Corpus Tamrielicum - The Imperial Library

[30.5] KING EDWARD V
"Or perhaps the sort of person who is pleased by spoiling others' pleasure?"
"I guess that'd make my little brothers evil. They sure like to spoil my fun."
"And you?"
Edward felt his face redden. "I don't take any notice of them," he said quickly. The
Archmagister's large golden eyes regarded him steadily. To his own dismay, Edward began to
cry. He bawled like a baby. "I don't know what's wrong with me," he gasped. "I never cry,
really, I don't...hardly ever..."
"Why ever not?" Edward looked up. His tears had blurred his sight, but there seemed to be
tears on the Archmagister's face. His hand reached up to feel the wetness. "You have been
very alone, have you not?" the Archmagister said.
"Yes. Until you brought the unicorn for me, I was all alone. They endure no evil," Edward
sighed with satisfaction, feeling relaxed and comfortable. The Archmagister was wonderful.
"We summoned the unicorn, Moraelyn and the dragon and I and others. It's a great magic and
one no single man or woman may command. But don't trouble yourself overmuch with
judging good and evil. That's a human notion. Life is complex; I know of nothing that is
wholly good or wholly evil. Not even the unicorn."
Edward's time in the Tower passed quickly. There were few other novices and the youngest of
these was several years older than Edward. The boy spent several hours each day with the
Archmagister. He learned to cast a few spells and to open his mind so that he could renew his
magicka quickly while he slept. But often they just talked. Sometimes Edward was given a
book to read. Other times he was allowed to choose one from the thousands in the library. He
usually tired of them quickly. He didn't read Elvish script easily; his tutor had taught him the
letters, but their few books were in Bretic.
Spellcasting was more fun. Fire spells came easily to him and he learned to shield himself
readily, but to his chagrin, he couldn't Heal at all. He invariably made things worse for the
unlucky rats he was allowed to practice on.
"I don't know what I'm doing wrong!" Edward cried out in frustration. He sent a dart of fire at
the writhing rat and it turned into a charred corpse.
"Edward, it will be well if you let the Heal spells wait awhile yet."
"Moraelyn said Light Heal is the first spell anybody learns," Edward said sulkily.
"Did he? Well, he is a practitioner of magic, not a theorist. Even I would hesitate to say what
a Breton might or might not learn, and when he might learn it. You are the first of your people
with whom I have worked. Certainly Moraelyn has had no experience with your race, except
for your mother, of course."
"My mother can't do magic."
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