A Fool's Tale

Chapter 24 - Sticks and Wolves

Despite my fear, I returned to Master Isidor, and was confronted by the candle once again. This time, I was able to light it twice, and did not feel so broken at the end of the day. Isidor said I was doing well, but I had no barometer of the truth and could only trust his words. To me, it felt like my progress was extraordinarily slow, and it was no easy thing, stumbling home like a broken doll.

After two weeks, I learned to light the candle at will without closing my eyes. It was still painful, but as Isidor had predicted, I became more accustomed to the feeling.

"You understand now when I mentioned how difficult casting a fireball would be," Isidor commented when I arrived one morning.

"Yes, Master. Is it even possible?" I couldn't fathom the amount of pain that would be involved.

"It is, but only an archmage would attempt it."

"What's an archmage?"

"They are the most powerful magicians. Masters of more than one domain."

I nodded and shifted my eyes nervously toward the candle, waiting with shoulders tensed for the moment that Isidor would instruct me to begin.

"Perhaps it would be a good day to learn some of the theory behind magic." I think Isidor had noticed how rigid I was and taken pity upon me. The first two weeks had been difficult, but I cannot say he had been unfair, for magic is a grueling exercise and there is little room for compassion.

My shoulders loosened. "Thank you, Master Isidor. I would enjoy that."

He indicated for me to take a seat alongside him. "The first lesson I would like to impart is a warning. Every mage and apprentice must be careful never to overstep the reach of their power. A magician attempting a spell that is far beyond their abilities can permanently damage their brain, or they could even die in the attempt. It takes time to build resistance to the effect of magic on the mind and body."

"I shall be careful to follow your guidance, Master." Even with my limited experience, I knew that Isidor wasn't exaggerating.

"Good. Now, every spell requires that you access the related area of magic within your mind. As you've seen for fire spells you need heat, frost spells would need cold, and so forth. With experience you shall increase both the number of spells you can perform and the different fields of magic. At some point, you'll need to choose a specific aspect that most interests you in order to focus your studies."

"You said my mother was a sorceress, and that she specialized in mind magic, but how can I distinguish mind power? Wouldn't it be everywhere?"

"An excellent question. Mind spells are generally involving control, so you must delve into your powers and feel for the portion that encompasses you as a being. It's like feeling your heart beat and your blood move through your body. Once you master the ability to understand how to control your own body, you can then learn to manipulate other beings around you. It's a very delicate art, and will be one of the last things I teach you."

Then Isidor leaned close, although we were alone. He whispered. "I'll let you in on a secret. Just as there are people like you and I who are gifted with magic, there are others who have an innate resistance."

"In what way?"

"Well, fire could still hurt them, but they cannot be mind-controlled or manipulated in any way by magic. King Roland is completely immune. I've tested him. His mind is like a stone wall."

"Wow. I guess that's a good thing if he has to negotiate with sorcerers like Malacor."

"It is indeed."