When Ezrin is gone or very deep in his own work Red approaches Alexis.
“You asked if I could create an object to hear at a distance. And while I do not quite have the skills to do that, although I am happy to make an attempt, I do have an idea. It was something that Ezrin said when teaching me about the ‘true nature of light’. He mentioned how for him to bring forth light he needs something that has a connection to light.”
Ethelred bring out a pair of rabbit ears.
“These have something of ‘hearing’ to them. Could we use one ear, placed somewhere, to hear in the other? I didn’t think this would be the sort of.. divination… meddling that Ezrin would appreciate. He didn’t seem to approve of my… collecting of the rabbit and it various parts.”
After talking about hearing through ears…
“There was one other topic I wanted to broach with you. When Gustav and I were in the woods and capture this rabbit I asked Gustav go trap it alive. I wanted to be there for the moment of it’s death. I wanted a full connection to this creature it’s passing, it’s body.
But as I held the creature, preparing to snap it’s next, I felt something. For a moment I felt a connection that I haven’t ever noticed toward animals. For a fleeting moment I felt it’s warmth, it’s heat beat… I am not sure if this is Gustav’s effect.. or something else.”
Alexis smiles warmly at Ethelred. “You are at a crossroads, and this is common when learning the Craft. Your connection to the ‘warrens’ becomes more sensitive, especially to the ‘warrens’ you most resonate with. And just like you go out looking for them, they will also come looking for you.
Some in the Collegium warn against the influence of the ‘warrens’ and some even make spells to ward against this effect, but this always seemed nonsensical. The ‘warrens’ we feel the strongest are the ones that are most like our true nature. To ward against the ‘warrens’ is to ward against our own nature. Or attempt to.” Alexis is clearly confused by this notion.
“Obviously, you never have to fully embrace any ‘warren’, but they are there if you should choose to learn more about yourself, or explore a less clinical path.” Alexis shrugs, clearly uninterested in whether Ethelred chooses a warren or not.
“For what it’s worth, it speaks to your kind heart that you got a message from the ‘warren’ you did.”
“As for the ears, I like the way you’re thinking, engineer.” Alexis gives an approving clap on the shoulder “Although I wonder about using the ear on our side, since sound doesn’t usually come out of ears. I like the image of one of us walking around the fort with two rabbit ears strapped to a helm. Some in the Collegium say the brain is what collects the sound, but I’d rather not keep a brain around for this device. That’s some dark magic. Alternatively we could keep the the preserved head and have the mouth tell us what the ears are hearing. Less dark.”