Davion stood outside the treeline, thirty yards from the abandoned stockade. He focused his will. A thirty-foot section of the wall burst into flame. He focused again, and the flames extinguished, replaced by frost.

He raised his hand, palm up. It held a rock. He flicked his wrist palm-forward. The rock flew at the stockade with great speed, smashing through and sending splinters skyward.

Lao appeared, smiling. "Good!" he said. "You’ve been practicing!"

"Every day," said Davion. "I’m grateful for everything you’ve taught me, even if I don’t quite understand how you did it."

"We know a few tricks with human perception," said Lao. "Now that you have this power, you must decide what to do with it. You can use it to create, or to protect, or to destroy."

Davion furrowed his brow. "I guess I’d like to use it to help people — to create or protect."

"What if you are called on to destroy something evil?" asked Lao.

"I don’t know," said Davion. "I don’t think I could kill anyone."

"That’s good," said Lao. "We don’t teach killers about physics."

Davion chuckled.

Lao smiled at him. "Our time is at and end. You know all we can teach you."

"Really?" asked Davion. "There’s no more?"

"There is much more!" said Lao, "The infinite ways different elements interact with one another, the incredible complexity of life and nature, and range of human thought and existence. The world is full of mysteries to explore."

"But we know little of these things. Our instinctive knowledge of matter, energy, space, and time are all we’ve ever needed."

Davion looked solemn. "Then I suppose it’s time for me to go. I’ve been away from home for months. Not that anyone’s likely noticed."

"It’s time for me to go too," said Lao.

"Where are you going?"

Lao pointed up. "Up there. I need to roam the heavens for a while. I’ll see you again."

"I’m going to miss this," said Davion. "The forest. The forest folk. Sarah. You. It’s been a life-altering experience."

"So come back!" said Lao. "I will, in time. I just need to go talk to some friends."

"In the heavens?" asked Davion.

Lao nodded and smiled. "Good journey, philosopher."

"You too," said Davion. "Thank you for everything."