[center][img]http://mtv.mtvnimages.com/uri/mgid:file:http:shared:mtv.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/tumblr_ncn7ahkF2H1rha57qo1_500-1425078695.gif[/img][/center]
[h1][center][color=Rosybrown]The Sorcerer's Apprentice[/color][/center][/h1]
[h3][center]*~*Village of Springfall*~*[/center][/h3]
Soft wind whispering through the trees, the sound of grass and pine needles crunching beneath brown leather shoes, the Apprentice, though alone, hardly felt dejected when he was in commune with nature - for life continued to work all around him, though so few took the time to stop and see it. Squirrels bustling through the trees, gathering acorns for winter, birds fluttering about, building their nests, down to the simple ant carrying a small morsel for its hill. Life lived on. 

The Apprentice could hardly blame others for their lack of perception; for many were young, with lifespans over fifty or sixty considered to be astounding. Age brought the Apprentice patience and the ability to see farther - look to the horizon as opposed to seeing simply what was placed in front of him. It was a bittersweet feeling, to be so disconnected from the world yet still live a part of it. His Master had warned him all those years ago of the path he had chosen to take, how he would gain knowledge and power far beyond his imagination...but that there would be a price, with magic there always was. 

Pushing these cynical thoughts to the back of his mind, the Apprentice raised his head slightly, overlooking the direction the matted dirt path was taking him: to the village of Springfall. It had been there for many years, beating on against time and age. It was small, almost too small, but the people carried their own and they worked hard. The Apprentice was a welcomely received visitor when he dropped by every other week or so, oftentimes counseling, mediating, or simply teaching whoever sought him out or had the ears to listen. He had grown fond of the small hamlet, despite his Master's warnings against growing attached. Many of the children there viewed him as a "funny man" who always came with treats or exciting stories to share, while the adults had a better grasp of him...a wise and knowledgeable sage who possessed wisdom far beyond his (supposed) years. 

Hiking (with some effort) to the top of a small hill overlooking the village as a whole, the Apprentice was overcome with shock, raising a single hand to cover his mouth as the long, dragon-headed staff fell from his other grip, clattering to the ground. 

Destroyed. Completely destroyed...dark pillars of smoke swirled from the burning remains of houses, billowing into the air like ghosts. Bodies, so many bodies scattered and tossed on the ground like waste, broken, beaten, and bloodied with no remorse or mercy; weapons jutting from their lifeless corpses, their necks and limbs twisted at odd and inhuman angles. Man, woman, child, elder, and animal completely disregarded, slaughtered all the same, piling amongst each other, foundations of the dead. 

Blinking back the tears that threatened to fall, the Apprentice slowly entered what remained of Springfall, ignoring the objecting pain in his leg as he walked without his aide. It felt as though he had been sucker-punched in the gut, finding breathing to be a seemingly impossible task as all he could see before him was murder and destruction. 

The Apprentice crouched down with a pained wince on his visage, kneeling before the broken body of a small girl, no older than ten. Magnolia was her name, yes....the Apprentice made it a point to always remember their names for when he left, so he would never forget. 

Gliding a single hand over the girl's face, marred by dirt, soot, and blood, the Apprentice closed her glassy, lifeless eyes, giving her an almost peaceful look - as though she were lying down to take a nap. 

Now letting the tears fall freely, the Apprentice made no sound, no movement, though his body was racked with wordless sobs, for he knew exactly who was responsible for this crime.