Istredd takes that in quietly. The guilt is clear, the responsibility, everything happening wearing on him, no wonder he's been a mess. To add to that the Lucifer reveal and feeling as if there is no one to believe in, no one on his side. Istredd is not great at social situations but he has always been an empathic person.
"You are not responsible for the actions of other people. That takes away the concept of choice, of individualism. The queen chose to attack the Free Cities, she wanted to do that. Whoever attacked Yennefer wanted to do that, and someone else killed that mage. Thorne didn't give us clear context with our instructions, leading to confusion and fear, that is on them. You are responsible for your actions. The consequences you can take on your shoulders and learn from them, but it doesn't mean you did any of that."
Istredd sounds sincere and confident in what he is saying because he is. The consequences of his own actions are his, and he understands that, having made plenty that still hang over him now. Things he would do differently if he could.
"But that means your actions now also matter, Wilhelm. If you truly believe that you hold some responsibility for what happened then the right thing to do is learn how to use them so you don't do it again. Some part of you has to know that these powers aren't going to just go away."
Istredd knows what he's talking about, more so than he can ever press, but hopefully the way he's speaking, the certainty in his tone, makes it clear he is speaking from personal experience.
"The one way you never have to worry about your magic again is learning how to use it, because once it is under control, once that fear doesn't hang over you, you can master it, and leave it."
no subject
"You are not responsible for the actions of other people. That takes away the concept of choice, of individualism. The queen chose to attack the Free Cities, she wanted to do that. Whoever attacked Yennefer wanted to do that, and someone else killed that mage. Thorne didn't give us clear context with our instructions, leading to confusion and fear, that is on them. You are responsible for your actions. The consequences you can take on your shoulders and learn from them, but it doesn't mean you did any of that."
Istredd sounds sincere and confident in what he is saying because he is. The consequences of his own actions are his, and he understands that, having made plenty that still hang over him now. Things he would do differently if he could.
"But that means your actions now also matter, Wilhelm. If you truly believe that you hold some responsibility for what happened then the right thing to do is learn how to use them so you don't do it again. Some part of you has to know that these powers aren't going to just go away."
Istredd knows what he's talking about, more so than he can ever press, but hopefully the way he's speaking, the certainty in his tone, makes it clear he is speaking from personal experience.
"The one way you never have to worry about your magic again is learning how to use it, because once it is under control, once that fear doesn't hang over you, you can master it, and leave it."