His forty-five-foot frame folded neatly into the lotus position, leaning against a wall strong enough to support his weight, Rigel's been pondering a few things
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"That depends on the reality." Ratchet pops into sight and looks up at the tall mech, then grows slightly so that he doesn't have to look up quite so much.
"That's because there IS no one answer," says Ratchet. "Though for the most part, from what I've heard, magic tends to be arcane in nature, whereas science is usually physical. But the terms are very interchangeable, sometimes even in the same reality."
"Foolishness," notes a voice from the air beside him.
"Shut up, Cyclonus. And stop hiding."
"...I think I've heard enough 'bunny' comments for today."
"'Arcane', is it? But that word itself requires definition, as it simply refers to that which is magical. As for 'science' as a physical thing ... I'm afraid I don't follow your reference."
"If the two are often interchangeable, how do you say one is often one thing and the other another thing?"
"As a rule o'thumb, magic's a talent-based thing. It's called 'the mystic arts' fer a reason. Science, though - science works for anybody, even without study."
The dornbeast pulls out two metal cylinders. "This here? Magic wand of light. Doesn't work for anybody that doesn't have a bit of potential fer magic. This other cylinder? Flashlight. Works for anybody, s'long as the batteries ain't dead. A body doesn't need t'be anything special to make nickel-cadmium batteries or halogen bulbs work."
"They do the same thing, except the wand won't need new batteries, ever."
"Is it always such, though? I've seen magical devices -- or what were said to be such things -- here in this Nexus that anyone could use, magically inclined or no."
"By the same token there are certain objects, and abilities, in my own world that only certain individuals can make use of; but we have no concept of magic."
The dornbeast laughs. "Good points. But that's why they call it a 'rule of thumb,' y'know. There's exceptions. But the tech gear that's limited stuff, it's usually possible fer anybody with the right stuff - training, passwords, or other objects - t'use that gear. Assumin', of course, that it ain't somethin' like a paraplegic with a bicycle."
"And it's possible t'make a magic item that powers itself, or to magically alter somethin', makin' it magical but not needin' a mage t'use it. But they can't be created without a heavy-duty mage t'lay down the spells."
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"Maybe so, but that doesn't really address the question for one reality or any of them."
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"Foolishness," notes a voice from the air beside him.
"Shut up, Cyclonus. And stop hiding."
"...I think I've heard enough 'bunny' comments for today."
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"If the two are often interchangeable, how do you say one is often one thing and the other another thing?"
This last is punctuated with a slight shrug.
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The dornbeast pulls out two metal cylinders. "This here? Magic wand of light. Doesn't work for anybody that doesn't have a bit of potential fer magic. This other cylinder? Flashlight. Works for anybody, s'long as the batteries ain't dead. A body doesn't need t'be anything special to make nickel-cadmium batteries or halogen bulbs work."
"They do the same thing, except the wand won't need new batteries, ever."
( ... )
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"By the same token there are certain objects, and abilities, in my own world that only certain individuals can make use of; but we have no concept of magic."
"Another difference of definition, do you think?"
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"And it's possible t'make a magic item that powers itself, or to magically alter somethin', makin' it magical but not needin' a mage t'use it. But they can't be created without a heavy-duty mage t'lay down the spells."
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"I see yet more parallels along with the differences when I compare to what I've seen, and what I have experience of."
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