Shadows over Nothross | Page 8

said.
"I've been here a couple of times, working as a caravan guard. Oh, this reminds me of home", Facyr said. "Clean and fresh air. Do you get a lot of snow here? I've only been here in the late summer."
"Yes, lots and lots of snow. I've noted spring comes here only a week before Grycia, and the winter week after", Realn said.
"So this is kind of like Grycia - the summers are short, but luckily there's not much snow."
The discussion around the camp fire had been quite lively over the journey. The adventurers had learned a lot about Furinel's royal houses, their customs and how they differed from Varmhjelmian ways. The earlier night, Realn had talked at length about Furinel's economy, and Facyr found Realn's speaking skills fascinating. He was a person who believed any amount of money was "too little anyway", and couldn't understand a whole lot of how the world of the finance really worked. Yet, Realn's description on history of the Furinel's commerce had kept him awake the whole time, even deeply interested. He had even asked questions.
It was a cold clear evening, and there was a lot to talk about, and what was better place to talk than a warm camp fire deep in a calm, sheltered spot the middle of wilderness?
* * *
Gnedrnygr had found a like-minded person. He found Realn, all in all, a fascinating person to talk to, in a purely professional sense. He had once been a teacher of magic, and now tried to rekindle this profession by teaching Faira; yet, it had been a long time since he had last wobbled over to the Anchorfall's academy and debated with the fellow magicians. Over the journey, they had talked a lot, and he found himself spending a lot of time with her.
Now, after Realn's interesting financial presentation, Faira, Facyr and Aleln went to prepare their tents for the night, while Gnedrnygr and Realn debated about the nature of magic. It would become a frequent hobby over this journey, Gnedrnygr thought. Gnedrnygr had observed that while Realn was not a very advanced magician - she had only recently taken the path of magical arts - she showed a lot of potential and knew a lot about the foundations and theoretical background of magic.
"Now, I'm sorry if this is a bit strange question", Gnedrnygr said, "but in Colemia, we had very little exposure or even knowledge of the elven ways of magic, and I can't say I got too much illumination on this mystery when I was in Bluebrook. Could you explain some of the underlying principles of it to me?"
Realn sighed. "The truth is, there's not much to explain. Our magic may look very different, but in fact, we're talking of the exact same magic. Magic is magic."
"Yes, yes, I know that fundamentally we're talking of the same forces, same procedures, same equations. But the way it's practised is different, is it not? And from what I've heard, elves are ahead on every field of magic..."
"Some scholars might disagree, though I'm rather reserved myself. We discussed this pretty throughout in the Academy of Arcane Arts. Some said elves are ahead and will always be, others argued the very existence of Infinite will prove that humans will eventually surpass us, as there's no practical limit on how the power can be derived from the Infinite."
"The Infinite?" Gnedrnygr thought. "Ah, you are referring to the Foundation of Magic?"
"I believe that's what the humans call it."
"But that's just a mere theoretical model. It says nothing about the individual's ability to use..."
"Precisely!" Realn interrupted. "So you are thinking exactly like the majority of magicians."
"And you aren't? You believe the Foundation of Magic will somehow make humans masters of the magical forces?"
"No. All I'm saying is that they have a very good point." She smiled. "Can you describe how you think the Infinite will affect people's work?"
"Well, truth to tell, the Foundation theory only appeared when I was already leaving Colemia, but, oh well..." Gnedrnygr scratched his head. "I'd postulate - excuse me, guess that the Foundation represents pure magical force, and individual's capabilities determine how and what kinds of powers they can use."
"Precisely. And what does that mean from the points of view of humans and elves?"
Gnedrnygr thought. "Humans and elves think differently and thus use different kinds of magic?"
"Good. Now, my point: You're thinking of humans and elves as distinct moulds that dictate what kinds of magic they can use. The All-Infinite theorists are saying these moulds are entirely artificial and will break eventually. I'm merely saying that... well, think of magic from the Infinite as rays of Trinvnil, our minds as rooms. and our ways of magical applications as windows through which light comes in, and the pattern of light representing what each of us