It’s not the biggest surprise that after Coco got severely hurt, she is still willing to jump back in. Her kindness is her biggest strength, but it is her biggest vulnerability. Which is why Qifrey is insistent that she stay with Beldaruit. The interesting part with Beldaruit is that he understands both Qifrey and Coco. He understands having an impatient apprentice, but he understands why Coco wants to make a difference. As being over sheltered prevents that.
Coco’s newest spell is rather surprising, but in this case it has its use. It allows Coco to be out there because Custas truly won’t listen to anyone but her and Tartah.
We have seen the prince being very brash with Teita, but it is that behavior that allows Richeh to be reunited with her brother Rili. Rili feels guilt as being the brother who couldn’t protect her, but it must have meant the world to see the passion in his sister’s eyes once more. Overall it is good to see the 3 girls making a solid situation in the dire situation.
The principles of the point caps vs. the brimmed caps are on display when Hiehard gets hurt when Custas is around. At this point they are blaming Custas by association. Essentially Custas, much like Coco at the start of the series, just thinks of magic as a miracle. Thinking less on how to limit it, but how to use it. Of course this puts Jujy in a bind because she wants nothing more than to help her injured master. Which puts us at Custas, as he is doing all of this to help Dagda.
Purpose is the third idea behind magic alongside technique and ideas. What is your purpose in casting magic? For some of the brimmed caps, no doubt their aim is to cause chaos. For someone like Custas, his intentions are good. Dagda raises the point that each side has their own story. Jumping to conclude one is guilty because they don’t agree with your principles implies you don’t care for their reasons. Humans seek to communicate, and that is how we get to know each other.
Still, Beldaruit’s immediate rejection is valid because the dangers of magic are very real, which has been stressed. His argument is valid because it was through forbidden magic that Coco lost her mother, and it was through that forbidden magic that Custas saved Dagda. More than likely there were numerous cases like Custas where they would keep indulging in forbidden magic.
Still, Coco brings up a great counterargument. What if using a forbidden spell that is allowed? Counterclock magic, which is what witches use to erase minds. Which we have seen how dangerous it can be once used. Still, Coco aiming for hope is what wins over Beldaruit because, as the “Wise of Teaching” he seeks to evolve magic. Coco trying to push magic for the better is the best way to win Beldaruit over.
Vinanna was a tougher person to convince, as she is the “wise of discipline.” The idea of using counterclock magic to heal the injured seems absurd. Beldaruit provides an argument back to Vinanna in that they need to mitigate the risk. They would ensure only doctors would use the Counterclock table, and it will be 99% not abused because of the people who will be using it for treatment.
As we get the Wises together, we truly see that they aren’t as heartless as Custas fears. They just want to mitigate the risk first. Though we see from Luluci’s perspective, the principles she is upholding are wrong. As these people have people they care about, anyone would be sad to lose those closest to them. At the least, her being open to the idea now is a big step.
Though at the end of the volume, what is Qifrey fearing? Is it the witch that has been helping Custas?
