Gale gives a slight wince, because yes. He certainly has personal experience with Istredd struggling when it comes to subtle things. Still, focus. Come along, Dekarios, out with it.

"When I was young, I was considered a magical prodigy. That sounds... arrogant, I know, but I mean it as a statement of fact -- not a boast. I had a natural gift, an ability not just to cast a spell but to compose magic like a musician or a poet. That talent drew the attention of Mystra herself, the mother of magic. She revealed herself to me, become my tutor, and... in time, my lover. What I am now is a mere shadow of the man I was then. My power grew, but I desired more. A mortal can only scratch the surface of the weave, and Mystra keeps us in check. Enforces boundaries that we simply cannot cross. Yet every time I was with her, I felt as if I was... on the precipice, gazing out at wonderous potential that I was not allowed to touch. I tried to convince her, but she told me only to be content with what I had. So, I sought to prove myself worthy in the hope that it might... change her mind."

Given the context of Gale now being a shadow of the man he was, it isn't a stretch to assume this tale goes poorly.