�Yes,� answered Kitt slowly, his attention more diverted to the pyramid on the floor than to his master, �I�m confused as to why.�
�Kitt, you came to me confused, confused as to why I ignored you. You don�t ask why I risk sentencing you to death. You do not ask why I would support the drafting of men for this war. You came to see if our trust had been violated. Tell me this, are you disappointed that you will be going to the war?�
�Well no not really. I�m disappointed I won�t be your apprentice anymore, but I am actually excited at the challenge to beat these Howlers.�
Vekia smiled, and then nodded, expecting the answer. �That is why you are going,� she said. �I know you better than you like to admit Kitt. You enjoy being my apprentice, this much I see. But what you truly love, what you live for, is excitement.� She grinned as a fond memory entered her mind, �Remember the Jade Ruby?�
Yea, thought Kitt, I remember. A few years ago, Jublis had told Kitt of the old miner�s tale of the Jade Ruby, a gem, part ruby and part jade, fused together somehow by some spell or Dwarven forgery. As large as a man�s head, it was said to be in the vicinity of Shimmer Peak. Jublis and Kitt became excited, laying out plans to find the legendary gem, and return it home. After several weeks of persuasion, Vekia granted Kitt leave for a few weeks to try and find the Jade Ruby. A month passed by, no Jade Ruby had been found, but the boys had a good time, warding off bears and other animals and trying to navigate the numerous cliffs in the area. �Of course I remember.�
�That�s when I knew Kitt,� Vekia said sadly, almost longingly, like she envied that state of mind, wished it for her own, �that�s when I was sure you would never be happy just being a mage. This is your chance, you could even become a famous warrior.�
�But Master, you always told me humility is the greatest strength and most desirable quality of a sorcerer,� Kitt contended at the thought of being famous.
Vekia flashed Kitt a look of mock disapproval, though part of it might have been honest, �Kitt, you know as well as I do you have plenty of that. Your training so far has been of knowledge, yes, but you dislike using what few powers you do have. You know as well as I that last night, at the festival, you could have lit the fire of your own accord and spell had you so chosen,� her expression became more serious now, and there wasn�t disapproval in her face, but a something Kitt couldn�t place. It was regret in a way, not quite her own, but for him, �and I also know that you have been holding back on the greater share of your power.�
Kitt, unable to admit this deception, tried to cover for it, �but Master, you have always told me never to overkill a spell.�
Vekia smiled, he was even modest about his modesty, �Kitt, I do not mind. You have kept your progress purposefully slow, if I am right about how much you have been lagging on purpose, I would guess you have moved at half your rate, if not less.�
Actually, Kitt thought, correcting her in his own mind, it�s closer to a fourth or a fifth.
�However,� Vekia continued, �if you had allowed your abilities to progress at their natural rate, learned new lessons as you mastered old ones, if you had accepted those true abilities you would be more prepared for this greater challenge.�
Kitt felt embarrassed on the subject. For over a year now, he had been trying to hide the fact that magic came easily to him, because Vekia was right. All his life he had been seen as special, different, out of place. Knowing magic made that difference even greater. So he held back a portion of his strength. For spirit power, it was easier to gauge percents than it was actual levels of power, so he started out full power. He learned easy spells, but then pulled back on a percentage of power. But even while holding back, Vekia regularly told him he was making far more rapid progress than she had ever seen, or even heard of. Every time she said that, Kitt would pull back an even greater portion of his strength. But every time he did this, almost as if to compensate, his total ability seemed to grow, so he seemed to be improving anyway. And all this time while he thought he was fooling her, she had known about it all along, even if she wasn�t aware of the full limits he took it to. It made him feel as if that feeling of �getting away with it� was a feeling of empty confidence, and he didn�t like it. He attempted to change the subject.
�Master, what about this? What is it for?� He gestured at the pyramid.
�This is a device for your rite of passage,� answered Vekia calmly.
What? Thought Kitt, Rite of passage? But that�s at the end of a mage�s training, this can�t be right. �W-what do you mean, master?�
�Well, normally, as you know, this would occur at the end of your preparation. Even though you are nowhere near complete, I do not feel it would be wise to send you away without some aid.�
Kitt nodded, he thought he understood. All mage�s had developed the ability to use magic, this is true, during the course of their training, many different spells with many different effects. Several thousand years ago, when magic was just coming out of its infancy, Elven sorcerers learned they could enhance their powers by channeling them into an object. If channeled into their walking sticks, which were simply tree branches, it was discovered this not only strengthened all spells, but greatly enhanced their magic with effects relating to nature, such as a growing spell. Curious as to why only these certain spells were enhanced while the others gained little if any boost in power, other wizards tried other items. When rock was used, powers of artificial enhancement and protection were increased, and when metal was used, ability to control the elements of fire and combat spirit energy were powered up. The modern mage�s of the Human realm now had three classes, the staff, the pendant, and the ring, symbolizing the branch, the rock, and the metal used those millennia ago.