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Wait a second: <span class="mu-i">RULES!</span> From what you’ve seen, magic is stupidly-convoluted and full of weird, almost made-up restrictions and guidelines… If you wanna sell this show, you’re gonna have to play ball!
To begin, you begin, noisily clearing your throat, <span class="mu-r">COUNSELING</span> is a very, <span class="mu-i">VERY</span> powerful magic indeed… but like many things from your homeworld, it works a little differently from the hocus pocus here!
THAT gets the mage’s attention! In short, you explain as the spellcaster’s eyes track you with laser-focused accuracy, YOUR magic is fueled by…
‘<span class="mu-s">VIBES.</span>’
When it becomes clear Toppel and Oti don’t plan on hucking a fireball at you, you continue! See, the right vibes are key when, y’know, ensorceling… and the best way to not scare them off is to maintain a calm, polite atmosphere!
“Pause.” Oti interjects with an impatient click, “These… ‘vibes’... are they an omnipresent energy, or do they follow Tiiamestor’s Flow and wax and wane according to Lunar Currents?”
… <span class="mu-i">Yes.</span> Answering with an irritated sigh, the Chytree doesn’t bother asking any further questions. Anywho, you repeat, in order for this to work, you’ll need to create a space conductive to <span class="mu-r">POSITIVE VIBES!</span>
“And how, pray tell, do we do that?” Toppel asks, before her orange eyes light up with excitement! “OOH! Blood Magic!? It’s Blood Magic, isn’t it!?”
No, you mutter, it’s… you’re not doing <span class="mu-i">blood magic</span>... you just need them to play nice for this to work, okay? That means no biting, no snide remarks, no punching below the belt, and <span class="mu-i">DEFINITELY</span> no disintegrations!
A hush falls over your captive audience.
“... Not…” Oti mumbles in an uncharacteristically-sheepish tone, “Not even if she annoys me?”
Not even a <span class="mu-i">little</span>, you snap! <span class="mu-r">COUNSELING</span> requires trust… or at the very least openmindedness! If your, uh, <span class="mu-i">victim</span> feels anxious, well… it ain’t gonna work!
“How is this supposed to be used on an enemy, then!?” Toppel groans like a kid stuck on a boring road trip! “How does one bring their foe to their knees!?”
You’re getting there, you answer in a slightly raised voice! Now look: do they promise to abide by the guidelines? It ain’t gonna work otherwise!
The mages exchange a withering, but defeated glance.
“Fine…”
“If we <span class="mu-i">must</span>...”
Great! Okay, everyone, let’s shake it all out! It’s hard to tell if they follow your instructions given how dark it is, but you shake your legs and arms like a dancing scarecrow anyways! Woo! Alright, Step One: you wanna know how they met!
Oti’s eyes flicker. “How on Zoral does <span class="mu-i">that</span> hel-”
“Ooh, how could I <span class="mu-i">FORGET</span>~” Purrs Toppel as she dares to scoot a little closer to the Chytree on the couch, “We were both in Professor Muut’s practical study course on Close Quarters Conjuring… remember, dear?”
“I must have compartmentalized it.”
>CONTD.
