Taiga Wayfinding 2

Taiga enters Kairi's abode, giving it a thorough examination with his sparkly, crimson eyes. There's a tiny little smile that creeps up on his face, fanged and wide. To Kairi's question, he gives a passing wave of the hand, saying in a sing-songy kind of voice - "Wherever, wherever. I trust that you'll give me an optimal tutelage regardless of where we sit, after all."

He reaches into his inventory, pulling out what notes he did keep on his person. The hastily scrawled one covering as much as he could gleam from their first lesson. "This is all I've gotten down, so far. The circles, their concepts -- but I didn't quite manage to fit it all into one page. Thankfully, though, we've the wonderous power of notebooks."
(Taiga Voss)

With a spin, and rapid, and slightly obstructing gust of wind-

-the selkie's cloak and scarf are suddenly no where to be found.

Oh, wait.

They're over there behind the table. Sneaky.

"Mmm...alright, let's use the study, then.

I think it's still left as-is from the last time I studied, anyways- which means the books for runeweaving, and scribing- should still be out on the desk.

Unless Loretta moved them around, since she lives here now."

She nods once.

"So, that should work, yes? Yes.

And...let's see...

Circles, their concepts- alright."

Turning towards the door in the back, she leads Taiga into her study, and drops down cross-legged onto one of the cushions!

"Alright.

Please, without looking at your notes, tell me what you can about the six circles, and what they do."

Her head tilts to the side slightly, and she smiles at him.

It's a big smile. A comforting smile.

A closed-mouth smile.
(Kairi)

Taiga follows Kairi on through their house, moving to follow her along into the study. It was a cozy little abode, one Taiga couldn't help but be at least a little envious of, considering how tiny and cramped Niklaus's house was sometimes. He wished he was able to have an entire room dedicated to books and studying - that'd be marvelous, but living with Niklaus more than made up for any shortcomings. Either way, he enters the study and immediately gravitates towards one of the cushions, sitting himself down!

He's all prim and proper, chest held high with pen and paper at the ready!

Though, he stops short at her words. "Oh." Already being quizzed, hm? Taiga hums and ha's for a moment, shifting a bit in his seat and giving a nervous sort of chuckle. He hated being wrong, simply put, and wasn't entirely confident that he had retained ALL that information from yesterday. There was so much thrown at him all at once. But, ah well, Kairi wouldn't chagrin him too much if he got a few bits wrong anyway.

"Alright alright…" He takes up the challenge, drawing on his memory and placing his notebook firmly in his lap, the cover closed! "There's six of them... the first one... ah - I don't quite remember what you called it, Otherworld? But it's the one that connects with the Spirit Realm. The sort of... backbone to the rest of the circles, yes?

Then..." He hums for a moment - "We spoke of the second one a fair bit, I believe, Territory. It's used for remote observation and such. Then there's... Conversion for transferring matter into energy for the time you're in the Spirit Realm... ah. Oh! Travel and Interpolation, as well. They have to do with routing and such, but I don't think I quite picked up how that happens." He clears his throat, starting to sweat a little. At the very least, a lot ofthe higher concepts hadn't slipped him by. But the exact nitty gritty was still obviously out of his grasp.

"And then portal!" He remembered portal at least! "Which is the sort of... final combination of all of the others, tying things together to actually send you along your way!" He beams!
(Taiga Voss)

The selkie nods along as Taiga begins to speak, still smiling.

Once he finishes his explanation, she nods again! But a bigger nod!

"First!

The first circle is Netherworld, not Otherworld. It is the backbone of the rest, though."

To demonstrate the circle, a bead of bright, holy light gathers on the tip of her finger- and she rapidly draws the first circle!

After a few moments, it's complete- and then suddenly turns green, as she channels mana into it!

It. Only exists for about tenish seconds- the mana suddenly being cut off from it, and the selkie being left slightly pale.

"Then, yes- Territory is the second circle. And that is also what it's used for, correct.

That is what Conversion does- however, it's the fifth circle.

Travel and Interpolation are the third, and fourth circles- they are both for routing, that's correct.

Travel is the circle used for the route itself-

Interpolation is for making that route smoother- making sure you don't impact any obstacles, or the like.

I look at it like this:

There's a caravan of carts, travelling between two cities.

The merchant company that owns the caravan sets the route between the cities-

And then the people who are guiding the caravan itself change the route as needed, to avoid any unforeseen obstacles- like bandits, or weather.

The sixth circle is, as you said- Portal- and, as you said, it is what is used to meld the effects of the other circles together, to allow you to travel."

She pauses, looking to Taiga- and rapidly draws a diagram of the six circles- or, at least, how she organizes them.

Five in the middle, in a plus shape- with one large circle, surrounding them.

"Do you have any questions about those? If not, we can work on getting you ready to make the circles themself."
(Kairi)

Taiga flips out his notebook as Kairi begins to correct his mistakes, looking over what he already had written down and taking the time to add to them. He was still in the process of just gathering the information before applying it, so mistakes at this stage weren't all too costly, but the amount of mistakes he had made, minor though they may be, was unacceptable in his eyes. This was the kind of art where a single slip could have disaster repercussions and he could tell. The whole converting someone or something into matter thing especially freaked him out, the thought of just being stuck as a wisp of energy floating along in the Spirit Realm because of some simple error - though probably a bit unrealistic of a fear - still lingered in his mind.

But this was necessary. He felt compelled to go through with this, to take every chance he had in life at this point and run with it. Magdalen, and now Kairi were willing to help him achieve his goals. There was something undeniably fascinating about it, to him, that made him so intrigued. The ability to go wherever he pleased, whenever he pleased was something almost dreamlike to him. To that end, he'd be willing to undergo whatever measures were deemed necessary.

So he listens, for the most part, taking much more precise and detailed notations this time around now that he had all the room to write as he could want, and with Kairi making things pretty simple to understand. "Ahhhh!" It clicks in his brain finally, the thing about interpolation. He had vaguely remembered the metaphor she had used the first time around, but this had successfully jogged his memory.

"Right, right. Okay. So... whenever you're writing the circles, you'd put them all in this order like sort of... eggshells on top of one another, layering them until you got to Portal which activates all the ones below it? So you could see it as sort of... preparation, then execution? At least, for travelling?"
(Taiga Voss)

Her head drops to the side as he asks his question. She's still smiling.

"I don't really know what you mean by eggshells!

But- sort of, I think?

Magdalen told me you don't explicitly have to arrange them in that order- however, she said it generally makes more sense to do it that way.

Netherworld first, since it's the access to the Spirit Realm.

Territory second, for where you aim to go.

Travel third, to know how you're going to get where you aim to go.

Interpolation fourth, to make sure you're safe when you're going.

Conversion fifth, to transfer you into energy, for the amount of time and distance you need- and then back, once you've reached your destination.

And, Portal, sixth- to take that all, and make them function in unison."

Then she nods once more.

"Although I'm- not at the point where I can make more than Netherworld, right now- yes. That's the order I'd draw them in- and with Netherworld in the center of the plus.

...I. Hope that answers your question. I'm still not entirely sure what it was."
(Kairi)

Taiga nods along, seeming to more or less get what she was talking about, running over the circles yet again in the proper order and such. A few more notes jotted down here and there, Taiga giving the occasional little 'Ahh' or 'Huh' of affirmation to show that he was paying attention. He wanted this information to stick to his brain this time, sucking it all up like a porous sponge.

"Alright, just making sure. I was speaking of the structure of things, yes, how you have to layer them atop one another before activating them. Closer to a cake than eggshells? And... the circles can each be activated individually as well, of course? Such as using just Territory for remote observation?" His pen stops in its tracks on a fresh page, Taiga tilting his head to the side.
(Taiga Voss)

Holy light coalesces a top the tip of her finger once more, and she nods!

"Yes, like a cake, then- and-

You can just use Territory for observation, but-"

She quickly draws two white circles, next to each other.

"You always need Netherworld for any of them to work. I think.

That's what Magdalen said, so I trust it."

After a few moments, she flicks her wrist, and the circles of white light vanish-

And then she begins to draw Netherworld again.

First, the radial glyph- quick, rapid strokes are made- evidently, she has been practicing quite a lot at this.

If her earlier demonstration of Netherworld hadn't proven that.

Second- supporting weave. These lines are made much slower- longer, too.

It, however- similarly, does not take all that long for her to complete the second tier.

The parameters, the third tier, take even less time- just a few strokes of her finger to complete.

And the Netherworld circle is complete- for the second time this session.

After taking a moment to look it over- now that she isn't like. Demonstrating it specifically for Taiga- she nods once.

Then channels energy through it again- the white circle rapidly turns a vibrant green.

And then she turns to look at Taiga fully again.

"Alright- so- you have the six circles together, their orders- and what they mean."

The circle stays for longer than ten seconds.

"Next, we'll move to runeweaving. Which. Basically means doing what I just did- drawing with mana.

It's actually simpler than it seems.

Although.

I learned how to do it by just focusing really really hard."

...it stays for a while, actually. Like. A solid minute, before it flashes from existence.

She. She has definitely been practicing it quite a lot since Magdalen's class.

Although now her face has also, definitely paled quite a bit.

It seems that's the true limit to how long she can maintain one of the circles.

For now.

"Are you ready to start with runeweaving?"
(Kairi)

Runeweaving. Right. That's what he had been seeing Kairi do this whole time with her finger, dancing around and drawing in the air with holy light. Not exactly something he had ever tried to do with his own magic before, air not exactly being the best thing to write with. Shadows, perhaps - but that couldn't conduct power. His raw mana was probably his next best bet, taxing, but workable. Kairi seems to have already gotten down the basic motions of drawing with her finger, but Taiga... well. Taiga was much more of a poet than an artist, and much more accustom to using a pen than his finger.

He watches intently, his slit pupil bobbing along with the movement of her finger, each individual motion clearly laid out for him to see. The Dhampirs eyes were greatly attuned to motion, capable of tracking small prey from a great distance - this was like a flying buzzing around the room for him. Not difficult at all to keep up with. They were all very precise motions, however, tiered atop one another as she wefts and weaves through all the different parts of the Netherworld circle. All that just for one of six, huh? It'd come with time, he supposed, he had seen Ethan blow right through these motions.

"Drawing with mana..." he hums. "I've always been a sort of instinctual caster. Glyphs, incantations and the like seemed to escape me for the most part. But... ah - if it's just drawing. I suppose it can't be too difficult. The consistency of the shape seems to be the most important part.

I imagine one could practice this with ink and paper if they so pleased, without having to use their mana..."
(Taiga Voss)

Now as she speaks, she begins drawing once more- however, now- she's only drawing the Radial Glyph.

Repeatedly.

Quite a lot, actually.

She's both focused on it and responding to Taiga at the same time- although her attention is torn whenever she makes a small mistake.

Those times, she's entirely focused on her runeweaving for a few seconds.

"I have been, too.

Like I said. I basically learned by focusing really, really hard, collecting a lot of energy at the tip of my finger."

Then she gives a shake of her head.

"The runes, the circles themself- those parts are absolutely important.

But-"

Her attention is drawn for a moment as she frowns at the Radial Glyph she'd been making- a flick of her wrist, and it vanishes,allowing her to start over before she resumes speaking.

"But, actually powering the circles themselves is a large part of it, too.

You could certainly just do the art by drawing on paper- but then, if you tried using your hand alone, without a stylus?

You might have some difficulties doing it correctly.

Muscle memory is both a blessing, and a curse at times."

And now, while waiting for him to respond...

...she continues to just make Radial Glyphs.

Over.

And over.

And over again.
(Kairi)

Taiga leans in a little closer, still tracking those movements with his eyes as Kairi makes them over... and over... and over again. He grows eerily still and quiet, his eyes widening and pupils dilating to focus on the task. Taiga was sustained by his blood in a way far more magical than biological, able to stop even his breathing if he so pleased... which he did. It was his instinct, at this point, telling him to do so. A part of his predator brain lighting up with activity when given the chance to track a moving object like this for extended periods of time.

Like stalking his prey. Kairi's words, this time, don't entirely seem to reach him. At the very least, Taiga is sitting entirely still, silencing all noise and stopping all movement except for his eyes. It's definitely not normal, a fact made all the more evident as his lips part a little, curling to reveal just the tips of his fangs that poke out from his upper lip.

Over. And over. And over again.

As silence fills the room, there's an uncomfortably loud gulping sound that breaks it. Taiga twitches, his whole body seeming to tense for all of one split second, then relaxing suddenly. Lucid thought racing back to him suddenly, just in time for Taiga to catch himself, blinking rapidly at the sight of his hand extended halfway out towards Kairi, fingers pressed together into a spearlike point, aiming vaguely at her hand.
(Taiga Voss)

The selkie doesn't really seem to notice as Taiga leans forward-

Nor does she seem to notice as his breathing ceases.

Honestly, she isn't really paying attention to the Dhampir at this point- instead, her attention is held entirely on practice.

Practice, practice, practice.

Repetition is key for remembrance, after all.

She doesn't notice the loud gulp he emits, either-

The selkie is lost in her own world, too.

Although a world of runes, and magic-

Not one of blood.

A few seconds after the Dhampir had struck forward- before rapidly halting, her gaze would finally be broken, hand falling to her side, light fading.

Enough of practicing Radial Glyphs. She should move on to the supporting weave.

...although she. Kind of forgot about Taiga, for a bit. She should double check if he asked any questions while she was...preoccupied.

Not really seeming to either care, or notice his extended hand- she speaks to him!

"-ah, sorry. I got- distracted.

Did...did you ask anything, while I was? I was- runes are surprisingly interesting. I kind of wish I became a runescribe- far too late for that discipline, though. I should focus on Wayfinding. At least for now."
(Kairi)

Taiga relaxes, falling back into his cushioned seat and slowly but surely reeling himself in. Though Kairi had no clue about what had just happened, he definitely did. A sudden sick feeling came to his stomach on that realization, Taiga's mind buzzing with thought as he looked down to his hands. Ech.

"...Ah. I think... I think I have to go." He starts. "I'll ah. Do the... runeweaving bit... tomorrow I--" He huffs. "I really ought to go see Niklaus. I do, however, want to make it clear! I was... ah. Definitely paying attention. Very insightful." He does a few finger wiggles in the air, giving a faux smile! Totally! Nothing! Out of the ordinary with boy!

"I'll uhm. If you have... a diagram or something that I can perhaps copy? That would be useful. To start practicing on my own time more efficiently!"
(Taiga Voss)

Her head tilts to the side, with a concerned look on her face- although she's still smiling. Ish. It's a worried smile.

"-ah. A. Alright. Are-

Are you okay, Taiga?

And- sure! I-

Actually made some copies, since- Magdalen asked me to. Here.

-and that book, the open one, on the desk next to you.

It's open to a library of basic runes. Eight pages. Read, memorize them all.

That's where I started. And- the one on the top of the pile.

That one helped me learn how to manaweave. Take both of them."

Her head straightens, now- as she pulls some papers from her desk, and holds them to Taiga.

"These pages show you how to make Netherworld, and then Territory.

I- haven't spent much time with the Territory ones. Yet. I've- been busy.

I'm hoping to tomorrow, though."

Now turning back to fully face Taiga, her head tilts to the side again- but the other side.

"-seriously though, are you okay? Did- did I do something, bad, without realziing?"

She's. Definitely super worried.
(Kairi)

Taiga clears his throat, shaking his head vigorously at the suggestion that anything about him was ever not okay! He was perfect, by all standards, and should be viewed as such at all times! He keeps up that fake grin of his, giving an almost offended sounded huff when Kairi asks about her having said something offensive!

"Oh! Absolutely not, don't be ridiculous." He insists. "Just... sitting in one place like this got me anxious to move around, is all." He nods! Mhm! Mhm! Swiping up the papers, he shuffles through them carefully, normalizing himself a little bit by trying his best to pay attention to this instead of the buzzing, almost nonstop noise going on in his head right now.

"Ahm… yes. Tomorrow should be fine." he stuffs the papers away into his satchel, already starting to make for the door. "And... thank you." He pauses. "For... your help and... your concern, Kairi."
(Taiga Voss)