[console; video]

[spoilsfun]

[Just like every other time Conan used the consoles, the video begins with a blank screen and the sound of a scraping chair, quickly followed by the sight of the boy climbing up on the chair to reach the view of the camera.]

Hello!  I've been thinking a lot recently. Lots of people have told me about how magic works around here. But I'm curious. How many people around here have been trying to see why things happen around here with science?  

For example, has anyone looked at the dust with chemistry or forensics?  Has anyone been tracking which items from home are found and what time they were first spotted?

Comments

[looksfine]

[Nodding, Aya took a moment to summon a small holo-screen from her wrist made of Green Energy. It would be semi-transparent, but even if Conan were to get a good look at the icons and text scrolling across, he wouldn't be able to read any of it, as it was a language known only to Aya at this time.]

It is a synthetic substance that takes on the appearance of a fine, black powder, and has proven to effect the neurotransmissions of most organic, carbon-based life forms. It can produce hallucinogenic sensations of paranoia, susceptibility, and even extreme rage. Currently, there is no known cure, although its effects can subside with time.

[spoilsfun]

Synthetic? How easy is it to manufacture? Could any of the groups around here create it?

[looksfine]

I am not privy to the skills or resources of others, but my research has indicated it is...possible, but not easy.

The original manufacturer would better be equipped to answer such a question, as she would know who was in possession of the necessary formula and process.

[spoilsfun]

Does anyone know who the original manufacturer was?

[looksfine]

[Aya had not directly taken part in that conversation, but she'd heard a few words through the grapevine.]

I believe the Cherrywood Healer herself was involved. Milyn.

Are you familiar with the name?

[spoilsfun]

It might have been mentioned once. But not in any detail.

[looksfine]

She had been a strong ally to those of us who once battled the entity known as Malicant. I believe it was her overseeing our physical forms while we infiltrated the realm of Dreaming, and she had lived up to her title of Healer by providing medicinal aid to those carbon-based life forms that required such assistance.

[Aya's words were, as of yet, spoken with a neutral tone. Betraying little in the way of personal bias one way or the other.]

[spoilsfun]

I haven't heard anything about this Malicant before. What did it do? Why were there people battling it?

[looksfine]

Those questions...

[Aya nodded her full intent to answer them, but not without a disclaimer first.]

The story behind their answers is long. As I suspect you would prefer the details to the summary...are you comfortable with a long duration of discussion?

[spoilsfun]

Mmm, I have time. And its something I'd really like to know.

[looksfine]

[Again, she nodded.]

Very well.

The first thing you must understand is that Malicant was the original reason many of us were first recruited to this world's aid; his presence had caused no small amount of grief to the local population, and his takeover of the Great Turtle was thought to be deadly until his revival.

[...the Great Turtle's revival, of course. Not Malicant's. that we know of]

He sought power though control. The loss of total free will was at stake. In order to defeat him, we had to enter a parallel realm. A realm of Dreams.

It was...an interesting experience for me. I had never Dreamed before.

[spoilsfun]

[Conan listens intently to the explanation, putting all of it to memory.]

I assume you defeated him. What happened? Is there a chance he could come back?

What is a realm of dreams?

[looksfine]

[Her eyes narrowed slightly. Thinking back to that final battle. So many unique individuals coming together to overcome his immense power. Watching him fall. She was certain Malicant had been defeated. Not so much to claim a 0% chance of his return, but...enough that it was not that possibility that occupied her thoughts:]

The Realm of Dreams...it is not something I am fully capable of describing.

There were many occurrences that did not seem to obey the laws of science.

[So, like any other dream.]

[spoilsfun]

What kinds of occurrences?

[looksfine]

[She was silent for a time. Thinking back. With her eidetic memory, it was not hard for her to recall those memories. What was hard...were the memories themselves.]

There were individuals from my home universe who could not possibly have existed in that time and space, and yet were present.

In addition, time itself...did not flow at its typical pace. Many of my calculations were thrown by the unexpected catalysts.

[spoilsfun]

What kinds of catalysts?

[looksfine]

The ones I mentioned.

Their presence, and the lack of linear time. Although...strangely, it was the former that seemed to greater affect the process.

[Because she'd been emotionally compromised.]

[spoilsfun]

Do you know why that was?

[looksfine]

Unfortunately, I do not.