"So, it's sort of like that game we all played, early on," Kamariel observes. "Your guys used 'technology', and ours used magic." "Is it the technology that pushes away the magic, or does the magic hold back the technology?" Keelah asks, innocently. "An interesting thought. I suppose it comes down to the core of the problem, though," Aviendha says. "Magic works by belief. You can't... prove it works, even you, Nadriina, because the effects always vary. Sometimes you try to cast a charm on someone, and it fails, and you try the same charm again, and it holds. And gods are the perfect example; they're driven by belief, they're created, by belief. In most cases, anyway." "...and technology always works the same way, every time. It doesn't... require belief," Nadriina says, thoughtfully, following the line of thinking. "So... as a world directs more belief in what they can see and prove, and away from magic that changes whenever you look at it... the technology grows, and the belief in magic wavers. But... what would cause that initial wavering in belief in magic?" "Draiss, I think you said you knew something about that, right?" Vorela asks.