They disappear if you remove the rings/scrolls from him as they are the ones which give him spells.
oh shit. i sold the rings. is there anyway to get them back? there’s no mention they’re required . ;)
You can buy them from the magician in the Shiptown markethall. The magician can be recruited to the markethall by finding him in the Fire Dungeon's 2nd floor in one of the last rooms before the boss.