All This Twisted Glory

Part 2, Prologue is set when Cyrus is 14 years old. As part of his training with the Diviners, Cyrus must sit still in the middle of a human-made honeycomb on a hot summer day. As mosquitoes bite him, the teenager grows impatient and miserable. His teacher, Rostom, tells Cyrus that he is too restless. Cyrus counters that he has been here for three hours, waiting for the Diviners to return from the mountains, where they extract magic-containing crystals. Rostom gently quizzes Cyrus about what he has been waiting for. Cyrus says he has been waiting for this day to be over so he can ride his dragon.

Rustom tells Cyrus that he has lost three hours of his life waiting for the day to be over. Joy is found in the now. One cannot withdraw from life just because it is inconvenient. Rustom’s words strike a chord, and Cyrus shuts his eyes, surrendering to the heat and mugginess. Slowly, he begins to enjoy the stray wisps of a breeze and the sounds of birds. When Cyrus opens his eyes, Rustom tells him that he needs to master himself before mastering magic. Mastery is important because magic is so tempting that even the most accomplished Diviner can fall prey to the power it offers.