[ They'd been friends before and should they have ever come away normally? Would have remained friends after. It simply was the way of things. ]
He was my first friend in the Spire. And my first kiss. My first love, I suppose, though we are not supposed to have them. Strong emotion makes us vulnerable, having lovers gives desire demons a foothold in our dreams. Have you heard of what a mage's harrowing might be? It is a test- though we know precious little of what it entails until we experience it for ourselves. We only know that you pass and become a mage rather than an apprentice, you fail and you die, or you might choose to be made Tranquil.
Robert was a year older than me and we never knew when we would be tested- but there is a range of ages when it seems most likely. I was confident in him, in myself, I knew we would both come through without anything to fear. I was tested, I faced the demon they called for me in the Fade, and I was made a mage. When I came out I tried to find him to explain but I could not. He wasn't in the rooms or the library or the study halls...
When I was taken to my harrowing he made a choice. He was too afraid to take the test himself. The next time I saw him was a few days later shelving books in the library. He...do you know what it is, to be made Tranquil?
dammit now i want cereal
[ They'd been friends before and should they have ever come away normally? Would have remained friends after. It simply was the way of things. ]
He was my first friend in the Spire. And my first kiss. My first love, I suppose, though we are not supposed to have them. Strong emotion makes us vulnerable, having lovers gives desire demons a foothold in our dreams. Have you heard of what a mage's harrowing might be? It is a test- though we know precious little of what it entails until we experience it for ourselves. We only know that you pass and become a mage rather than an apprentice, you fail and you die, or you might choose to be made Tranquil.
Robert was a year older than me and we never knew when we would be tested- but there is a range of ages when it seems most likely. I was confident in him, in myself, I knew we would both come through without anything to fear. I was tested, I faced the demon they called for me in the Fade, and I was made a mage. When I came out I tried to find him to explain but I could not. He wasn't in the rooms or the library or the study halls...
When I was taken to my harrowing he made a choice. He was too afraid to take the test himself. The next time I saw him was a few days later shelving books in the library. He...do you know what it is, to be made Tranquil?