"They are magic because I will them to be," Childermass answers, but only after a moment of thought, frowning for that time as he considered how to answer. It's a good question. He knew his readings were usually correct, even early in life when he first started messing around with them. Those cards had been... well, rubbish, but rubbish he held dearly close to his heart.

Were they magic? Were they made magic because he made them? Did they become magic because he used them? Or was it always just himself and it didn't matter what cards he used? It's not as though he hasn't substituted a lesser card to foretell danger before.

Ultimately, he settled on the answer he gave Lavellan because it made the most sense. As for her joke, he raises his eyebrows and takes up his card again. Running his other hand over it, hiding it from view briefly, when it's revealed again it's gone from one tarot card to the whole deck of them.

"The cards can be anything so long as you know how to read them." She may have been joking but Childermass, he's much more serious about this. He fans out the cards, all face down, and offers them to her. "Here. Pick a card. I am certain you will find your endless void."