I’ve made my decision. It’s been a terribly difficult one and I fear I am disappointing my family by not carrying on our family legacy. Mother and Father are such talented priests. They can heal any grievous wound and mend any broken bone. I’ve even seen them bring people back from the dead! (Light bless them, that act still terrifies me.) Unfortunately, the skill that flows so easily from my parents is not within reach for me.
Since I’ve been able to walk and talk, I’ve been studying and mentored in the healing arts. Everyone was so sure I would be like my parents. My parents: the healing heroes of Azuremyst Island. The ones who have helped make life on the island more stable for the survivors. Thanks to their tireless efforts, Draenei families are starting to pick up life where they left off and blend with our new allies across the world. These are the parents I had to guide me. Oh, how I look up to them, even today. I simply did not possess the healing skills that seemed to be so natural for them.
As a result, I almost feel guilty. I am a sort of failure to my people that I am not able to accomplish these same amazing feats. I realize this is an internal struggle. There has been no indication from my family and friends that they are disappointed in me. I’ve been nothing but encouraged to follow my own path and trust that the Light will guide me. The disappointment really stems from my own feelings of failure.
These feelings are past me now as today, I have found my path in the world. Today I discovered my purpose and know what I can be doing to bring pride to the Draenei people. I am to train in the ways of a Mage. How am I so sure of my calling, you ask? Let me tell you a story of what happened recently that has made me so certain.
Survivors!
My parents received word of a new cluster of Draenei survivors on the Northwestern most tip of the Ammen Vale. This area is very mountainous and quite difficult to navigate. My parents, being the dedicated priests they are, volunteered to trek to this corner of the island to see if there were any injured that needed their skill.
The plan was for my parents to travel light and swiftly with a small band of others to follow with food, clothing and other necessities for the survivors. When everything seemed stable, they would give the group the opportunity to return with us where we would escort them all to Exodar. Scouts explained they were surviving well, living out of a small natural cave and hunting on their own. They had not known there were other survivors and were very pleased to hear about us.
I overheard a Scout explaining to my father that it was only approximately a day’s walk away and marked the location on father’s map. Naturally, I was to travel as well to continue my training in the healing arts. We spent the entire day organizing our packs (one of my favorite tasks) and resting our Elekk for the trip. We set out early the next morning.
The Small Flame
The beginning of the trek was fairly uneventful. It was a pleasant day and there were no obstacles. I was having a grand time sitting in front of mother on the Elekk pretending I was leading the beast where I willed. Father walked most the time leading the Elekk by from the ground.
We reached the edge of the mountains and it became much more difficult. Perhaps it was easy for the scout, who is more accustomed to traveling, to navigate these hills but for us it was long and slow going. The Elekk simply wasn’t built for mountain climbing and we had to release him and pile all the supplies we could on our backs. I was concerned for our Elekk but father assured me it would find its way home on its own.
We climbed for hours, stopping every so often for water or a small bite of moongraze stag meat. It became apparent fairly quickly that we would not be reaching the survivor’s settlement anytime soon. As night approached, father found a small natural cave for us to sleep the night away safely. What we weren’t prepared for was the substantial drop in temperature that happened in the mountains when the sun faded away. Oh, I had never been so cold! Worse luck yet was although father had packed a flint, he was unable to find it and worries that we perhaps left it with the Elekk on accident. Father was in the middle of the small enclave huddled over a pile of branches that he just couldn’t light. I was huddled in my mother’s arms as she tried to warm me. I remember my father looking up at my mother and I, frustration and helplessness in his eyes.
That is when it just came to me. What exactly “it” is, I cannot explain. I stood up and walked over to the branches my father was fervently working on. I raised my hand and could just feel the magic, right there. It was at my fingertips. I commanded it to hit the branches. A small bright red spark leapt from my fingers to the branches and they started ablaze.
My mother and father stood up with a start and praised the Light for this gift I had been given. If there ever was a time I was full of self-pride, this was that time. We cuddled around our fire and discussed the possibility of seeing the mages of our people for training. They laughed at how they have been attempting to train me to heal when it was obvious now I was destined to master other magic. I was so excited I could hardly sleep.
The Rest of the Story
I do not have time to go into the full details but I can of course finish the story so you aren’t left worried about the small band of survivors in the mountains. The next day we packed up and after more climbing were able to find the survivors. They were in fairly good shape but our people have always been quick to adapt. There were some that were in need of medical assistance and my parents attended to them.
Later that afternoon, the rest of our company arrived and we were able to escort all of the survivors to the safety of Exodar, where they can begin to rebuild their lives with the rest of our society.
My parents said tomorrow we can pay a visit to the Draenei mages to see what they say about me. I’m nervous but extremely excited to see what the future holds for me!
Since I’ve been able to walk and talk, I’ve been studying and mentored in the healing arts. Everyone was so sure I would be like my parents. My parents: the healing heroes of Azuremyst Island. The ones who have helped make life on the island more stable for the survivors. Thanks to their tireless efforts, Draenei families are starting to pick up life where they left off and blend with our new allies across the world. These are the parents I had to guide me. Oh, how I look up to them, even today. I simply did not possess the healing skills that seemed to be so natural for them.
As a result, I almost feel guilty. I am a sort of failure to my people that I am not able to accomplish these same amazing feats. I realize this is an internal struggle. There has been no indication from my family and friends that they are disappointed in me. I’ve been nothing but encouraged to follow my own path and trust that the Light will guide me. The disappointment really stems from my own feelings of failure.
These feelings are past me now as today, I have found my path in the world. Today I discovered my purpose and know what I can be doing to bring pride to the Draenei people. I am to train in the ways of a Mage. How am I so sure of my calling, you ask? Let me tell you a story of what happened recently that has made me so certain.
Survivors!
My parents received word of a new cluster of Draenei survivors on the Northwestern most tip of the Ammen Vale. This area is very mountainous and quite difficult to navigate. My parents, being the dedicated priests they are, volunteered to trek to this corner of the island to see if there were any injured that needed their skill.
The plan was for my parents to travel light and swiftly with a small band of others to follow with food, clothing and other necessities for the survivors. When everything seemed stable, they would give the group the opportunity to return with us where we would escort them all to Exodar. Scouts explained they were surviving well, living out of a small natural cave and hunting on their own. They had not known there were other survivors and were very pleased to hear about us.
I overheard a Scout explaining to my father that it was only approximately a day’s walk away and marked the location on father’s map. Naturally, I was to travel as well to continue my training in the healing arts. We spent the entire day organizing our packs (one of my favorite tasks) and resting our Elekk for the trip. We set out early the next morning.
The Small Flame
The beginning of the trek was fairly uneventful. It was a pleasant day and there were no obstacles. I was having a grand time sitting in front of mother on the Elekk pretending I was leading the beast where I willed. Father walked most the time leading the Elekk by from the ground.
We reached the edge of the mountains and it became much more difficult. Perhaps it was easy for the scout, who is more accustomed to traveling, to navigate these hills but for us it was long and slow going. The Elekk simply wasn’t built for mountain climbing and we had to release him and pile all the supplies we could on our backs. I was concerned for our Elekk but father assured me it would find its way home on its own.
We climbed for hours, stopping every so often for water or a small bite of moongraze stag meat. It became apparent fairly quickly that we would not be reaching the survivor’s settlement anytime soon. As night approached, father found a small natural cave for us to sleep the night away safely. What we weren’t prepared for was the substantial drop in temperature that happened in the mountains when the sun faded away. Oh, I had never been so cold! Worse luck yet was although father had packed a flint, he was unable to find it and worries that we perhaps left it with the Elekk on accident. Father was in the middle of the small enclave huddled over a pile of branches that he just couldn’t light. I was huddled in my mother’s arms as she tried to warm me. I remember my father looking up at my mother and I, frustration and helplessness in his eyes.
That is when it just came to me. What exactly “it” is, I cannot explain. I stood up and walked over to the branches my father was fervently working on. I raised my hand and could just feel the magic, right there. It was at my fingertips. I commanded it to hit the branches. A small bright red spark leapt from my fingers to the branches and they started ablaze.
My mother and father stood up with a start and praised the Light for this gift I had been given. If there ever was a time I was full of self-pride, this was that time. We cuddled around our fire and discussed the possibility of seeing the mages of our people for training. They laughed at how they have been attempting to train me to heal when it was obvious now I was destined to master other magic. I was so excited I could hardly sleep.
The Rest of the Story
I do not have time to go into the full details but I can of course finish the story so you aren’t left worried about the small band of survivors in the mountains. The next day we packed up and after more climbing were able to find the survivors. They were in fairly good shape but our people have always been quick to adapt. There were some that were in need of medical assistance and my parents attended to them.
Later that afternoon, the rest of our company arrived and we were able to escort all of the survivors to the safety of Exodar, where they can begin to rebuild their lives with the rest of our society.
My parents said tomorrow we can pay a visit to the Draenei mages to see what they say about me. I’m nervous but extremely excited to see what the future holds for me!
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