Role

Chapter 2

I now knew who - what - I am. And I now knew why and how I am what I am. I am
not human. I am not Azure. I am both, and neither. I am part of both, a mixture.
In ways I am stronger, in ways weaker, than either, and there is sometimes conflict within.
But It is a source of strength. And it has given me purpose. Among the books in the
library was also one of the history of combat, and great leaders, great battles, great losses,
great causes. And one entire chapter was devoted to a group called the Battleragers, the
Haters of Magic. I was nearly as transfixed reading that as I had been reading about my
heritage. My great anger at the audacity, the hubris, the sheer arrogance and stupidity of that
conjurer was echoed by the anger and rage of others who have seen the perils of magic in
mortal hands. They work so hard, these mages. I can pity them. But they are, and always will
be, mortal. And when they err, their mistakes have consequences to rival even the gods.
I am living proof of those consequences. The meddle, they act, they dream, but they do not
understand. And most important they do not control. They cannot control. And they must
be stopped. The goodly ones may cherish the light, and motive does matter. But a child who
plays with fire may mean only to play, and to light a dark room. When the room, the home,
the whole town burns down, everyone is still dead, despite the good intentions. That is why
we keep fire out of the hands of children. And why I will spend my life fighting to keep magic
from the hands of mortals, for mortals are children.