Wizard of the Wood

Remembering Remedies

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3

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Begin.

No.

She remembered.

The test.

After he arrived, Essie tended to his wounds using a combination of magic and herbs to ease the pain and help him heal faster. Rylir made an off-handed comment about how he wished that he knew what all of these potions and poultices, which caught the wizard's attention. Essie then offered to teach him about herbs and plants that could heal him, among other things, and he accepted the offer.

Little did he know she was a dedicated scholar and that she would be as determined as she was to help educate him. Rylir did appreciate her efforts, but learning was a challenge. He learned through experience and the common terms for different plants, not memorization of long, drawn out names and word drills.

So, knowing Essie was going to be testing him today formed a pit in his insides.

Rylir felt his insides drop, and Essie noticed instantly. She could see practically see Rylir's panic. Why did he worry so much? She wasn't going to punish him for not passing her makeshift test. If anything, she was confused as to why he wasn't using the time he had to learn more from her. Essie didn't consider herself a master mage by any stretch of the imagination, but she did consider herself knowledgeable on a number of things which Rylir could benefit from.

With a small exhalation of understanding and also unintended frustration, she tucked a few stray strands of her snow-white hair behind her ear.

"Rylir, you really are not taking advantage of the opportunity I am presenting you with," she stated in her usual factual tone.

"I know. You... you've said that before," sighed Rylir. "It's just... maybe... I'm not cut out for this learning thing. I'm a worker, labor by da. I learn with my hands. All of the... special terms and the word stems and such... it's more than what I need to know."

"That's not the point," Essie countered, uttering the incantation "antecess" while rolling her fingers out from her palm as though beckoning someone forward or dipping them into water. Her spell readjusted the chair she often used so she could sit down at the desk. "First, anyone is capable of learning. We simply need to adjust the method of learning which, for you, will be tactile. Second, this is useful knowledge which you can utilize should you decide to re-enter society."

"But... I can't cast spells or..."

"Rylir, apologies for interrupting," said Essie as she raised her finger politely for him to pause. "But I must insist a few additional points. First, the things I'm teaching you do not require knowledge of the arcane. Second, you doubt your intelligence and capacity to learn, which I find unacceptable. You know a great deal, and I'm just contributing to the knowledge you've already accumulated. Finally, you are stalling. Seeing your discomfort, let me put your mind at ease and, instead, let's review. I shall reserve the right to test you at a later time. Compromise accepted?"

Rylir could not have given a heftier sigh of relief, though he wasn't sure how he felt about what she said about how much he knew. Did she really have that much faith in him? In what he was capable of learning? Regardless, he was grateful for the reprieve and smiled at Essie.

"Only if you insist," he said, feeling the invisible tendrils of tension loosening from around his chest.

"Very well, though I hope you take advantage of this time you've unrightfully earned," said Essie, a hint of sarcastic tease in her tone, as she turned her attention to one of the planter boxes on the nearby shelf.