“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.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “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?”