I sit in a spacious room, a covered package separates me and my student. I can see it, the excitement in his eyes and I know I won't get his focus after I reveal it. "Edmund, tell me what separates you from other people? Why do you deserve to have a magical tool?" Edmund sits up straighter and clears his throat. "As a future ruler it's my responsibility to use both my potential magical and mundane gifts to help protect and guide my subjects." A perfect and mostly rote answer, like usual he is saying what I want to hear instead of his own opinion. Maybe I shouldn't ask that same question every time but I promised Lady Primdale that I wouldn't let him follow in his fathers footsteps; time to get under his skin. "Oh? Tell me more about these magical gifts?"

Annoyance flashes in his face, sorry kid but this is the only way I can get real answers from you. "It's a well known fact that nobility are able to learn magic earlier and have a higher potential then anybody in the academies. It is self-evident that our position is a result of our divine gifts." Edmund answers then continues with a triumphant look in his face. "And here is where you tell me that I am no different than a random beggar off of the street and all of my talents are a product of your training or my birth."

I pause my response and think about this outburst. When a sheep bites there is usually a thorn in its hoof. I take a deep breath and see a visual flitch from Edmund. Pits I maybe giving this kid a complex. "Despite what I say you are very talented in most aspects, only lacking in archery and book knowledge, you handle the sword like you handle your tongue, that is to say impeccable. It is important for you to know that you will never be the best at everything and the common folk are worth your respect and your consideration. It is both your mothers and my opinion that a ruler serves their countrymen and not the other way around."

I can physically see him ignoring the second half of my sentence, however he seems more attentive to what I have to say. "But, we are getting off topic. This will be your first magic lesson and I want you to know that in magic even the smallest 'work' can kill you. I'll let you know a secret that will get you killed by your peers if it ever gets out." I pause for dramatic effect "The magical difference between nobles and the most destitute beggar is zero. Every creature has magic and can call it in extreme times of stress. You see this when a wagon falls on a child and the mother throws it off with considerable force, or you can see it in someone's decision making before disaster. Sure these are natural chemical processes but they are greatly enhanced."

I take a deep breath, and I am interrupted. "So what is the difference, the data doesn't lie out of the top one hundred wizards, only two are from peasant birth." I try not to let sarcasm into my voice. It's a good day for him, let him enjoy it. "Very astute Edmund, that is indeed the case but the difference is one of upbringing. If you go down and ask a craftsman what he would do if a sheep ran away from his farm seven times out of ten you will get the answer, 'I'm a blacksmith not a shepherd.' The common folk lack abstract thinking. When these men and women were young they were focused more on surviving than reading. Whereas nobles get ready access to books of all types, they watch plays, and they listen to music. If you look into the past of all the top wizards you will see a healthy consumption of entertainment to fuel their imagination. This is also why hallucinogens are widely used for wizards to expand their horizons, but that is always risky and not all 'works' come out right after.

I finish my long winded explanation and am greeted by boredom. I need to shepherd him back to attention, "How about learning some magic," I say, giving a big grin. "There are two major ways of making 'works' : we group them into 'Fear' and 'Fondness'. Magic always takes its price, the result is dependent on state of mind. 'Fondness' is the most consistent and its price known. In exchange it is weaker; here I'll demonstrate" I feel my 'Fondness' for the concept of fire drain leaving me apathetic to its existence. A soft red flame dances in the palm of my hand. " 'Works' have two factors to it, visualization and emotion. In this case I visualized a flickering flame and fed it my appreciation of coming home to a warm fire." I snuff out the fire with a flourish. "Now you try, I know specifically you have that feeling as I pushed you into a frozen river for this day. I also want you to pay attention to how you feel after."

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After some delay a blue flame is steadily leaving his hand. "I feel ecstatic casting magic, but the feeling of deep relief has left me." he says as infuriatingly astute as always. And here is the most important part of any magic lesson. I start by wiping my constant smile off my face and say sharply "Edmund! If you remember anything remember what I am about to say. Never cast out of love, not your love of magic or of a partner. Only out of fondness do you know why? " I don't break eye contact as he thinks, I don't need a rote answer, I need genuine comprehension. Finally his mind sets and he settles on an answer, "Because the magic will take its price like with the flame?" he answers in an unsure tone. "Correct, the number one cause of death among practitioners is suicide, most commonly by starvation. Depression, for the most part, is not sadness, but emptiness, the feeling that even eating is so laborious that it is easier to not. When magic takes that last spark you will be a hollow shell of who you once were. You will push away those who can help, despite wanting them to help. It's a bad death and I will refuse to see it again."

I can almost hear Edmunds bones creak from the weight of my silence and stare, his nervous bouncing legs and wandering eyes are indicative of his discomfort. " What about 'Fear'? What's the price for that?" To Edmunds relief I accept his change of subject. "If you cast through negative emotions like fear or hate it has a two fold effect. It will inflame your negative emotions and it will lash out randomly. It is the least consistent way to create 'works' but there is a path to mastery." I hear the faintest click behind me. "One that I will teach you when you're ready, go on, take your wand and enjoy." He grins, grabs his gift and leaves the meeting room.

I turn and address the seemingly empty room. "I guess my lessons are too boring for you 'Fleece'." I say his new nickname with disgust. "Oh, don't be like that my leg fell asleep and we both know how long winded you are." I pinch the bridge of my nose. I need to be the one to direct the conversation or we will talk at his pace and nothing will be done. "So? What is so important that you will break into the castle?" I ask. "Can't I just visit my close friend to catch up?" I give him a plane look and channel all of my annoyance into one word, "No."

"Ok, ok I'll get to it. You know that stray that you left a few weeks ago. Well here I was about to adopt him out of the kindness of my vast heart and here he gets himself abducted by mimic spiders." Now that catches my attention, "Mimic spiders in the city are you sure. Right of course you are." I let out a long sigh. Guards have been understaffed since most of the garrison was deployed north. "Fine! Thirty gold per eradicated nest. Payment due AFTER my personal inspection." Is that all? He gives a lazy half shrug, "Are you sure you want to throw that man away, it's not like my farmer boy to let someone fend for themselves." My sarcastic mask melts next to my old friend showing my thorough exhaustion, "Perhaps, if it was another time, if there weren't enemy and ally spies infesting every cobble of this Divine forsaken city, But time makes villains of us all." "Besides," I add "I figured he will fit in your menagerie, you already trained a rat and a cat I figured a seal will fit right in." He laughs at my joke and replies "Aye your right but don't forget my first charity case, a lost lamb caught in thorns."