Essence and Appearance

They walked in silence for what felt an eternity to Callum, circling through the hills surrounding the Moonhenge.
Lujanne seemed so absorbed by her own thoughts, that more than once he had the impression she had forgotten about him.

"You see, Callum. It's been a while since I have taught to anyone, " she uttered at some point. "And my students, they have been all Moonshadow Elves, just like me." Lujanne shrugged her shoulders, she didn't seem to be really talking to him.
"To start our lessons, I could go through the basics of Primal Magic, but you already said you have got that covered with Ibis and I have no reason to doubt that," continued the Lujanne.

"Starting with spells' formulae would be just as pointless at this stage. You would end up taking notes and nothing more," she paused.
"So I think it's best if we try a different approach. Since the last you visited, I began reading back old Moon Philosophy Tomes, things hardly appealing to the minds of youngs eager to learn nifty Moon Magic tricks. But that discussion we had back then, well, it sounded a lot like Moon Philosophy to me. And that made me think."

"What do you mean?" asked Callum, unable to hold himself back anymore.

Lujanne stopped and turned as they were crossing a small clearing.
"Well, normally Moonshadow Elves are not so much interested in the nature of their own essence or in the essence of things, in their relationship with the Moon, which they take for granted. We are kind of practical people, all considered. It is something only Moon Philosophers do."
Callum nodded, fervently scribbling on his notebook.

"Take Rayla for example. Smart lass, verrry cute," she winked, "But did you ever ask about her connection with the Moon? I bet her answer wasn't very insightful. Don't blame her, that's because she never questioned it. And so did many Elves, including myself to a degree. Except for Philosoper. Did you know Moonshadow Elves have the lowest percentual of Magic users among the six Races? Not even those warmongering fools of the Sunfire Elves come close in terms of so few Magic users per Elf."

Callum shook his head.
"Every one of us uses a little Moon Magic in everyday life, but only a tiny fraction of us becomes Scholar or Mages. And even members of those categories usually tend to simply take their Moon Arcanum for granted."
Lujanne sighed, staring at the blazing sun with lidded eyes.

"So, we will be studying Moon Philosophy then?" asked the hesitantly Callum as he crossed the word 'magic' from the title of his notes.

"No. I'm no Philosopher myself, it would be a just travesty. It takes years to become a Master Philosopher."

Callum groaned and crossed the word 'philosophy' too from the title of his notes.

"But as I said, I refreshed some concepts and lectures that I believe may help you to understand the Moon Arcanum. That's what you wanted to know, even back then, right?"

"Yeah, kind of... But then I happened to connect with the Sky Arcanum and from that, I learned that theoretical understanding alone is not enough. To get a connection with the Arcanum I have also to feel the Moon within me."
Callum paused, noticing that Lujanne was staring at him with arms crossed and an expression of quiet annoyance on her face.
"Although, now that I think of it, that would be a great point to start, eh eh."

"I'm glad you think so. What do I know about teaching after all? I have only taught scores of disciples." She turned and looked up, to the afternoon sun.
"Now, I'd say the kernel of the whole Moon Philosophy, also know as Illusion Philosophy, is that appearance is the essence of form."

"The appearance is the essence of form", repeated Callum, then after a long pause, "What does that even mean?"

"I don't know, it's just an old saying of my people," offered the Elf shrugging in her shoulders.

"Really? Because it sounds like it holds some kind of hidden wisdom... Wait, are you making fun of me?"

"Of course I am, you silly. That's Moon Philosophy, centuries old," she cried. Then, after a pause: "It means, more or less, that what you think as something objective and immutable, the form of a thing, is actually just the result of your perception."

"Are you saying that perception is all that matters? Now that sounds just silly..."

"But it is the truth, at least in regards to the form of things," chuckled Lujanne.
"Here, let me show you."

The Elf recited a formula and drew a symbol in the air, suddenly the tree next to Callum transformed into a menacing, tentacled monstrosity.
The young mage yelped and skipped a few paces aside.

"That's not fair, Lujanne! Besides I know this is just an illusion," he said as he walked back towards the tree-monster.

"Precisely. You know it is an illusion and that prevents you from believing it is real. Your mind is keen and skeptical, it is easy for you to overcome the feeling that this spell produces you on your senses, but come on, give it a try, touch it." Lujianne grinned.
Hesitantly, Callum touched the surface of the monster. It felt slimy and it rippled under his fingers.

"Eww. How did you...? Wait, why can't I feel the bark? I should feel the bark!"

Lujianne beamed.
"That's because that's a second-grade illusion. Illusions are divided by grade. First-grade illusions are only images or sounds or both. They are the most easy to learn and also the less mentally tiring to cast and sustain. The spider monster that you, Rayla, and Ezram saw years ago was one."

"So what's different with a second grade illusion?"

"It simulates also the sense of touch."

Callum moved his hand across the belly of the monster, up and down, then along his several tentacles. "So," asked the young Mage, "What am I touching here then?" he said groping the monster scrotum.

"Air. Or a bush, or... I'd bet it's an acorn. I don't really know, though. I did the spell on the fly, didn't bother to remember how the tree looked like before. It doesn't matter, really..."

"But why I can't feel the bark or the, uh, air? Even if I know it's fake?"

"Well, can you see the tree?"

"No..."

"Then why do you expect to feel it? Isn't touch another sense just like sight and hear?"

"I guess you're right. I don't know, I suppose I thought I could break the spell with my 'keen, skeptical mind' as you said."

"You can't in fact. All you have is your knowledge that it isn't true, but the spell is giving different information to your senses. So in a way, it's like if your mind and body do not agree. Is that a monster or a tree?"

"Are you asking me now?"

"Yeah, Callum. Try to rely only on the informations you have. Forget for a moment of your awareness that I just cast an illusion: what is that?"

"Uh... it's... a tree? Wait I'm not sure, is that the answer you want me to give you?"

"No Callum, I want you to use your brain. If it looks like a monster, walks like a monster and smells like a monster..."

"... then it's a monster? Fine, ok, I get your point. But it really isn't, is it?"

"Is it? You sure?" said the Elf wiggling her eyebrows.

"No... it isn't! Or is it? Nope, I'm lost."

Lujanne sighed. "And here I just said you had a keen mind."
"You see, the mistake you are making, is thinking that my illusion is doing something to the tree. Now, that is a very common mistake. Most non-Moonshadow Elves also think that, we kind of rely on that error a lot when fighting."
Callum scratched the back of his head, giving Lujianne a quizzical look.

"It's actually working on your mind. If I were to cast a more powerful illusion, even knowing what you experience is not real, you would have a really hard time not falling for it. It takes years of practice and a very disciplined mind, in fact, to resist illusions ranging from the third grade upwards."

"Third grade and upwards?" Callum gulped," What those even do?"

"Well, it's not like there's a formula to specifically cast a spider or a monster if that's what you're asking. The image is drawn out from my imagination or my memories. Or even, the target memories too, that is some neat trick. Wanna see?"
Callum chuckled nervously. He was a little scared of what Lujanne could make him see, but knew this was all needed for him to connect with the Moon Arcanum.

"Ok, give me your worst. I'm ready."

She grinned. "I'm afraid you'll have to wait. I need the Moon to be up in the sky for this. I'm not getting any younger, you know? Casting powerful illusion really takes a toll on your body if you don't channel the power of the Moon directly. It's a lot easier that way."

"You don't say," mumbled Callum scribbling furiously.

"Yes. And also, the Sun. It's beautiful and gives life to everything, but it really hampers illusion casting. It's a little like swimming against the current."
Lujanne crossed the clearing and entered the woods just next to the monster-three which kept flailing its tentacles harmlessly.
"Come, let's get something to eat. You must be famished," she beckoned.

"Are we talking about a real meal or just illusioned grubs?" asked Callum as he followed trying to keep a safe distance from the illusion.

"Why, grubs, of course. They are a very healthy kind of food."

"Then I'm ok, thanks. Ellis prepared me something before I left."

"You'll be spending a few days here, is that correct? Weeks possibly?"

"Yeah..."

"So you'll have to eat eventually," hummed Lujanne playfully.

Callum shuddered. "I know..."