My father has been a farmer for most of his life. He has hinted to a time when he was a squire, but he never elaborates on this. He has always discouraged me from thinking of becoming a knight. He has nothing to fear in that regard for that is not the life I would choose to live.

My love is for magic. I want to be able to walk on the waters, soar with the eagles, and smite my enemies with a fireball. It is all I dream of and to this end I am willing to dedicate my life.

Imagine my delight at learning of a great wizard who is seeking an apprentice. The word spread quickly through our village and I did not have to haggle with my parents to allow me to apply. I ran so swiftly that I would almost believe I was endowed with some mystical powers.

There was already gathered a rather long line of children my age and older by the time I arrived. Most played games and talked among themselves, I on the other hand, pulled out a pamphlet I had acquired and tried to learn something about the Great Tarkas. Before I knew it I was asked to enter the ominous tower which was Tarkas' home. It took me a while to realize that there were only 5 of us left to be interviewed. Then I got to see him.

Tarkas was not as large a figure as I had imagined. Rather he was of average height and long of beard, which was snowy white. He wore the fabulous purple robe of his calling and had the hood pulled over his head. This created quite an impression on me as you can imagine. He did not speak for quite some time as he just stood there and looked us over one by one as if we were some sides of beef he were choosing for supper. After a time he asked one question, "Too what end are you willing to go in order to be my apprentice?"

Each in turn gave their answer and when it came my turn I simply stated, "My life is yours to command." He was quite pleased by my remark and he dismissed the others and led me toward a small door. From behind this door he produced a broom and handed it to me saying simply, "Here wildling, clean the tower and don't disturb me."

What was I thinking? Somehow I had imagined I would begin learning the mystic arts right from the first day. I had envisioned sitting quietly while my mentor would explain reagents and the proper use of herbs. We would stand near a cauldron and drop bat wings and such while chanting some rhymes. I'd gaze into a crystal ball until I went cross-eyed.

At the very least I had hoped this blasted broom could carry me skyward and allow me to look down upon my villagers. Instead I am forced to clean. I will not let this get me down. I know that if I fulfill my chores, eventually I will get to know if the All-Seeing Eye of Beshanti can truly see what is occurring many lands away. If the Hoary Hosts of Angar will come to my aid when summoned.

What I really want to learn now, however, is a sealing spell to keep dust out.

I never knew a tower could have so many crevices to clean or so many items to dust. I also was quite surprised to discover how many rooms this tower contains. Some of the rooms go off into other dimensions. This would not be so bad, but I am instructed to keep these tidied also. Now I ask you, have you ever tried to straighten a rift?

The time does pass by rather pleasantly, in spite of my chores, for I am using this as an excuse to pry into all my mentor's possessions. I have uncovered some odd and rather rare items that I have no idea as to their purpose. I only hope I will be taught what all these curiosities are for.

Today I was informed I am to also be the Scroll Keeper. It is amazing how many scrolls my mentor has accumulated. He wishes for me to alphabetize them all. Now this may not seem so monumental an event on the surface, but not all the scrolls are in the same language.

By the Gods I never knew someone could accumulate so many scrolls. What is even more amazing is my mentor is sure to have memorized them all. To keep this many spells catalogued in your mind and to be able to recall them at a moment's notice is no small task I assure you. It's not likely that if you were about to be consumed by a Hydra, you would be able to hold up your hand and request a moment's respite while you scrounge through your pack to seek just the right scroll.

It is also fascinating that my mentor has learned so many languages to be able to read and understand some of them. The places he must have traveled to. The wonders he has beheld. I do hope he will share some of his experiences with me. I'd settle for him speaking to me in more than just grunts and mumbles actually.

Truly this is a grand occasion. After these many months of being no more than a chambermaid, I have finally been instructed to begin Researching. I have been granted permission to read and try to understand the many scrolls that have been in my keeping. My mentor has also allowed me access into his library, a room that had hitherto been off limits.

The library is so massive I can scarcely see the ceiling. Not only are the shelves full, and allow me to tell you there are quite a lot of them, but there are books piled on the floor almost as tall as me.

This is not how I had envisioned being an apprentice would be, but I suppose I must begin somehow. I only pray that by the time I am through reading all these volumes, my mentor is still alive to begin teaching me in earnest.

My studies are going painfully slow. My mentor has informed me that it will be some time before I can actually cast a spell. I didn't know my path to sorcerery would be curtailed by so much study.

I am currently doing research on spells. I am to learn all I can about spells from all lands, not just from here. I have come across some old tomes with a lot of dust on them. Within these yellowed pages I have found spells that are not used by anyone today, but some have a lot of worth. My mentor will not discuss any of my findings. He wants me to read and learn all I can before any formal lessons will begin.

This is most exasperating. I have begun to record many notes and questions in a separate journal. I think he is pleased to find me doing so, but will not give me one word of actual encouragement.

My research seems to be paying off. After spending countless days and nights pouring over the information I was able to find, I turned my journal over to my mentor. He had a smile, the likes of which I did not know he was capable of producing, and rewarded me with a most unusual gift.

While holding my journal open in his left hand, and never raising his eyes from their pages, he put his right hand behind his back. I swear that his hand was not gone from my sight for more than an instant, but when he brought it out in front of himself again he had a hat in it.

Oh not just any hat to be sure, but a pointy hat. He placed it squarely upon my head and told me it had properties to aid me in my spell casting. Oh I cannot properly describe my joy when he so informed me of this. I know now that it will not be long before I will actually learn to cast spells of my own. This is a momentous occasion.

I must appear a rather odd sight to the uninitiated. A houseboy with a pointy hat. Mere words cannot describe my pride in displaying this hat. How proud I feel to wear it, to feel it upon my head. I almost hate to take it off at bedtime.

I have tried casting some of the spells I have found in the many scrolls in my keeping. I thought that with my pointy hat placed so finely upon my head, that I would now be able to create something as simple as Light in a dark room. Alas I cannot even produce a spark.

I know my mentor said it would aid me in my spell casting. I can remember those very words the day he uttered them to me. Maybe there is more meaning to his words than I imagine.

I know I've mentioned before how time seems to pass by so pleasantly here at the tower, but I must confess that I have been growing rather anxious to begin my studies. I cannot believe that all my mentor wants of me is something any houseboy could perform.

You can understand how ecstatic I was the day he interrupted my chores to inform me that commencing tomorrow I would begin my lessons and finally be a Pupil. At last my life long dream will begin to unfold.