The Choice of Magic - Michael G. Manning Page 0,21

“I’m only going to give this speech once, so pay attention. I’ve been making allowances, since you’re entirely ignorant. I’m going to explain a few things. Interrupt me and I’ll rip your tongue out and use it to make breakfast tomorrow. Do you understand?”

Will nodded, afraid to speak.

The old man smiled at his caution. “First, do you know the difference between mages, warlocks, sorcerers, and wizards?”

Still unsure whether he should open his mouth, Will shook his head no.

“Mage is a general term,” continued his grandfather. “Anyone capable of magic is a mage. Mages aren’t born, they are trained. Almost anyone has the necessary potential, but very few ever become aware of it, and fewer still gain the skill to do anything.

“Wizards are mages who have learned to control their turyn, and with it they can affect the world around them. Through training and practice, they can accomplish a wide variety of things, including the use of spells and the creation of potions and other magic items.

“Warlocks are mages who bargain with external powers to gain advantages.” His grandfather pointed at the candle flame. “This flame represents your turyn. As you might have guessed, it isn’t a large amount of power and can easily be exhausted. Warlocks seek to augment this power via agreements with supernatural agents. They may deal with spirits, the lords of faerie, demons, or any number of other beings. In general, I think this is a bad idea, as you almost always give up far more than you gain.

“Long ago, most of the early mages were shamans, which was basically a type of warlock dealing with primal nature spirits, but over time, some became more skilled. Magic was studied and better understood. It was codified, and spells were created. This was the beginning of true wizardry.

“The candle flame spell I just showed you is the beginning of that new understanding. It was the foundation that all wizardry rests upon. That may not make sense to you now, but someday, you’ll understand why.

“Sorcerers are mages who hold the heart-stone enchantments of one or more elemental spirits. You can think of a heart-stone enchantment as a leash or binding. It gives them absolute control over an elemental. Elementals range in power from very weak to extremely powerful, but controlling any of them grants a vast amount of power to the mage, crude though it may be.

“A few centuries ago, there were no sorcerers. The first was a wizard of great skill, who designed the heart-stone enchantment and trapped the first elemental. Most of the sorcerers of today are no better than leeches, resting on the achievements of their ancestors. The heart-stone enchantments are passed down through the generations, and those that receive them gain vast power through no effort of their own. Many of them can barely manage a spell, if they have any training at all.” The old man stopped for a second, then asked, “Any questions?”

“What are you?” asked Will directly.

His grandfather sighed. “I’m an herbalist, and an old man who knows a little too much for his own good.”

It was clear he wasn’t going to say more about himself, so Will changed tactics. “Why do you hate sorcerers?”

“None of your damned business,” snapped the old man. “All you need to know is they’re lazy, useless individuals. Also, what they do is morally repugnant.”

“Why?”

“It’s slavery,” said his grandfather. “Rather than develop their skills and use their own innate gifts, they trap and enslave the most basic spirits of nature. The most benign of warlocks makes a victim of himself, at the very least, but a sorcerer violates the purest and simplest spirits in the world. Compounding their wickedness, the power they gain is generally used to exert control over others.”

Will thought about it for a minute, then tried to summarize his thoughts. “So, you’re saying that all mages are evil, except for wizards, and they’re the weakest of the bunch.”

“If wits were food, you’d starve to death,” answered his grandfather, “but at least you’re trying to think.” He sighed, staring up at the ceiling. “No. It’s entirely possible for a warlock to be good, though he or she would still be a fool. A good warlock trades only what they already possess—elixir of turynal, blood, or even their own soul—but most of them wind up stealing to gain more than they deserve. They’ll take children, or other helpless sorts, and use them for their own ends. A good sorcerer, by contrast, would no longer be a sorcerer,