[He runs a hand through his hair, muttering to himself, where
is--ah! He pulls a book from deep somewhere in the shelf. He's careful
with it and blows the dust off it. It's a light blue, thread bound book
with Chinese characters running along one side of it. Merlin holds it out
to him]
This isn't cursed but it's come into my possession over the years. Someone
asked me to translate the spells in there but I told them that it's music.
I can't translate musical spells that are meant for an instrument I've
never played.
[ The book he's handed isn't familiar to him necessarily, but he can easily read the characters, and when he flips it open, the musical notations are instantly recognizable. ]
It is meant for a guqin. [ He skims over some of the music, trying to parse what's meant by the songs. Stops on one of the pages. ] This one is meant for a xiao.
[ He goes back to the first song, humming along with the notes. Not quite a guqin, but it's easy to pick up what's meant. Clarity. ] How did you acquire this?
Came across a man from ah...well, in my time, they call it Suzhou. Once
upon a time, I think they called it Gusu. He was rather far from home at
the time, you see. A revolution had been...had been happening and his
family managed to save a few books. The other volumes are to the winds, I'm
afraid. This is the one he managed to escape China with this particular
book.
[Xiao. Guqin. There's different instruments in the book.]
It would be helpful if you wouldn't mind writing down notes. Or, better
yet, if you know this book in your time, put it somewhere safe.
Gusu is my home. [ A little vague, not as distinct as saying Cloud Recesses, but he suspects this man has no idea about that.
Some of these songs tickle the back of his head, familiar in ways he can't describe. The writing, too, is familiar, although none of the songs are ones he recognizes off the top of his head. ] I will translate for you, if possible, and add in my notes. And if I come across this book, I will store it safely.
[ Are cultivators still a thing in this weird time? He has no idea, and it's not something he's ever had to explain. ] If it is possible, I can summon my guqin and attempt to play some of them.
[ He watches the man root through his shelves, curious but not wanting to touch anything that might trigger a reaction. ] It is a possibility. Immortality is something many cultivators strive to achieve. It was a goal I had in mind, years ago.
[ He pauses, thinking. If he was immortality, perhaps his future self could explain what happened. If Wei Wuxian returned to him. ] We should attempt your locator spell.
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[ He watches, curious and attentive, as he pokes around at the cabinets, trying to make sense of the ingredients, but they all seem foreign to him. ]
Do you often encounter cursed objects?
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They come across more often than I'd like.
[He runs a hand through his hair, muttering to himself, where is--ah! He pulls a book from deep somewhere in the shelf. He's careful with it and blows the dust off it. It's a light blue, thread bound book with Chinese characters running along one side of it. Merlin holds it out to him]
This isn't cursed but it's come into my possession over the years. Someone asked me to translate the spells in there but I told them that it's music. I can't translate musical spells that are meant for an instrument I've never played.
no subject
It is meant for a guqin. [ He skims over some of the music, trying to parse what's meant by the songs. Stops on one of the pages. ] This one is meant for a xiao.
[ He goes back to the first song, humming along with the notes. Not quite a guqin, but it's easy to pick up what's meant. Clarity. ] How did you acquire this?
no subject
Came across a man from ah...well, in my time, they call it Suzhou. Once upon a time, I think they called it Gusu. He was rather far from home at the time, you see. A revolution had been...had been happening and his family managed to save a few books. The other volumes are to the winds, I'm afraid. This is the one he managed to escape China with this particular book.
[Xiao. Guqin. There's different instruments in the book.]
It would be helpful if you wouldn't mind writing down notes. Or, better yet, if you know this book in your time, put it somewhere safe.
no subject
Some of these songs tickle the back of his head, familiar in ways he can't describe. The writing, too, is familiar, although none of the songs are ones he recognizes off the top of his head. ] I will translate for you, if possible, and add in my notes. And if I come across this book, I will store it safely.
[ Are cultivators still a thing in this weird time? He has no idea, and it's not something he's ever had to explain. ] If it is possible, I can summon my guqin and attempt to play some of them.
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[He lights up at that. Great! Someone from Gusu that could translate it.]
I wonder if..
[He taps his fingers along his chin, staring at his new friend]
...A locator spell. Yes!
[He goes back to rooting through his shelves, through bits and bobs for different ingredients.]
Perhaps, we could find some descendant of yours...or perhaps--
[He stops and chuckles]
Perhaps your magic's like mine...somehow makes you immortal.
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[ He pauses, thinking. If he was immortality, perhaps his future self could explain what happened. If Wei Wuxian returned to him. ] We should attempt your locator spell.
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[He pauses in his mania, curious]
Years ago? What stopped you?
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It is still possible, but my motivations have changed. It is more important to do what I can for the world than strive for this goal.
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[If anyone would understand, Merlin would understand love. He gives a small smile at that]
There are many things that one can do for the world that is great, young master. But there are few that truly have lived with this gift we call life.
[He shakes his head]
A lesson I gave to someone once. He simply laughed it off. He ultimately had a mortal life.
[A life ended too soon.]
I'll need a strand of your hair. Perhaps that could bring us either to yourself in this present time or to a descendant of sorts.