And when he insisted, the hermit said: "You could never win the
spell. One has to stand in the water to win it. And it weaves a net
of magic to bewilder the man who is repeating the words, so that
he cannot win it. For as he mumbles it, he seems to lead another
life, first a baby, then a boy, then a youth, then a husband, then a
father. And he falsely imagines that such and such people are his
friends, such and such his enemies. He forgets his real life and his
desire to win the spell. But if a man mumbles it constantly for
twenty-four years, and remembers his own life, and is not deceived
by the network of magic, and then at the end burns himself alive,
he comes out of the water, and has real magic power. It comes
only to a good pupil, and if a teacher tries to teach it to a bad pupil,
the teacher loses it too. Now you have the real benefit through my
magic power. Why insist on more? If I lost my powers, then your
happiness would go too."

But Moon-lord said: "I can do anything. Do not fear, holy sir." And
the hermit promised to teach him the spell. What will holy men
not do out of regard to those who seek aid?

So the hermit went to the river bank, and said: "My son, mumble
the words of the spell. And while you are leading an imaginary
life, you will at last be awakened by my magic. Then plunge into
the magic fire which you will see. I will stand here on the bank
while you mumble it."

So he purified himself and purified Moon-lord and made him sip
water, and then he taught him the magic spell. And
Moon-lord bowed to his teacher on the bank, and plunged into the