[ WP ] A person with a high school education gets sent back into the 1600s and tries to explain science and technology to the people .

The wizard rubbed his beard as he watched the naked stranger sleep. The wizard stood in a long grey robe and carried a staff topped with a polished stone. He bent over and examined the iron clasp holding the crazed man to the dungeon floor. He glanced at the burly guard standing in the doorway. The guard held his sword in a defensive posture, its sharp edge reflecting the early morning light pouring through the small barred windows. 
 
 The wizard smiled at the guard and waved his hand. The guard stuttered, `` But but, the pr-princess said to watch this stranger. He could be dangerous, my lord.'' He paused, `` I live only to protect the crown,'' and gave a half-bow, careful not to lower his sword. 
 
 The wizard ran his staff across the rough rock of the dungeon wall, sparks flew from the stone topper, and the guard gasped. `` I am a member of the royal court, advisor to the king, the princess's personal magician, and a humble practitioner of the hidden arts, my newest friend. I think I will be safe,'' he said with a grandfatherly smile. The wizard performed a sleight-of-hand trick and produced a piece of dried meat. `` This is for you, my friend. A gift from an old, old man,'' he said. The guard caught the meat as the wizard lightly tossed it. `` My magic requires the strictest of privacy,'' he said as the guard examined the smoked morsel. 
 
 `` Yes, my lord,'' he said as he closed the door behind him and walked away. 
 
 The wizard rubbed his beard again and sighed. He poked the man with his staff, `` Wake up, stranger,'' he said. The man slowly came to. His eyes went wide, `` G..g..gandalf,'' he asked. 
 
 The wizard let out a belly laugh. `` I know not of this Gandalf. My name is Necheles, like my father and his father before him. I am a learned man in our king's court. His daughter asked me to check on your welfare. There are concerns that you are a lost foreigner or perhaps even a spy. You are clearly educated and well-mannered. Be you a royal, sir?'' 
 
 The man sat down on the cold stone, self-conscious of his nakedness. The wizard tossed him a blanket hanging on the back of the cell door. The man wrapped himself in it. `` I come from another time. I do n't know why I'm here. I've been living in the wilderness. I nearly starved. I'm sick,'' he said coughing. 
 
 `` Tell me of your lands,'' asked the wizard as he sat on a small wooden stool. 
 
 `` I'm from the same lands, but in the future... do you understand future?'' 
 
 `` I'm familiar with magickal time, yes. It was deep within magickal time when this staff was gifted to me from an ancient power. I'm afraid your madness is quite unique. I can brew a potion to help you, sir.'' 
 
 The man stood up angrily, `` I do n't need a fucking potion. I need to get out of here.'' His chains rattled as he stood. 
 
 The wizard stood and waved his hands, `` Stop,'' he ordered as a plume of smoke appeared. 
 
 The man coughed and laughed, `` Is that a smoke pot? We made those in high school. Potassium and something else. You can make it from bird shit.'' 
 
 The wizard slapped his staff on the ground and sparks flew. He posed dramatically. `` Err, that's just a flint rock, right,'' he added. 
 
 `` Look, I can tell you things. How mechanics work. How democracy works. How medicine works,'' he pleaded. 
 
 The wizard stood there pondering. `` You can tell me all these things? All these... disruptive things? How they work? How we can make them work?'' 
 
 `` Yes, I can! I worked with my hands. I can make your magic look like child's play. We can make a deal, let me go, and I'll tell you everything.'' 
 
 The wizard smiled, `` That is a generous offer, sir. I will bring this up to the princess. She surely will be pleased.'' 
 
 The man smiled as the wizard walked out of the cell. 
 
 The wizard walked up to the guard, `` Gag him now and schedule his execution post-haste. He is a spy and a threat to the princess. My apologies for the harshness of this, but this is a dangerous man. The princess's life is our most cherished jewel, my friend. I trust you and your men will have no trouble with this... task?'' 
 
 The guard bowed deeply, `` I will personally make it my duty of honor to perform this task for the princess.'' 
 
 The wizard smiled, `` Thank you, my friend. You have made this frightened old mage happy and have continued to protect the crown. You possess a rare honor and the court will surely make note of it.'' 
 
 The guard bowed again and ran towards the head guard's office. 
 
 The wizard chuckled, ``... magic as child's play, eh? Democracy? Nonsense! Provocative nonsense,'' and walked alone down the quiet stone corridor, the tails of his robe dragging behind him with a quiet swishing sound.
