wants_the_phd | Court inbox

Fear is valuable, but so is experience, my friend. Each time you bite more than you can chew, you will know where your limit lies, and whether you're able to push past it or not.

My days aren't so busy that I wouldn't be able to help train you if you wished to. You remember Roccia, my First Mate? If you were to just look at her, she wouldn't look like someone who can hold her own - yet you saw how capable she is. Small and frail as she looks, she's found her way to stand on the stage even during battle!

Well, learning new stuff is literally my favorite thing, so I'm eager to try anything you have the time and willingness to teach me.

What did you say you were? A "resonator"?

Then it's decided! I'm already giving acting and dancing lessons to Lyle, adding swordsmanship ones to my schedule should not be difficult. I suspect you'd be more suited for long distance combat, but this should help you for when that's not possible, and your magic won't quite do it.

As for your other question, yes. [ he will just vaguely gesture toward the mark on his chest, which will then start to glow white as he summons his purple flames on his hand, to show them off for her ] This is a Tacet Mark, and it appears on a Resonator's body at the time of their Awakening. The Awakening is when we first unleash our "Forte", our abilities.

Mine are these purple flames. You can simply consider it magic.

[Leans in a little to look at it more closely]

Whoa.

What triggers an Awakening? Is it common?

It's common enough, but not so common that everyone would be a Resonator. There are also different types of them, but that's medical stuff I'm not that qualified to talk about. According to the Troupe's medic I am a "Natural Resonator", but that's as much information on the subject I can give you.

As for the Awakening, it's usually triggered by intense situations. High stress or traumatic events.

I see.

Is the origin of this power the same as that of the Tacet Discords?

[ He nods ]

Yes, there have been several disasters in the history of humanity - those are called "Lament". Each one has all but wiped out most civilizations, and almost all records of them. The Tacet Discords, and the existence of Resonators, are byproducts left by those disasters.

Rinascita was built after one such disaster, by survivors who went to look for safety by crossing the sea.

Wow...

Is it known what, exactly, caused the Laments? Or were those records lost as well?

I think the origins are still fairly unknown. There have been studies into it, but I'm not privy to them.

...

Is it okay to ask how your Awakening occurred?

You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, of course.

There's nothing you can't ask me, and I don't mind telling you. Besides, I barged in in your hiding place and asked you to talk to me - the least I can do is to actually answer your questions.

It was during my Pilgrim's Sail. My companions tried to shield me from the worst of it — the hunger, the sickness, the hopelessness of it all. But I still watched them die one by one. When we crashed to shore at Penitent's End and our numbers thinned further as the Tacet Discords came for us, that did it for me.

Had I awakened earlier, maybe things would have gone differently.

[ and hold on because that hits a Taboo, and he immediately looks like he's in pain and then just makes a face like ?? he's confused ?? about what that all was ]

[??? That gets her attention.]

You okay?

I'm not sure. If I have to hazard a guess, I'd say I just hit whatever the opposite of objectives is in this place.

I think they're called "taboos"...? What do you suppose triggered it?

Whatever it is, I don't think I want to hit it again.

[ he doesn't think sharing the story did it, so he'll have to try and figure it out later ]

In any case, if Lyle's commentary is anything to go by, you're already quite skilled with your spells. With a bit of training, we'll put more weight into that "leave me alone" vibe you're going for.

[Her mouth turns into a flat line, almost a frown.]

...Did he say what spells I used?

I don't remember any part of that fight. Even the end of it was hazy.

[ Oh, maybe he shouldn't have brought that up again ]

He mentioned something about lighting.

[She nibbles pensively on her thumb claw.]

...Huh. I'm not very good at that one.

Doesn't he specialize in weather-related magic?

[seems weird he'd compliment her amateur attempts at lightning of all things. how mysterious. She wishes so badly she knew what kind of magic Lyle uses in a fight... Can't believe he kicked her whole ass with them and she didn't even get to remember it. What a wasted opportunity!]

Why not ask him later? He will be able to tell you more than I can, and it might help to see that he's not mad at you.

...Yeah. You're right.

Some of what I saw was so confusing I'm not sure if it actually happened or if I dreamed it.

[She draws her knees up and rests her folded arms on them, looking out at the willow branches brushing the surface of the water.]

So you specialize in fire?

I hadn’t meant to bring your mood down again. You do have my apologies.

[ once again he is resisting the urge to per - but he does offer her his hand if SHE wants to take it ]

But that’s the short of it. I can control my flames and manipulate them into taking different shapes. I can control their warmth and whether they burn at all, and I can heal some injuries with them.

Edited 2025-06-08 03:51 (UTC)

Wow.

[She's putting a pin in follow-up questions momentarily so she can reassure him,]

You didn't bring my mood down. I already feel a lot better.

[...but she has no earthly clue why he's holding out his hand. It doesn't even occur to her she's being invited to touch it. She thinks he's showing her something. Is there going to be fire in his palm? She doesn't see it.]

What am I looking at?

Since you're not yet used to casual touch, I figured if you did want some physical comfort you could just grab my hand if you wanted to.

[ he looks so proud of having thought that up too ]

But I'm glad to hear I didn't ruin your mood.

[Oh, right. Humans find touch comforting for some reason. She doesn't get it, but she appreciates the spirit in which it's offered. She shall show her appreciation by touching him. She reaches out and takes one (1) of his fingers between her finger and thumb the way one might hold the stem of a flower. There. Nailed it.]

Thanks.

So you can heal people by setting them on fire?

[ That's very cute and he seems to be happy with her making that effort, though he suspects now it's more her trying to comfort him by taking it, than the opposite. And he appreciates it. He'll also laugh at that question ]

That's not quite how it works. But whenever people are fighting by my side, being close to my flames seems to have that effect. Perhaps it's simply has to do with my performance? I do put on quite the show!

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