[See, this is the sort of thing that he loves, philosophical debate. He's smiling as he listens to Merlin, nodding along. He hasn't even gotten to the HOW of how all those mages get into Circles, either. Or the Tranquil.
...Maybe best not to mention that bit, just yet.
He pours a dollop of cream as he listens and when Merlin finishes, he spreads his hands again.]
Exactly this! Any fool can kill someone, it does not take magic or demons to do so, a simple knife could do the trick. What would one do, ban all knives? And yet the fear persists.
[He stirs his own drink a bit, the teaspoon ringing quietly against the cup.] It has something also to do with Tevinter, I think. Mages rule there, and the result is...not nice. At least for those who are not mages.
[To say the least.]
And so others swing too far in the opposite direction. But this is only the Circle mages, there are many who live outside the Circle; apostates, the Avvar tribes, the Dalish.
[Setting his spoon aside, he takes a sip.]
But you speak of magic as though it were a person?
no subject
...Maybe best not to mention that bit, just yet.
He pours a dollop of cream as he listens and when Merlin finishes, he spreads his hands again.]
Exactly this! Any fool can kill someone, it does not take magic or demons to do so, a simple knife could do the trick. What would one do, ban all knives? And yet the fear persists.
[He stirs his own drink a bit, the teaspoon ringing quietly against the cup.] It has something also to do with Tevinter, I think. Mages rule there, and the result is...not nice. At least for those who are not mages.
[To say the least.]
And so others swing too far in the opposite direction. But this is only the Circle mages, there are many who live outside the Circle; apostates, the Avvar tribes, the Dalish.
[Setting his spoon aside, he takes a sip.]
But you speak of magic as though it were a person?