knowinginthedark | [Story/Post]

[Story/Post]

[Story Time]

He felt like he was going to go insane, soon.

Well, maybe he technically already had-- after all, he'd been like this for so long, it was bound to make anyone a bit nuts. The unaging aspect, the inability to die, the whispers and pressure on his back...

Okay, he'll admit it: he was already crazy, but at least he was still conscious of it.

But he could tell the patience of the god hanging off of his reconstituted spine was growing thin. He had done everything he could right now to go as slowly as possible in the whole set-up, just to buy time, but he could only keep his thoughts so separate for so long, and do things with only so much subterfuge.

No, he had to think of something to set off this powder keg, and soon.

Of course, he really hopes that someone's caught on by now enough that they might stop him-- a reasonable excuse to not go through with what he's trying to do, since if he succeeds in setting off the first circle to exorcise whoever is attached to his alternate, well.

The next step isn't going to be great for the city, regardless.

Tarou kept his thoughts to himself as he wrote things down by hand-- he found it helped to make sure there were copies of his research around. After all, he never knew what was going to happen to him. Just because he can't die doesn't mean he should expect that it'll never happen, and it... Well, it also helped to ignore the steady burning sensation on his arm, as though it was trying to tell him to hurry up.

Eventually however, he had to put down his pencil and get up, rubbing the arm where his mark was, muttering.

"Come on... just one or two more weeks, then this mess'll be over with..."

----

[Post]

So, hey, totally embarrassing and maybe an odd question to ask about, but.

Does anyone know anything about catalysts? Say you want to do something but it requires a power source, would anyone know anything about those?

For research purposes, mostly, I'm wondering what the general knowledge level is for that.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

This is true. Of course, the ritual itself and the catalyst go hand-in-hand in a lot of cases. You would need something specific to successfully do such a ritual, though admittedly in the portrayal of the game itself, such things are glossed over outside of needing a specific card to set it off.

Though I'm talking as well about historical usage that might not be so noticeable, but it's why I'm trying to see what different catalysts are used, or could be thought of.

Hmm, I'm not sure about historical usage but I do have a lot of books in my office. I kind of collect any books I think might be good for my research and my office is like a mini library at this point, so maybe I have something that might help you?

If you don't mind me coming by to take a look, I'd be happy to see if you do!

I don't mind at all! I'm always willing to help out a fellow researcher!

Then let me come by. Your office is at SAI, of course?

Yes, it's located at SAI.

If you ask at the front desk, whoever is there should be able to direct you to where my office is.

Alright then! Be there soon!

*... and as promised, about an hour or so later, Tarou's finally finding his way to your office, Ruka*

*When she hears Tarou knock at her office door, she opens it and greets him with a friendly smile.*

Welcome! Come on in!

*She steps aside to let him in and the first thing you notice about her office is that she wasn't lying about having a lot of books in her office. It feels like her office is literally made of books. There are several tall bookshelves filled to the brim. There's also piles of books on her desk (or what you assume is her desk.)*

I apologize for the mess.

Oh no, it's fine, I'm used to messy surroundings like this. Just means you have a lot of work you do!

*he rubs the back of his head sheepishly as he steps in. He's carrying a backpack with him that seems. heavy.*

It's actually kinda a good side-effect of moving around so much, you kinda get forced to keep everything in one bag.

Do you mean you keep all your research in just one bag?

*That bag does look really heavy though.*

I write small for my personal files, yes.

*he puts down the bag and opens it up, showing off the... very hefty binders he has packed away in it. You can see the colored markings separating everything too. this must be an extra-durable bag to manage all of that without tearing apart, really.*

*She's amazed he can even carry all that about.*

Wow, that's really amazing. I'd never be able to fit my stuff in one bag.

I guess that's why I have a filing cabinet instead. *She gestures sheepishly to the metal filing cabinet in the room.*

*he may be a definite nerd, but he's. probably stronger than he looks.*

To be fair, I'm very hyperfocused on subjects, so it's probably not as extensive as what you'd have access to.

Books, for example! Those are the kinda things I can't afford to have around.

That's true. I guess if you move around a lot, books aren't really something you can take with you.

But you're more than welcome to look through my collection here. I have books spanning over numerous topics and theories about the 12 Dimensions, books about ancient artifacts and writings... I even have books written by Duel Spirits themselves, though they are really rare to come by.

You actually have books like that? Can you point them out to me, if it's not too much trouble?

Sure!

The books on the 12 Dimensions are here... the ones on ancient artifacts and writings are here... and the ones written by Duel Spirits themselves I keep here.

*She points them all out on the bookshelves for him. The ones written by Duel Spirits is definitely the smallest collection.*

*he goes over to the bookshelves, kinda with the enthusiasm of a kid on Christmas, and looks over the books, though he gingerly, carefully, takes out one of the ones written by Duel Spirits. Are they written in a non-human language??*

*There might be some non-human language within the books, but thankfully most have been translated into Japanese.*

There are a few Duel Spirits who live in the city who get hold of books written in the 12 Dimensions and actually make translated versions, but it takes them a long time to do this, so it's why they're rare and so few are about.

That's understandable! I have to wonder about the linguistics of the 12 Dimensions in general-- it's already a miracle that so many spirits just naturally understand us, in the first place, isn't it?

*he carefully flips through the book*

That's true! I know there are different written languages within the 12 dimensions, but it's true that a lot of Duel Spirits already seem to naturally understand us and even can communicate with us in a similar way.

It's pretty fascinating.

I think it's some part natural instinct-- least that's my assumption. There's theories out there, maybe you've heard of them, that Duel Spirits, the "Twelve Dimensions", all of that... is powered in part by human imagination and the willingness to believe that such places can exist, and we're just at the point where it's as strong as it was in days of myth and legend.

And that the reason that monsters can naturally understand our language is in part due to that, even though they, themselves, can have their own languages.

Fascinating, isn't it?

Oh yes! I've heard of those theories.

It really is fascinating how much influence we could have on Duel Spirits and their world and how much they could have influence on us, without us even knowing.

It's a bit of a give and take, isn't it?

*he pushes up his glasses as he keeps flipping through the book idly*

Though, I think I much prefer when we're keeping ourselves a bit more at arms' distance. Too much influence on either side causes effects, after all. But that's all just a part of what I'm researching-- to see how much influence Duel Spirits had on us over history, and the potential causes and results of that.

One of my aims is to see if any major point in history, especially with myth and legend, could be re-examined from the lens of accepting that monsters do, indeed, exist, and have existed.

That's a really fascinating area to be researching into! I've definitely wondered myself if they've had any influence over the myths and legends that we know of today.

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