Tale 6- The Apprentice’s World

 Arriving in a bustling town, the Traveler sat on a rock near a waterwheel and scanned the crowd. Children played in rings, singing rhymes, and adults chatted together, all oblivious to the presence of a stranger among them. She grew fearful. Nobody here was noteworthy, or willing to talk to her. Previously, chance encounters or brief interactions had helped her to find the necessary tales, but there was no air of mystery or even friendliness here. Suddenly, she turned, as someone dropped a bucket. A milkmaid had tripped and was now despairing, and likewise ignored by the crowd. The Traveler moved closer and picked up the wooden bucket. It was heavy even without the milk, but she could manage despite her frail stature. She held out a hand for the fallen milkmaid. The woman stared at her for a moment, before accepting the aid and standing, offering to show the Traveler the way to the field, limping a little. The Traveler nodded and they walked together, the woman eventually having to lean on the Traveler’s shoulder for support. She had badly injured her ankle, it seemed, and wouldn’t be able to perform her duties as usual. The Traveler quietly offered to take her place for the day, and got to work. In exchange, the milkmaid offered for her to stay at her home that evening with her young son, the Traveler reluctantly agreeing. She wasn’t used to such kindness.

After a long day of work out in the field, the Traveler found her way to the woman’s home and met her little boy. He had bright, happy eyes, and seemed to carry an air of happiness wherever he went, filling the room with joy. The Traveler was given a meal and, around the table, the boy’s mother told him a story, the tale of ‘The Apprentice’s World’.

‘Many years ago, when witches and wizards and beasts roamed the earth, there was a young apprentice who lived in a tower. His master, the most powerful wizard, was extremely tired of his inability to perform spells in the proper manner, as he often found himself unable to hold the wand correctly or have the proper form. After overhearing a council meeting between the head wizard and various other fairies and creatures, in which the primary subject was the apprentice potentially having to abandon his studies if he did not improve, the young man decided he would cast a perfect spell, and disappear into his own world where nobody could tell him how he should act and perform. Using the head wizard’s wand, he cast the spell and walked through the portal, leaving no trace. After fourteen days in his own world, the boy had defeated dragon lords, amassed an army of knights, and become king of the world, but nobody in the world seemed to truly care for him. Despite the head wizard’s complaints, he had spent countless hours teaching and befriending the young man, so, understanding how much he was loved at home, the young apprentice reformed the portal and reappeared in the tower, instantly running to give his teacher a hug.’

The mother turned to the Traveler, who had been writing the story down, before both of them stared at the little boy, who had fallen asleep in his arms. Gently, the woman carried him to bed, the Traveler following, and showed the Traveler to her room. There, despite being a little shy, she told the Traveler that she hoped she and her loved ones were well, and to never forget how much she was loved. The Traveler nodded, closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep.