| | The Green Wizard looked up from his cauldron. “I imagine you must be very nervous. All of these new sights and smells. This is the fun time, though. You have your whole life ahead of you. Hmmm... I’ll tell you what. Ask me any question you wish- anything at all.”
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| | The new apprentice looked about the wizard’s workshop nervously. Today marked the first day of his training. For years to come, this would be his classroom. This would be where he began his study of the ancient ways in order to one day be a wise and respected mage. “Why do you wear green... sir?”
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| | “Ah, an excellent question. Well, believe it or not, I was once a young man- just like yourself. I was not born of noble blood. Nor was I handy with a sword. But, I did have the ability to learn. A misunderstood ability by many. Not merely the talent to repeat those things we learn, but the ability to comprehend. The more I learned, the more I thirsted for more knowledge. In time, I had read all the books of my village and heard all the knowledge of my town elders. Still thirsting for knowledge, I left my home and traveled the world.”
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| | “I traveled to distant lands and saw the diversity of life in all its many shapes and forms. I witnessed the tree of life, which fills with its dead and broken branches the crust of the earth, and covers the surface with its everbranching and beautiful ramifications(1).”
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| | “I saw the beauty of all living creatures, from the smallest to the largest. From the benign to the strange. And I found the time I had spent examining various species enriched my life beyond measure. What I have learned from them has shaped my understanding of human behavior, of our place in nature(2).”
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| | “In time, I found mystic portals which held the power to take me to new worlds. I used these devices to travel to distant lands and found we have not yet overcome one world when there are so many others to be discovered(3).”
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| | “Using those portals, I found in our own oceans a silent world(4) filled with wonderous beauty and filled with more life than those on the land could ever imagine.”
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| | “The portals gave me the ability to explore the furthest reaches of the universe. I discovered answers. I discovered more questions. I discovered the secret of life.(5)”
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| | “In time, I returned home. Though, if I were to tell you how long ago I had left you might not believe me. The magic of understanding life has given me the ability to heal and help each life, even my own, extend beyond the years we might otherwise be limited to.”
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| | “As is the custom of our ancient order, upon acceptance as a mage I was given my color. A color to distinguish me for my purpose and specialized understanding. And so it was only fitting that I be given green. The color of renewal in spring- the color of life.”
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| | “Now, I write. Though people seldom read. I speak, though people seldom want to hear what I have to say. From time to time, I am called to the town hall for my advice - when to plant, how to heal, when to war. I tell them ‘respect life in all forms’ and am usually dismissed as mad. Such is the nature of man.”
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| | “You see, for me the true magic is not in healing. Nor is it in the spells or scrolls I read with great interest, nor the various places I traveled. The true magic, for me, is life itself.”
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| | “I am quite old now, and so it is fitting that you are here. I will teach you what can be taught. And then you will seek wisdom alone. One day you will find your passion as I have found mine... So... any other questions?”
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| | The new apprentice gulped nervuosly, “Um, yes, sir. Are all of your answers going to be this long?”
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