02. [video]

[theboywhodied]

[An anxious Cedric appears on screen. He looks from left to right, his mussed hair flying just about everywhere. He taps the screen to ensure that it's turned on---in his mind this somehow serves a purpose. When he's sure everything's working, he waves.]

Hello! This is Cedric again. I've talked about this with one or two of you before. I'm sorry if I'm repeating myself or it's something you've all heard before, but this is something I need to sate my curiosity about. It's just that this world is so different from what I'm used to and there are so many different types of people. If that's even the word you prefer. And sometimes we have conflicts with one another.

So I have to ask: what do you think of people who are capable of using magic? Witches, warlocks, sorcerers, casters, wizards, or whatever you choose to call them. Are they all right, do you think? Or not?

Comments

[theboywhodied]

It's so hard to describe. It's been part of me all my life!

But I guess it's mostly just changing the world around us. We can charm ourselves to breathe underwater, or we can make stones into stopwatches or change the colour of a rose.

[The screen flickers. Cedric frowns and gives the side of the device a few hard taps.]

For everything I know how to do, I'm not that good at using your technology.

[treehopping]

I guess it's like trying to describe to someone what your arm's like.

[Still, she looks fascinated.]

That's amazing. Don't you have technology too?

[theboywhodied]

Well...sort of. We don't use cars, we use magic to get from place to place. And we use candles and floating fires instead of lamps. There are magical radios, but most electronic items go haywire around large concentrations of magic. We have to modify things heavily for them to work.

[treehopping]

Sounds like a pain. I wouldn't bother with technology then either. Not that I got to use much before I left home.

[theboywhodied]

Then aren't we lucky? These tablets are advanced enough that I had trouble for almost a week.

[treehopping]

[She giggles again.]

Do you like it now you can use it?

[theboywhodied]

It has its uses. I'm still not quite comfortable with it, but it works.

[treehopping]

How do people communicate with magic in your world?

[theboywhodied]

We send owls to each other. They're faster than you might expect.

Adult wizards can apparate anywhere in the world in seconds, so that's about all we need.

[treehopping]

[Owls? Rue beams.]

How do they know where to go? And that sounds really handy, you could never be trapped.

[theboywhodied]

Owls are very intelligent. They just know.

It would be if I'd learned those spells, but I never had the time. But that's all right. I'm hoping I can eventually study here.

[treehopping]

I like owls, I like all birds really. I'd love to have a pet one.

[She nods, thoughtful.]

I hope you can too. Did you go to a school to learn?

[theboywhodied]

I don't think I've seen any owls here, it's a shame. Even if we don't need owl delivery they're great to have as pets.

And yes. There was a school in a castle in the mountains. We learned about spells, herbs, potions, star charts, flying...it was a great place.

[treehopping]

I haven't seen many birds... or animals in general.

You must really enjoy going to school. I would too if I got to go to a place like that. [Her imagination fires at the description.

Oh and flying, her lost superpower.]

[theboywhodied]

I'm sorry you didn't have the chance. But I wonder if it might be possible someday.

Maybe I'll ask around?

[treehopping]

I like non-magic school too. I wonder if there's one I can go to here.

About a magic school?

[theboywhodied]

The kind of magic I know can't be taught. You really have to be born in a certain family. But other kinds of magic might be teachable! It's worth asking, I think.

[treehopping]

That'd be amazing. I hope so.