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‘Asper,’ he said softly, ‘he didn’t reat thinkers of the Venariu, don’t you? You can just look at a antic fat heads of yours to summarise an entire person in a feords’ She scowled up at him ‘Such as the type of person ith the kind of power that h to look down on another person, leaves other people to suffer in soer and help, but that’s just not fiery enough, is it?’

He blinked, glancing fro Dreadaeleon, then back

‘Granted,’ she said coldly, ‘I could sule word’ She shoved past hi under her breath ‘But I’ered on her with equal intent as it had on Denaos as she skulked away Dreadaeleon, too, followed her with a different sort of intent on his face and a different thought in his head

So himself Well, obviously, you ? And you didn’t move to help her? Well, you stuck to the plan Denaos was supposed to help her …

But you’re the wizard You’ve got the power It should have been you to help her You could have done so, then Incredibly so You didn’t even need the stone, or anything else You recovered But how?

She glanced over her shoulder, shooting him a pained expression His eyes widened as the realisation struck him fiercely across the face

Of course It was her It was all for her, wasn’t it? That’s what you’ve been doing wrong You keep thinking of power for power’s sake, for the Laws, for the Venariu urine and acid vomit Those were pretty impressive, of course, but they weren’t power You did soh, and you recovered

Purpose That’s what’s been , of course! It’s not nearly as ical exercises, why not in ical practice? Why couldn’t another person lend a wizard their strength, theoretically, just by existing? By focusing on the could coot tell Bralston! Better yet, tell …

He e, barren stretch of sand

‘Where’d she go?’ he asked, frowning

‘To tend to her oounds, I suspect,’ Bralston said, sighing ‘Women frequently do so in privacy’

‘But … she wasn’t hurt Denaos got her out unscathed’

Bralston turned to regard Dreadaeleon with a look that, in the few brief hours he had known the Librarian he had learned to dread It was a cautious, cold scrutiny, better used on iteh Bralston were appraisingthat the Librarian was considering if he orth the price

Da his nerves’ insistence that he would feel better once he voain Quick, say so to throw hi meekly ‘Did … did you want a loincloth?’

WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?

‘You concern me, concomitant,’ Bralston replied

‘Well, it’s just that it’s sort of the common style around here, and ere offered, or rather forced e--’

‘Believe it or not, your crippling lack of vocal judgement is not the issue,’ the Librarian said He turned on his heel and began walking doards the village, his very posture dest these … adventurers for how long, concohly a year’

‘And you can still recall the lessons that enabled the practice of your studies?’

‘My ht me much before I left him’

‘Ah, so you are tutored instead of academy-trained’ Bralston sniffed ‘There are few like you anymore Tell me, did your master teach you the Pillars?’

‘Of course We covered them the moment I set foot in his study: Fire, Cold, Electricity, Force …’

‘Those are the Four Noble Schools,’ Bralston replied, ‘the ends of what the Pillars are taught to control and use properly’

‘Aren’t … aren’t they the sa that scrutinising stare upon Dreadaeleon

‘This is the problem,’ he said, the despair evident in his voice, if not his eyes ‘Venarie is a subject of la is a matter of discipline Discipline is ers ‘Rationality, Judge pause before Dreadaeleon realised he aiting an answer The boy shook his head and Bralston’s eyes narrowed

‘Perception, conconise threats and potential alike Judgement is what permits us to act as we es the two, acting as recognition of the situation and rationalisation of the proper response’

‘How can my perception be called into doubt?’ Dreadaeleon replied ‘Did you see what I did last night? Who else would have thought to destroy a heretic by bringing a giant sea snake down on him?’

While Dreadaeleon couldn’t see the childishly eager s across his face, he wasfrown

‘It’s not about spitting ice and hurling fire,’ the Librarian said ‘The difference between using the them as means in themselves is--’

‘Perception?’

‘The difference between a member of the Venariust these adventurers is what concerns me How much have you done to enforce the Laws?’

‘I’ve … I’ve been enforcing them’ Dreadaeleon rubbed the back of his neck ‘I was the first one to encounter the longfaces’

‘And yet you continued on with your co the Venarium of their violation instantly?’

‘There wasn’t enough tihtened Wizards cannot claim the handicap’

‘But I’ve done sois--’

‘This tome,’ Bralston replied ‘You say a priest sent you after it?’

‘Well, he hired us to--’

‘Gold is for the unenlightened, as is religious zealotry We are concerned with higher e for the gifts we have, we dedicate our lives to furthering knowledge, to understanding hoe, as vessels, relate to this How have you done that, concomitant?’