Mordred/Merlin

the grandpa - twink dichotomy of wizards is fake — it’s just illustrative of the life cycle of a wizard. 

as a larval stage wizard (a twink) matures, its beard grows steadily through its adulthood while the wizard gradually adds more layers to its wardrobe, eventually culminating in heavy robes. A fully matured wizard (grandpa) is engulfed by its clothing and pointy hat. 

most wizards finish their life cycle here. 

however, with the correct environmental circumstances — entry into a “story” involving a secondary organism, usually “the hero,” — will prompt the wizard to undergo metamorphosis and “die in an important plot event.” 

Metamorphosis is successful for approximately fifty percent of wizards, and leads to death in the other fifty percent. 

Successful metamorphosis leads to a wizard with fully developed “plot armor.” Often the wizard’s coat also changes hues, as symbolic of the maturity.

However, the death of a fully mature wizard releases spores into the atmosphere which infect the surrounding organisms with lesser strains of “plot armor” or “determination,” and often prompt the surrounding organisms to eventually find and foster other larval wizards. 

ᴀᴌᴇӿ ᴠᴌᴀʜᴏᴤ ɢɪғ ᴤᴘᴀᴍ

ᴀᴤ ᴍᴏᴙᴅᴙᴇᴅ ɪᴎ

ᴀᴌᴇӿ ᴠᴌᴀʜᴏᴤ ɢɪғ ᴤᴘᴀᴍ

ᴀᴤ ᴍᴏᴙᴅᴙᴇᴅ ɪᴎ