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 Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 1:44 am
Setsushi quickly delivers two pills and a glass of water to Kouyo, then hunts about and produces a few sheets of paper and a pencil.
Putting them before Xiao Huo, he explains that he needs to clean the dishes, but while Setsushi is working, could Xiao Huo illustrate what he and his dolls have been up to for the last few days, for Setsushi's education? 3nodding
While he moves to the kitchen, his back facing the group, he leans very gently against Kouyo's mind with his own; Setsushi will be paying attention, so there is no need to worry.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 1:59 am
Xiao Huo nods a little and calms down, picking up the pencil and gathering his dolls. Fine, he'll stay out of the way....
Kouyo puts both pills in his mouth and swallows them together with a gulp of water - he has been getting good at this sweatdrop
Taking one of the other books - a thin paperback that looks at least ten years old, Jilan flips to the front page where there is a chart of at least a hundred different characters.
They have to learn all of them gonk
"You have to learn to pronounce all of them," Kumoru adds, dragging a third chair to that side of the table. "The whole rest of that book is practice. I guess... I can read the words to you one at a time and you repeat them, and you can try to memorize which letters make what sound."
He points out the chart. "All the sounds of all human languages. Our gods took their language of creation and scattered all of their words through time and space into the languages humans speak."
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:04 am
Without pausing in his work, Setsushi sends a questioning note towards the table.
Human languages?
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:17 am
Kumoru nods, looking over at Setsushi. "Yes, why?" Then he amends, adding, "The words could be elsewhere, too, but as far as I know, no mage has located them. We have no real way to look for them elsewhere as of right now."
He sits back in his chair and turns his gaze back to the book. "Unless, of course, we meet others who are able to communicate with us."
Jilan flips to the first page of practice and starts trying to read the words aloud that he remembers from some previous lesson. He has obvious trouble with pronunciation, and falls quiet again after a moment to wait for Kumoru to correct him.
The necromancer starts pointing out the words one by one and reading them aloud for both Kouyo and Jilan to repeat.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:23 am
Setsushi responds to Kumoru's explanation with a note of confirmation, like a mental nod; it just seemed like an obvious question to ask, as there are so many worlds that do not belong to humans...
Though he continues to work, he attends to the sounds and particularly to Kouyo's mind, keen to know if his friend comes up with any revelations.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:40 am
This is just a student's exercise book, not real magic. He recognizes none of the words as Gaian, though, and begins to realize that Kumoru could very easily teach them to say just about anything and not have to reveal the meaning of the magic words themselves. It seems a good reason to remain suspicious, he tells Setsushi privately.
Kumoru gets through about three pages before stopping. "Boring, I know," he says with a sigh. "I had to work through these for a while before I could move onto anything else."
As a late response to Setsushi, he adds, "Some of our priests do not want anyone thinking that anyone but the humans received the gods' language. Words have been found elsewhere, though. But... I do not seek them out, myself. Magical linguistics always struck me as terribly boring." He nods to the practice book. "As you all have just discovered."
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:49 am
Setsushi sends his private agreement to Kouyo. So far, Kumoru hasn't given them any meaningful information, and so he is not sure they should reveal anything substantial to him yet.
Nearly finished with the washing of the dishes, he turns his head slightly to peer over at the group. Still privately, he qualifies: yet. They shouldn't be unfairly suspicious. Something fruitful might come out of all this after all.
When finally finished, he moves over to Xiao Huo first, to check on his masterpiece.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:01 am
Kouyo tells the mage that the lesson has been interesting, if difficult, perhaps it is because it is new for him. He was not bored. The priest has a headache, however, and does not feel like reading any more for the day.
He stands slowly and puts a hand to the bump on his head, and starts to head back to the other side of the screen.
Jilan watches the High Priest retreat and gives off a small feeling of disappointment.
Xiao Huo has dozed off on the floor with a half-finished picture, and does not stir even when Kouyo brushes gently past him.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:08 am
Setsushi watches Kouyo go with a bit of concern, but does not say anything yet as he can discuss with his friend later.
He kneels next to Xiao Huo, glancing at the picture and then at the boy and sighing with concern. Poor child seems very tired today. Even though it is still early, maybe he needs to go to bed?
... He isn't sure whether to pick him up or leave him be, though the floor must be very uncomfortable... sweatdrop
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:22 am
Jilan walks over to his brother and carefully picks up the three dolls, then slides the piece of paper and the pencil from under his sleeping brother's hands.
... Looks like quite a tale going on already in the drawing. Jilan is not sure which side goes up. He offers the page to Setsushi.
Kumoru bends down and gently picks Xiao Huo up, thankful that Porcelain are tiny.
"I guess I should get this one home, then," he says. "Thank you again very much for the dinner and hospitality."
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:25 am
Setsushi takes the paper, scrutinizes it for a moment, and then places it on a table, to be filed away in a safe place later.
He does hope that Kumoru will return another time. And of course, he is still welcome to send the boys whenever he needs someone to watch them; they were a joy to have.
"Be safe," he offers; take care of themselves for him.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:31 am
Jilan tucks his brother's dolls away in his robes to free up his hands, and fetches his father's stack of books. Bowing to Setsushi, he also thanks him for the meal and the enjoyable day. He will certainly be back to visit.
As he walks towards the door, Jilan tries to steal a look around behind the screen to catch a last glimpse of the High Priest as well.
"You are welcome to come by the bookstore whenever you like, as well. We are hardly ever busy."
Cradling Xiao Huo in his arms, Kumoru nudges the door open with his foot and heads out, holding the door for Jilan.
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