tg.stone of tears-第268部分

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pposite　…　all　life　being　swept　away　like　a　sandbar　in　a　river　flood。’
　
　‘Just　for　the　sake　of　argument；　what　if　I　did　have　both　kinds　of　magic？　What　is　my　power　for？’
　
　‘Most　wizards　have　a　talent　that　leans　in　a　particular　direction。　Some　are　healers；　some　make　things　of　magic；　more　rare　are　prophets。　The　most　rare　are　war　wizards。　There　has　not　been　one　born　in　over　three　thousand　years。　Until　you。’
　
　Richard　wiped　his　sweaty　palms　on　his　pant　legs。　‘I　don’t　like　the　sound　of　that。’
　
　‘War　wizard　has　two　meanings　which　balance　each　other；　as　in　all　things　magic。　The　first　meaning　is　that　they　can　tear　the　veil；　bring　destruction　and　death　…　war。　And　the　second　is　that　they　have　the　magic　needed　to　fight　against　the　powers　of　the　Keeper。　Being　a　war　wizard　does　not　mean　you　are　evil；　Richard。　Many　who　fight　do　so　to　protect　those　who　are　defenseless。　It　means　you　have　the　capacity　to　care　enough　to　fight；　to　defend　the　innocent。’
　
　‘‘Lest　he　who’s　born　true　can　fight　for　life’s　bond。　And　that　one　is　marked；　he’s　the　pebble　in　the　pond。’’　Richard　quoted。
　
　She　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘For　one　who　professes　to　scoff　at　prophecy；　you　seem　to　know　some　of　the　more　pivotal　passages。　If　I’m　not　entirely　addled；　I　expect　you　have　been　marked。’
　
　Richard　could　feel　the　scar　on　his　chest　as　he　nodded。　‘Are　you　saying　that　my　life　is　already　marked　out？　That　I’m　just　meant　to　live　it　out；　as　it　has　been　preordained？’
　
　‘No；　Richard。　Life　is　not　predetermined。　The　prophecies　mean　only　that　you　have　potential。　You　have　the　ability　to　influence　events。　That’s　why　it　is　so　important　for　you　to　learn。
　
　‘Of　most　importance　is　that　you　learn　to　accept　yourself。　If　you　do　not　do　this；　you　will　harm　the　most　vital　part　of　yourself：　your　free　will。　If　you　act　without　understanding；　you　could　cast　yourself　into　the　chaos。
　
　‘I　let　you　live　when　you　were　born　because　you　have　the　potential　for　doing　good。　Within　you　is　the　hope　of　life。　But　until　you　truly　accept　both　sides　of　your　magic；　you　are　a　danger　to　every　living　thing。’
　
　Richard　desperately　wanted　to　change　the　subject。　He　felt　as　if　the　world　were　crushing　him。　‘What　is　the　Stone　of　Tears？’
　
　She　gave　a　little　shrug。　‘In　the　world　of　the　dead；　it　exists　as　a　force。　In　this　world；　it　exists　as　an　object　with　power；　representing　that　force。
　
　The　Stone　of　Tears　is　like　a　weight　that　holds　the　Keeper　at　the　infinite　end　of　his　world；　where　his　influence　here　is　diminished　to　the　point　of　balance。’
　
　‘Then　if　it’s　here；　off　him；　he　is　freed　from　his　prison。’
　
　‘If　that　were　true；　we　would　all　be　dead。　Hmm？’　She　lifted　a　questioning　eyebrow；　but　Richard　didn’t　say　anything。　‘It’s　one　of　the　seals　that　locks　the　Keeper　beyond。　There　are　others；　that　still　hold。　Magic　helps　hold　him　back；　for　now。
　
　The　Stone　of　Tears　has　the　power；　though；　to　destroy　the　balance；　to　tear　the　veil　and　free　the　Keeper；　if　it　is　used　in　this　world；　by　such　as　you；　in　the　wrong　way。　You　see；　the　Stone　has　the　power　to　banish　any　soul　to　the　infinite　depths　of　the　underworld。　But　if　it　were　used　in　that　way；　through　hate；　through　selfishness；　it　would　feed　power　to　that　side；　and　destroy　the　veil。
　
　The　veil　can　only　be　restored　by　one　with　the　gift　for　both　sides　of　the　magic。　The　Stone　must　be　put　back　where　it　belongs。
　
　‘We　must　struggle　to　keep　the　other　seals　intact　until　the　day　when　one　such　as　you　can　restore　this　lock　while　there　is　still　time。　Meanwhile；　the　Keeper　gains　strength　here。　His　minions　struggle　to　break　the　other　seals。　There　are　other　ways　to　free　the　Keeper。’
　
　‘Ann　。。。　are　you　sure　about　me？　Maybe　。。。’
　
　‘You　proved　it　just　tonight；　by　walking　through　that　shield。　Our　shields　are　made　of　Additive　Magic。　The　only　way　for　you　to　penetrate　it　was　for　your　Han　to　use　Subtractive。’
　
　‘Maybe　my　Han；　my　Additive　Magic；　is　just　stronger。’
　
　‘When　you　came　through　the　Valley　of　the　Lost；　you　would　have　been　drawn　to　the　towers。　To　both　towers。　Am　I　right？’
　
　‘I　could　have　just　e　across　them　by　accident。’
　
　She　let　out　a　tired　sigh。　The　towers　were　created　by　wizards　who　had　both　kinds　of　power。　In　the　white　tower；　there　is　white　sand。　Sorcerer’s　sand。　I　doubt　you　would　have　taken　any。’
　
　That　doesn’t　prove　anything。　And　what　is　sorcerer’s　sand？’
　
　‘Sorcerer’s　sand　is　extremely　valuable；　nearly　priceless。　It　is　only　gathered　by　chance　happenings　across　the　tower。　Sorcerer’s　sand　is　the　crystallized　bones　of　the　wizards　who　gave　their　life　into　the　towers。　It’s　a　sort　of　distilled　magic。　It　gives　power　to　spells　drawn　with　it　…　good；　and　evil。　The　proper　spell　drawn　in　white　sorcerer’s　sand　can　invoke　the　Keeper。
　
　‘You　took；　instead；　some　of　the　black　sand；　did　you　not？’
　
　‘Well；　yes。　I　just　wanted　a　little　bit；　that’s　all。’
　
　She　nodded。　‘Just　a　little　bit。　Richard；　no　wizard　since　the　towers　were　built　has　been　able　to　gather　any　black　sorcerer’s　sand。　It　cannot　be　taken　from　a　tower　by　any　but　those　with　Subtractive　Magic。　Guard　that　black　sand　with　your　life。　It’s　more　valuable　than　you　can　imagine。’
　
　‘Why？　What　will　it　do？’
　
　‘Black　sorcerer’s　sand　is　the　counter　to　the　white。　They　nullify　each　other。　The　black；　even　one　grain　of　it；　will　contaminate　a　spell　drawn　to　invoke　the　Keeper。　It　will　destroy　the　spell。　A　spoonful　of　it　is　a　weapon　worth　kingdoms。’
　
　‘Still；’　he　said；　‘it　could　just　be　that　…’
　
　The　last　wizards　born　with　both　kinds　of　magic　invested　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets　with　their　magic。　The　prophets　of　that　time　knew　one　would　be　born　again　with　both　sides　of　the　magic；　a　war　wizard；　and　so　they　created；　too；　the　Hagen　Woods；　and　the　mriswith。　One　born　with　the　Subtractive　would　be　drawn　to　that　place。　Drawn　to　do　battle　there。
　
　The　collar　keeps　the　Additive　gift　from　killing　you。　The　Hagen　Woods　provide　an　outlet　for　the　other　side　of　your　power。　It　is　something　the　Sisters　cannot　provide。’
　
　‘But　I　used　the　Sword　of　Truth。’　His　voice　sounded　to　him　like　a　plea　into　a　gale。　‘It　was　the　sword。’
　
　The　Sword　of　Truth　was　also　created　by　wizards　with　the　gift　for　both　sides　of　the　magic。　Only　one　born　the　same　could　bring　out　the　full　range　of　its　magic。　Only　you　can　use　the　sword　to　its　full　potential。　And　you　have　not　done　so　yet。
　
　‘It　is　an　aid　to　you；　but　even　so；　you　do　not　need　it　to　kill　the　mriswith。　Your　gift　is　enough。　If　you　do　not　believe　me；　leave　your　sword；　and　go　into　the　Hagen　Woods　with　just　your　knife。　You　will　still　kill　the　mriswith。’
　
　‘Others　have　used　this　blade。　They　didn’t　even　have　the　gift；　much　less　Subtractive　Magic。’
　
　They　were　not　truly　using　the　sword’s　magic。　The　blade　was　made　for　you。　It’s　an　aid；　much　as　prophecy　is　an　aid；　much　as　the　mriswith　are　an　aid；　sent　down　through　time。’
　
　‘I　don’t　think　I　could　be　one　of　these　war　wizards。’
　
　‘Do　you　eat　meat？’
　
　‘What　does　that　have　do　do　with　anything？’
　
　‘You　are　a　child　of　balance。　Wizards　must　balance　themselves；　the　things　they　do；　their　power。　War　wizards　rarely　eat　meat。　Their　abstinen