The first thing the televisions showed was the animal planet which happened to be
showing a documentary on big cat: which was about as interesting to the lupmans and
leomans the way humans were interested in depictions of how monkeys acted.
Naturally some of the leomans were uncomfortable with the program but kept their
opinions to themselves since the majority seemed to find the program mostly enjoyable.
The light brown Sergeant Bernie Hive was quite happy when the documentary ended and
the challenge was changed an episode of The Underdog Show (the changes in reality had
the cartoon wolf mobster character now went around in the fur strangely enough but not
erased from existence). However this received too many groans from the lupmans who
demanded a challenge change and the nurses complied.
Three seconds of South Park and the channel changed again.
The Japanese wolves had never been Otakus, in spite of their Alpha taste in
entertainment... so they really, REALLY wished the leomans would stop asking them inane
questions about the Japanese cartoons being shown on the international channel that the
lupmans had no more clue than the leoman as to the plot (due to the heavy story-line
oriented style of most anime series it really felt like coming to a starting to read a story in
the middle!).
The cooking channel held everyone's attention, except for those with broken jaws who
found this fate to be rather aggravating.
Finally came the history channel, which result in the many former gallery wolves presence
in loud voices, "THAT'S NOT HOW THAT HAPPENED!"
Joy and Ingrid look at the conscious heads of the other, both thinking 'This is gonna be a
long night...'
++++++++++
1689 August
Joella walked quite with the cracked and damage gargoyle, looking at the beauty of
Glendale as it had become... truly alive with so many colors... and it could all be gone if her
mothers died before they could finalize it all.
All that power was HERE, but Joella was no witch, and her mothers were in position to use
all the power around them, 'It must be horrible for them.'
"So, you've been with the one eyed hunter a long time?" Joella asked.
Vatican said, "I have been with her since she was taken in by her god father... he extracted
a promise from me that I protect her always, and so I have done so."
"Then why aren't you with her right now?"
"If I was with her constantly, it would be unhealthy for her mind, and that would harm her,
thus defeating the purpose of my vow."
"... So you've been a gargoyle a long time?"
"As long as I can remember I believe... I am not a taboo gargoyle like Free. Though I have
heard taboo gargoyles do eventually forget their other existence so I can not be certain
without checking the church's records."
"Taboo?"
"Never mind ... how long have you been with your guardians?"
"All my life, as long as I can remember."
"And how long is that?"
"I dunno...."
"Heh, fair enough... "
"I'm sorry my mothers had to hurt you, if you had just left us alone none of this would have
had to happen."
Vatican decided it was very wish NOT to try and debate with a child still in the single digit
range about concepts like good, evil, free will, and nurture vs nature.
"I am sorry, but I made a promise to stay by Marie Cruz's side, and I shall do so, as a
gargoyle must."
"Okay.... I understand... promises are very important... it doesn't matter who you give them
to... a promise is a promise."
++++++++++
"Isn't that a rule?" Maddex's heads scoffed.
Marie-Eliza, "Joella justified the witches utopia that the witches would change the base
nature of people so they COULD live in a utopia... Perhaps people do need to improve
culture improves, or maybe it is culture that improves the people... but that is not
something I will debate on."
++++++++++
Father Draco Fire merely sat in a corner writing down the vents of the trial.
The faries blinked.
Kathrine stared.
Linus look scandalized. "OBJECTION!!! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO CROSS EXAMINE MYSELF?!"
Dr. Azrael said, "You may have Sister Kathrine direct the cross examine ones for you... the
witness shall take the stand."
Linus did so... then lifted up his arms and let his sleeves fall down, revealing his arms
ended at his wrists. He had been carrying the book when needed through the inside of his
elbows.
"And how am I supposed to be sworn in?"
Dr. Azrael said without missing a beat, "You will place your arm on the bible and swear in
that manner."
Linus slowly and reluctantly did so.
"Linus Sure... " Marie Cruz began, "Your were tutored by a mage for years yes?"
Linus said carefully, "I was, though I do not practice magic itself."
"But you are fully versed in magic and it's practical appreciation?"
"I am aware of it's fundamentals and what can and what not work if that is your question."
"Are you viable source for testimony on magic yes or no please."
"...Yes"
"So, by your previous statement, magic DOES have rules and limits?"
"Yes. And to say it has limits is somewhat unfair, a man's body and mind has limits, but
two men will not naturally accomplish the same things. But yes, while it follows a different
path from the sciences, it does follow the base law of chaos and effect."
"Then what makes it different from science then?"
"That is again a rather unfair question. A fish, a bird, and a wolf all have brains, bones, and
eyes, but they are very different and wouldn't be considered the same normally if one
asked."
"But they are all animals."
"Yes they are. But science, magic, and alchemy, are all means by which man is able to effect
his environment, but that does not make them the same."
Dr. Azrael asked, "Does the defense have a point to these questions?"
"I am getting there your honor." She looked back at Linus, "So magic like science does
follow rules."
"-Different- but rules all the same yes."
"And what limits magic has are related to what resources, tools, and knowledge one has?"
"Yes."
"Thank you. So why is mana, or perhaps the source of mana, often called the infinite chaos
if it follows rules?"
"It involves limiting the possibilities of the chaos until they become only one path the chaos
can follow. But chaos is by it's nature resistant to this thus why precaution must be taken
when learning how to control it. Thus why mediums and familiars are used when wielding
magic."
"So magic can not be used directly without a tool?"
"It can be used raw. Some of the most powerful mages in history were even able to create
MENTAL MEDIUMS in their minds' eye to filter the chaos."
"But all the same there must be a medium of some sort? What side effects are most
common?"
"Sometimes simply nothing happens. But if forced, the user risks losing touch with reality,
and damaging their sense of logic as the chaos runs unchecked through their mind. Being
unable to comprehend others do not think the same as yourself for example can occur."
"From the last journal entry read... would you say that occurred or likely occurred when the
witches attempted to make everyone on Earth an immortal child?"
".... yes."
"It's clear that their spell failed or backfires, what happen when a spell fails or backfires?"
"Sometimes the mana is wasted. Other times if used on a much grander scale, fate itself
will try to backlash on everything the spell attempted to do. Other times it can backlash
fully on the user."
"And would you say that occurred here? in Glendale, with the witches' first attempt to
remake the world?"
"Yes..."