Ashan 19th, Arc 718
The question had been present on Zafir's mind as he observed public debate take place in the city square. Since he had heard of the happenings in Rynmere the trial before, the issue grew more and more pressing in his thoughts. Ne'haer had its many flaws, but, being a port town, the lack of access to information was not one of them. It had been the word on every concerned citizen's mouth for the entire cycle. Mage burnings in Rynmere. The threat of magic growing more present. There were even some whispers that mages were running from Andaris to seek refuge in more open cities. Cities like Ne'haer.
He knew what an Ellune would feel. Should feel. Their Cult of Tried taught from the earliest age that magic was the bane of every mortal race, and that it had been in their Immortal Father's infinite wisdom to demand, as a part of their devotion, to refuse the temptation of unnatural power. That in order to live a worthy life, they would rely only on their natural gifts and what their Immortal Father deemed to give them. It was also in their Immortal Father's infinite wisdom to get his heart ripped out and leave the Ellune to fend for themselves without his guidance, so Zafir wasn't sure how much stock he put into that.
Yet, the idea of magic still unsettled him. The idea of another individual existing with unknown power that they barely understood, it seemed to the Ellune like giving a blind man a broadsword. Idiotic if lucky, lethal if not. What check could any normal citizen present to a mage's power? What system could possibly exist in which such individuals given this power could be trusted not to abuse it? Zafir may not have known much about the arcae, but he had seen enough men and women put into places of unfair advantage to know how that turned out. Without a system of checks, a balance to rival their strength, Zafir couldn't see such people live in peace among others.
There was a lull in the open argument taking place before him. Zafir stepped forward.
"What other balance can we offer?" Zafir asked, responding to the over-arcing question plaguing the square. A large presence, in both body and voice, the Ellune turned some heads in the crowd as he made his voice heard. "Magic is as variable as the people that use it. I'm sure there are good mages, just as there are good citizens. But the average citizen can't level a building or change someone else's thoughts in their head. I don't intend to suggest that what is happening in Rynmere is right, but what guarantee other than fear of strength can we as people provide to protect our friends, our families?"
Mages were people. Zafir understood that. However, they were unknowable variables that more often served to upset balance and endanger life than serve or protect it.
"Magic may be a tool, but it is a tool too unwieldy to be used by anyone," Zafir offered up before a counter-argument could arise. He drew himself tall and made his voice boom louder across the mummers of disagreement. "What is happening in Rynmere is cruel. It is barbarous and deplorable. But until a better alternative presents itself, it might prove necessary. Look to Lysoria if you don't believe. Imagine if the rumors of their mage courts are true. What defense could we mortals offer against an army of the arcane? An army that exists both inside and outside these walls."
Having said his peace and played the ssessfiend's advocate, Zafir didn't wait to hear how his argument affected discussion before leaving. While in Ne'haer, the Ellune had to be careful with how much attention he could draw to himself. His kind weren't uncommon within the religious city's walls, but they were recognizable. The last thing he needed was a confrontation with his shamed family. Or worse, for someone to take exception to his presentation and force a more violent form of debate than the Ellune was used to.
Judging from the two unsavory figures which had, unknown to him, taken to tailing Zafir as he exited the impromptu public forum, he should have been worrying more about the later than the former.