Summary: After accidentally revealing your powers to the Sorcerer, you’re desperate to find something to help you control your magic. As a result, you’re spending yet another long night in the castle’s library, poring over book after book. Your candle has nearly burned to a stub, the text on the page beginning to waver in your exhaustion. Then, the Sorcerer catches you up and about. Somehow, he gets you to admit to your troubles…and makes a surprisingly kind offer for someone so “evil”.

Usage:

• OK to record & monetize, as long as you give me credit in the video/audio description as the scriptwriter! I would also love to listen to the recording when it’s done–please send me the link on Reddit!
• Gender-flipping and small tweaks are okay, but no large edits are permitted.
• Feel free to use music or insert sound effects if you’d like. Any sound effects given are suggestions–use at your discretion.
• FYI, these are designed to be one-person scripts. Any dialogue or reactions given by the Listener are purely for the benefit of the VA, to help them feel like they have something to respond to while they’re acting.
• Please let me know if you have any questions!

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My treasure? Is that you? As much as I’m glad you’re taking advantage of all that my castle has to offer…what in the name of the great mage Everard are you doing in the library at this hour of the night?

“Reading."

\chuckle** Well, I had assumed that much, given that large stack of books next to you. But surely it could have waited until morning? Why must you sit here in the dark, straining to try and read by candlelight?

“It’s none of your business!”

It’s none of my business? Ah, now; that’s where you’re wrong. When it’s my little treasure involved, of course it’s my business. Are you alright, my dear? Is something troubling you?...

“Why should you care?!” the Listener retorts.

Why should I care? \soft, genuine** My dear, you wound me. Despite what you think of me, I don’t wish to see you come to harm. My servants tell me you haven’t opened your door to them in days. The trays of food they’ve left for you have come back half-eaten, at best. And those shadows under your eyes, as deep and dark as the midnight sky…don’t tell me you’ve been doing this every night?...

The Listener bites their lip. The candle wobbles in their hand.

…Oh. There, now. It’s alright. Here–why don’t you give me that candle? As much as I’m sure you’d like to see this place burn, these books have been my only companions for some time. Surely even you would agree they don’t deserve that. Just let me…

The Sorcerer reaches out, gently taking the candle from the Listener’s grasp.

…Good. Now, then, my treasure…what’s troubling you? What’s causing those beautiful eyes to cloud with tears?...

The Listener shakes their head vehemently. “No! Get away!--”

I won’t let you be until you tell me what’s wrong. What kind of a host would I be to let you suffer all on your own? Please, my dear. Tell me what’s–

“Stop!--” The Listener shrinks away. “I don’t want to hurt you!”

–Hmm? You don’t want to hurt me? Is this about what happened the other day? Ahhh…I see. Well, rest assured, my dear; I am perfectly fine. A few salves for the bruises, and I was back to normal. As unexpected as the incident was…I admit, perhaps I shouldn’t have been quite so hard on you. You needn’t be distressed on my account.

“No!” The Listener shakes their head again. “You don’t understand!--”

I don’t understand? Then what–?

“I can’t control it! I could do it again!”

You–you can’t control it? \realization dawns; genuinely horrified** No…you don’t mean to tell me you’ve been suppressing it? For how long?

“My…my whole life,” the Listener whispers, their tears spilling over.

Your whole life!? Gods! My–my dear–I am so sorry. I can’t imagine…wait. Your father–did he know?

The Listener shakes their head yet again.

I see. I can hardly blame you for hiding it from him. And yet, you still risked everything to get him a cure! \seething** That devil…he doesn’t deserve you, my dear. He never did.

“I…I was planning to change the laws. No one should have to hide, or live in fear. When I became ruler, I would've…”

What’s that?...You were planning to change the laws, once you ascended the throne? You would’ve allowed magic back into the kingdom? \awkward** Ah…I see. Well…er…that would be a–a very kind gesture. Or–it would have been, I suppose, now that you’ll be spending your life here with me, instead. Er…

“I don’t know.” The Listener wipes their eyes. “I thought–I thought maybe there might be something here. Something in these books, that could help me learn how to control it. But I can’t find anything!”

Ah. So that’s why you’re here, burning the midnight oil, as it were. You’re trying to find a way to control your magic. But, my dear–you can’t simply control it. Magic isn’t meant to be suppressed. It’s meant to be used. As long as you lock it away, it’s simply going to keep building...until finally, with nowhere left to go, it bursts out, like a racehorse at the gate. Trust me, I should know. You need to embrace it. Stop pushing it away. Once you do that, you can learn to work with it. Contrary to what you’ve been led to believe, magic can become your partner, not your enemy.

“How–how do I–?”

…How? Well…it’s a difficult thing to learn on your own, I’m afraid, even with access to all the greatest magical tomes in existence. However–if you wish–perhaps I could teach you?

The Listener looks at him, startled.

I don’t mean to brag, but you are in the presence of one of the greatest magical prodigies in the kingdom. Though…I suppose there’s not much competition for the title anymore, given how few of us are left…but oh well. In any case, they don’t call me the Sorcerer of Legend for nothing. So–

The Listener raises a brow. “They don’t actually call you that, you know.”

\startled** What? Nonsense, of course they do.

The Listener gives a shadow of a smile. Are they…teasing him? “No, they don’t.”

\slightly irritated** Really? Well, what, then? If they don’t call me that, then what do they call me? \changes his mind** Actually, no. Don’t answer that. The point is, I didn’t become feared throughout the kingdom for nothing. So, if you’d like to learn how to use your magic…I’d be happy to teach you.

The Listener gives him a dubious look.

I understand why you’d be wary, but I swear on gods and fiends, I wouldn't try and corrupt your mind, or bend it to my will, or whatever those ignorant people claim that I do. As much as I despise your father…this is about you, my dear. Well? What do you say?...

The Listener hesitates, then agrees.

You would? Truly!? Wonderful! \realizes he sounds too excited; switches to a more refined tone** Yes, wonderful indeed. I’ll be glad for the chance to banish that frown from your face. My jewel deserves nothing but happiness, after all. With my tutelage, soon you’ll be shining more brilliantly than ever. We’ll start tomorrow. In the meantime, my dear, I think you are long overdue for some sleep. I’ll have the servants bring you up some warm tea. No, no; it won’t be laced with some secret potion; I promise. Just some tea…I find it helps quiet my mind on nights when sleep seems out of reach.

“Thank you.”

Hmm? \taken aback** I, er–you’re welcome. Anything for you, my dear.

Awkward pause.

Well then…I suppose I shall retire, too. Sweet dreams, my treasure. I…look forward to our lessons.