Frame of Reference (Part One)

It was early an early winter morning with a lightly falling snow. The wind was fierce, but standing by the side of the road was a young man, with sad eyes, wearing summer clothes. He seemed unaffected by the chill, and was standing deep in thought. The few men who passed him while they were traveling on the road did not know who he was. If they had known, they would have fled in terror. The young man with sad eyes sighed deeply, got up, and walked back to the forest from whence he had come.

As he walked through the forest there were no sounds. The animals of the woods were quit as if afraid to make noise. People did not usually enter this forest because of the giant wolves that roamed them. These same wolves now cowered into hiding for fear of their lives. The young man seemed to accept this as normal behavior for animals and walked slowly through the vast forest.

By midday the young man came upon a small, poorly made hut, which he lived in for the time being. When he stepped inside his hut Kingsmen were waiting for him in ambush. Even this did not surprise him. Before any of them could speak let alone move the young man started toward the waiting men. "Fools!" he screamed, "you dare attempt my life?!"

With a wave of his hand mage’s fire spewed forth to consume the men who were sent to kill him. The fire roared with seemingly endless power. The men did not have time to scream or yell out in agony because they were dead before they could even move. Soon, not even bone, nor ash was left to tell that there had, just seconds ago, been men standing there.

The young mage then went over to his bed and sat down to think, and catch his breath. He knew many people thought of him as evil, and as a threat to the world, but he knew better. Can’t they realize I’m doing this for their own good. I’m protecting them but they’re all too blind to see it. They’ll thank me later though. Yes, thank me when they understand the sacrifices I’m making for them. I don’t understand why everyone’s against me. Don’t they see that I’m trying to help them!

Then, the great mage, who would have the world destroyed, started to cry.