Difference between revisions of "Summary:Shadows of Self"

Wax is twelve years old, riding in his uncle's carriage. He is trying to see the defect in a misstruck coin. His uncle is taking him to the bank to encourage him to be a banker, but Wax insists he is going to be a "hero." Edwarn is disdainful, saying that the days of heroes are past. He shows Wax two loan applicants, one poor, trying to get his family out of the slums, the other rich, buying another boat. Unlike other banks, who only make safe loans, they will lend money to the poor guy and charge a high rate of interest, thus creating value from something that has no value, like the mistake coin. He gives it to Wax as a remembrance. Wax snatches it and takes it to the poor guy, telling him what it's worth and to not sign the loan.▼

Wax is relating the story to Steris on the way to the party. It turns out the man didn't believe Wax, signed the loan, and killed himself eight years later, still in debt. The visit to the bank was one reason why Wax left Elendel for the [[Roughs]], where one man with a gun could make a difference. They arrive at the party to a long line of carriages. Wax thinks about Pushing up to the party, which Steris was expecting and is prepared for. They Push up to an outcropping and Wax examines a tether from Ranette. He uses it to Push all the way to the top of the skyscraper.▼