steepwithdead | Folkmore

I feel like that is just more evidence to it being a real memory. Otherwise it might have been as fleeting as any other dream.

I suppose that is true...

Well! Perhaps what you did weakened some sort of barrier!

Perhaps! I've never seen it work that way, but magic does work strangely here at times. If it's helped you in any way, then I'm very glad we tried.

[Ingo doesn't really know what to believe himself, but it's nice to think that all the people who tried to help him had some sort of effect.]

I am as well. Perhaps more will return now.

That may be so! I hope that's the case. If you think it might draw out more memories, I'm happy to cast that spell again any time.

[Provided he has the components for it, anyway.]

Perhaps I will take you up on that sometime! But I would like to see if anything more happens on its own first.

[He certainly wouldn't if he knew the components weren't quite as easy to get as was implied to him, but...well, Ingo's not a suspicious man, he took that whole thing at face value.]

Of course, at your own pace, always. There is no limit or expiration to my offer.

[At this point it's obvious the whole memory recovery issue will take time. They seem to have bounds of that here, anyway.]

Thank you very much!

By the by - the same goes for meeting some of my Pokemon companions, if you like! I sell at the market some mornings, and every so often I teach classes at Amrita Academy, but my schedule is not very full, or very strict.

You're very welcome.

I would love to meet your Pokemon, yes! Which market would that be? I mostly visit Gram as it's closer, though I venture to others here and there if what I need is elsewhere. I haven't visited the schools yet really, outside of events. Maybe I should.

Ah, the one in Willow!

I have not been to many of the schools besides Amrita, I admit. For quite some time I was too busy to consider taking classes myself. Though I suppose the arts school might be interesting.

[Or the magic one, but Ingo's admittedly still unsure whether he really somehow developed some sort of water-type ability here or if he's just imagined it. He hasn't really tried to do much with it - he's a little nervous.]

Oh, that's perfect. I go there often for supplies, so I'll keep an eye out for you.

The arts school is the one in Tides, isn't it? What arts would you study?

[He's not very artistic himself, unless beautiful gardens count. But he can appreciate the efforts of others.]

Ah, well, I took up woodcarving as a hobby some time ago. I enjoy it, but of course it's only self-taught.

And I do find other art forms rather inspiring. Like that fellow who fashions chimes and sculptures from garbage!

Oh, that's a lovely hobby. It's less common than more traditional works like painting and drawing. You could really carve yourself a niche.

[Ha ha he is so funny.]

I haven't seen that artist. I'll have to keep an eye out for his work.

Ha!

[He appreciates a pun!]

It is only because there were few other hobbies available to pursue, out in the wilds as I was. There is at least always dead wood, and my knife.
I have never tried to sell anything I have made or anything like that, though!

That makes sense. I grew up in the middle of nowhere myself, so hobbies that involved growth and nature came more easily to me.

Gram has plenty of sources of wood for such things. I can pass along any that I find to you, if you like.

I would appreciate that! There are woods near my home as well, but not all of the branches I find are large enough to do much with. And certainly I know better than to go cutting into trees for something like that!

Pokemon are rather like the spirits here in some ways like that.

[Of course it's not that one can't cut down a tree at all, but certainly not recklessly - and to do something like that just for woodcarving is a waste.]

The forest and I both appreciate your restraint.

[Certified tree-hugger, here.]

Logging exists, though, I'm sure, since wood building supplies are available. There must be spirits in-tune with which trees are acceptable to fell. Maybe you could reach out to them if you're still lacking in materials.

Yes - I know how to negotiate such matters with local Pokemon, but I have not yet had to treat with the spirits that way.
I expect it might be easier, though!

[A lot of them seem to speak human tongues, after all - maybe not all, but that's a sight more than Pokemon!]

How easy is it to speak with Pokemon?

[Talking to animals is complicated in his world - and impossible for most people and laymen especially - but he has no idea how Pokemon work.]

Those who live among or even near people can learn to understand human languages, to varying degrees. But of course, those are not often the Pokemon one must negotiate new territory with!

If you have a Pokemon partner with you, often you can just have them help. Without, you can still usually make yourself understood eventually even so. Provided that the Pokemon in question is willing to spend the time trying to understand you in return, which is not a guarantee.

Fascinating. That truly sounds like a partnership.

[Very different from a pet, it seems. Feels more like a ranger's beast or indeed a wizard's familiar.]

Indeed! Among my clan, a person's Pokemon partner is considered to be like a family member. Though of course, I am the only person thus far with more than one.

[Maybe not for too long, though!]

More than one partner?

Yes. It isn't exactly traditional. Many of the things I do are not...for obvious reasons, I suppose.

But it is safer, if nothing else - a single Pokemon may easily be overcome in battle due to nothing worse than bad luck or numbers.

I suppose the same could be said of any ally. As they say, safety in numbers.

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