[ at any other time, ness might be willing to answer all those questions—she could even genuinely enjoy the conversation, despite the subject matter—but for now, it's probably best that stephen listens to the little voice of tact in his head.

she nods, understanding his implication, but doesn't look much happier about it. ]

But that's where this magic comes from, I think. Contact with strong magic can... leave an impression, sometimes, in my world. Like the rifts leave a bit of themselves in us, in the anchor, I've been left with... Aberration. Invisible but ever-present difference.

[ ...hang on, she's getting maudlin, this is supposed to be about practicing magic. ness visibly pulls herself back together, shaking her head and straightening out her shoulders. deep breath, chin up, pen back in hand, where were we? ]

So that's where I think it came from. Mindflayers are psychic, and you saw the tentacles, ergo. It is, at least, the strongest theory I have, given I'm not likely to ever know for sure.