Role

Chapter 5

(Summer 1630)

The healer says I'm sterile now. Always thought I'd have children someday, but
it's not to be. Don't have time for children now anyway. Maybe I can adopt
some orphans once I become a professor and get married.

Heard that my parents died of the plague in Arkham. I didn't cry but I feel
hollow inside.

Bought some more food and a sack full of iron rods to charge with lightning.
A man with an axe was watching me, but he kept his distance. Will return to
the wilderness tomorrow.

(Summer 1630)

The man with the axe was following me. I won't be another Ephelus! I set him
on fire. I thought it would be so hard, but he died like a rat, thrashing and
screeching. I didn't even feel sick. The guards don't seem to understand that
it was self-defense. I flew for the mountains.

(Autumn 1630)

Word has come on the wind that the guild sees me as a dangerous renegade now.
Teaching job seems unlikely. Official story is that the axe man was just a
lumberjack. Just a lumberjack until he takes his first mage skull and that
won't be mine. Won't be anyone's, now. Maybe he can chop some trees in Hell.

(Date Unknown)

City's gone. Family's gone. No leatherworker's daughter for me. No children
for me. No guild job for me. Nothing left but the magic, but the magic is
all I need. It solves every problem if I just use enough.

Not so hard. Not so hard at all.