There is a rumor in the University
Well, there are many rumors, but this one is true.
They say there was a student, a brilliant one, whose Alar was as strong as Ramston Steel, and just as brittle.
They say that he called the True Name of the Wind far younger than anyone ever had, but it snapped his mind beyond the powers of Master Elodin and Master Arwyl.
They say that much like a snapped blade, he was still sharp. He could still call Names, still use Sympathy, but he couldn’t see the world around him.
He spoke to those who were not there, used sympathy as weapon on enemies in his mind, despite the preventative magics of the Haven. Designed brilliant devices which are now used in the Fishery, using only paper and ink, believing he had metal. Learned to fight and speak secret languages where he was his only Teacher.
And he would sing beautiful songs to no one.
They say that one day in his room in the Haven he was brought food while believing he was in a fight with a phantasm. He killed the man with nothing but sympathy.
They say Master Elodin built a new room in the Haven that day. Something he had vowed never to do. He used all his powers, working with the other Masters to make a room where Naming and sympathy was truly impossible. They say that Master Kilvin used his horded treasures from forgotten ages to assist.
They say that the day he was put in there, he tried to use sympathy to start a fire, he then tried to call the Name of Fire as he had before.
He began to cry.
He never sang again.
On visits he says to be called Kote. “For Kvothe could do many marvelous things, and I cannot. I must then no longer be him.”
