Harol listened to Freya tell him she did not know how to read. Harol's eyes somewhat widened upon hearing it, but then they returned to the usual size. Yes indeed, rich and influential families could easily teach each and every single one that belonged to the group or served it to read, but that was not so easy for the peasants and especially not so for the wanted outlaws. Harol did not know how much there was behind Freya that kept people wanting to turn her in, but it was surely enough to deter her from learning to read. "Of course, how foolish of me not to remember the possibility. Well I think it will help me deal with it if I can discuss this with someone that has the understanding of the matter, so I'll tell you briefly..."

Harol flipped through the pages to the part where Eldritchian Battery was discussed, and quickly checked if Freya was ready to listen. She was in the process of taking off her hood and veil, so Harol decided to wait before starting, and was rewarded with quite a relieving bit of information: He was a person this wandering rogue found "safe". At the very least that would tell him he did not have to fear a dagger into his back. Most likely. She could mean that Harol was not a threat and [b]thus[/b] she would be safe but that was not very likely. Harol formed a little smile as he could once again see his travelling companion better.

"But now...", he began, "the thing. Yes. You see, us in the Arkdal family... we do learn powerful spells that most mages are unable to cast. Their magical prowess is just not enough. But we are no different from them, as in, we are all still humans. How is this possible? Well here is the solution: The Surgeflow ritual!" Harol deliberately chose to use the more common folk-ish version of the name, as Eldritchian Battery really would not sounds as impressive to a non-educated person. "The mages of House Arkdal are thus granted a greater flow of magical power through them, so the maximum magnitude of their spells soars. This has to be done at young age so the body learns to adapt to such amounts instead of choking the flow. Which is also why lesser spells are impossible to us: The great flow will choke if attempting to extract just little amounts of might." Harol took a deep breath at this point and then slowly closed the book. "Now that was not exactly word-to-word, not that you wouldn't have understood, but it helps if I am able to put it 'in my own words'. Just imagine how crazy this sounds now that I've found out? It adds up, it does so perfectly! It is just... it makes me think differently on things." Harol could not really find a good way to express his state of confusion, so he simply chose to turn his head facing the rogue. He wondered what she thought of this.