Raistlin Upadesa in the style of German Expressionism, as interpreted by DALL-E in January 2025.

  For a while now, Raistlin has been feeling his way about when to be more proactive with the scans. It should be possible to investigate them while they are burrowing through his thinking mind.

  Although there would be risks involved, such an investigation might also reap many rewards. He had been postponing it for years, and for a while that was probably wise, but sooner or later he knew he had to go on the offensive.

  It might go like this. When he detects an incoming scan, he Divines its nature, purpose, and function – basically scanning the scan. Of course, his own scan would be carefully obfuscated.

  First, he would just spend time in the vicinity of the scan and see what other magics were protecting it. Simply stay there for a while and observe. Attempt to see through any obfuscation magics surrounding it.

  Later, he would try to find ways to counteract its various protections and countermagics. Presumably there would be detection magics looking for interference attempts, so they would need to be blinded in such a way that they don’t know they are blinded.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Later still, when he is confident that all traps and countermeasures have been identified, it should be possible to follow the scan until it finds something to report, then follow the report.

  See where it goes. Discover who is behind it.

  ---

  In the chamber of memories, Raistlin finds himself revisiting his childhood. Both his parents died in an industrial accident.

  This is the day his parents don’t come home from work when they use to. Raistlin feels that something is wrong, but he does not want to acknowledge that feeling. So, he just goes on playing his ether games, far longer than he is allowed to, feeling more and more afraid but using the games to hide from the feeling.

  Then the doorbell rings, and he feels even more afraid because he knows that if he opens the door something terrible will happen.

  He tries to shut the sound out, but they ring again and again, knowing he is there and not leaving without him. They shout that they are investigators and he has to open the door, which terrifies him.

  Eventually his fear of not opening the door overwhelms his fear of opening the door, and they tell him what has happened and say they are sorry and take him away to another home.

  His new parents are kind to him, but he misses mom and dad. Over the next few months, he spends a lot of time being sad and afraid.

  He has been through this many times before, but always in a piecemeal fashion. This time he works his way through the whole thing. Afterwards he feels like something has lifted.

  The Shieldbearer, Protector, in the style of German Expressionism, as interpreted by DALL-E in January 2025.