It is part not caring what his appearance is, and part knowing one's appearance doesn't matter: his sister always put so much work into hers, nagged at him about how the Royal Wizard should look the part, how he's an embarrassment to her, that the queen's brother can't even bother to wear the livery showing his status... but he didn't care then, and he doesn't care now. What he wears won't change what he can do, and if someone looks at him and sees something less than what he is — well, that's their shame.
"A learned trait? Hm," Remi hums, both marveling at the fact that there are universes out there where magic can be learned by anyone, and fearing of the consequences of it.
At Stephen's question, he runs his hand through his hair, making it stick up even worse than before.
"Right, yes. The orb. I don't know how well you've been briefed of earlier events, but I was in possession of one for well over a decade. My deal with it included feeding my magic to it — while it was doing that, I was unable to open doors to other worlds through anything else than my castle. Now, I don't know all the details, but from what I understand... you all have a deal, don't you?"
He'd been told as much, back then.
"That deal binds all of you to the orb. It's very possible that whatever limitations you have, it's because of the orb. Maybe it doesn't feed on you the same way, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was making sure you're not able to just escape the contract. Phyllie was always very possessive." Phyllie, the name Aureliah had given the green orb they'd had. Sometimes, Remi still finds himself referring to the thing that way.
"So it's possible even if you'd been able to alter the spell to match your own unique magic, it still wouldn't have opened a door. But —" and for the first time, there's the hint of a smile, "— with me here, I think we can trick it into working."
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"A learned trait? Hm," Remi hums, both marveling at the fact that there are universes out there where magic can be learned by anyone, and fearing of the consequences of it.
At Stephen's question, he runs his hand through his hair, making it stick up even worse than before.
"Right, yes. The orb. I don't know how well you've been briefed of earlier events, but I was in possession of one for well over a decade. My deal with it included feeding my magic to it — while it was doing that, I was unable to open doors to other worlds through anything else than my castle. Now, I don't know all the details, but from what I understand... you all have a deal, don't you?"
He'd been told as much, back then.
"That deal binds all of you to the orb. It's very possible that whatever limitations you have, it's because of the orb. Maybe it doesn't feed on you the same way, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was making sure you're not able to just escape the contract. Phyllie was always very possessive." Phyllie, the name Aureliah had given the green orb they'd had. Sometimes, Remi still finds himself referring to the thing that way.
"So it's possible even if you'd been able to alter the spell to match your own unique magic, it still wouldn't have opened a door. But —" and for the first time, there's the hint of a smile, "— with me here, I think we can trick it into working."