@BoneyM, it may be a bit premature asking it this turn when we have no time for any type research - but I would like to ask whether it's viable.
I was thinking about Mathilde and the ways to get better at magic. Outright active training is not viable, as it is too risky. But would it be possible for her to train her Witchsight? Please note, that I do not mean training/upgrading 'Windreader' - that trait signifies understanding of magic. I am thinking about training raw perception.
Below relevant quote from Realms of Sorcery - and yes, I know that we cannot base anything on that, but it remains best source of information about the world and magic in general.
Any person possessing witchsight sees the world as if through two types of vision superimposed upon each other. With his normal mundane sight, the Aethyrically sensitive person sees like any other Human does. With his witchsight, the person actually sees the Winds of Magic to some degree, either as swirling clouds and rivers of churning coloured energy, or as manifestations of their own thoughts, memories, emotions, expectations, beliefs, and fears and those of the people around them. The common expression of witchsight in untrained magic users is as strange shapes and flickering lights just at the corner of their vision. Depending upon how strong one's witchsight is, one may be able to see the movements of magic and magically charged items and beings, even in the dark or if one's eyes are shut, blinded, or missing.
Some people with the most developed witchsight are able to see the entire world even without their eyes, perceiving with perfect clarity the souls, thoughts, and intentions of all living beings around them, seeing how magic swirls around and through them and all other things in the world.
Please note underlined part.
Mathilde seems to be squarely placed on first part of the description, with average level of witchsight. Would it be possible to train it to up to level described in underlined part? Is it a thing in quest at all? Also, if she succeeded, would it impact her life in negative way? (since I can imagine being rather distracting)
My second question is Arcane Mark - the "Flicker" trait. Mathilde is now magister, and have rather comprehensive knowledge of magic. How much does she knows about it? Does she knows how it works? What exactly it is caused by? The mechanism?
Is it outpouring of Ulgu rolling out from her? Or does she affect other winds, and that causes effect? Is it caused by her body, or unconscious mind? Would it be possible to suppress? Or better yet, be possible to channel in different way? And the basic question: can she perceive it at all? Or is it hidden 'in the background'?
By common sense, it should be possible to suppress it with effort of will - at least as long as she is concentrating. Mathilde is now rather skilled mage, used to manipulating large quantities of Ulgu with precision. She should be able to control/suppress Ulgu emitted by her own body. Or maybe she can work with other direction - to boost effect as strongly as possible. That would make for a useful by itself.
Obviously, best case is control. There is quite a bit of strength hidden into effect - forcing all nearby fires to burn low and flicker is not actually
easy and requires quite a bit of mystical force. If she can align that strength into supporting magic she casts, it could be beneficial. And in fact, list of Arcane Marks does have effect that corresponds to it.
@BoneyM - is it viable at direction of research?
