Tyler watched Morrigan go under, stepping forward as if to reach in and pull her out. Damon rushed in front of him, placed a hand on his chest, and repeatedly checked over his shoulder as he pushed Tyler out of the bathroom.
Isla grabbed the back of Tyler's shirt, assisting Damon as Tyler resisted. "Stop. You really don't want to put your hands in there."
Damon shut the door, nodded to both of them, and walked down the hall to his office. Tyler sighed, crossed his arms and stared at the closed door for several moments.
"Let's go then," Isla said.
"Where?" Tyler asked.
"You're not done," she replied with a scoff.
"I'm not really in the mood."
"I didn't really ask," Isla snapped, shaking her head. "It's best to keep your mind off it. Come on."
Tyler followed her down the hall. "What are we learning, then?"
"We are gonna work on the final theorem," she replied.
"Can I make a request?" he asked.
"Sure," she replied.
"When I first came here, you winked at me. No one noticed. I thought it was odd how-"
"The saucy wink," she said with a nod. "That’s another Discordian exclusive." She opened the door to her office. He had never seen the inside before. It really did look like a re-purposed closet. The room had a desk, a bed, and a small bathroom.
Isla looked around, obviously searching for something as she spoke, "It has to be the most blatant, suggestive wink you can make. When you do, no one will notice, and you get a good couple of seconds to communicate in any way with anyone who knows what The Saucy Wink is, or at least, has witnessed the Discordian's performance of the wink before."
"I saw it the first time I entered the House of Cards."
"Exactly. We use it to easily identify each other and exchange information. We like to infiltrate various organizations and stir up trouble. Nothing dangerous, it's all in good fun. I got the easy job, as the cabal knows I'm a Discordian. I just showed up, and they let me stay."
"Why would they do that?" Tyler asked.
"You're not the first person I've taught. We have an understanding. You should practice it since you have the room to yourself." She reached for a small blue box on her desk. "So, you have Synchronicity down. Causality and Probability will take time, but you're on your way."
"That was fast." Tyler said.
Isla laughed, opened the box and nodded. "Arcana Discordia isn't hard. Most of it comes natural. I mastered it in under a month, but there are those who've mastered it in as little as a week. I know a child who mastered it in less."
"A child? That's hard to believe."
"Why?" Isla asked.
Tyler wasn't prepared for the question. He stuttered, but couldn't really find a reason. "Maybe I'm jealous," he said.
Isla removed an object from the box. Tyler noticed its golden hue, Its familiar shape but foreign color. What Isla held in her hand was a shimmering, golden apple. "Tradition dictates that when you can perform in accordance to all four theorems, you receive an Apple of Discord. They are incredibly rare."
She tossed it to him, and he nearly dropped it. It was heavier than he thought it would be. Tyler salivated, eager to taste it. The feeling was strange, as he assumed it would be inedible. "What do I do with it when I get it?" he asked.
Isla shrugged. "Whatever you want."
Tyler shook his head, "No, I meant what is it used for?"
Again, she shrugged. "You eat it, but the effect varies from person to person. One thing is always certain, though: Arcana Discordia becomes second nature while under its effects."
"Cool," he said, handing the apple back. "What's the final theorem?"
"The Discordian theorem. It seeks to answer our greatest question: What is a Discordian, and why do they exist. Not everyone masters it."
"I can barely handle the questions I already have. How could I solve that."
Isla sat in the chair behind her desk. "You don't have too. The theorem already has a solution: We are the exception to fate. Arcana Discordia isn't just a genre of The Prestige. It is part philosophy, part lifestyle, and in some cases part religion."
Tyler sat in a chair across from her. "Marked decks and loaded dice. I remember."
"Mastering the genre is about accepting a life where everything is a riddle. You never stop rolling the dice, no matter what."
Tyler sneered at the idea, "That's a dangerous way to live."
"Is it?" Isla said, smiling. "The very nature of statistics means the odds are the same every time. Every action you take has a chance of success. Take enough actions, and you're guaranteed to succeed as much as you fail."
"I still don't understand how this helps me master the genre. What does this teach me?"
Isla opened her mouth, then paused. Tyler assumed she was trying to think of the best way to put it. "We call it 'The Call of Eris.' Synchronicity is the effect of the song she plays. Probability lists the notes she could use, Causality is the instrument and the talent. It is only those who master the genre that get to truly hear her perform. You need faith."
"I'm not religious." he said.
She waved her hand at him, as if to cast his excuse aside. "Neither am I, but I still believe. Lady luck's gotten me this far. This is the hardest part of the genre. It takes as long as it takes."
"When will I know?"
"Oh, you'll know. Her song is soft, but you'll hear the strings."
Tyler shook his head. With Morrigan gone, he had little patience for riddles. He stood up, and turned to the door.
Isla watched with a furrowed brow, "What's wrong?"
"I just can't today," Tyler replied, opening the door.
"Tell you what," Isla began, standing from her chair. "Tonight, we're going on a field trip. I'll meet you at the house of cards. I want you to meet someone. Be sure to go to bed early.
(Obligatory apology as I've been very occupied with school today.) I liked this chapter as a nice balance following the very deep chapter from Morrigan's perspective. Let's get into my notes. What's Synchronicity? Also, what's the Call of Eris have to do with "The Call of Eris?" I can't remember that chapter, but it is presumably one of the chapters where Tyler learns magic. You introduce that term now, and I can't recall how this would connect. Do you think it would make sense to have Isla state that Tyler doesn't have to believe in Lady Luck like one might believe in God, but he must have faith in her in the same way one has faith in gravity? Like she's a force less so than an intangible goddess. Plus. that would be a more logical conclusion for an atheist. You should also probably mention what Probability, Causality, and Synchronicity are a few times more throughout the chapters so a reader doesn't have to instantly memorize the terms the first time and pause to recall them later on down the road. This is mostly because these terms rely heavily upon the theoretics of applications of the Prestige within your setting and can take a minute to properly comprehend.
Excellent points here. Agreeed. I think a big deal is stating what lady luck is. She's a symbol, more so than a goddess. I'll see about reworking that, as the next chapter is meant to really explain what the ideal Discordian is, and again, it's no problem. The fact you take the time at all baffles me XD I'm also trying to take more time on the chapters, hopefully the next one will make it obvious. I appreciate every word! thanks again