]

They elaborate the exact logistics of traveling. They two sisters have cloudpine branches that can fly and they have enough room to transport them with some minor crowding. This brings up the topic of daemon separation.

"Witches all do that when their daemon settle," Ada explains "but unless you do, you have to keep your daemon close or it will feel... bad, not as bad as daemon touching but pretty bad."

"I got separated too," Franklyn says "it is hard and I don't think you should do it tonight or maybe not at all..."

After a pause Franklyn continues.

"You should have some small protections before the flight," Franklyn says "Which would amount tucking some bay leaf on your shirts and reciting magical verses. Is that okay?"

[between_worlds]

"Sure."

[of_all_trades]

It doesn't take long to cast the protection. They lock the warehouse behind them and fly away on the crispy cold night. It shouldn't take long for them to reach their destination but it is long enough for Franklyn to strike a conversation.

"So... you help develop the dimensional travel technology?" Franklyn says smiling.

[intricate_engineer]

"Yep! They already had some when I was a kid, but it was awful, completely inelegant. They were just ripping holes between universes. It was insanely expensive too. They wanted to close, so the edges had to be constantly maintained.
I figured out a way to slip in-between universes without tearing up anything."

[of_all_trades]

"That sounds way nicer than ripping holes," Franklyn says "Those holes were dangerous? I mean, to the universe or something? for that matter the new method is safer too?"

He thinks for a bit.

"When I asked the Alethiometer it said that it is possible to open doors between universes," Franklyn says "but couldn't understand much when it was trying to elaborate. It also kept comparing the holes to cuts from a knife."

[intricate_engineer]

"We've improved our portal technology as well, we can cut clean holes that last. But yea, torn holes causes a lot of problems. They didn't stay open, moved energy and matter between universes oddly, and were generally no fun to use."

[of_all_trades]

"The new one is more like... what we did to you two?" Franklyn asks.

[intricate_engineer]

"Yep, it's lets you travel between universe's without affecting anything but yourself. No holes in-between, no odd side effects. Just pop in where you want to go."

[between_worlds]

"She's pretty proud of it. Can you tell?"

[of_all_trades]

"It sounds like she should be," Franklyn says beaming.

"I am..." Ada - who has been quiet for the last few minutes - says "so tempted to make pop culture references that they won't get."

"Stargate or Star trek?" Franklyn says

"Stargate and Star trek," Ada responds.

Maeghan has been quiet too, but is declining to speak, or generally acknowledge the injured daemon and her human.

"How much recognition did you earn from that?" Franklyn asks.

[intricate_engineer]

"I got a ton of grants after that, and most fellow engineers know me. Not a lot from the public though. I might have been able to but," Glen shrugs "it didn't seem worth it."

[of_all_trades]

Franklyn smile is a tad less wide.

"Yeah, the public can be..." Franklyn says "but you got grants! Do you still work on dimensional stuff or your current projects are something else?"

[intricate_engineer]

"I'm currently working on sensing what's beyond the physical universe. We've heard of beings who've transcended, and I'm trying to figure out where they've gone."

[of_all_trades]

"Would it ruin your fun if I tried to ask about that to the Alethiometer?" Franklyn says "no guarantee it will have an answer."

[intricate_engineer]

"No, do it!"

[of_all_trades]

"I should wait at least until tomorrow morning," Franklyn says "using the Alethiometer gives me a headache sometimes and this will take multiple questions, but tell me what you know? That should help elaborate what to ask for."

[intricate_engineer]

"There's a lot of little pieces I'm trying to put together. The Organization's come across some beings who are more than purely physical, Alex has met some of them. We think there are some who've lost their physical aspect altogether. Many of the older species we've met have legends. They're are artifacts which are beyond any technology we know of, but whose creators are nowhere to be found."

[of_all_trades]

"That is sounding almost... theological," Franklyn says "I have some theological answers, but I keeping them private because... Religious people can get really intense, you know?"