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I do not. That is a rare gift.

I see. So even among your kind there are those who are gifted with abilities others do not have.

And I imagine those of you in the convocation each had a different expertise.

Indeed. I wonder how you imagine us? Though consensus was an ideal of ours, we were not uniform beings.

From talents and abilities to interests and beliefs, we were all individuals, we all had our specialties, our hopes and dreams, our interests and our faults. Lively debate on any number of topics was a favorite pastime for many. Everyone's specialties were important, their ideas and their creativity and their talents. The same on the convocation, as you surmise.

I don't have to imagine. I've met your kind and I've seen Amaurot. In Emet-Selch's dreams, of course. But I doubt his recollection wasn't accurate.

Even if I hadn't, I'm aware you would never have developed much of anything if you were uniform and stagnant. But the convocation itself - well. Until now I've only had the chance to get to know Emecchi.

We were leaders, but not above our peers. Our dear Emecchi's gift was not the only factor in his seat.

I shall leave that at that however.

He's capable and intelligent, so I don't have a hard time believing that. I suppose I should thank you for satisfying my curiosity.

[ time to pay attention to the book once more ]

I'm rested enough. Which spell next ...?

Hm. Miasma. Let us go over the theory.

[He can turn to the next page now! And Lahabrea will cover the spell's working concisely. A similar end effect to bio yet an entirely different approach and way of going about it. He goes over how to command the carbuncle to use downburst as well.]

[ By the end of the thread maybe I too will play a class that is not DNC ~~joking I will never~~.

But he's attentive to the explanation, absorbing it fully before he attempts it. It's not perfect, but he is definitely getting results faster, and for a beginner, he's doing decently ]

[converts everyone to casters

He does watch, and when Five is good enough, he unlocks one more page in the book. He doesn't explain it at all! It's Bio II though, so the same as bio but more complex. He's just going to see if Five can grasp it on his own.]

[ Who do you think he is, a NORMAL PERSON? Insulting. He's going over the formula and studying it before trying anything at all, like he's trying to properly grasp the differences.

He doesn't ask for help or clarifications, and seems content in figuring it out himself. Once he's done, he'll cast that too ]

[He nods to himself and teleports back to the couch when Five manages that, just watching from the railing as Five plays around.]

[ He'll take that as a sign that he's doing well enough, and since Lahabrea has just unlocked other spells for him, he's going to study him and work on them, taking the time to actually understand each formula, and the differences between each of them, before he attempts with casting.

He doesn't seem to have trouble channeling aether anymore, and honestly, that was the biggest hurdle for him ]

[He does let him play around for a while, not interrupting his self-improvement for quite a long time. Five seems content and learns fast, while he could critique the technique a little he won't bother just yet. This is very very fast for a new mage, though he supposes Five isn't exactly that. It's still a new discipline.]

[ It certainly helps that this one specifically is based around math and calculations, and once he got the principles of that and how to apply it to everything new, adapting to it seems easy. He's clearly enjoying the challenge of figuring it out himself as well, and though there's a few mistakes here and there, he catches them fast and is able to fix them afterward. It's only when he feels he's completely spent that he stops at all ]

I think that should be it for tonight. I do need some actual rest if I don't want to feel exhausted when I wake up.

I wonder if that's your own idea or Emecchi's influence. No matter. You've done well for a night's work.

What sort of dream would you like?

Taking requests today?

Emet-Selch takes me to Amaurot when he finds me in my dreams, but I do also simply end up sleeping in his office, and that wouldn't work with you.

Your last attempt was passable.

My last attempt was an act. But nor am I fond enough of you to take you home. If you have no request I will give you this place. Somewhat more comfortably modified.

I thought you would be less inclined toward that.

This place will suffice, simply adjust it with somewhere I can lay down and hide under the shade, and it will be just fine.

[ a pause, and then he adds ]

Background noises would also be preferable. Anything that tricks my brain into thinking I'm not the only living being around.

No cats?

[He is teasing. But the room adjusts around them. It's still large and stone. There's still an indented pit with practice dummies. But there are windows all around the walls, and a door leading to stairs down. The walls are now lit by actual lights that can be dimmed or turned off, as opposed to just nebulous light. Outside the sky is clear, stars and moon bright, and crickets chirp, frogs croack, and owls hoot. There's the sound of surf and the smell of sea brine, though not sharp enough to be right there, if Five looks the ocean is a few miles walk down a rolling hillside. And they are in a room atop a tower, the stairs lead to the base. Towards what might be the south are the distant lights of a village, alive and vibrant, though not so close it would be easy to reach.

Inside the tower it's more comfortable. The couch overlooking the pit is still there, but now there's a corner of the room fitted with a bed and desk and a single case of books. Should Five bother to inspect them, each is full of information on arcanima, theories, and formulas, treatises on the subject and scholarly collections about the science.

In one corner of the room a spider spins a web in the rafters.

The air is pleasant, not too warm, not too cool.

Lahabrea looks at his work critically, then adds a few blank notebooks at the desk, and a comfortably plush rug.

And a cat.]

[ He's almost touched that he's taken the request seriously enough, and that he was able to deliver in a way that won't bother him. Beyond the cat, which he's not actually terribly opposed to, despite his complaining last time.

He's even going to pet it before his attention is immediately drawn toward those books ]

You realize that's going to make actually resting, instead of taking advantage of their presence, really difficult, right?

Consider it a challenge.

[Maybe a little mischievous. Or sadistic. One of those.]

If there is nothing else, I will bid you goodnight.

[ He could just quickly go through the pages he has photographic memory, surely he can take JUST a bit of time to read through those??? ]

You should take care to rest as well. ... Thanks.

[Good luck there Five.

There is a pause and, brusquely;]

You are welcome.

[And then Lahabrea is leaving, stepping through a portal that vanishes behind him.]

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