Those Who Sharpen the Mind

Beggars and Visions

Un'tra was once known as Ro. He grew up in an orphanage as his parents had abandoned him in a market when he was a few days old. He had never learned of their names or faces. This had always bothered him, except for this moment. Wait? As a child, his anger at his parents festered inside of him until much training as a Holi-inte. This must mean that the Drullic Oncitus was taking him to a vision deep in his memory. He had his thoughts as an adult, but could not control the movements of the child. He was a prisoner in his mind, watching a memory with no chance of responding. Un'tra wondered deeply what the plant was doing to his mind and existence. All he could do was watch the memory unfold in front of him through his younger self's eyes.

Many orphans in Haimore turn to thievery and more nefarious activities to earn a living, respect, and to just pass the immutable boredom. Ro loved books though. He loved to learn and understand the world around him. He could not understand why his parents had abandoned him, but he could understand how things worked. He did not believe what the other orphans did was right, even if their lives seemed bleak.

The time that Un'tra was remembering was around the time he was twelve. He watched as his younger self and a few other orphans were scouting the marketplace. Ro knew the necessity of going to the market but hated every moment of it because it reminded him of his parents too much. Un'tra never realized how big and busy he had thought the market felt to him. With countless trips as an adult, the noise and the size never entered his mind.

Now on this day, the other orphans had planned to steal anything they could. Ro was made to be a lookout, because of his hesitation to actually take from another. He stood at the intersection of two alleys. Once the others had got what they wanted they would run towards Ro and he would tell them which alley had no guards patrolling. Ro took his position and took out a book he brought. People passed in and out of both alleys and Ro paid no attention as the wonders of medicinal properties from plants enthralled him. As he turned a page he felt the presence of eyes looking at him.

"Hello son, what are you reading there?" The stranger asked in a jovial manner.

"A book on medicinal plants." Ro said with uncertainty that he wanted to talk to this man. His eyes and his cheeks seemed to show him in his 30s or 40s, but a mangy and unkept beard made him look much older. His clothes were not fine, but he also did not stink like some of the other beggars around the market.

"At your age? That seems a little advanced. Do you comprehend what you are reading?" The man asked as he took a seat next to the boy.

"Sure, you find these specific plants, and with the right techniques you can make medicine." Ro said arrogantly as if the answer was obvious. Un'tra embarrassingly saw that his attitude had not changed as much as his mind and body.

"Ha, as I thought, much to learn"

"Am I wrong? Why do you say this?"

"Because young man, you do not seem to understand the underlying truth."

"Underlying truth? They are just plants." Ro said defiantly. Un'tra knew who this strange man was, but could not recall the outcome of this interaction.

"Oh my boy, those are not just plants, but life itself formed in a way to disguise its secrets to the uninformed. You may see a simple plant, but I see a combination of the gods' intent and the struggle of an undetermined Path."

"What are you saying? God's intent? Undetermined Path? Have you been drinking too much mead?" Ro asked with a sense of superiority to this clearly drunk fool.

"Mead is good for the soul, but I have not overconsumed as I never overconsume anything."

"If that is so then explain yourself." Ro asked with a new interest in this man who spoke well and may not be a drunk.