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I was raised on a farm until the age of 12. Life was happy, and I lived in good harmony with nature. I can recall nothing that would make me think that I was special, nor destined for anything spectacular. I spent countless hours doing chores for my parents, and playing with my sister. There was a creek that ran down the edge of our land, and I was always fascinated by the life that sprang up inside of it, and around it. I recall spending a lot of time watching the minnows swim, wondering what they were thinking. Life was simple, balanced, and happy. Had I never left, I think I would have spent my entire life there and been pleased with whatever results came of it. But that was not the destiny I was meant to have. Shortly after my 12th birthday, I was playing near the creek alone. An old man crossed a bridge that was there for when the creek was high. Father kept it maintained at all times. He was never one to slack off when things needed done. Perhaps that is where I get it from. Almost certainly. The old man dropped a Tao stone in the water, and the splash of water triggered my first vision. Back then, my visions were scattered, incredibly difficult to make sense of, and I could barely interpret what I was seeing. With time and guidance from BatSheba, clarity has come. When my vision ended, I was calling out to the old man to stop him, but noone was there. I went to the place the Tao stone had landed in the creek, and was able to locate it. However, it was covered by a layer of silt and algae. The man dropping the stone was part of the vision, but I had been unable to identify that. I was scared, nervous, and overwhelmed. I ran home with the stone, and told my family everything. They claimed it was the imagination of a child, and that I should not make up things like that. I didn't fabricate any of it. It happened, and I knew that for certain. It was NOT a daydream. I hadn't been napping. I had been woken up without having been asleep. I ran away from home, knowing that I would never get answers on the family farm. I had to seek out people that understood. I was naive, and never calculated for danger. I just set out, headstrong, and ran directly towards my goal. Some things never change. I arrived in the great kingdoms penniless, with no real skills, no prospects, and no idea what I had gotten myself started on. I met Pond, the librarian. For some reason, he took interest in me. He allowed me to stay with him, he helped me study and furthered my ability to read. He had me do chores for him, that are difficult in his old age. That was the trade, and I was happy that he did that for me. Being educated by a librarian has many benefits, and the amount of things I could choose to learn about was seemingly endless. I craved knowledge, and he was happy to "fatten my brain up".....as he would say with a grin. Pond helped me draft letters to people I needed to contact, and often told me who those people were. He helped me in ways I wouldn't understand for a long time. I still visit him regularly to catch up, and to share my tales with him. I even tell him things that I do not tell anyone else. He is like a loving grandpa, though I doubt he would admit to it. I think Fate led me to him, because he is exactly the person I needed. Pond helped me get a meeting with the mage tutor, and I studied there for a while. Less time than most. The tutor said I was a natural, and would surpass him soon. I never thought of talent or power as something to be compared. I thought they were gifts meant to serve a purpose. I have debated this many times, yet am able to convince few. After becoming a full fledged mage, Pond and I arrived at the decision to contact Ssaiyen about my visions. I was still having them sporadically, and was making little progress on my own. Ssaiyen appointed BatSheba as my guide. | |