Mystic Poetry has always baffled me. When I read the books from the library it either reminds me of the origins of proper mathematics. When math was always rooted in the geometrical with textual description. At other times it's pure poetry, with simile and metaphor, the meanings you glean from the text apparently just as important as the structure. Which is where the subject trips me up. I know nothing of poetry.
I've kinda begun to see why it's important that magic has this structure though. Mean has great importance in magic. So a descriptive language that incorporates that is probably better than one that ignores it.
But on the flip side. This seems to be what stifled the growth of true mathematics. Why study math when abstraction was inferior to meaning? Throwing away the context seemed suicidal. And mathematics at the heart of it's growth was almost always a gentleman's game. Some lofty pursuit of the meaning and structure of the world. But when you have magic wouldn't you be drawn to that instead?
But there is mathematical structure inside there. I can see it. There are patterns on the tip of my tongue. Just out of reach. I'm not sure what advantage it would give me, or where it would apply. But surely it would open so many doors to my understanding if I could grapple this hidden structure... if only I could read that book...
But first I had Mystic Poetry to survive. From what I'd read up in the book, there was a heavy emphasis on the poetic nature of the art. I'm going to struggle... ugh.
The teacher serenely floats above the class. Gravity was but a suggestion for her. The shell on her back gives the impression of a backpack. Except the robe seems to part around it, giving access to her back. Which was her real body? The shell or the mass beneath her robes?
But there was something about her skin that didn't seem quite right. Apart from the fact it was blue, it looked more like woven fabric than smooth skin to my eyes. Her hands were even weirder. From each sleeve came three or more hands. She was carrying numerous books in each but the hands seemed poorly formed. Some had missing fingers, others seemed a tattered weave of undulating threads. Just another little detail that sends shudders down my spine. That's another day at the Academy for you...
"Greetings class. I will be your teacher today. You may call me Shell. I do so ever hope we can get along." She coos while studying her new class. Her eyes take on an almost teary sheen, or perhaps that's just the fact she's always moist skinned? "Oh, there are so many partings in life, I've just had to say goodbye to my last class."
Nope, they were tears. Oh dear. She's one of the strangest teachers I've ever met. I couldn't see her wrangling a class of students. But then again, maybe she didn't have to. The Academy was more like a university than a school. Everyone wanted to be here. If they didn't they wouldn't have accepted the contract on admission.
So this touchy-feely type teacher wasn't so out of place. She wipes her large eyes with a sleeve before continuing. "But now I have a new class! I'm ever so much looking forward to meeting you all. So many bright minds waiting to learn the beautiful art of Mystic Poetry..." She begins a lengthy soliloquy of her previous class and the joys and sorrows of Academy life, or perhaps just life in general. It's not long before some of the class look decidedly uncomfortable.
"Ehm, teacher, are we going to start the lesson at any point?" A hulking green skinned giant heckles. He hunches over the tiny desk in comparison. He looks like some kind of ogre or troll if such things really do exist. The class laughs at his interjection.
Thankfully Shell doesn't seem to mind too much. Apart from the apparent flounder she finds herself. "Oh! Deary me. I got so caught up in my memories. I'm wasting time aren't I? Oh dear..." Scratch that, she's literally coming apart at the seams.
I hold back a cry as her face unweaves itself. An undulating mass of fibre comes apart to reveal a pair of two floating eyes held aloft by two thick stalks. OK, perhaps she's not taking this too well. A vast majority of the class shifts back in their seats. Seems we are in agreement... noted, visceral disgust is a universal emotion.
After a fumbling second she places her pile of books on the desk in a hurried fashion. Reforming herself she turns to address the class, but her attempt at reforming is less than successful. One of here eyes is lower than the other and her mouth forms a long crooked line.
"Right well, lets start the class." She clears her throat. At least I hope that's what I'm hearing. "Mystic Poetry is the backbone of magic study. Through which all mages learn the structure of magic. In this class we will learn a version which has accumulated the learnings of several worlds and combine them into one coherent master piece."
Having gained some confidence she begins the lecture in earnest. The subject had always mystified me, hehe~. So I try my best to focus on what she's saying. As she talks she places one of the books into the central circle on her table.
"If you could grab a copy of this book, I would be most grateful. Please follow along with any examples..." As she taps the circle once more several copies of the book pop up on our table. The same happens in sequence around the room. Much to my amusement the troll picks up the book, that's about the size of his fingernail, with a dainty pinch.
Spring still bouncing in her chair snaps one up only to start frowning as she looks at the dense page of text. Me and Garden pick up our own copies shortly after.
The books seem to split the content between the left and right halves. One side is filled with poetry examples, while the other describes interpretations, alternatives and key structural points to look out for. Ugh, so obtuse. I find myself longing for a mathematical text instead. At least I would have the foundation needed to begin teasing apart the complex concepts. Saying that, the book is very well written. Each new page covers new facets of the complex intricacies of Mystic Poetry. Some even seem to rely on structures of language that don't exist in English, like gendered nouns which count into the dozens of different genders, indication of grammar sets used, notation of tonal changes, etc. So much to learn.
As I look back up Shell has been waiting patiently for the students to satisfy their curiosity. She has also managed to put her face back into order while she waited. "While we will be learning the structure of magic, learning the structure of language is just as important. Many aspects of magic carry themselves on the meanings given to concepts from local sentient species. This is a well known fact of magic, and we use it to our advantage. While this class has no practical aspect it will become an essential tool for you all later."
She goes on to describe various aspects of language that can interact with magic. From limericks to rhythm, metaphor and simile, singing, meter, and so on.
"You will probably notice that the Academy's translation magic may hamper our studies if it were to translate even our attempts of writing poetry into our native languages. Therefore the Academy has one exception to it's translation rule. You may have noticed a difference when reading the poetry excerpts. Meaning is conveyed but not translated wholesale. This makes it more difficult to read but non the less possible to both understand the structure and meaning at the same time. This is a language unique to the Academy which strives to encompass as many facets of language as a whole as possible." Having fully entered lecture mode Shell waggles her finger with in time with her speech.
"But this does mean that your on your own, for the most part, when it comes to the task of exploring these concepts on your home world. I'm sorry my dear students but it's beyond our capabilities to study that which is scrubbed clean by the Academy magic. We cannot help you with the intricacies of your home language." And she truly does look apologetic. Her huge doey eyes droop slightly in sadness.
I can't help but notice Spring is completely ignoring her while flipping through the book. Tongue sticking out the corner of her mouth as she reads. Gardens featureless face is pointed in Spring's direction with what I can only assume is a look of resigned disappointment.
"You will need to tease apart your own foundation of knowledge. What concepts come naturally in your world, which feel alien. Use your intuition to ferret out the unique qualities of your own world!" She becomes rather excited as she describes the joy of discovery. Mystic Poetry is a passion for her, and the mystery of all these new cultures in one room has her, metaphorically, drooling at the possibilities.
"We will also explore how to discover the fluid concepts which can mean multiple things or change depending on context. Yet more rarely certain concepts can conflict with the very structure of magic. Which can cause problems or become the source of interesting opportunities..."
The lecture continues like this. Various topics are touched on to give the students an idea of what the class covers. The first lecture seems to be a broad discussion of the entire subject.
She highlights particularly the difference between free prose, which have flexibility in interpretation, and fixed prose, which has a rigid interpretation. Free prose being used to describe general concepts between many different worlds, needing to have that flexibility to change depending on the world in question. It's good way to describe circles for instance, from world to world, only becoming fixed when the context of the world becomes apparent. Which leads me to question why that concept never seems to apply to Earth. From my little batch of experiments it's like it can't decide what the context should be. Surely that can't be the case...
While I mull I watch the fellow students intently follow along with the class. It's rather strange to watch all these alien forms hunched over desks studying poetry. But they did all select the class, so the students dutifully follow the lecture. Doesn't have anything to do with the horrifying sight that happened earlier when the teacher was upset. Nope, not at all.
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Eventually after the point at which I feel like my brain is about to burst with all this unfamiliar information. She asks us to discuss our own worlds with our neighbours. Biting back my worries about being discovered I can't deny the puppy dog look Spring is giving me.
"Ehrm, just to make sure, but you do know we're just talking about the languages of our world. Right Spring?" I ask. She pouts a little but nods. "How about you go first Garden?"
I redirect our attention to Garden who has seemed rather passive. She shows a little surprise before giving the question some serious thought. "How to describe it? Lots of numbers, conditions, states... I don't use so many of these ambiguous words. Feelings, qualities, or general qualia words are a bit alien to me. But I've seen plenty of people who do use those constructs. I've learnt a great deal just by coming here, not just magic."
Ehm, whoa, why do I feel like I just learned an important nugget of info about Garden. "What kind of life do you lead..." The words slip out before I know it.
"Hmm! You just told me off for goign off topic!" Spring is in full on pout. Feeling perhaps a little jealous of the attention her friend is receiving. I raise my hands in defence and that seems to placate her. "Well, how about me next... you see the language on my world... the language... what was it like again?"
"I don't know, we're asking you?" Why did you volunteer if you can't answer? "It's hard to think about something that comes so naturally. How about you compare it to the feel of Academy language?"
That just causes her face to scrunch up even harder. Her nose wrinkles in deep thought. "I'm not sure. Sometimes they sing, sometimes they sound so serious, sometimes..."
Why is it always someone else? What about you Spring? How do you use language... But I can't ask that, for some reason it seems like a bad idea to touch upon that. The more she talks about other people talking the lonelier the impression I get of her. She fumbles for a little while before her attention turns to me.
"What about you Gentle? What's your world... I mean language like?" Spring asks. Clearly eager to learn about more than the topic at hand.
"Hmm, where to start. English is a strange language. An amalgamation of several that have come before it. If I remember correctly it has some Norse in it? Some French and German? Which also come from Latin. I'm no language expert so I've only got a rough grasp on all this."
"Intertesting!" Cheers a voice from behind me. Eek! "Multiple languages? Merging of cultures! Truly unique." Shell had snuck up on me at some point.
"Wait? Why would that be unique? Wouldn't that usually occur?" I ask a bit mystified.
"Hmm? Not usually, just as language influences magic. Magic influences language. Core concepts seep from magic back into language making them rather homogeneous. Magic is the glue of language. Different cultures will take on different dialects but rarely are they to the point of being totally incomprehensible between different cultures. But you describe language like they are these fully separate entities that change and evolve on unprecedented rates. How interesting, how intriguing! What's the driving force behind this? High dynamism of aspects in the world? Conflicting religious or cultural values? I would oh so love to visit your world and study this phenomena..."
Crap!! What have I done... I hadn't realised this would be a problem. Earth really is quite different to other worlds. Who knew magic had such an effect on culture! "It's... it's not really that interesting. Just a mess really..." I hedge but she's already lost in her own thoughts. Thankfully she seems to drift off the topic of my world and into more theoretical topics. Please just stay that way. Don't return to the topic of my world...
But I'm really beginning to see why mathematics had trouble forming in other worlds. Math starts from language and if the majority has rule then math wouldn't have anyway to naturally form. Mathematics was written in prose originally, it was dependent on physical description before it became the abstract, symbolic art it is today. Plus language just seems far too useful to the mages, why would they move away from that aspect? But then I remember Garden and her cryptic description of language. That was far more rigid than I'd expect from anyone but a computer programmer... I end up just as baffled as when I entered the class.
I silently hope Shell doesn't take more than a fleeting interest in my world. I'm not sure how easily she could visit it. Thankfully she seems to have satisfied her train of thought and begins floating from one table to another again.
She uses this time to ask more students about their own languages. Muttering something under her breath about missed opportunities. The troll like student gives a rather interesting reply about the meaning of grunts and groans. Several water based students compare notes with the teacher and have animated discussions about the inclusions of bubbles in spoken language.
As the class approaches the end of the Mark Shell begins wrapping up her discussions and moves to the centre of the class room. "Well, I do so ever thank you all for the wonderful class. It brings me much pleasure to teach such bright minds. I will answer any questions you may have, should any of you have burning inquires."
She opens the floor for questions and a couple of students take her up on the offer. An urge to ask my own question builds. Perhaps I could probe her about mathematically ideas in Mystic Poetry? It was almost like a devils temptation.
I raise my hand. Not feeling the greatest clarity on what I want to ask. Nor am I sure this is a wise decision. You should stay quite you idiot. Don't draw her attention to you anymore than you should...
"Yes? The Plant girl with the horns, what is your question?" She asks focusing on me.
"Ehm, well, I was wondering..." Oh god, how do I phrase this. "Why is the poetic aspect so important?"
That was not the right question to ask. I can see her begin to fray at the edges. The class gets ready to shift back in their seats and several of them shoot me dirty looks. "You don't like poetry?" She asks with a quavering voice.
"Ah wait! No, I didn't mean it like that! I mean I'm just more interested in the more grammatical parts of magic. I mean what parts of magic are the true Laws of magic and which are the cultural parts. Does any of that make sense?"
Thankfully she stops unravelling. But she stays quiet for an unnerving minute. "Hmm, that is a tough one blue blossom." Arg, another nickname! "Magic absorbs meaning from the world. It is magic's intrinsic nature to become malleable and integrate with the world. It doesn't even need to be culture it absorbs. Natural processes can become entwined in the structure of magic. The actions of people have even more effect, from rituals and repeated actions to chanting and normal speech. It becomes very difficult indeed to untangle what is True Law and what is absorbed meaning. And every world has different True Laws."
The writing had been on the wall. I kind of expected an answer like this. That didn't make it any less disappointing.
"So meaning is entwined throughout magic. Maybe not at it's most fundamental, but a mage is never far from touching upon an ingrained concept. For a start there isn't much reason not to make use of that fact. It makes your magic much stronger. Bolstered by eons of culture and natural processes!" The enthusiasm for her subject showing through at the end there.
So it was an impossible task. From what she says, it's almost impossible to apply math in a world where foreign meaning has crept into magic. I sigh inwardly. The easy path always seems to evade me.
"Well, there was one teacher who had begun cataloguing hat seemed to be base relations. They always used such obscure techniques. But nevertheless their results were interesting..." I perk up at the unexpected news. A windfall? For once am I getting a life line. "Unfortunately they passed away. There work should still be at the library if your curious."
"Wh-who?"
"I believe their name was Stepping Stones."
Of course it was... Sigh.
------
People are leaving the class room as the Question session ends. Shell wishes them goodbye one after another. I'm stuck in a funk as I process another near miss.
"Em, em!" Spring tugs on a sleeve trying to get my attention. "Social! I mean, can we meet at the social! I want to talk, and get to know you. And..." She cringes for a second. "Sorry for coming on strong earlier. Garden is right. I'll try to be a better friend OK?"
It's a little endearing and I find myself tugged out of my low mood. Might as well make friends while I have access to the Academy. "Ah, sure, we can be friends." She beams at my answer. "But I haven't bought the Social slot. Sorry." And then her face falls immediately after.
"Why not!! I mean... uuu~ why haven't you bought it?" She turns subdued. Conscious that coming on too strong may drive me away.
I end up turning away, unable to look at her forlorn stare. "I.. I really just didn't want to spend the points on something so unnecessary." Sounds so lame of an excuse when I put it into words. Perhaps I just don't like the idea of navigating such a complex social situation...
She seems to battle with her inner conscious. Tilting from side to side as she decides whether to push the matter. But eventually her desires win out. "Are you sure? I mean it's a great opportunity to make connections. You could meet so many people, maybe... maybe..." She struggles to come up with a convincing sounding argument. Repeating phrase she's heard elsewhere.
"Springs right you know." Garden intercedes. "Social interaction is just as important as learning magic here at the Academy."
"Yes! Yes, what she said." Spring cheers as Garden backs her up.
"I mean, who will you party up with when going out of the Academy? Who will you go to when you need a particular item crafted? Or inversely what will you craft yourself when you don't know what people need?" She comes out with sound argument after sound argument.
I don't feel like any of her particular arguments ring quite true with me. I'm probably not going to make it past the first Term. But I can still imagine how these arguments relate to me. Even learning a little commonsense would be of use to me. Thinking back on my near disaster this class. And aside from that... the teary eyed Spring tugs at my heart strings.
She's a little immature and impulsive. But she's genuine and she lightens my mood. I feel like I can be good friends with her. Garden is a little mysterious but I also feel like she's a good person. I may just spend those 5 points, make some memories while I'm here.
"OK, OK. I'll unlock the social period." I relent.
"You better! First social event is coming up in a couple of cycles. I'll see you there, right? Or I'll have to hunt you down in your free period!" Spring declares puffing out her chest. I nod along.
"Oh." She pauses having thought of something. "What classes do you have next?"
"Oh, hmm." I take out my medallion. "Up next is my first Explorer Studies."
"Really!! I did that one too. We're explorer buddies then." She gushes for a few minutes. Describing her dreams of exploring the cosmos yet again. How she took it in her first Term too. Until Garden starts to drag her away to their next class. "Ah, just one thing!" She calls out as she gets further and further away. Garden is unrelenting however.
"It's, like, an older class. All the students are generally intermediate mages. So be careful OK? Really don't piss them off..." She shouts before disappearing around the corner.
Really? Your just going to leave me with that bombshell?