Ged is reminded in school by his Masters: "The world is in balance, in Equilibrium. A wizard's power of Changing and of Summoning can shake the balance of the world. It is dangerous, that power. It must follow knowledge, and serve need. To light a candle is to cast a shadow ." (p.44) Ged does not fully understand the importance of this yet. .
At the school Ged meets Jasper and Vetch, who are two wizards that are a year ahead of Ged in his teaching and who are more familiar with their powers. Right away Ged does not like Jasper, because he is a humble but knowledgeable wizard. Ged thinks he is better that Jasper, for Ogion said in his letter to the Archmage, "Lord Nemmerle! I send you one who will be greatest of the wizards of Gont, if the wind blow true" (p36). Ged decides he will challenge Jasper with his power to prove that he is better than Jasper. With this challenge Ged summons a spirit from the dead. When he does this he does not known how great his power really is, for he sets loose a shadow of darkness and endangers the lives of those around him. For four weeks Ged lies blind, deaf, and mute. At times he would moan and cry out like an animal. Once he is recovered, he is told that nothing could protect him but the power of the Masters and the defenses that lay upon the island. The Archmage explains to Ged the importance of staying at the school of Roke for his own protection. "You must stay here, until you gain strength and wisdom enough to defend yourself from it - -if ever you do" (p65). He would do his work and have to do it well, for it was all he could do. He had brought a shadow into the world out of his arrogance and ignorance.
Ged leaves the school of wizardry and goes to the island of Low Torning. Here is where Ged starts to learn that his power should be used for good and for the sake of others and not for himself. Ged faces a situation with a young boy who is terribly sick with a fever.