The Wizard’s Mind and Soul

There is very little direct information given about the Wizard’s life in his original world. There are hints here and there, but also, he has some quirks which are rooted in his early life.

For example, the Wizard didn’t grow up in a loving family. This is never directly said in the stories. The Wizard very indirectly – and in a light-hearted way – hints at this in the second story, and that’s all there is about this. But, exactly because of this, throughout all the stories, the Wizard acts unusually in some cases.

There are cases where a parent or grandparent does something excessive to support or protect their offspring – maybe even from the Wizard’s wrath – and the Wizard can go out of his way to help. Or he can become more merciful than usual and spare a life he intended to take.

Conversely, in cases where the parent betrays their child, even more so if that child is someone the Wizard is interested in – or, if you prefer, is the Wizard’s new toy 😏️ – he can become more cruel than the situation calls for. He doesn’t hesitate to break up families, or even exterminate the parents or the whole family (other than that child), in such cases.

The Wizard and Love

That “interested in” is not meant in a romantic way. There are several cases where the Wizard himself, or his familiars clearly say that the Wizard has never shown that kind of interest to anyone. Male, female, mortal, or not-exactly-mortal. After all, as we’ve seen, other than the Wizard, only the Supreme Gods are truly immortal, and the Wizard considers them… boring.

Nevertheless, he likes couples, he considers love an important part of someone’s happiness, and he enjoys playing Cupid, as well as teasing those in love. Not mocking them. Teasing them.

At the same time, if one betrays their other half, he gets very annoyed. If this affects the Wizard or “his people”, he doesn’t take it lightly. At all!

Who Are the Wizard’s People?

The Wizard tends to treat as “his people” the people who follow him, support him, believe in him, as well as the ones he chooses to support. He treats them well, he protects them, he helps them – excessively so, in some cases. Nonetheless, he never really sees them as “his people”.

The only ones who deserve to be called this way, without quotation marks are his familiars.

I think, were I to say more about the Wizard’s character and personality, I would start to give away spoilers, which I’d rather avoid. So, let’s change the subject a little.

Is the Wizard a Prophet?

No, he isn’t. He can’t predict the future, but he can calculate it. In great detail – more or less like a god – for a few centuries. It’s general shape? For a few thousand years.

It’s not a vision or an epiphany that comes to him. It’s something he needs to calculate. But, when he decides to do that he can be accurate enough to know how many times you’ll go to the toilet tomorrow. Really! 😇️

Although this ability is never explained, it’s mentioned on several occasions. In even more cases he seems to know almost everything ahead of time. For example, in the second story he goes to a world two centuries before the protagonist is born, and he knows when and where he will be born, and also his character and abilities.

Additionally, the Wizard can “see” everything that happens in the world. But that’s something he has to focus on seeing. Therefore, he doesn’t know everything. Just everything he wants to know.

Another prophet-like ability of the Wizard that is only hinted at or mentioned, but never explained is that the Wizard can see and investigate all the other worlds. That’s how he decides where (is fun) to go, and that’s why he seems to know everything he needs for that world, from the moment he enters it.

Is the Wizard a Mind-Reader?

Once again, no, he isn’t. He can know his familiars’ thoughts, but that’s because they are his familiars. He can actually know everything they do, think, and experience. Nevertheless, he prefers to talk with them, rather than just reading their thoughts. He only uses this ability when it’s fun, or when it’s necessary.

When it comes to other people he can’t read their thoughts. He can calculate them. Either because he has already thoroughly investigated their character, or because he manipulates the conversation and situations. Or both. It’s often difficult to notice the difference – but Eric noticed it.

Dear

I can’t resist the temptation to comment on a little quirk of the Wizard’s manner of speaking.

The Wizard uses “dear” all the time. When he calls someone, “my dear”, it doesn’t necessarily show fondness. It surely shows that – at the time – he doesn’t consider them an enemy. But assuming he sees them favourably… is a risky bet.

On the other hand, when he uses “dear” as a surname – like when he calls the head-knight “mister knight dear”, in “The Wizard and the Green Dragon” – he always means it as a threat. Most of the time, that person ends up dying.

The Wizard Never Lies

Well… I’d rather not say much more about the Wizard. The intention of this post (and all the previous Wizard posts) is to help you enjoy him more – if you decide to meet him – not to rob you of the pleasure of discovering him. So, I’ll only say one last thing about him.

The Wizard doesn’t lie. He fakes ignorance when he needs to for the role he plays, just like in the Green Dragon’s story, he pretends he doesn’t know what an eclipse or a gun is, but that’s only because he likes playing these roles.

Not-lying is one of his favourite games. He enjoys misleading people while speaking only the truth. Sometimes he does it for the sake of the plot, but some other times, he does it just for his own entertainment.

In “The Wizard and the Green Dragon” you’ve clearly seen his dark side. But here is a little excerpt from the second story, where you can see his more playful side.

From “The Most Powerful Wizard of the World”

(Himari, the Wizard’s third familiar and, at the time, Albert’s familiar, outbursts to the Wizard about Albert’s irregular behaviour.)

“What the hell is he doing? Why does he need to be alone? Why he doesn’t tell me what he is doing?” He started yelling – more scared than angry – at the Wizard, a Friday night, on the 17th of December.

“Keep your voice down, my dear! I’m trying to read!”

“You know. Don’t you? Of course, you do! It all started after he talked to you. What is he doing?”

“Maybe I know, maybe I don’t!” The Wizard smirked.

“Tell me!”

“Well, my dear, maybe – and that’s just me exploring an utterly improbable possibility, really – maybe… he is trying to summon another familiar, you know… for things you can’t, or won’t do for him.”

“He can’t summon a familiar, and you know it.”

“Oh… well… if you say so, my dear. You know him better, I guess.”

“You mean he can?”

“Oh, no! No! You said he can’t, after all!”

“But why? Why does he need another familiar? I can do anything he might want, can’t I?”

“What can I say? You know how these things are. Boys have needs. From what I can tell, you don’t give him your ass or your dick… I wouldn’t know what he prefers, but, well… maybe he needs a new familiar to have some fun with? Who knows?”

The Wizard shrugged dramatically, but the familiar didn’t even see it. He was running upstairs to knock on Albert’s door.

Galen and Dagwood folded down laughing.

“You are merciless, Wizard!” Dagwood said.

“Why? I clearly said it was just me exploring an improbable possibility. Didn’t I? He just doesn’t listen!”

What’s coming next?

I think I have done enough introducing the Wizard, and I’m pretty sure he’s happy with that, too. So, this will be the last post presenting him.

I’m thinking about posting, directly from the books, the first meeting of the Wizard with Basil (the protagonist of the first story), Albert (the protagonist of the second) and, maybe, Himari. Most probably, the meeting of the Wizard and Eric, too, although it assumes that Eric’s story is known. I need to figure out whether those – very few – mentions will hinder the understanding of the short story, and decide accordingly.

Tell me what you think, and if you have any more questions about this supposedly secondary character.

Have fun, and always be happy!