JAN 30 Saturday.

I smile as Avalon moves another book to the side and takes a few notes on some paper. We've gone through a good amount of books after the last two meetings and now we're ready to actually determine how to go about this project.

Prosthetics are made in several ways, but most seem to be made of two simple spells. First, a simple movement spell that is vague and weak, it also costs little magic and is very stable. The second spell lets a being control those movement spells with just their thoughts.

This second spell is complicated and very finicky. I don't like using spells like this mostly because whatever you're using it on needs to be in close contact with you, and because these spells can be very unreliable. Why? Well, let's say for example that I used a spell like this for my apartment shield.

A spell like that can't filter all your thoughts, there are simply too many individual thoughts in someponies head to do that without making an utterly massive spell matrix. So if I had a stray thought to turn off my shield, even if that thought is in a completely different context the spell would still do just as told.

It will interpret every thought, this isn't that bad when you are controlling a limb because you already do that normally. Have you ever scratched yourself without even thinking about it? That is how the prosthetic would work. The only way to somewhat limit and control this effect without adding an ungodly amount of extra runes is to heavily HEAVILY specify what the thought-controlling rune does.

This somewhat limits stray thoughts from doing something unintentionally, but it obviously makes the rune basically useless for all other tasks outside of what was originally intended. Finally, this type of rune borders on mind magic which is heavily controlled and illegal to use without permission from the crown.

Combine all of this together and you have the main reasons I don't use these spells and just find other easy solutions, it's best not to overengineer things when a simple switch will do just fine.

I stop my internal rant as an open book is slid over to me. "What about this one? It seems good, although some of its context is missing." Avalon asks with a smile. He's been nothing but a joy to work with and a pretty good student on top of that.

We still aren't close friends by any measure but I'm slowly getting to know him a little better. As a student, he respects my knowledge and advice while also putting a large amount of effort into everything he does. Funnily enough, he does get a little cranky if he doesn't get enough sleep, which I learned the last time we met up.

I can understand the dedication though, he may regain something he's lost for so long. I see that drive in him and honestly, I'm a little proud to have inspired it. As for how he is at spell creation? Mhhh, not bad, but not good. To be blunt he's simply in over his head.

He doesn't know enough and even after three cram sections, he'll need much MUCH more time and knowledge to make spells on his own. But he is still a big help, he now knows what we're looking for and how to find it and that means he can help me do the research, which is normally the most time-intensive part of this all.

I stare at the rune he's shown me and look it over, yet another thought rune that has some promise, but it will take time to track down its remaining runic context. "Not bad, add it to the list." I pass him the book back and he nods while keeping his smile. "So, anything planned after this?"

He takes a moment to note down the book's name and the rune before looking up at me. "No? Not that I can think of anyway. It's finally started to calm down some, thank Celestia for that, because if I had to deal with one more noble." He huffs at the memory.

I just chuckle at my friend's misfortune. It's now the end of January and the winter is finally over, the last of the snow is gone and with every passing day, I feel the flows of life magic start to move with more speed and vigor. "Well, at least you have some connections, who knows when those could be useful?" I joke with him a little.

He looks sheepish at that but nods. "Maybe, but not many remember the mailgrif." Avalon has an odd mix of social issues and the will to carry on through much hardship, although those are probably linked now that I think about it. "Although, I've met a few who were much more understanding and easy to deal with."

I nod. "Well, I don't have much to do either and I want tea, it's my treat?" I offer while copying the notes he took, and I smile at the small doodle drawn on the side of the notes. I've been trying to take him to lunch after each of our meetings to get to know him better because we don't talk much while at the library.

We'll talk a little, but it's best we focus on the project while here and that takes our full attention most of the time. He gives me that same uncertain look, but it's not as intense as last time. "Sure, but you don't need to pay for me. The same cafe as last time?" He starts to pack up his things while I do the same.

He's also a Griffin that seems to prefer the known over the unknown, he picked that same cafe last time as well. "Sounds good, they might be a little busy though. Don't worry, I'll just bribe anypony in our way." I joke and he rolls his eyes at me. Avalon's not the kind of person to joke much, but we always smile a little at my jokes.

"Like you have the bits for that." Seems this is one of those rare times, and his joke is just as tame as always. The pleasant afternoon sunlight greets our tired eyes as we walk out of the library after we get everything we need done. "We're flying there? R-right?"

I smile and nod. "I can't pass up a chance to stretch my wings, now can I?" I ask back as my magic already starts to form my wings and I feel the weight settle on my back a few moments later. "There's not even any snow to freeze us, imagine that?" I may like the way winter looks but snow can just suck.

He smiles at that. "Oh, you have no idea. The amount of times I've had to deliver things in the snow, I lost count years ago." He takes off after that and I join him in the air a moment later. I've done some practice with my wings, but only a few times a week at the most.

We don't talk much while flying, it's best to stay focused on not crashing. The cafe is not that far and we arrive a few minutes later to see that it's decently busy. "Mhm, guess we'll have to wait. Got any good stories?" I ask while standing in the line with him as he looks around.

He seems a little uncomfortable with the busy ponies around him but still speaks up. "Ummmm, not really? I can tell you about, my start?" He stumbles slightly but I'm still intrigued.

"Like, how did you start delivering things?" I guess and he nods. "Sure, why not?" I smile as we walk inside and find an empty booth to sit in, it seems we got a little lucky with that today. This cafe always has a nice feel to it, even when it's very busy, although it's going to take a while for somepony to take our order and deliver it.

He settles in for a moment. "I... Well, I never did grow up anywhere in particular, me and my flock just moved around all the time." I didn't expect him to go into his family's past, but I didn't interrupt him. "I've probably seen almost every town and city in Equestria, but none of them drew me in like Canterlot."

Now I interrupt him. "The magic?" I guess he, he always loves magic.

He tilts his head as his feathers shift a little. "Kind of? I've always liked seeing magic, but beyond that, I loved how old the city was. So many buildings and places that have stood for so long." He holds an appreciative tone and looks out of the window for a moment.

I raise a brow. "I never knew you liked history so much."

He looks back at me with a sheepish smile. "Not really, I just like drawing them, the old buildings have such a nice feel to them, so much... Character, if that makes sense. Actually, that just sounds a little silly." He backpedals a little, he's still not that used to being so casual with me.

I shake my head. "No, it doesn't, I feel the same way sometimes. Some places just have a feel to them, for better or worse." I add that last part as I remember how empty the castle of the Two Sisters felt.

I see him perk up and give me a better smile. "Thanks. Anyway, after a while I picked up this trade when... Well, I needed to pay for something so I started to deliver things for a caravan, I started slow wit-." I don't ask about him skipping things and just turn to a waiter as they reach our table.

"Black tea with some cream please," I ordered something simple.

Avalon is still nervous but orders in a quiet tone. "Green tea please." Avalon isn't the type to speak up much and normally keeps a calm but low tone, especially with unknowns. The waiter nods and busily walks away to attend to others as Avalon turns back to me.

"I kept making deliveries for them, mostly mail and small packages. Turns out I was good at it and, I started to enjoy it after a while." He smiles slightly. "There's been many, bumps? Ya, bumps along the way, but I enjoy it now. Sorry if that's not an amazing story." He scratches the back of his neck as I wave it off.

"All stories are interesting, it just depends on how you listen... How about I tell you my boring story?" My strategy to befriend this griffin is simple, be nice and be patient.

"OH! No y-you don't have to, I'm fine not knowing." He looks surprised and backpedals again.

"Too late." I smile at him and continue anyway. "My early life is as boring as dry sand. I grew up an orphan, that may sound interesting but trust me it isn't." I chuckle as Avalon gives me a slightly sad look, which turns to confusion at my reaction. "Everyone always looks sad, why? It's not like I had a bad life."

He still keeps a slightly sad look. "S-still, I can't imagine life without my flock."

I nod after a moment. "Moving on, I liked reading and magic so I learned whatever I could. After I turned ten I started to apprentice at the library, but beyond that there's not much to really say, I've just learned and done my job properly." If you take out my private life there's not that much to talk about.

He nods and drops the sad look. "Have you ever thought about who your family is? I-If you don't mind me asking?" He asks very gently before adding the second part quickly.

I let that thought wander my mind for a few moments. "I don't really know. I never knew them at all, I have my life and they probably have theirs. Maybe I'll care someday, but I'm living my life right now, and that's enough for me." I see his feathers flex and shift as he thinks before he nods.

There are several moments of silence as we get our drinks. "Sorry, that was probably not the best question." He apologizes and I again wave it off.

I give him another smile. "I really don't mind, and you have nothing to apologize for, but thank you anyway." I take a deep drink of my tea. "So, what's the dumbest thing you've ever delivered?" I change the subject and watch as he looks up from his drink with a small smile.

time skip

I swing my wooden blade while avoiding a small rock in the knee-tall grass around me. I once again stand in the field that makes up most of Gaia's Eden practicing my swings and movements.

It's still hard to take in so much information from around me at once but I am getting used to it with time. I stop my swing to catch my breath and stop my practice for today. I keep my blindfold on though, I actually keep it on most of the time I'm here just to get more practice with navigating my environment.

It's honestly almost impossible to describe what it's like to see the world this way. I can feel everything around me and the closer I focus the more detail I see, I can also take in large amounts of simple information from all around me at once. I even feel my own body to an extent.

It's vague and hard to make anything out, but I can find things like my heart and lunges with a little effort. I can't see much of a use for doing that right now though, maybe someday. I stop by my crop fields and start to check on the newest batch of hybrid vegetables.

I've actually succeeded somewhat in my attempts, the carrots are the first to become resistant enough to the cold to grow on their own. I found this out right before winter fully ended and I'll have to put this project on hold until the next winter, or until I make an environment spell for them.

Over the months I've learned that the frost resistance of the Frost Bloom doesn't come from some form of poisonous element. The carrots I grew can be eaten just fine and still resist the cold, it's just proven very difficult to have a hybrid plant that has one without the other.

It took several thousand generations to hit that magical combination with the carrots, and that's just to get something I can start to selectively breed to be completely cold-resistant. So while this project is going well it's going to take a very long time to complete all the different crops.

As for the carrots, I'll be selectively breeding them for a few weeks before sending them off to Celestia. But that brings up a small but potentially big problem, ponies didn't really notice when the Rocky Wheat was given to farmers, it was a project that had been worked on for years before it was released.

Most farmers noticed and were thankful for it, and it remains the only thing my alias didn't claim credit for. But if the crown releases a new slightly magical crop that can be grown in full snow it will draw some attention, especially if nopony takes credit for it and it's released without forewarning and then several more crops with the same effect are also released in the same way.

It's very unlikely anypony will find anything out if they go digging, but that doesn't mean it can't happen. So, I could just have my alias claim the credit and leave it at that, but ponies aren't stupid and as I release more cold-resistant crops it will only be a matter of time before somepony points out that my alias is using life magic as it's the only way way something like this could be accomplished in the time frame.

I'll be thinking it over, but I'm leaning toward just having Veil Winter take credit for it. Ponies will be digging into that alias like mad when it comes out, but I would rather take a known risk over an unknown risk. I finish checking the crops and I move on to the Gold Oak.

It's grown a few more inches but is otherwise the same as always, and I still haven't found a good way to gather anything but the gold dust from it. On that note, I think I have my next small project, a way to automatically collect all the dust from the falling leaves.

Right now I just need to slowly gather it by waiting for a leaf to fall and catch it, which is both time-consuming and even by my standards tedious as all hell. I lean my back against its trunk and stare out at the sky. It's a nice day with a lovely evening sky.

I check the time and wait a few more minutes and watch as the sun lowers below the horizon before night falls over the world. I smile and take out a medium ruby from my saddlebags before activating it. This ruby contains all of my star maps, and tonight seems like a nice day to add to it.

I stare up at the stars with a smile as I imagine all of the shapes I can while drawing out imaginary constellations. Today was a good day.

Author's Note

Thanks for reading. :]
Current year is 994

I decided to heavily limit and nerf the thought control runes. Mostly because I think it makes things too simple and easy, using other activation and control methods just seems better. I'll probably have Shade use them more at some point though.