Dearest Student [Pact of Fortune]

Dear Chamberlain,

Finally! The solution to my woes; a young, willing body!

Ah, but a body is a dishonest thing, is it not? It can be the most deceitful, not understanding how close you are to the edge, incurring a strange disease right when the epiphany is about to strike. But he is young, quite young; barely a lad of sixteen, seventeen? He has been stunted in his magical growth and no one understands why. Oh, but I will understand!

To go through life, singular, leads only to abject failure. I believe this young enterprising student has struggled vainly alone, waiting only for a willing teacher to show him how his struggles were in vain.

The Order will certainly be pleased with us.

Your Humble Servant,

Wilfred

Dear Chamberlain,

As I suspected: the body is weak, even at so young an age. There is a physical blocker to his magic, of this I’m sure. Why would that force, so yet unknown to us, want to be kept in such a weak state? All of our research has shown magic to be a hungry monster, devouring all in its path.

Experiments are going well. He can destroy my creatures with a single touch, so long as they are smaller than a palm’s width. I do not understand why we cannot achieve anything more than that.

He is frustrated. So am I.

More drastic measures must be taken.

Your Obedient Servant,

Wilfred

Dearest Chamberlain,

Finally, a breakthrough!

Of all things it was the divine with which we were able to overcome the shackles of his powers and my own limitations.

He came into my office all in a rush from a mission of his (Witchfinder—it’s never an occupation I have ever deigned to try; too much of a hassle and far away from my research. I prefer the quiet comforts of a warm fireplace and a nice book, thank you) with a light in his eye. They had found something during one of their attacks against the wild mages, some kind of shrine. After a quick read into some of my books, I realized he had stumbled across a shrine of Fortune!

This could be the answer we have been seeking. He was reluctant, but what is a little pain in the name of discovery? I told him to pray to the shrine and come back. He did, but it was a harrowing week of waiting and pacing. When he came back, something was… different about him.

He did not want to continue the experiments anymore. I said we were so close now. When he leaned against the chair in my office, the entire desk exploded. We are far too near the answer to stop now.

I do not think he is going to like what I propose next.

Your Loyal Servant,

Wilfred

[The last letter is not addressed to anyone]

What have I done?

I thought this was the answer. I didn’t expect him to scream so much.

It should have worked. He should be alive—somewhere in there, I know he is alive.

Oh Grace, forgive me.

What have I done?