shiningworld | [3RD LOOK UP] - the best laid plans

[After the festival, Philip has been scarce. His phone has been on his bed for a few days, but he hasn't been there to answer it at all. He's pretty much been entirely outside of communication. The reason for this is that, during some wandering around, Philip discovered the light house and, more importantly, the library.

He's spent much of the past few days there, looking into how to restore books and trying to get started on that since nothing int he library is in very good condition. It's appalling to him, really. He's offended. But all the more reason for him to get to fixing it, since he doesn't see anyone else taking up the task.

Though after several days he found himself feeling very weak and realized he hadn't eaten anything since going out there. He's pretty sure Tendou is going to kill him...

So he's trying to subtly get back to the house and is trying to come up with a plan to get in, sneak food out of the kitchen, and then hide upstairs for a while until he can figure out how to lie his way out of getting lectured about his eating habits or lack there of. He's got a bag full of what few books weren't falling apart that he wants to look into, hoping for more answers about "witches".]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What is so ridiculous about it?

Magic itself is illogial, and I'm not a fan if it personally, but I have more than eough evidence of it.

Magic is one thing.

Implying that simply "believing" something is capable of altering the world is ridiculous.

Belief strengthens one's own actions and nothing more. Belief without strength amounts to nothing.

Isn't strength without belief just as meaningless?

Strength without belief can still be used to affect the world around you, even if there is no point to it.

Not in an effective or positive way.

I never said anything about effective or positive, the fact is that it can do things. Belief on its own can't. By its definition it is intangible.

Ah, but there is an immense power in the intagible. It's the intangible Planetary Bookshelves that keeps causing me to nearly starve myself.

The intangible is what allows Shotaro and I to fight as a single Kamen Rider.

[Tendou sighs.]

If you will it so, luck will always be on your side. But you need to be able to make that luck work for you. The intangible is powerless without the tangible.

You couldn't fight together if you had no body to fight with and without a body to act on the knowledge gained, it wouldn't matter.

There is a body. Its just that it two of us use it at once. Usually it's his, occasionally it's mine. But still, it renders one of us an intangible being. Again, that is usually me.

And the intangible is the reason that I ceased being dead, three times over.

You're missing the ...

[Pauses after that being dead part registers.]

...You're missing the point. You have a body. I'm saying if you didn't have a body, it would be pointless. The tangible is there to back up the intangible.

My belief and your belief cannot affect her.

Magic doesn't seem to follow logical processes like that. That's why I'm generally not a fan of the idea of it.

For all we know, belief may have a very profound effect on her. Much the same theory is applied to old world gods, though I don't think she's quite at that level.

I still think it's ridiculous.

Then we're going to be stuck here a long time.

If what she needs is for us to believe in her, even if that makes no sense to you, we're likely not going to be released until we do. Until she gets enough power from our belief to get what she wants.

Belief is not something you can force on someone. If she needs belief, she made a poor choice with me.

[Now Philip is the one getting frustrated.]

Then you do not believe she's a witch? With all of the proof, the very fact that you are here, you do not believe it?

The fact that I'm able to look up such a thing at all should be proof enough. The Bookshelves do not contain false information.

You're the only one that's seen her, Phillip.

I'm not saying you're lying, but I am saying that people are easier to deceive than you'd think.

It snowed, Tendou.

Snow is easy to create.

We can argue more after I've actually seen her.

[Philip lets out a very aggravate noise.]

Not on one night! Not enough to cover an island! Not to mention changing it's climate entirely.

And how do you explain the phones?! And the letter?!

You're being more thick-headed than Shotaro and Terui! How do you get anything done if you refuse to accept completely obvious facts?!

You can't see wind, but you know it exists! It's effects are apparent and that's why you know it is real! This is the same principle!

[It's unlike Philip to get this angry, and it likely has to do with his sleep deprivation. He's used to stubborn people, but not ones who argue with him about facts.]

Phillip.

[Stands.]

Trust me when I have seen everything you have just described and then some without magic.

This discussion can resume when you're not about to pass out and when I've seen more.

Okay?

I won't be any more rested later. I don't sleep well here.

And if you haven't seen enough by now, I don't know what will convince you. It seems that the only reason I was able to find her at all is because I acknowledge what she is.