Isla spoke the moment she and Tyler left the room, "You remember me?"
"Yes."
Isla nodded, "Arcana Discordia is our little secret. I'll teach you, but you don't want to reveal too much."
"I figured that out already. Why the secrecy?"
They walked, navigating the empty halls. Isla routinely checked up and down the corridors and around corners as she spoke, "Most don't even give it a second glance. We like it that way. If you don't know what pieces your opponent has. It's even better when your opponent doesn't even know you can play."
Tyler nodded, "That makes sense."
They walked outside, following a cobblestone path. Isla shoved her hands in her pockets, "The prestige turned it's back on you. It refused you. That's why you ended up at my table. I chose to help you, but it's my ass if you can't learn."
"So, you're taking it upon yourself to teach me?" he asked.
She nodded, "Arcana Discordia is split into four branches. Let's start with the first: Synchronicity. Each branch poses a theorem meant to solve a single question. In this case, we seek to know the nature of luck." She paused, stopped and turned so that her eyes met his, "You told me that you don't believe In luck. That's gonna be a problem. Luck is your most useful tool."
Tyler scoffed, "can you prove that luck exists?"
"The uncomfortable feeling you keep complaining about, what do you think it is?"
"How do you-" he began, but she cut him off.
"Cause I've been there and I know."
He shook his head, "I have no idea what it is. Morrigan seems to think it's excess static from the rite."
"She would, we use what we know to explain what we don't. She's not entirely wrong, though."
He laughed, "I'm uncomfortable because of luck?"
"No, you're uncomfortable because you don't know how to channel the static. Luck isn't a resource that's built up in a literal sense. It's something that is either denied or invited." Her hands flew from her pockets, and she brought them to her chest, "Focus on the feeling, try to isolate it. Where is the feeling coming from physically in, or on your body. Quit trying to move it. Instead, you should follow it. Chase the static."
He tried focusing his attention on each section of his body. The static did feel like it was in motion. He could feel it everywhere, but by focusing it, it would move. As soon as he reached his chest, the feeling disappeared.
"What?" Tyler gasped.
"Something wrong?" Isla smiled.
"It's gone." Tyler replied.
"What else do you notice?"
Tyler looked around, taking the world in. Much like before, the world seemed to fall in line with its own beat, every part of the environment mathematically acting in accordance to a silent rhythm.
"I hear it too," Isla mused. She closed her eyes, "Now do this while you spar with Morrigan. That's will give some measure of proof."
"I still don't know how to defend myself," Tyler said.
"You'll need a catalyst to do that, but it won't matter." She reached for a low hanging branch as they passed a tree. She broke it off and handed it to him.
"What am I supposed to do with this?"
She shrugged, "It's a twig, Tyler. I gave you a twig. How is that going to help you against one of the most powerful people in the world, a quasi-immortal no less?”
"It won't?" He asked.
“No. If there is no way to win, then why bother playing the same game. You may find you won't need to defend yourself."
Tyler dropped the branch, "How?"
"Just internalize the static. Lady luck will do the rest. You'll notice things, synchronicity, coincidence, or Deja Vu. It's all there to say 'you are right where you're supposed to be.' These moments are brushed off as insignificant, but practitioners can use this ebb and flow to cause changes in the world."
"Okay "
Once again, Tyler and Morrigan met on opposite sides of the stone path. Tyler tried hard to focus on the static, to listen to the symphony around him. Morrigan narrowed her eyes, her head gently tilting in all directions as she searched for him.
"Are you ready?" Tyler called
Morrigan nodded. The white flash burst forth from her cane and sent a wave of force in his direction. She missed. She heard the snap and pop as the attack glanced off to the right and hit a tree. Tyler stepped softly to the side, watching as she assailed the tree he stood in front of. She struck again, sending another wave, then another. It was only then that she realized Tyler had moved.
"All right, you can take advantage of the blind, Well done." she said, letting her guard down. Tyler looked to Isla, shrugged and shook his head. She smiled, and nodded.
Morrigan aimed and immediately conjured a spell, sending it forth. The moment she brought up the cane to attack, the cane ended up caught under a park bench at her side. The burst of white light sprang out, kicking up chunks of concrete when it landed.
Morrigan freed the cane, and prepared for another attack, stepping backwards for better balance and clearance. She tripped over a large rock behind her.
Morrigan stood up, her cheeks red, "What is this?"
Tyler crossed his arms, "Did you get turned around?"
"I don't get turned around like that."
"That's true," Isla said, turning to Tyler, "The more you let it go, the more things will start to go your way."
"How did he do it?" Morrigan asked with a smile.
Isla put a finger over her mouth as she spoke, "He was just lucky. That's all it is. Discordians have a knack for things going their way."
Tyler couldn't help but have a spring in his step as he walked back to his starting position, and Isla noticed.
"Don't get cocky," she said, "She can't see you, or the static, but these are not the only ways of finding you."
"Linking veins." Morrigan began, resisting the urge to demonstrate.
"Doesn't that require the static?" Tyler asked.
"Yes, but I can scatter it. You've seen how easily I can find a heartbeat."
Isla nodded, "She has a point. Facing The Scarlet Arts should always be avoided. Your tools are only as good as your opponent. Be unpredictable. She immediately adapted to you as you are now. Keep practicing"
"No, he has to learn how to actually attack. There are some tricks he can pull with a catalyst."
Isla scoffed, stared at the ground for several seconds, then sighed, "I agree. He's going to need time to recover anyway."
"Why?" Tyler asked, "recover from what?"
Morrigan jumped at the chance to answer, rushing forward and holding her hand out for him to take. When he did, she lifted his shirt, revealing a massive bruise that encompassed his entire chest.
"How bad is it?" Morrigan asked, and Isla's eyes went wide.
Isla took a sharp breath of air, "you two have a fight recently?"
"That bad?" Morrigan said, her smile fading, "I wasn't even trying."
"It's a good lesson," Isla said. "The prestige is not a toy. The body isn't meant to handle even the simplest of traumas. That's really going to hurt tomorrow."
"That's why you need to learn to inflict trauma, not just avoid it." Morrigan added.
"What would I be able to do?" Tyler asked.
Again, Morrigan seemed all too eager to answer, "Take a standard attack, like what caused the bruising. Almost anyone who survives the right can do it, though they often find their own ways to do so. I use the tip of my cane and Damon uses a pistol. The spell is the same."
"Why not just add that force to a punch? Why is a catalyst needed?" Tyler asked.
"That would be physics," Isla replied with her arms crossed. "It's easy to forget that some rules are still at play."
Morrigan nodded, "If you punch a brick wall as hard as you can, it hurts. Now add even more force and you end up with shattered bones. Even manipulation of flames requires forethought. How do I keep it from burning me when I have it in my hand? If I throw it, should it explode like a bomb or spread like napalm?"
Tyler gave a forced laugh, "I don't really need to worry too much about it, do I? I won't be able to most of that."
"No," Morrigan sighed, "but it's still relevant no matter what you're capable of. A catalyst will make mistakes less obvious and less impactful."
"Let's go then, what makes a good catalyst?" Tyler asked.
Isla chimed in, "Depends on you. Catalysts are usually pretty personal. You want something sturdy and durable, though." She turned and walked away, "Let me know when you're ready to continue."
Morrigan removed the ring from her finger, showing to Tyler, "Rose was my tutor. Her wedding ring was her catalyst, the cane that acts as my sight is mine."
Guess I have some thinking to do." Tyler said.
Morrigan chuckled, "Oh yes, and some reading. You are on your own for this one. Use the text and see what you can do. I'm sure we will help you, but I want to see how you rise to the occasion."
"Still mad about tripping?" Tyler asked.
"Still trying to understand, rather. How did you do it?"
"I didn't, the effect isn't really caused. It's like it was staged, all the events set up to go my way."
Morrigan scoffed, "So, luck has nothing to do with it."
"Luck had everything to do with it, I just wish I could explain, for both of us, just what luck really is."
Morrigan nodded, "Come on. Let me try and patch you up."
Gosh. Again, I feel like I don't have much to say which isn't of much use to you. There are just some general things that I noticed as I was reading, but I was very much so engrossed in the story: In regards to your short chapters, I think it does you well. It's infuriating for me because there's less to read and I have to wait on you to get more, but it also keeps up the pace even in chapters like this where it's mostly information dumping. Speaking of information dumping, I did notice that this chapter is precisely that. However, as your magic system is pretty awesome, it didn't feel like an unnatural flow due to the information dump on Discordians. I still really like the way that they use "luck" to their advantage, though it does sound like they do best when not having to come into direct conflict with an opponent where their opponent might be able to stir up enough of a mess to escape the Discordian's influence. Is the bruising from Morrigan hitting Tyler across the chest? Because that's all I can think of and Isla was definitely there for that. She was the one who suggested it, if I remember correctly. Her line "Did you and Morrigan get in a fight" really threw me off because I figured she already knew that it would be some sort of injury from the fighting. It just makes more sense for her to realize that the damage was worse than she thought. There's also one magical principal I'm a bit confused about: becoming a Discordian. You mentioned it requires one appearing in the casino and earning someone to guide them(more so in your article with little more than suggestions of it in the chapter). You also state that the Prestige turned its back on Tyler and Isla saved him. Doesn't that mean anyone who fails the Rite would be able to become a Discordian or is the difference that the Prestige completely rejected him where others who die during the rite are simply overwhelmed by the power of the Prestige? Feels like a point that needs some elaboration, but in and out of the novel. Beyond that, I loved the chapter. It was a fun use of the power against Morrigan, even if Tyler would have lost. I also love getting to read your work so I'm glad you got a chapter published today, probably the highlight of my day so far. Great work, as always.
Thanks so much man. Im currently running off of medication, trying to get it refilled, so thats why its so slow, and im very sorry for that. idk if it's obvious but if the editing feel chaotic, pun intended, that's why XD So that's actually a weird thing. When Isla says fight, she means more like an argument before sparring. I'll rectify that. They do have practical offensive spells, which are coming up, but in general yes. They are in their element when able to strike first, and avoid prolonged confrontation. Discordians also know their luck can turn around. Techniqually, they dont really have much control of their abilities. As far as the house of cards, its random. Those who die in the rite are randomly selected to go to the casino where they take a test. They have to tip their dealer. Otherwise, they just die in the rite.I'll try to remedy this! next chapter should be up soon and i'm happy it made your day. Hearing that made mine. Thanks so much!
Of course! It's a pleasure to *try* and provide some helpful insight. And Isla meaning argument makes way more sense. I should have picked up on that, but fixing it's also probably a good thing. I'm curious to see where offense gets them, as I do recall you mentioning Tyler needing a catalyst to properly fight. As far as a Discordian's luck turning around, I'd wager that if I were a Discordian I would be the ultimate charm of bad luck with literally nothing going my way ever. But, that also does offer a good balance to the system, even if it already seems pretty weak compared to Morrigan. Ooh. That makes sense. You should probably mention that at some point. Have Isla say something like "You were one of the lucky ones, making your way to the casino" or whatever. That way the reader at least can put the pieces together if they get curious. I look forward to reading more whenever you publish it.