The Master

Ramon Alonzo

Ramon serves as an apprentice to the Master, learning magic under his tutelage.

Father Joseph

Father Joseph and the Master are old friends and occasional collaborators in magical matters.

The Charwoman

The Charwoman manipulates and deceives the Master, using her shadow magic against him.

Ramon Alonzo

Ramon serves as an apprentice to the Master, learning magic under his tutelage.

Ramon Alonzo

Ramon serves as an apprentice to the Master, learning magic under his tutelage.

Father Joseph

Father Joseph and the Master are old friends and occasional collaborators in magical matters.

The Charwoman

The Charwoman manipulates and deceives the Master, using her shadow magic against him.

The Charwoman

The Charwoman manipulates and deceives the Master, using her shadow magic against him.

I: The Lord of the Tower Finds a Career for His Son

The Lord of the Tower, Ramon's father, who arranges for Ramon to study magic to obtain gold for the family.

II: Ramon Alonzo Comes to the House in the Wood

The magician who welcomes Ramon, recalling a debt to his grandfather and discussing the Art and his elixir vitae.

III: The Charwoman Tells of Her Loss

The Master is the magician who leads Ramon to his room and is later revealed to have taken the charwoman's shadow.

IV: Ramon Alonzo Learns a Mystery Known to the Reader

The magician attempts to persuade Ramon to trade his shadow for knowledge of transmutation, but eventually agrees to teach reading for half his eyesight.

V: Ramon Alonzo Learns of the Box

Teaches Ramon the alphabet, remains unseen during meals, and is suspected of luring Ramon to further studies to obtain his shadow.

VII: Ramon Alonzo Follows the Art

Cuts a false shadow for Ramon, severs his true shadow, locks it in the shadow-box, and lectures on gold's corrupting power.

VIII: Ramon Alonzo Shares the Idleness of the Maidens of Aragona

Lectures on the oneness of matter and warns Ramon against lateness.

IX: The Technique of Alchemy

Agrees to make a shadow for the charwoman but then lectures on alchemy, focusing on the challenge of color in transmutation.

X: The Exposure of the False Shadows

Teaches Ramon about the philosopher's stone and warns him to return before evening, though he secretly cares only for Ramon's shadow.

XI: The Chill of Space

The magician who controls the shadow-box and sends shadows on dreadful journeys; Ramon confronts him upon returning.

XII: Mirandola Demands a Love-Potion

Teaches Ramon about alchemy and love-potions; refuses to return Ramon's shadow, claiming it as his fee for teaching the oneness of matter.

XIII: Ramon Alonzo Compounds the Potion

Not present in the chapter but referenced as the magician whose laboratory and spell Ramon uses.

XVII: The Three Fair Fields

The Lord of the Tower, negotiates the sale of three fields to Gulvarez for Mirandola's hand, shows regret over the loss.

XX: The Magician Imitates a Way of the Gods

Broods on interstellar lore and the Chair of Magic at Saragossa; suspicious of Ramon's motives, he refuses to take back the false shadow.

XXI: White Magic Comes to the Wood

Implied as the magician who might read the spell again; Ramon worries whether he will cooperate.

XXII: Ramon Alonzo Crosses a Sword with Magic

The magician refuses to return Ramon's shadow, fights him with a magical lightning sword, and drives him from the room.

XXIII: The Plan of Ramon Alonzo

The magician who teaches Persian lore, unaware of Ramon's secret plan; he leaves the shadow-box unguarded at night.

XXIV: Ramon Alonzo Dances with His Shadow

Teaches Ramon Persian spells and reproaches him for lateness. He leaves the room for hours, returning for another lesson.

XXV: The Release of the Shadow

The magician pursues Ramon and the charwoman through the house after they retrieve the shadow.

XXX: The End of the Golden Age

Feeling abandoned, he destroys his elixir, plays a magical flute, and leads all mythical creatures out of Spain eastward.