lsanderson | Not quite a koan

Once when magic was still in the world, there were five brothers who were always trying to outdo each other. They swore an oath that they would go forth and study magic for five years, and then return, perform their greatest art, and determine who amongst them was the most powerful mage.

And each went their own way and if one went to Toledo, and one went to Egypt, my sources do not say. But, they served as apprentices to the great mages of their day, practiced diligently at their tasks, learned, and, after five years, traveled back to where they swore the oath.

The first brother said, “I have traveled far, and studied long. The magic I learned was to restore the skeleton of any living thing from the smallest piece of bone.” And having said this, the brother looked upon the plain until he found a bit of bone, and the first brother performed his magic and suddenly before them there was the skeleton whole and complete where previously was only a bit of bone.

The second brother said, “I too have traveled far and studied long. The magic I learned was to restore the flesh to any skeletal thing. And, he performed his magic and suddenly before them, the skeleton was cloaked in flesh.

The third brother said, “In my travels and study, I learned to restore the nerves in flesh and bone.” And with some words and gestures, his magic was performed upon the skeleton and flesh.

The fourth brother said, “In my travels, I’ve learned to restore the skin and hair to flesh and bones.” And with a wave of his wand the skin and hair of the creature was whole and entire.

The fifth brother then stood up and said, “Why you are all still children compared to me. I have learned to quicken and make healthy and whole.” And from his pack, he took a wand, and with several terrible incantations, brought life and health and wholeness back to the lion.

The lion, filled with life and an empty belly, killed the five brothers standing around it, ate what it could, and then wandered off in search of other lions.

It is said the birds sat that day, cleaning up the remains, and argued at great lengths amongst themselves, not just over the choicest bits or pieces of their eyes, but upon the value of the brothers' magic, and the cause of their demise.