"This should be a [Relic]-Flora, do you know what a relic is?" Elliot looked at her.
Flora took the Bone Flute and carefully examined its patterns. "Is this the one you found last time? Relics, hmm-Elliot, how much do you know about the Formless Art?"
Elliot glanced at Vanessa's missing finger. "Not much."
Although Flora had mentioned it during a previous meeting, her explanation had been far too brief.
Flora nodded and gathered her thoughts. "Supernatural people often awaken or acquire all sorts of strange, unique abilities depending on their chosen Path, while the Formless Art is more like a general-purpose set of techniques that can be mastered through study."
"There aren't any strict definitions. Broadly speaking, any technique that involves using supernatural power to achieve a particular effect can be classified as a Formless Art."
"The methods of performing them vary enormously-they might involve complex rituals or specific blessings and prayers, all with the aim of petitioning Great Beings to bring about various effects."
"For example, obtaining knowledge or influencing reality."
"The crucial point is," Flora's tone grew serious, "although performing a Formless Art requires paying a price, much like a sacrifice, there is one fundamental difference-a Formless Art has a chance of failure!"
"A chance of failure?" Elliot froze.
This thing could fail? The skill description hadn't said anything about that.
"Yes, because you're praying to a Great Being for power, and that prayer isn't bound by the Second Law, which states that 'sacrifices must be carried out'-so whether the Great Being responds or grants you that power depends entirely on its will-"
"Sometimes, even after paying the price, you still won't succeed-and of course, the price won't be refunded."
Elliot was genuinely a little surprised.
*Come to think of it, Vanessa's Formless Art should be asking him