Fools Paradise

Sitting on his bed Wittorf studying the 'egg' carefully. It was not like any egg he had seen before. Did a legendary creature live inside it? Would it hatch only for the chosen mage and lead him to the Fools Paradise. Alright so a boy can dream a little. But He knew that he had to take care of this thing from now on.

"Alright Wittorf, you're a parent now…"

"But I'm too young for this kind of responsibility!"

"Breath a little its not that serious. Is it?"

Knocking is heard on the door and immediately Wittorf tucks the egg under his pillow. He had no way to explain the egg to Loat and felt a little awkward explaining that he was now taking care of an egg. Loat poked his head in to see a frantic Wittorf and smiled.

"Hey Wittorf, I heard they gave you remedial classes with Master Coda."

Laughing nervously Wittorf nodded his head. Loat was confused at his unusual behavior but continued towards his bed anyways. Noticing the large bump under his friends pillow peaked his curiosity even further.

"What are you doing?"

"It's not what it looks like!"

"I don't get it."

Sighing Wittorf grabs the 'egg' and places it in front of him. He knew he was going to have to tell Loat eventually might as well tell him now.

"I have to look over it until it hatches. That's my job from Master Coda."

"But that's… never mind."

Walking back out of the room Loat shakes his head. He could tell right away that the 'egg' Wittorf was holding was just a rock. What kind of sick joke was Master Coda playing on him? Whatever as long as Wittorf is not working himself sick he was fine with anything.

***

Sitting in the barren training room Wittorf has the 'egg' in a makeshift harness around his chest as he is rubbing it gently. He was not sure what it was going to hatch into, but he knew that when it did, he would be there to see it. Growing attached to the 'egg' he began fantasizing about what name he would give it when it hatched. Laura for a girl maybe or perhaps Dynasto for a Boy. Oh, the ideas would not stop coming to him. Is this how a mother feels when they are pregnant?

Coda walks into the room and notices Wittorf is cradling the egg in his arms. He was glad to see him taking it seriously but was a little concerned with how attached he was to the rock. Perhaps he should tell him what it really is. But that would ruin the learning experience. Above all he did not want to stunt the boy's growth. Plus, it was kind of funny to watch him cradle a rock.

"I see you have grown attached to it."

"If this is all I have to do to get through remedial class then I will do it!"

"Today we will meditate."

"But I already know that part. What about the next step?"

"Do you really know how to meditate?"

"It was the first thing we learned in class."

"Then show me."

Waving him to continue Coda watched as Wittorf sat down and took his meditative stance. Taking a deep breath in and then out he focused his concentration on his center. It was almost like clockwork to him now. He could easily tap into the core of his being and feel that dripping effect. Drip, Drip, Drip. He stops meditating and looks towards Coda with a told you so grin.

Knowing full well Wittorf knew the first step of meditating but not the next one Coda decided to ask him the question.

"Are you going to show me or do you need more time?"

"What do you mean, I just did it."

"Did you see anything?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"Continue meditating and tell me what you see."

He closes his eyes and continues to meditate but he does not see anything aside from the slight light that comes out from his eyelids. He takes a deep breath in and concentrates harder. Focusing his mind to his core. Drip, Drip, Drip. He felt the dripping again but he did not see anything.

"I feel a dripping feeling, but I don't see anything."

"Search for that feeling, once you've found it tell me what it looks like."

He concentrates on the dripping feeling. It almost felt like it was pulling him towards it now. Each drip brought him one step closer to a light. Small at first that eventually grew into something almost blinding. He was afraid to continue but he knew he had to. If he wanted to become a mage he needed to face his fears.

He continued to follow the light as it guided him to a large constantly changing door. It looked odd like a Rorschach that would not stop changing shape. Constantly revealing a new image to him for a brief moment before changing into something else. Every time he thought he could make out an image it would switch to something else. Focusing on it was difficult for him and eventually it gave him a headache.

"I found something."

"What do you see?"

"It's some kind of door."

"That is the center of yourself as a mage."

It was beautiful in a strange way. He could not keep his eyes off it. Almost as if it was beckoning to him. Something wanted him to open the door. He was realizing that he was inching closer and closer to the door and stopped himself. He was not sure if Master Coda wanted him to enter it or not. What would be on the other side? His curiosity was peaked and that usually got him in trouble.

"Like the infinite Rorschach you see in front of you, the potential inside you is limitless. In order to grow as a mage, you need to flesh out your vessel. It's time to find what drives you."

Almost as if on cue the door opened and pulled a struggling Wittorf inside before closing once again.