Book One – Chapter 9

It is demandingly delicate work. Picture it not as the Alladharian equivalent of thrusting your hand into the open flame of a torch, proudly exclaiming, “There it is, I got the light!” Oh please, there is really no need to subject your metaphorical self to harm for such a preposterous comparison.

For each phantom presence, for each source of light such as your torch, there exist thousands of light fragments. Envision a thousand microscopic, uniquely misshapen beads scattered at your feet in all possible angles. Then, imagine being able to pick them up only by inserting a needle through the hole that ran through each individual bead. Mind you, you have one solitary attempt for each bead, as the slightest touch of your needlepoint would break it.

As a novice Lightshifter, you start with one metaphorical needle, scrambling for beads with openings large enough to fit, desperately searching for those positioned just right, at angles your trembling fingers can handle. As a skilled academy graduate, you wield a thousand needles in one hand with ease. You make these needles of energy extend and bend to your will, effortlessly picking up thousands of beads without a single glance.

Now, if you lack second sight or the superior visual perception of certain peoples and most winged beasts, you might find yourself frustrated with the seeming physical impossibility of filling the small space of your torch’s fickle flame with such a large number of beads. Again, please do not strain yourself, and no, this example is not an exaggeration. Through second sight, a wizard’s perception of space and the ability to adjust for depth, detail, and distance are far more advanced than what his first sight offers. The thousands of light fragments are there, and they fit well. They are, in simple terms, just very, very small.