"Well, my...situation is complicated. I know that the courts of those who rule the countries bordering mine do employ those who work with spirits and do magic, but apparently a ruler who...deals with them and does his own magic is wrong."

"Or they're just looking for an excuse to come and invade Vaelan and make it part of their territory. I cannot tell you the number of times I've had to put up with people trying to assassinate me because I'm supposedly some kind of scary dark lord." Kostya sighed and shook his head. He really was tired of the assassins, especially considering that there was no chance that they could actually kill him.

"It sounds nice to be able to associate with the Aethies in your world and have others people look down on it."