A mage's power derives from his ability to channel his magical energy into an attack against another, or some other form of magical manipulation. Of all the mages of lore, no pure mage was reported to practice a physical form of combat. Mages practicing physical combat are more commonly referred to as warlocks. So comes the question I must ask; is a mage practicing martial arts, even in his own defense, really a mage or is he now a variation of a warlock?

   While this is merely an amusing observation to most readers, I have long endeavored to maintain the purity of the mage by not practicing the physical forms of martial arts. If my consciousness were to falter because of my beliefs, than so be it. It is better to live one's life as one wishes, dedicating oneself to a particular goal or path than it is to live within the boundaries of society's stigma.

   To those readers that fancy themselves as a mage and may take offense to my observations, I do not ridicule your chosen path. Any skill that assists in self preservation is worthy of investigation, and the time spent developing such a skill justifies the benefits received. All I question is what it means to be a pure mage, and how many of us are there left?