Faced with Falan's confusion, Hill could only ask helplessly, "Grandfather, while you were in Abeir, did you hear nothing about Toril?"
"Not many people there are educated... even the mages. They don't care much about how spells work, only whether they can use them.
"They're more like sorcerers than mages... except they can learn spells suited to their own constitutions, and they like making contracts with Elemental Sprites to deepen their affinity with a particular element.
"They aren't descended from elementals. What's wrong with learning a few different kinds?
"Instead, they thought I was the strange one and said conflicting elements would kill me sooner or later." Falan sighed. "The dragons know the most... but you've met those two black dragons. What do you think they could tell me?
"They even said the gods fear the greatness of dragons, so they don't dare come to Abeir!
"They told me Toril is a battlefield between dragons and gods, and that one day they'll fight their way back and bring down every last god!
"I asked them about the elves, hoping their situation on Toril would help me gauge that world's level of power.
"At least I can judge what an elven demigod is capable of.
"But that black dragon said elves make excellent food... and that Abeir has none because their ancestors ate them all.
"I knew something was wrong as soon as I heard that. It's not as though I've never seen Corellon. Even a use... useless fellow like the Elven God-King could wipe out every dragon on their continent.
"But the black dragon genuinely believed it. Abeir has plenty of dragons like those two, who never think for themselves and believe whatever their elders say... Only the elders know a little of the truth, and they never tell it.