Lost Magic

The koala bear sat motionless near the edge of the desk, staring at the old wizard.

“Ah Kopi,” the wizard said with a sigh. “I guess it’s time to conjure up another eucalyptus; you’re almost through that one,” he glanced at the corner of the room.

Kopi blinked and nodded ever so slightly.

They were in the castle library, the fire keeping the temperatures up where the wizard knew Kopi preferred they be. It was a quiet night, as it always was now; activity had diminished over the past year. After all, no one wanted to learn magic or alchemy anymore; computer games were the thing. The wizard never understood the idea of computer games, he was always quite perplexed as to why anyone would choose an electronic gadget that took you to new worlds when you could have the real thing.

The legal contracts had all expired as students graduated and he had to close the school. Even his old friend Crathene, the Elf Owl had decided to leave. The wizard couldn’t blame him though. What good was a shape-shifting Elf Owl when there was no longer a shape-shifting class?

The wizard smiled as he recalled the fun they used to have when Crathene shifted into larger-than-life creatures; the gasps and cheers of the students that followed. And his green eyes, a green so clear and deep it was like looking at a never-ending kaleidoscope of fresh clover.

A sudden knock interrupted him. He stepped from the room and walked down the winding staircase as the intricately carved castle door opened.

“Can I help you,” he said to a young troll.

“I’d like to learn magic; do you have any classes?”

The wizard smiled as he looked into the emerald green eyes and replied, “Yes, I believe we do.”