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If a muggle researches the life of Aesop, he or she will find a plethora of historical interpretations including the man hailed anywhere from the Greek Isles to Ethiopia. Some of the theories are scientifically and historically logical while others, like a deity healed him of deformities, are classified as absurd. In truth, however, muggle historians have only seen a dim view of the man’s life. He was indeed a no-maj but quickly became integrated into the world of magic.

Aesop was born into slavery on the island of Thrace with severe deformities in both his face and one leg, but was considered quite clever. During this time, Aesop was cultivating his story-telling abilities by entertaining both the children and friends of his master. A wizard, by chance, met him and recognized his value. He immediately bought him from the muggle master and promised to open Aesop “to a world which you thought only existed in your stories.”

Within the magical words, Aesop’s face and leg were healed (hence the deity explanation) and he learned of many wonderful ideas, concepts and even more animals to integrate into his stories. Aesop is credited for creating over a hundred fables, but in truth he wrote many more;. However, these were filled with magical beings and beasts. Unfortunately, over the centuries these disappeared from muggle literature and history books. However, through a unique partnership of a magical latent and a literature historian at Predictable Chaos’s Printing, some of these stories have been recovered and are now being read by the muggle world for the first time.

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There once was a farmer who owned a rooster. Now this rooster was unusual in that it loved to sleep late. Although it had many other redeeming virtues, it did enjoy sleeping well into the afternoon. One of its more useful abilities was its cunning skill and bravery when dealing with snakes. It would stealthily sneak up upon the serpent and attack relentlessly until the snake would choose rather to vacate the premises or die. Whether living under the hen house or a rock by the glen, the rooster would find the legless creature. As a result, not a single snake could be found within twenty miles of the farm. However, none of this impressed the farmer who cursed the rooster every morning when he looked out his window to realize the sun was already shining bright and he was not out in his fields.

One particular fine morning, the farmer was cursing at his snoozing cock, when a stranger came by dressed in fine robes and holding a short stick. When the man asked why the farmer was so distressed, the farmer explained how his rooster was a lazy good-for-nothing piece of poultry, how he wouldn’t get up with the sun and the only good thing he could do was run off snakes.

Well, this intrigued the man very much and he asked to meet the rooster. After much cajoling the bird was awoken and brought from his roost to meet the stranger. The man introduced himself and explained that he was in the business of disposing of dangerous creatures. There was one particular snake, a Basilisk, that was tricky to get rid of and the rooster could help.

“Do you want me to use my sharp beak,” the rooster asked, snapping his beak loudly, “or pierce it with my talons?”

“Neither,” the man replied, looking rather bemused. “All you have to do is crow at it.”

“Crow at it?” The rooster asked dubiously. “Does this crowing have to be done at sunrise?” The bird turned away, already losing interest.

“No, my dear rooster. You choose the time of day to crow at the beast.”

“Really?” the bird turned back toward the man. “No working before noon?”

“We can wait until evening, if you would like,” the man replied.

So, the rooster agreed and they came to an accord. The man paid the farmer three times the value of the rooster and all went off happily.

The rooster and the man worked very well together but never before three in the afternoon. The rooster became legendary for he defeated all snakes including the dreaded basilisk.

And the farmer, well he used the money to buy himself another rooster. This one crowed at dawn so the farmer was in his fields early in the morn; however, he spent much more time running snakes out of his fields and the hen house.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Play to your strengths and you will be successful.

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There once was a runespoor who had lost one of its heads. The Dreamer and the Planner, tired of the Critic’s continual negative evaluation of the them, had done away with it. For a while, they were very happy as a two-headed runespoor but critiquing one’s self has its merits for it keeps one in cheque especially when concerning one’s desires and self-adulation.

One day the two headed runespoor was basking itself in the sun each head thinking its own thoughts when the Dreamer actually spoke its aloud. “I wish to eat as many Leaf-Toe Geckos as I wanted. They are so crunchy and delicious.”

“Indeed they are,” agreed the Planner, “however, they are also very rich and should be treated as a dessert not as a main course. Now the jerboa, there is a healthy choice to feast upon. I could eat as many of those as I desired and not become ill at all.”

The two argued about the dessert, Leaf-Toe Gecko, versus the healthy jerboa as they slithered down the road. “Well, there is just one way to settle this,” declared the Planner and they proceeded to gather up all the geckos and jerboa that they could find until a mound of each sat upon their plates.

The two heads delved into their feast, ignoring the other for a short while, until the Dreamer could help but point out, “See, I have now eaten ten geckos and feel just fine.”

“Perhaps,” replied the Planner, “but I have eaten fifteen jerboa and those have much more nutrients than geckos.”

“Herumph, maybe so, but I can’t stand the hair in my mouth and their legs get caught in my throat.” The Dreamer then inhaled two geckos with one gulp.

All day, they argued in between their feasting until they had gorged themselves so much that they could not move so they had little choice but to lay upon the ground bemoaning of a joint stomach ache.

And that is when an Occamy came by and discovered an easy meal of a two headed Runespoor.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Moderation in all things, even vegetables.

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Lobalugs are considered rather simple creatures, both in mind and body. Within their rubbery spout, they have a venomous sac which they will spurt forth when feeling threatened. This sac causes most creatures to be wary and give the creature a wide berth. This made the lobalug vain and conceited. “No one would dare to assault me for they fear me and my venomous nature” and he swam along the North Sea feeling very assured of himself. In fact the more he swam around and the more other animals avoided him, the more conceited he became until he was convinced that no animal, not even the dreaded sea serpent could out battle him.

One day, he came upon merman. The merman swam rather close to inspect the lobalug which didn’t impress the creature at all. “Stand back you fiend,” the lobalug cried. “I am the feared lobalug with a venomous sac.”

The merman was quite taken aback by the small creature’s declaration. He scratched his green beard thoughtfully. “I mean no disrespect,” he began, “but while you do have a venomous sac, I have equally dangerous tools. Tools that have killed lobalugs like you before. He hoisted his spear upward, its shiny tip glistening in the water.

“That?” scoffed the lobalug, “That is merely a stick. I can best you. I can best anything in this sea. In fact, I could best the great sea serpent himself if he dared to attack me.”

Such language infuriated the merman. He narrowed his yellow eyes and swished his silver tail. How dare this simple creature boast of such ridiculous conquests and he decided right then to teach the animal a lesson. Before the lobalug could react, he grasped it around the center and twisted his tentacles and fastened it onto his spear.

“If you think you are so mighty and dangerous, then a fine weapon you shall make for me,” declared the merman and since that day the merpeople have used the lobalug as a weapon and the poor lobalug could do nothing about it.

MORAL OF THE STORY: The smaller the mind, the greater the conceit.

Chapter Text

There once was a judge who was greatly esteemed across the land, but his heart was twisted and filled with envy. At his home, he had a scenic view of the mountains from which he watched the sun set every day, but he craved more.

His next door neighbor was a pious farmer who loved God and trusted in him. The farmer’s land was plentiful and the soil fertile. He also has a stunning view of the sea which the judge greatly coveted. The judge had tried numerous times to buy the land from the farmer, but the man refused citing he tilled God’s land and would one day pass it on to his own child. Then the judge tried to give the man various potions and cast various spells that would convince him to leave the land, but they never seemed to take effect.

None of this stopped the judge and he plotted to use the High Council to reach his goal. Now, the judge had many friends on the High Council and it only took the promise of a desired vintage and a few gold coins for the farmer to find himself facing trumped up charges of heinous crimes. Unsure of what to do, he knelt before God.

The next day, the farmer faced the High Council and listened calmly as the judge lamented about the horrible crimes, but when it came to present evidence, he had none to give. Although his friends found the farmer guilty, most could not be persuaded and voted to let the farmer go.

So, the judge tried a different tactic. Knowing how strong the man’s faith was, he announced that they should let God make the decision. Then he proposed to place two clears spheres on opposite ends of the courtroom. If the farmer touched one, both of them would glow. One would glow red if the farmer touched them denoting his guilt and the other would glow green if the farmer touched it denoting his innocence. “If the man is innocent then God will direct him to the green globe.” The assembly agreed to this trial and the judge brought in the spheres.

Of course the judge was wicked and desired the land above all else, so he charmed them so whichever globe the farmer touched turned red whilst the other turned green. The farmer knew the judge would be a trickster and asked God for guidance.

The judge set them at either end of the High Council’s chamber. Then he bid the farmer to stand in the middle and walk toward the correct ball. The farmer turned slowly studying each council member and the audience. Then he slowly walked toward the sphere to the right.

Just before he reached it, however, he lunged out and grabbed a magical staff from a council member. Then he used it to smash the right-sided globe while never touching it.

“Why did you do this?” gasped the judge. “You have destroyed the evidence that might have proven your innocence.”

“No, I have not,” declared the farmer, “but I do declare this sphere that I smashed as the one I have picked. Whatever color, it would have been, I will accept that destiny. I shall walk to the other side of this room and touch the other sphere. If it glows red, then I destroyed the green one and may go free. It it glows green, then I destroyed the red one and you may condemn me of these horrible crimes. Are we in an accord with this?”

The judge gritted his teeth but the farmer’s logic was sound. He could not disagree in front of the council without admitting his own sins, so the farmer returned the staff and walked over to the left-sided globe which took on a rosy hue at his touch.

Not a month later, as the judge was plotting yet again, a furious storm rolled over the land. The judge was struck by lightning and found himself on trial in front of his Maker. The farmer, having prospered, bought the judge’s land. He prayed to God every day once from his view of the sea and then from his view of the mountains.

MORAL: Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. -James 1:12