At the castle of the School of Sorcery, a roll call revealed that someone was missing. The most mischievous student, a boy named Mason, had vanished. After searching his room, they found that he had taken a notebook of spells and an alchemy kit for casting enchantments.
Him again?! ― the headmaster shouted in irritation.
Don't worry, don't worry, ― Deputy Principal Glenda rushed to say, bringing the bad news.
The headmaster frowned. His gaze bored into the deputy like a drill. She was a sweet, plump, middle-aged woman.
I warned you that people like him could never live side by side with us, with sorcerers. His place is swinging a club on the battlefield, not uncovering the truths of existence.
Don't jump to conclusions. You know his tragic history. It's all just adolescent nonsense, ― she pleaded.
I'm tired of banging my head against a brick wall. Levns will never learn humility, and humility is the most important thing in learning magic, ― the headmaster mused, gazing out the window.
Levns, humans and mages have for ages lived their own lives, without meddling in one another's affairs. But invaders who arrived from across the sea one day upset the usual course of events. Everyone was forced to unite to defeat the Drevni, a people who were very cruel and greedy.
The Drevni were a failed experiment of the druids. The druids promised a warlike human tribe invulnerability and strength through spells, but they cheated and laid a curse of bark skin upon them.
According to their plan, the warriors were to turn into trees overnight, but something went wrong. The people were covered in bark, and their hands became gnarled branches. With these gnarled hands, the Drevni destroyed the druids and set off to conquer other lands, because they could no longer accept any other way of life.
But back to the School of Magic. There, preparations were in full swing for the search for the naughty student. The headmaster had decided to find the runaway himself and publicly expel him from the school. And, just as importantly, to confiscate the alchemy kit.
Why go searching yourself? The senior students can handle this perfectly well, ― the deputy said anxiously.
You won't fool me this time, Glenda! I remember last time, when he ran off, you hid that scamp in the stables for a whole week. You waited until I'd cooled down and melted my heart with the story of how he was found as a baby on a battlefield, all alone...
The headmaster fell silent, and his gaze filled with sadness. But a minute later he continued in the same stern voice:
This world is very cruel, and order can only be kept with laws and unbreakable rules, which don't give a hoot about your precious Levn!
Glenda was about to object, but the headmaster cut her off sharply, as if slicing the air:
I've said all I have to say!
At dawn, the headmaster and two senior students set off to find Mason.
They knew they were on the right track when they met a fisherman whose fish had mysteriously leapt out of the river and neatly stacked themselves into his cart. With one gesture, the headmaster lifted the spell Mason had cast, and the fish's march came to an end.
The fish came to their senses and began wriggling and leaping back into the water. The fisherman shook his head quickly, looked at the travellers with a lost expression, and muttered to himself:
Must be the heat. Reckon I'd better sit in the shade.
The headmaster and students moved on. When they were out of earshot of the fisherman, one of the students asked:
Respected headmaster, why didn't you leave the catch for the fisherman? It's only a minor spell and won't cause anyone any harm.
There's no such thing as a minor spell, ― the mage replied. ― Do you think no one will notice that a poor fisherman suddenly has a whole year's supply of fish? His life will change dramatically, and not for the better. People will turn up who resent such a sudden windfall. In the end he'll be accused of theft, because nobody will believe his story.
But how could you know how people will behave? Maybe they'll start to respect him? ― the student asked, puzzled.
I've lived on this earth for two hundred years and I know people, ― the mage replied calmly.
Half a day passed after the meeting with the fisherman. The travellers entered a village and again came across the runaway's trail. The local butcher refused to sell meat and cheerfully invited the villagers to sample his very best cabbage.
Could this situation possibly bring someone grief? ― the student asked. ― This butcher is known throughout the district for his rudeness and nasty temper.
Before answering, the headmaster lifted the spell from the butcher. Then he led the students aside and said:
You see only one side of the coin. I know this butcher has worked in his shop since childhood, and he buys his meat from the neighbouring village. The road there is unsafe, with plenty of bandits and thieves. They all know it's best not to cross the butcher.
Imagine if the butcher were some kindly old grandfather. Everyone would love him, but not for long. At the first meeting with bandits, the good man would lose his goods, or perhaps his life. And the villagers would be left without meat. Our world isn't black and white. It has many shades.
They walked on in silence when suddenly the very same careless student the headmaster had been seeking burst out at them. Fear was written all over the young man's face.
There, there… ― Mason stammered, trying to get the words out.
Calm down, ― the mage said sternly, ― tell me clearly, who are you running from?
Coming to his senses, Mason realised that he was standing before the headmaster of the School of Magic. But he was not frightened. He even breathed a sigh of relief.
I think I've done something very wrong. I wanted to dress the ancient statues in silly costumes so people wouldn't feel sad walking past them, but… ― the runaway trailed off without finishing.
Tell me everything from the beginning, ― the headmaster calmly instructed.
I found a statue of an ancient king, ― Mason began, ― and I wanted to dress him up as a jester with a simple spell, but something went wrong! The people who passed by somehow got angry and chased me with pitchforks and cudgels.
You see, students, ― the headmaster began calmly, ― Mason gave in to his emotions. He thought he wasn't doing anything wrong, that he only wanted to cheer people up. But look at where his actions have led.
Remember that whoever holds power must learn to think with a cool head and make considered decisions. They must look at both sides of the coin. He did not consider that the statues stand on a battlefield where many people died, and that this is no place for jokes.
Mason had sat with his head bowed the whole time, and tears ran down his cheeks. The headmaster went over, sat down beside him, and spoke calmly but firmly:
Mason, I hope you've learned your lesson?
Learned it, ― the young rascal said quietly.
Then chin up, and let's go and put your mistakes right. I'll speak with the people, and you'll lift the spells from the statues. Then we'll head back to the school.
Can I really go back to the school? But I've caused so much trouble. What am I supposed to do now? ― Mason said sadly.
The headmaster looked at the student with a kind gaze and said softly:
Looking at you, I too saw only one side of the coin. Before making a decision, it wouldn't hurt to look at the other side as well.
