by W. C. Jasper
“Hmmm” smilingly said Lady Heidi, “That is what I am talking about.” She paused for a moment and continued, “The reason why he always sits at your feet, as you rightly said, is entirely different. He just enjoys drinking from your cup…”
‘Drinking from one’s cup’ was a saying in Jerudia that had multiple meanings: ‘1. Sharing one’s soul; and/or 2. drawing from one you believe to be greater than you; and/or 3. drawing from someone you love even though they are equal to you or lesser than you’.
King Jeraash nodded as she continued, “And as for him always sitting on the floor… Well, part of it is that he enjoys humbling himself. He enjoys exalting others and humbling himself. And another part of it seems to escape my grasp just by a thread… but I know that it is also closely related to the first thing…”
King Jeraash helped her, “He is born to be a leader… He naturally has a very imposing presence… That imposing presence teamed with his title as Prince and his great reputation as a great General and the greatest warrior… He knows that people must be quite… not quite comfortable as equals around him. So he works hard to put others at ease around him. And in that effort, he always sits on the floor so that others can see him as being okay with being treated as a commoner.”
Lady Heidi: “You really observe your brother very closely, don’t you?”
King Jeraash: “Is there anything else of more importance to me?”
Lady Heidi chuckled, “Of course.” She steered herself back to the primary conversation, “About this thing with Gabi. The reason he sits at her feet is because he sees that she is particularly traumatised by being oppressed… She has a remnant feeling from her past experiences and trauma where she feels like people are standing over her and oppressing her beneath their feet. So he is countering it by letting her feel the experience of someone existing on a plane below her… someone letting her be in a higher position than themselves… someone putting themselves beneath her hand. But the problem is that despite how tremendously healing you are to them both, even now I do not see them being anywhere close to the place where they can venture out… Until they can be comfortable with strangers visiting the place they live, they cannot begin to be comfortable with visiting a world full of strangers. This is something that only the Cohens could have fixed. But we don’t even know if they are real.”
King Jeraash sighed. He sat with an empty expression on his face for a while and responded, “You will still visit them regularly and help them progress with allowing strangers into their house, correct?”
“Of course!” said Lady Heidi.
King Jeraash added after a little thought, “Lady Heidi. Now that I’ve invited you into the inner circle, there is something that I need to tell you. Please note that not even my own protege, General Hana knows about this. We have not told even Lord Akula about this. Not even General Thayman’s son and wife, my own aunt and cousin, know about this. That is how secret this is.”
Lady Heidi prepared herself for what she expected to be the most important secret she was going to hear. Even so, she could never have prepared for what she was going to hear. For that day, she learned how much of the divine lore was living right under her nose.
On a warm morning, King Jeraash and Prince Jared entered Radaa’s second-degree school for a routine, half-yearly inspection. The only time Prince Jared gladly put away his bag of chips and behaved in a disciplined fashion overall. For he was, after all, a son of the House of Rash-Yaph; and accordingly, his commitment to preserving the future of Jerudia was absolute. And also, his love for children was even greater than the King’s love for children. And his brand of love was one that understood that discipline which ensures the welfare of loved ones is far superior than the mindless outpouring of affection.
Everyone in the House of Rash-Yaph understood that the children are the future of any land. But Prince Jared and King Jeraash also had a particular passion for education.
The education system of Jerudia, originally envisioned and established by King Jahous, was praised as the greatest education system by everyone on the Earth. But, after his sons took over, it quickly became clearly inferior to the new system created by his sons. King Jahous’ education system was now clearly second to the new greatest education system designed and developed by King Jeraash and Prince Jared.
Under the new education system designed by King Jeraash and Prince Jared, children were introduced to school at the age of three. Human development was much faster, and children were ready enough to start schooling even a little sooner, but the brothers decided that taking this slow was better. At the age of three, children enrolled in what was called ‘Preliminary school’. It can be considered the equivalent to the kindergartens of our world. The preliminary school focused on the fundamental skills required for beginning the academic education such as writing, reading, and rudimentary mathematics. It lasted for two years, but on account of faster human development, children gained a lot more from it than what our kindergartens accomplish.
Next came first-degree school. Starting at age five, it lasted for three years. It equipped students with the elementary principles of literature, science, mathematics, and fundamental social/political knowledge (more to do with establishing the concepts of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour in a human society). At the age of eight, students graduated from first-degree school. Education up to this point was compulsory as defined by the law of Jerudia, and was provided for free by the Jerudian government.
Once students graduated from first-degree school, they could either choose to pursue their profession/craft of choice (anything from carpentry to theatre) or opt for second-degree academics. Second-degree school was a completely elective course in which students could choose two subjects to attain ‘Level 6’ mastery in. Level 6 was the highest level of standard mastery in any given subject. Accordingly, as the available knowledge in a particular field of study progressed, so did the curriculum for Level 6. Additionally, students could also choose any number of additional subjects in which they could arbitrarily choose the level of mastery they desire to achieve. Students had the complete freedom of choice to discard the additional subjects at any level of progress. There was no defined timeline for completing second-degree school, but only those who graduated within five years were awarded an ‘Esteemed Degree’ that held the most respect and value. After graduating from the second-degree school, students could choose to pursue further academics which was ‘Level 7’ mastery. This was the absolute pinnacle of mastery in a field which would make one an elite scholar in the discipline. But whether they would be admitted for it depended entirely on the assessment of the elite scholars on whether the applicants are worthy of it.
As King Jeraash and Prince Jared entered the second-degree school, everyone realised that it was an inspection. The King and Prince walked in perfect rhythm as if their footsteps were the notes in an orchestra being directed by a conductor. Prince Jared walked behind the King on his left, carrying a notebook and pen in his hands. The most overqualified personal secretary, one could say. For once, it would have been true to say that the pen would have been just as mighty in this man’s hands as a sword. But then again, that could have been true for his elder brother too.
As always, the inspection was unscheduled and a surprise to everyone. While it was an episode of nervousness for the teachers, it was rather exciting for students whenever the King and Prince visited. They entered a class of 20 first-year students in a lesson of ‘scientific thinking’.
Everyone stood up in honour of the King and Prince as the King gestured with his hand to skip the formalities and take their seats. The teacher, who was enjoying a glass of cold water when they arrived, hurriedly placed the glass on the table as it clinked violently and spilled a little water on the table. He greeted them, “My King, My Prince. What a privilege to have you here.” ‘Privilege’, said his mouth, “nervous”, screamed the several involuntary twitches on his body. The King and Prince made no mention of it as the K
ing offered a single nod in a formal fashion to the teacher and proceeded to stand in the front of the classroom with his hands tied behind his back. The King and Prince scanned every student in the room as the teacher stood nervously at the side.
After several seconds, King Jeraash picked up the glass that the teacher had hurriedly placed on the table and brought out his handkerchief and cleaned the water spilled on the table. As he cleaned the spilled water, there was a knock at the open door of the classroom. Thaymas was summoned by Prince Jared to join them for the visit, as he planned on training Thaymas for the administration of the education system. Thaymas did not have much talent for this, but Prince Jared still saw something in him that was worth applying in this domain. Prince Jared looked at him and nodded once, giving him permission to enter the room. Thaymas had been home-schooled as his mother wanted him to never come in contact with the King and Prince. This was the first time Thaymas was stepping inside a school.
The teacher was sweating profusely now. King Jeraash, who was not looking at the teacher, spoke with a kind voice, “No need to stress about it, Mr Tanaaka.” The King stared at the glass deeply, almost as if he were inspecting it as he walked around the room, making his way through the students, “Let us take a break from ‘Scientific Thinking’.” As he returned to the front of the classroom, he wrapped his handkerchief around the bottom of the glass and placed it on the table. He stood facing the students with his hands tied behind his back and his torso as erect as ever, “I have an offer.” There it was. The reason his visits were exciting for the students. Even the first-year students had heard of the King’s ‘generous offers’ during his visits.
The students leaned forward in their seats in eagerness. He turned to the blackboard and drew an arrow pointing to the right-hand side of the ones facing the blackboard. Prince Jared stared at the board and wondered for a few seconds about what his brother was planning. King Jeraash started strolling through the room once again, with his hands tied behind his back, “I want to see the arrow on that blackboard pointing to the left. But you are not allowed to touch the blackboard. Neither with your hands, nor with any other object. Whoever accomplishes the task first, will be awarded ten silver coins. You have five whole minutes. Begin.” He placed the hourglass on the table and proceeded to observe the students.
Prince Jared quickly wrote down his answers in his notebook. King Jeraash, hearing him write, spoke with a low and soft voice, “You are not eligible for any reward, dear Brother mine.” Prince Jared replied at once, “But you said, ‘whoever’, My King. Surely, you are a man of your word. Surely you would not break your word in front of the—” as he was cut short by the piercing daggers from the King’s eyes. King Jeraash answered with external annoyance and internal adoration of his brother’s jest, “Fine. Keep quiet now.” Prince Jared tilted his head downwards with raised eyebrows and finished writing his answers.
Each student was thinking very hard and trying their best to find an answer. Five of them were thinking so hard that it could be seen in their physical discharge. Their animated behaviour as they racked their brains reminded King Jeraash of Prince Jared whenever their father used to present them with a puzzle. When 255 seconds had passed by, one girl stood up and exclaimed, “I know the answer!” King Jeraash could already see what her answer would be and replied, “Come here and whisper it in my ear.”
As the 300 seconds came to an end, King Jeraash turned to Prince Jared and spoke, “I notice someone of your species here.”
Prince Jared knew already whom he was referring to and answered, “I think I know what answer he will give you.”
King Jeraash raised his eyebrows and tilted his head, “You are SURE that he has an answer?”
Prince Jared replied, “I might not be able to defeat you at chess, but I am not that stupid, Brother.”
In a very rare moment, the child inside King Jeraash now came out in a professional environment, “Ah! So you DO admit that you can never defeat me at chess!”
Prince Jared replied instantly to escape the grave he had dug for himself, “This is not the time for that! We are in the middle of important work!”
King Jeraash knew that his brother was dodging the matter. But even so, what he said was true, so he quickly reverted to being ‘King Jeraash’ instead of ‘Elder Brother Jeraash’. “But truth be told,” said King Jeraash with a thoughtful and serious face now, “the reason I said that was because I myself was not entirely sure that he had an answer. But now that you are sure, that confirms it for me.”
The student that King Jeraash and Prince Jared were referring to was seated at the rear end of the classroom. He had mildly disinterested eyes, larger than average ears similar to Prince Jared’s, and spiky, black hair. As the question was posed, only for the first seven or eight seconds did he seem to think about it, and then suddenly, seemed to not care about it anymore. King Jeraash pointed to the boy and spoke, “You, my dear boy. You seem to be withholding your answer. Why be so unwilling to share? Sharing is a good virtue. Do share your answer with us.”
As the boy stood up, most would have interpreted the boy’s body language to be disrespectful. But the King and Prince could see that it was not disrespect, but an honest disinterest in things due to a deep disconnect with humanity. A disconnect that was either on account of incredible intellect or a vastly different and peculiar way of viewing things. But the King and Prince knew it to most probably be a combination of both. He generated an expression of interest in order to not offend the King and spoke, “My King. You said, ‘I want to see the arrow on that blackboard pointing to the left’. And the fact is that no one can make you look at something in a particular way unless you yourself wish to do so. People will always see things the way they wish to unless they themselves are willing to change the way they see something.”
“Looks like both my answers have been covered,” said Prince Jared as he revealed the answers on his notebook to the King.
King Jeraash looked at Prince Jared with raised eyebrows that said, “You know that I don’t need to look at the notebook.” He asked the boy, “May I have your name, dear one?”
“My name is Kensu, My King,” answered the boy in a manner of little boys acting like grown-ups.
Prince Jared made a note of the boy’s name and asked the little girl, “My Lady, may I have your name too?”
The little girl blushed and replied with the sweetest smile, “Suika is my name, My Prince.”
She was still standing next to the King, so King Jeraash asked her to demonstrate her answer.
Suika picked up the glass of water which was now only halfway full and poured some more water into it and proceeded to demonstrate her answer with a detailed lesson. “You see…” began Suika and proceeded to place the glass of water in front of the eyes of a girl sitting at the front of the class, “When you see things through a glass of water, the refraction causes any light passing through it to be reversed.”
“Well,” said King Jeraash, “the explanation is not perfect or complete. But the little lady is brilliant indeed. Suika, would you please tell the class how you know about the word ‘refraction’?”
Suika replied with a most pleased expression, “I read it in a book in the library!”
King Jeraash turned to the class and spoke with his hands tied behind his back, “You are all here because you are seeking higher academic education than others. Not everyone needs this level of education, and it is not beneficial to everyone either. But if you have chosen this path, then you need to put as much effort into learning and studying as you can. You need to find your own paths to gain more knowledge. And when you have accumulated much knowledge, you also need to create and develop your own findings and theses. And when you come across a word which you don’t know the meaning of, such as ‘theses’, note it down and later search for it in a dictionary and learn its meaning. T-H-E-S-I-S is the singular, and T-H-E-S-E-S is the plural. We are proud of Suika for earning this award of ten silver coins.�
� He handed her the ten silver coins and continued, “But remember that this is only a demonstration. She just happened to possess the right knowledge required for answering this question. But make sure to always remember the real lesson here - it is our job to learn as much as we can, and ADD to the knowledge that exists in this world. We cannot simply accumulate knowledge from this world, and leave it as it is. We are to add to the world… We are to make an impact. To learn from the knowledge that exists in the world, and to not add to it, is ignoble and selfish.”
After having said his piece, King Jeraash looked over at Prince Jared, inquiring if there was anything he wished to add. Prince Jared shook his head gently at which the King proceeded to turn to the classroom and declare, “I wish you all the very best! I hope to one day see each and every one of you serving your kingdom as elite scholars.” The King and Prince bowed gently to the students, at which Thaymas was taken by surprise but followed suit quickly once he realised what was happening.
King Jeraash turned to the teacher and spoke, “Thank you for your time, Mr Tanaaka.” As Mr Tanaaka nervously bowed, King Jeraash acknowledged it with a smile and proceeded to leave the classroom swiftly. Prince Jared and Thaymas swiftly followed in their leader’s path.
After having visited several classrooms, as they exited the school, Thaymas enquired, “Surely the only purpose of engaging with the students could not have been to teach them the principle of adding to the knowledge that we learn from.”
Prince Jared quickly responded to his query, “Well, engaging with the students had multiple purposes. For one thing, simply having a conversation with them can tell my brother whether they are being treated with respect and dignity in their everyday school activities. Although that isn’t necessary given how thorough we are with the administration of our education system, it is still worth doing. And the reason you mentioned is also one of them. And another important reason is recognising outstanding talents. As you noticed, there were three outstanding students we encountered today. Suika and Kensu from the first-years, and Hinata from the second-years.” Thaymas’ surprise could be seen on his face.
