Power Draining

Throughout Mage II, The Pale Incanter leeches energy from Kevin during battles. It appears he tracks Kevin by his use of Excalibur (the bat) as well as his emotional rages. He uses this power to help bring life to his monstrous creation.

It seems clear that the Pale Incanter is Emil, the Grackleflint who survived the events of Mage I. Emil always wore red and his face was scarred when he tried to kill the Fisher King. The Pale Incanter seems to be some form of libido/negative emotion manifestation. He siphons energy from Kevin that he feeds into the beast he has created. Eventually when Kevin comes to battle this beast (and I'm pretty sure he will) he's going to have to "deal" with his own built-up emotional history. Lisa (my wife) has theorized that the Pale Incanter represents the "negative" side of sexuality -- unbridled lust, and Kevin's confrontation symbolizes Matt's transition from a single male who exercises his sexuality recklessly to a man confronting his baser instincts and becoming monogamous.

I can't help but be reminded of one Luke Skywalker when admonishoned by his mentor Yoda that a Jedi isn't isn't motivated by fear or anger. Maybe Kevin's rage is getting the better of him - literally causing the Hero to waste his energy.