“So,” I asked the mage, now under the veil of privacy, “You, mage,” I pointed at Alaric, “Why are you here?”

“I just wanted to resupply myself at this village,” he spat out, a little unnerved, “But why were you so angry? I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“You disturbed my life,” I said, smacking his head, “Isn’t that a mistake on your part?”

“That’s unreasonable!” Alaric protested, “I’m just a passing mage! Nothing I did was worth getting upset over!”

“To a mage maybe,” I clarified, “I’m not a mage,” I asserted, plucking a cigarette of maryseed, and lighting it quickly.

I inhaled the verdant maryseed mist and exhaled it over Alaric’s face, “You see any real mage smoke?” I asked, extinguishing the cigarette. I didn’t want the smoke to stink up my house. What a waste.

The difference was clear… I was a former mage, not a current mage. The two concepts were completely different to me. Just as clear as the difference between black and white.

Alaric coughed, swatting away the lush green mist.

“So,” I recalled Alaric’s words, “Resupplying?” I thought about it, “Where are you headed?”

“The valley of dragons,” Alaric responded.

I scoffed, “Don’t, it’s a bad idea,” I quickly informed Alaric, “It’s been recently occupied. You’ll barely make it to the valley before you’re burnt to bits,” I told him.

“I thought dragons were supposed to be extinct,” he said.

“Supposed to be,” I agreed, wishing that I wasn’t inside so that I could puff on maryseed.

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“Then,” he inquired, wanting more details, “What's the situation?”

“I’d rather not say,” I answered, “To elaborate would be to violate the privacy of an old friend of mine,” I said, rubbing my eyes, “I suggest you turn back, find somewhere else to go.”

Alaric looked at me with a strange look.

****

The man before me.

Maryseed… was such a thing common here? The man before me, he was certainly a mage. I felt his magic force... such control... was beyond mine. Yet, he was also dependent on such a drug--he called it maryseed. It was truly strange. An expert of magic force in such a meaningless place? It was illogical.

I thought about his advice. As he said, turning back was probably the correct choice. His words telling me to turn back were probably well intentioned.

Yet... I couldn’t make that choice. As a member of the proud Thundercry family, I can’t just compromise on my ideals so easily. I, Alaric, couldn’t just leave like this, with none of my goals unfulfilled.

What would my brother think? As I journeyed off, I told him I would be a changed man when I returned.

I haven’t achieved anything yet.

I hadn’t found inspiration.

I was an ordinary mage, with nothing particularly special about me. I wanted to find something special at the valley of dragons--a site of great historical significance. I was sure that place had secrets of some kind that I could exploit.

As it was, how could I ever hope to compare to the likes of the direct descendants of the Thundercry family with my meager abilities?

I was weak. I had no meaningful power. Yet, I felt power, at this moment, power was in front of me. I could feel it from this man.

He was an opportunity lying untapped.

“Sir mage,” I addressed the man--who claimed not to be a mage--yet seemed to possess magical capability superior to that of one, “With the humblest of requests,” I said, kneeling, “Can I ask for your teaching?”

With no hesitation, I offered myself to him, wishing to further develop my craft of the pursuit of magic.

The man looked at me with a blank look.

“I’m not a mage,” he said simply, barely acknowledging me “Haven’t I said this?”