Applied Reasoning
Chapter One
Part One
Revelations
The theory of relativity, in a nutshell, is basically that everything is relative to everything else. Everything can be explained if you follow a line of logic long enough. Eventually you must reach the answer to everything. And yet, no one has ever been diligent enough or devoted enough to sheer logical thought to find any answer beyond "God did it."
But there are some things that, even when you follow the line of logic until it becomes a circle (for all thoughts when finished become circuitous) simply cannot be explained.
What is the cause of this? God, an invention of human mind to explain unexplainable things? That is illogical, improbable—not impossible, but so unlikely it seems silly to consider it.
Ghosts, then, souls of the deceased? Unlikely. Possible for some of the unexplainable to be attributed to them. But not all of it.
Magic then, must be the cause of the majority. Magic, or rather, manipulation of ambient natural forces—how would this work? Well, if the forces of nature had spirits, per se, of their own, then the only way to access their power would be to ask—and then open yourself to their mercy, their whim.
Could be deadly. Could be crippling. Could be worth it.
Would it be worth it? To risk bodily harm, dismemberment, death, to have the possibility of unlimited power?
Unlimited knowledge?
…Yes. Most definitely, unlimited, unhampered, unstoppable knowledge and power is worth the risk of harm.
…But it probably would be best to have a witness, just in case the spirits decided that kindness was not on the agenda for that day. But who…?
Ding-dong!
Ah! The door!
Draco opened the front door to reveal his next door neighbor, Harry.
Harry's hair, as usual, was a disheveled mess, jet-black, and his thick, dorky, black-rimmed glasses looked as if they were just about to slide off his nose. His clothes were loose and worn, but clean, and his emerald eyes were apologetic as he clutched his math text in his arms.
"Uhm, I'm sorry if I interrupted anything, but can you help me out with this? It'll only take a moment." Harry bit his lip, unsure if it had been a good idea for him to have come over in the first place.
Draco's clothing was immaculate, pressed and formal as usual; a light-blue button-up shirt and white slacks, shiny white business shoes, and an expensive watch with a white strap. But his usually perfectly slicked hair was mussed, as if he had run his hand through it in frustration, the white-blonde strands in disarray. His pale hands were powdered white with chalk dust, which must have been transferred to his face when he pressed his fingers there in thought.
Draco gazed at him with a contemplative look and then grabbed his wrist and dragged him inside, ignoring Harry's immediate confused protests.
"What are you doing?!"
"Come and look at this." He finally stopped tugging Harry's wrist and turned him by his shoulders to face a large blackboard. The board was covered with Draco's immaculate handwriting, and the white-chalk title proclaimed "Theory of Magical Relativity." Harry frowned.
"…What is it?"
"It basically says that if I can find a way to truly open myself to the forces of nature, the spirits of nature, then I'll be able to call on them for assistance in various acts of what you would call magic, but are actually mixed acts of advanced alchemy and spiritual activity."
"…Uhm…right..." Harry blinked, completely confused. "So why am I here?"
"Well, I wanted to test it out, and I need someone to be here in case…something goes wrong. I'll need someone to explain my theory and what happened to me. Of course you are here this moment because you wanted help with your algebra homework, I gather."
"…Oh."
"So, would you mind being witness as I test my theory?" Draco gazed seriously at the tanned boy, and Harry inexplicably found himself blushing, and disguised his sudden embarrassment by shrugging nonchalantly.
"Great!" Draco grinned and clapped his hands together. "Now I just need to clear this room so that I can start the test. Would you help me with that, too?"
Harry shrugged again, and together they moved the chalkboard, circle rug, and loveseat into the other room.
Draco sat himself in the center of the room and Harry sat down in an out-of-the-way corner while Draco centered himself.
"So…what are you gonna do first?"
"First I need to clear my head and open my spirit to the mercy of theoretical Mother Nature. Then I need to ask her permission to access and use her power. From there, it'll go one of three ways. One, I'll fail—possible, but unlikely—and never gain contact at all. Two, I gain access to her and her powers, and become all-powerful, in which case I may have to fight for my own sanity. Or three, I initiate contact but Mother Nature does not find me to her liking, and unleashes her full power upon me."
Harry blinked owlishly. "What will you do if that happens?"
"Hope to survive." Draco gazed again at the naive boy. "That's what you're here for."
Harry swallowed nervously. Was he ready to have a life in his hands?
"Alright, here we go."
No time to find out.