As the morning sun trickled its beams of light into the easternmost bedroom of the mayoral manor, Karl awoke to a familiar sound of hushed argument. He rolled over in bed, covering his head with his pillow to drown out the sound. For a few minutes it helped, but the volume of the argument rose. Reluctantly getting up, Karl tried his best to not focus on the sounds as he got dressed for his recitation.
A series of shouts could be heard from downstairs, followed by two sets of footsteps moving away from each other. One set eventually approached the door to Karl's room, as his mother knocked on the door, opening it without awaiting a response. She bore stains of tears on her cheeks, despite wearing a comforting smile as she spoke to Karl.
"Oh good, you're already up. The headmaster will be getting here any minute now, so I've already had the maid make your breakfast for you dear." Her sad eyes betrayed the smiling facade she put on while speaking to him. Karl nodded silently. She bowed her head and disappeared from the doorframe.
Karl stared out the window as he buttoned his gambeson, his wistful gaze passing over the roofs of the town towards the Woodsboro Woods, where the mayor's power meant nothing and the only law of the land is that the strong survive. The woods were a dangerous place, or so Karl had heard anyway, which only enticed him to want to go there more. He yearned to be able to stand on his own, his own person, not just the son of a mayor, born into riches. He'd gladly throw it all away for a chance at adventure.
At that very moment, a familiar carriage adorned with a prestigious-looking banner arrived at the manor's gate. Karl's mind immediately filled with dread as he tied up his pants and put on his socks, ran his hand through his hair to make himself look presentable, and grabbed his books. If he was to convince his parents to allow him to attend school, he would have to really impress the headmaster. And while playing pirates and whittling sticks came naturally to Karl, arithmetics and writing did not, so he knew it would take everything he had to pull this off.
Nearly knocking over the maid doing laundry, Karl sprinted down to the dining room where a simple breakfast of fresh caviar and buttered bread. As he scarfed it down he heard his father greeting the headmaster and exchanging pleasantries. He sputtered, washing the meal with half a pitcher of water and wiping his oily hands and lips on the corner of the tablecloth.
As the two men entered, Karl had moved to the center of the long table and spread out his books, in a manner which looked more natural for study.
"And there he is - come here Karl, let me introduce headmaster Gray," Karl's father said to the boy. He stood up and approached, not too quickly and in a very nonchalant manner.
"Good morning sir, my name is Karl and I am very interested in attending your institution of learning, if you will permit it. Sir." Karl's greeting was spoken very directly but subtly, just as he had heard one should address those in positions of authority. Despite this, the headmaster's eyes narrowed as he looked Karl over.
"Hmm… you could stand to iron your pants and comb your hair, but I suppose your rapport is… passable for our institution. Now then, shall we begin the assessment?" The headmaster approached the table, taking a seat across from Karl's spread of books. As Karl sat down he looked at one of the books which he had accidentally placed down the wrong way. He held his breath as the headmaster reached out towards the book with a suspicious look.
"I see you have chosen to start with arithmetics, very good. Most prospective students begin their assessment with their strongest subject, we have few talented arithmeticians at the academy," the headmaster said, picking up the book and flipping through it. "Hmm… yes, this will do. You may begin when you are ready," he said, placing the book down in front of Karl opened to a page of exercises. Karl gritted his teeth and crossed his fingers as he sat down, picking up his pen and paper.
"Well Karl, your assessment is complete. You will receive your results very soon, but I must say that this academy is very exclusive with its membership, so it's natural for high scoring students to not get in. Unless, of course, some contributing factors are added," the headmaster spoke, mostly to Karl's father who was escorting him to the door.
"Oh but of course, although perhaps it may be prudent to have the teachers travel here for Karl's lessons?" Karl silently scoffed at his father's suggestion.
"Nonsense, our academy is the finest in the city, it is a premier learning environment. With the way your son performed here, should you wish to contribute to our great establishment I'm certain his education will soon be underway. Why don't I give you some time to think it over, and we can reconvene at a later date to finalize his enrollment." The headmaster smiled as he shook the mayors hand. And then he was gone.
Karl picked up his books. He had done it, he had passed the hardest test his life had thrown at him so far, and he felt invincible. Hiding his giddiness, Karl made his way up to his room before locking the door and hopping quietly in glee.
His brief moment of ecstasy was cut short, however, as a set of footsteps gradually approached his door. Putting his books down and making himself appear busy at his desk, he waited for a knock on his door. After an uncomfortably long pause, his father opened the door.
"Karl, may I interrupt your studies for a moment? There is a matter of great importance I wish to address," his father spoke with slight uncertainty.
"Of course father, what is it?"
"Well you see, the headmaster is very impressed with your performance, and I am most proud of you for this. I couldn't be happier about how well you did today," he said, entering the room as he spoke. He walked past a bookshelf with several of Karl's whittled carvings, picking one of them up absentmindedly and smiling. "Ah, I remember when you made this one. You said it was an elk but you forgot the antlers, and you cried until I told you it could be a doe." He chuckled nostalgically, setting the carving down. "I was always proud of you, you know that?" The phrase was spoken more like an assertion of fact rather than a question, but Karl still nodded along as if it wasn't.
"I am so happy that you've almost gotten into the academy, this is a huge weight lifted off of my chest," he sighed as a shadow of sadness briefly drifted over his face, "and your mother's. But traveling so far just to attend an academy, are you sure that's what you want?"
Karl knew this dreaded question would come up. He furrowed his brow as his father quickly responded.
"No no, this isn't a question of money, the headmaster will be satisfied with the sizable contribution we will make to assure your attendance. You don't need to worry about any of that."
Karl made an effort to contain his emotions as he plastered false relief on his face. His father bought it, walking over to ruffle his son's hair.
"Don't you worry my boy, no expense shall be spared, I only want the best for you," he paused. "I just.. wish to be certain that this is what you truly desire."
Karl nodded, even if it was somewhat of a lie. The academy, studying the arts and sciences, taking lessons from scholars and learning proper etiquette, all of this was simply a means to an end. What he truly desired was to leave this wretched life, to run away and never look back, to assume some new identity in a distant land.
As these thoughts of freedom swam in his mind, a sigh from his father brought him back. He knew he couldn't tell his father this, even if deep down he might understand. Karl was his heir, he couldn't just let him go. The academy was the closest thing to freedom that he would ever get, so he knew he had to make the most of it.
"Karl.. I am glad that you feel strongly about this, but if you need more time to make up your mind I can speak with the headmaster. I am certain he would be amenable to have you begin your lessons here," his father continued with his naive proposition.
"That won't be necessary father, I am perfectly capable of attending the academy from the start of classes," Karl retorted with a not so subtle hint of defiance in his voice. His father blinked meekly before moving away.
"Of course, I don't doubt you for a moment, my son. I shall leave you to your lessons now," he said. Karl turned to his books as his father slowly strode across the room. Karl watched out of the corner of his eye as he gave his son a somber look before disappearing in the door frame. The footsteps slowly receded as Karl's giddiness returned, albeit significantly diminished and drained by his recent conversation.
He slowly walked towards his closet, being careful not to make a sound and avoiding the creaky floorboards, opening the doors and pushing his clothes to the side. He lifted the loose plank in his closet wall and reached into the hidden compartment, taking out a thin long burlap parcel.
Karl unfolded the fabric and laid it down in the closet.
He took out the contents of the parcel, a long smooth stick of ashwood, and placed it on his desk, gently shoving the books aside. He reached into his desk drawer, taking out some whittling tools, and began to carve, humming the tune he had once heard from a traveling master long ago.
It was summer. The heat was so intense that the maids carried fans around whilst doing housework. Karl often preferred sitting in the cellar, leaning on a cool wheel of cheese as a warm breeze wafted in every time cooks or servants would enter looking for wine for the various influential merchants and nobles meeting with the mayor.
That day was no exception. Karl sat in the cellar, enjoying the cool dry silence, only broken by the sound of turning pages. The book he had been reading was one he read many times, and yet his favorite as well, full of stories about pirates and soldiers and dangerous monsters. Best of all, the book had illustrations by the author himself, inspiring images of great battles within Karl's mind.
"Master Karl? Are you in here?" As a breeze fluttered the flame of his lantern, he looked up towards the door. The butler stood in the doorway peering inside. Spotting Karl he motioned for him to come.
"There you are. Your father wishes to speak with you. I believe you may have a new tutor."
Karl rolled his eyes, rising with his book in hand. The butler picked up the lantern and gently guided the boy out of the cellar.
"You should really consider spending your time in a place other than this, the dryness is terrible for your health. And reading in the dark could make you go blind," he said in a joking manner.
Karl smiled slightly. "But then I'll always be reading in the dark, so what's the difference?" The butler chuckled at his quip.
"Oh master Karl, you are so precocious. Now then, your father is waiting for you in the dining hall. Hurry up now," he smiled as the boy ran off towards the hall.
As he reached the dining hall, Karl saw his father speaking with a peculiar looking man. He wore a cloak with sleeves and had jet black hair tied into a bun. A thin beard dangled from his chin as he spoke quietly. As Karl entered, he looked in his direction and furrowed his brow over his narrow eyes. The mayor smiled and began to speak.
"Ah, there he is. May I present my son Karl. He has many tutors but his penmanship could use some work. Karl," his father spoke to him now, pointing at the spread of books on the table, "please show this gentleman your latest lesson in history, the one your instructor told you was illegible."
Karl trudged over to the table and opened the workbook with embarrassment. The last thing he wanted was another tutor thinking of him so lowly, yet he dared not disobey his father's wishes. The man looked over the writing. After a tense silence, he spoke with a strange accent.
"This is hopeless. I'm afraid I cannot teach him. He has no drive to improve."
Karl knew this was true but the words stung nonetheless. He did not care for history, he did not care for any of his studies. He clutched his storybook to his chest, fighting back tears as he did so. His father looked taken aback by the man's words.
"Oh but surely you're mistaken. If you are not satisfied with the sum I have offered, I am willing to pay more," Karl's father spoke hastily. The man shook his head before his gaze froze on the book Karl was holding.
"That book, can you read it?" The man's question seemed almost insulting but Karl's father quickly responded, yanking the book from the boy's hands.
"Oh this? Yes of course, he practically sleeps with it. But it's nothing, it's just a waste of time for him really. I'm sure that with your help and tutelage he will be able to apply himself and perfect his penmanship."
The man continued to stare at the book as Karl's father spoke. He then motioned with an open hand for it. Karl's father, bearing a confused look on his face, slowly handed him the book.
The man began to flip through the pages, an intense expression of concentration on his face as he did so. Karl's father anxiously tapped his foot as the awkward silence grew from moments to minutes. Finally he broke it.
"If you need some time to think about it, you are more than welcome to do so. I have an urgent notice that must be signed by noon, if you need anything please call the butler and he shall attend to your needs. Karl, be a good boy and convince this gentleman to teach you." With that the mayor hastily departed. Karl turned to the man with the look of a wounded animal. The man spoke without looking up from the book.
"So you want to be a hero?"
Karl stared at the man with wide eyes. What could he say to him in response to such a direct question? Was it a trick? Should he lie or pretend he didn't know?
The man, seemingly sensing hesitation, looked up at him. "Well? Your father says you have no interest in your studies, nor do you care to improve your skills. And yet you read this book day in and day out, a book written about great deeds, heroic and inspiring. So, do you want to be a hero?"
Karl slowly nodded, the quizzical expression paired with the man's piercing gaze rendering him incapable of lies.
"Are you willing to learn how to be one?"
Karl nodded again, without even thinking about it. It was as if his deepest desire was manifesting and responding for itself.
"Then I shall teach you for the short time I will remain here. You may go fetch your father, I shall wait here for him." The man handed Karl the book and turned away.
Karl staggered out of the room, full of both excitement and confusion. He barely spoke a few words to the butler before ascending the stairs to his room and sitting down on the corner of his bed.
"A hero," he quietly said to himself.