116 Chapter 116

" Have you heard the news? " Rogan asked Aaron while having lunch.

It was an expensive place. Exclusively for the mages. Even if you were the richest person alive, you won't be allowed inside.

This allowed mages to have the peace without their discussions or tiffs spreading to the masses. And as far as the mage community was concerened, there was no way to escape it, unless of course a meeting was held in the close confines of your home.

"What news?" Aaron said while chewing his food. Either of his mother would be horrified at him for speaking while eating.

" Those responsible for the robbery which happened a few months ago have been apprehended. " Said Rogan.

Aaron was a little surprised. Did the anti mage association fail again? It was bound to happen. They created a big rucksus this time. Directly robbing the homes of the rich and mighty, it was like hitting your own leg on an axe.

Robin hood was a good story, but these people weren't Robin hood. Aaron wasn't naive enough to think that the anti mage association was doing all they were doing for the masses. It was just some people on the top furthering their own agenda. He had seen and heard about a lot of such organization on earth.

"Well this brings end to the high security imposed in the inner city. I hated being checked every time I entered or exited the city. "

" It does. Tulip city seemed to be on a edge. Maybe it will return life to normal. " Aaron agreed with Rogan. Although he was pretty much happy with the state of high vigilance. It had made people forget about him for a while. He hoped it was enough for people to lay off him after this buffer period.

"You said you wanted to ask me something. What do you want to ask?" Rogan asked of Aaron.

Aaron had said he wanted to ask Rogan for something. After talking about the state of Tulip city, it was time they addressed the question.

" I want to ask you something related to the will of a sentient being and mages. I have read various books, but the answers in one book is directly in conflict with answers in some other book. "

" I want to ask how does a will actually resist magic. Is it even real? I know perhaps you dont have the answers to it. But I want to know your experiences about it. "

Rogan was silent for a while after Aaron raised this question.

" You do realize you have asked me a question which had left mages confounded for thousands of years. It's not perhaps, its impossible for the likes of me to answer it. "

Aaron was about to say something when Rogan raised his hands to stop him.

" I know you have doubts and don't want to insult me and just want me to share my experience."

" But do you know how closely mages guard their evaluation or understanding of things. Call it greed or whatever, but not every mage who invents a spell or discover some rules is prone to share it with others. Some write books about it, others share it with their successors and students. But I do believe a that a lot of secrets and spells died with mages who refused to share it. "

" So when you ask someone for something, it usually means a trade. Why would a mage share his findings and research with you otherwise. The price can be mage stones or something of equal value depending on the wishes of the one you are negotiating with. Else what would be the difference between you and the people who were after you."

He smiled after that. The atmosphere which had gotten so serious just seemed to return to normal with that.

" With that being said, it's not that I won't tell you what I know or that I require a price. It's just a general rule which you should be aware of. Not all mages would be so forgiving and take it as afront to them. "

Now did he allow Aaron to speak.

" I am sorry. I wasn't aware of such rules. In my defense I was never informed of any such rules. But I would apologise for it. Infact, I would agree for negotiating a price for that information. "

This time it was Aaron who stopped Rogan from speaking.

" I know you would do it for free. But me offering a price means I appreciated how important your insight is to me. I do realize my mistake. Perhaps for mages, knowledge is the currency. "

" Big words you have there, but I guess it's true enough. Knowledge is currency. And I would take you on that offer. I will let you know the price after I am done answering your question. "

" As I was saying, the question you asked had stumped many. It is widely believed that if magic is directly brought in contact with a sentient being having strong enough will, it will dissipate. This theory holds true generally in most cases. But as you might have noticed, there are huge number of cases which directly contradicts this rule. "

" Life mages or healers as they are called are the best examples of it. They are very rare, infact there are only a handful of them at present. But that's not the point. "

" The point is that they perform their magic directly on a person. So, if a will would clash and dissipate the magic, there would be no healing. "

" What I with a lot of other people believe is that more the magic is inclined with nature, the less it is resisted by will. "

" The understanding behind that logic has to come with your own accord. If I directly say out mine, it might effect your way of thing which would interfere with your spell."

" Sometimes teaching someone magic is the most difficult task. Whatever you say influences their way of thinking and in turn their spells. "

" Not an answer you wanted right? " he gave Aaron a grin.

Aaron had a rueful smile on his face.

"No. Definitely not. But I kind of understand what you mean. Infact, if you would have confidently gave me an answer, I might have believed it as true."

" I understand now how it could have hurt me. "

" It's good that you do. Now for the price. " Said the smiling Rogan.

" I want you to pay for another few lunches. " He said with a grin.

" Absolutely. It's the least I could do. " Aaron said with a smile. Rogan was good to him. He could do that much.

They had a few conversations about life in general. As they were about to leave, Rogan suddenly asked him something.

" I almost forgot to ask. Since you are learning and practicing combat spells, are you going to participate in the Inter-mage tournament?"

" Inter-mage tournament?" asked Aaron with a question mark on his face.