I was trying to figure out what about Knight Gardenia's tale didn't sit right with me, at first I thought writing a parallel reality into existence was like some sort of necromancy, creating life to do your bidding and all that. Then I thought it was more like making your illusions real, which of course is a frightening power when you've made other people. But I think I've figured it out. It is especially obvious when we look at the ending.
This business of artificially creating a new alternate reality, causing not just people but the entire world to act according to your wishes... It's Enchantment magic on a grand scale. Mind control of an entire universe.
Having become tangled in alternate universes myself, my feelings are complex, but I feel more confident that I am right to disapprove of this.
I can't help but feel nervous about Knight Gardenia heading into another of that person's worlds again so soon...
Did you know? This Saturday at noon CST, @cosmobergamot's class is embarking on their long awaited field trip to Key Lake! As you can see, we are really excited!!!
It's not too late to join the fun! Check out my study guides to learn what all the fuss is about! ( part 1 | part 2 )
I am so excited to have a great time with my classmates @lilithbellamira, @crossplanarcleric, @uprightcards, and Aoi Nipi, just like we all are in this image <333
An account of the after-meeting in the Professor's office, concerning Mecha and a certain Amiibo
This is, as far as I can make it out to be, a summary of the short meeting following a spatial and dimensional incident in the professor's office that resulted in him, Mecha, and some others becoming involved in an effort to stop a parallel universe from being erased.
As soon as the portly, well-dressed man bid farewell, Cosmo activated one of his many transportation spells and stepped through it into the confines of his office, clutching Mecha, his student's exams, and a troublesome Luigi-shaped amiibo. The transition was successful, and he found himself back in his office, no worse for wear aside from the mess on his desk and the oddly cleaner space where the black hole, shrinking down to nothing rapidly, had been.
The Luigi amiibo vibrated gently, catching Cosmo's attention. Gently, he set it down on the edge of the desk, eyeing it with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. He motioned to Mecha, offering her a drink to ease the tension of their recent ordeal.
Mecha, her helmet de-digitizing to reveal her stern yet tired face, sighed heavily. "After all that bother, a Silverhand would be decent to have right now. Unless you know how to make a Cosmo Canyon?" she said, flopping into the guest chair opposite the wizard.
Cosmo smirked. "It shares my name, I'll have to learn how to make one," he replied, noting down the drink's instructions on a piece of shale. "Should be up in a few minutes."
His attention returned to the Luigi amiibo, which seemed to show signs of life as he lightly scolded it for the issues it had caused. A hologram projection emerged from the amiibo, forming a rough vroid model of a feminine figure. The Lulz, as it introduced itself, apologized for the trouble and offered an explanation.
Cosmo and Mecha listened intently as Lulz revealed its identity as a manifestation of multiple individuals, split into different identities representing various traits, and yet also that they were, in fact, the original. It explained the existence of a counterpart, Lulz Prime, and the dangers posed by its instability.
As the conversation unfolded, Cosmo realized the gravity of the situation. They had prevented a potential catastrophe, but the implications of Lulz's existence were profound. Lulz spoke of retrieving its lost possessions scattered across the multiverse, seeking to regain control of its fragmented identity.
Cosmo proposed using a banishment spell to send Lulz back to its original plane of existence. After a moment's hesitation, Lulz agreed, and Cosmo cast the spell, watching as Lulz disappeared with a faint popping noise. The plan was to hold concentration for half a minute, just in case the place the Lulz was sent was NOT, in fact, where they belonged.
Thirty seconds later, Lulz returned, clattering back onto the table with renewed vigor. It expressed gratitude and a desire to stay under their care, seeking assistance in regaining its lost identity. The banishment was, in fact, successful-- but in order to actually stay there, to return to where the Lulz belonged, they would need to re-collect themselves. They were a long way from home, and with their memories regained after the strange Lulz singularity last year, there was a question of existentiality to be asked and answered.
Cosmo and Mecha discussed the logistics of Lulz's stay, considering its illusory form and limited capabilities. Cosmo, in a flash of curiosity, slipped a ring of Mage Hand off his own finger and placed it around the outstretched arm of the Luigi amiibo whence the Lulz hologram emitted. This, both miraculously and hilariously, gave the Lulz the ability to access the cantrip, carrying the amiibo around to afford them locomotion around the campus.
As they discussed the next steps, Lulz experimented with its newfound ability, testing the limits of the Mage Hand spell. Mecha chimed in, recounting her own experiences with dimensional travel and offering her expertise to aid Lulz's research.
Despite the challenges ahead, Cosmo and Mecha felt a sense of excitement at the prospect of assisting Lulz in their quest for identity. It was settled that Mecha would have a space in the basement of the tower, and that Lulz's student enrollment paperwork would be processed immediately-- before Cosmo had to go and talk to the headmaster to offer explanations.
Thelen, what can you tell us about the time The Horizon went to the amphitheater?
Of course, miss Aster. Let's see...
Much of this information is unavailable without an authorisation key. Here's what I am able to tell you:
Sixteen years ago, the party The Horizon, jointly sponsored by the Academy and the Foxe and Sittowe Delivery Guild, followed several threads to confront an entity at a location known as the Key Lake Amphitheatre, located on the island in the center of Key Lake to the south of the capitol. It was during this incident that party member Enzo Clopeda retired from the party, and also during this incident that your good professor was gravely injured and required an extended medical overwatch.
If you can bring me an authorisation key for this incident's further data, I can share what is locked up with you. Did this complete your research?
Hi Thelen! The cafe over in this alternate universe we're stuck in is going to open tomorrow, so before we go back and get more information, I wanted to summarize what we know and ask you for some advice
Teamay Veldt and the world it inhabits:
"Teamay Veldt" is Temay Veldt's premiere (and only) tea shop - serving a variety of hot beverages with leaves and beans sourced from the Shadow Vale and prepared properly for maximum enjoyment.
The chief proprietor of Teamay Veldt is Cosmo Bergamot, 23, who on May 1st finally achieved his life long dream of opening his own cafe. He is similar to the Professor Bergamot we know in most respects, though lacks many of the skills he has both from Temay Veldt and the mundane world (such as magic or swordsmanship).
The world where Teamay Veldt exists is a confused mix of Temay Veldt and the mundane world, specifically the US state of California, which Temay Veldt is now the capital city of (Thelen, if you don't know what that means, as Professor Bergamot. He's familiar with the mundane world.)
We have not confirmed if this universe's California belongs to a specific time period (and I suspect it borrows more from Temay Veldt than California), but it feels very odd for either to not have any cafes. You have cafes, don't you, Thelen??
Cosmo (Tea Version) acts as if he is meeting members of the classroom for the first time when we enter the cafe (except for Reversed Cards, who apparently has a backstory), but does have an innate knowledge of us that sometimes slips out untranslated into the AU, causing him to be confused. Examples include referring to previous classroom activities, knowing my name without me telling him, and noticing the length of Emily the Shark's tuition at the academy (which was much longer than the tea shop has existed).
I have a theory that drawing more attention to the inconsistencies of this world and the knowledge of our world leaking through may be the trick to getting us back to the academy. Do you agree, or think that might put us in danger (or put this universe's Cosmo in distress for no benefit)?
By the nature of Alternate Universes like the ones you spoke to Lawler Hix about, this universe should contain equivalents to things like The Horizon, the Foxe and Sittowe Guild, and other people, places, and events from our studies. I believe asking about these subjects will teach us more about the world, or potentially create more cracks in the facade. (There is also the chance this world's Cosmo will just say "never heard of it!" and move on, but I hope he doesn't, because that would be less fun. We'll see, though.)
If you have any advice on how to get out of here, let us know! We'll do our best at continuing our research!
What a fascinating set of information, miss Aster... Please keep up the good work!
