Suddenly at the castle of the School of Wizardry, after roll call, a disappearance was discovered. The most mischievous student, Milo, 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?! shouted the Headmaster of the School of Wizardry, unhappily.
Please don't worry, please don't worry, babbled Deputy Head Gwendolyn, who had brought the bad news.
The Headmaster frowned. His gaze bored into the deputy, a kind, plump woman of a certain age.
I warned you that people like him could never live side by side with us, with wizards. His place is swinging a club on the battlefield, not uncovering the truth of existence.
Don't jump to conclusions, you know his tragic history. It's all just teenage stuff, the deputy pleaded.
I'm tired of banging my head against the wall. Lewns will never learn humility, and that is the most important thing in the study of magic, the Headmaster mused, gazing out the window.
Lewns, humans and mages had for ages lived each in their own way, without meddling in one another's affairs. But invaders who arrived one day from across the sea changed the usual course of events. Everyone had to unite to win the battle against 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 the druids' plan, the warriors were to turn into trees overnight, but something went wrong. The people grew bark, and their hands became gnarled branches. With these branches the Drevni destroyed the druids and set off to conquer other lands, because they could no longer accept any other way of life.
But let us return to the School of Magic. There, preparations were in full swing for the search for the mischievous student. The Headmaster decided to find the runaway himself and publicly expel him from the school. And, importantly, to confiscate the alchemy kit.
Why go searching yourself? The senior students can handle this perfectly well, said the deputy anxiously.
You won't fool me this time, Gwendolyn! I remember last time, when he ran off, you hid that little rascal in the stable for a week. You waited until I cooled down and softened my heart with the story of how he was found as a baby on a battlefield, all alone...
The Headmaster fell silent, and sadness filled his eyes. But after a moment he went on in the same stern voice:
This world is very harsh, and order can only be maintained through laws and unbreakable rules, which care nothing for your beloved Lewn!
Gwendolyn wanted to object, but the Headmaster cut her off sharply, as if slicing through the air:
I have said all I have to say!
At sunrise, the Headmaster and two senior students set out to search for Milo.
That they were heading in the right direction was confirmed by a fisherman they met, whose salmon were mysteriously leaping out of the river and neatly stacking themselves into his cart. With a single gesture, the Headmaster lifted the spell Milo had cast and ended the fish parade.
Waking from the spell, the salmon began to wriggle and leap back into the water. The fisherman shook his head quickly, looked at the travellers with a bewildered stare, and muttered to himself:
What a strange dream. I think I'd better go sit in the shade.
The Headmaster and the students continued on. When they were well away from the fisherman, one of the students asked:
Honourable Headmaster, why didn't you leave the catch for the fisherman? It was only a minor spell that wouldn't cause anyone harm.
There is no such thing as a minor spell, the mage replied. Do you think no one would notice that a poor fisherman suddenly had a year's supply of salmon? I am certain his life would change completely, and not for the better. People would appear who didn't like such a sudden windfall. In the end, he would be accused of theft, because no one would believe his story.
But how could you know how people will act? Maybe they'll start to respect him? the student asked with bewilderment.
I have lived on this earth for nearly two hundred years, and I know people, the mage answered calmly.
Half a day passed after the meeting with the fisherman. The travellers entered a village and came upon the runaway's trail once more. The local butcher refused to sell meat and kindly invited the villagers to try his famous maple-glazed carrots.
Could this situation also bring someone trouble? the student asked. After all, this butcher is known throughout the whole region for his rudeness and bad 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 in the neighbouring village. The road there is dangerous, with many 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 robbers, the good man would lose his goods, or perhaps his life. And the villagers would be left without meat. Our world is not black and white. It is full of shades of grey.
They walked in silence until, all at once, the very careless student they were searching for leapt out at them. Fear was written all over the young man's face.
There, there... Milo stammered, struggling to get the words out.
Calm down, the mage said sternly. Tell me clearly, who are you running from?
Collecting himself, Milo realized that the figure in front of him was the Headmaster of the School of Wizardry. But he was not frightened. In fact, he let out a relieved sigh.
I think I've done something very wrong. I wanted to dress the statues of the ancient warriors in funny costumes so people wouldn't feel sad when they walked past, but... the runaway trailed off without finishing.
Tell me everything from the beginning, the Headmaster calmly ordered.
I found the statue of an ancient king, Milo 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 clubs.
You see, students, the Headmaster began calmly, Milo let his emotions take over. He thought he was doing nothing wrong and only wanted to amuse people. But look at where his actions have led.
Remember that whoever holds power must learn to think with a cool head and make careful decisions. Look at both sides of the coin. He did not consider that those statues stand on a battlefield where many people died, and that it is no place for jokes.
Milo sat all this time with his head bowed, and tears ran down his cheeks. The Headmaster went over, sat down beside him, and spoke calmly but firmly:
Milo, I hope you have learned your lesson?
I have, he said quietly, the little troublemaker.
Then chin up, and let's go and fix your mistakes. I will speak with the people, and you will lift the spells from the statues. Afterwards, we will return to school.
Can I really go back to school? But I've caused so much trouble. What am I supposed to do now? the student asked sadly.
The Headmaster looked at the student with a kind expression and said quietly:
When I look at you, I too saw only one side of the coin. Before making a decision, it never hurts to look at the other side.
