Despite the lingering despair the citizens of Hestanar often felt. They still had things to occupy them from their occasion worries; ploughing the fields (even though it isn't fertile), hunting game in the woods, fishing on the coastline, attending church gatherings, these activities all occupied their minds.
Although their bellies weren't always the fullest, they still had sufficient living standards. It was like a routine, rarely did something out of the ordinary ever happen.
That was, at the very least, all but true until a week ago.
Words of mouth allowed a piece of news to spread far and wide within the confines of the city walls.
Throughout the entirety of the past week, guards patrolling the city regularly advertised the opening of a new school. The guards told the commoners the news, they also hung up posters around the city, proudly boasting they would send their sons and daughters to attend when it first opens.
Though the commoners were certainly surprised upon hearing this, what they were even more surprised about was the fact that classes were free.
The citizens of Hestanar all grew suspicious, who didn't know education was expensive. The price to send one child to have an education would require a lifetime of work. Only people of the higher class would have the deep pockets to send their children to a school.
But although they were certainly sceptical at the news, there was no harm in having a look, right?
.
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Walking on the narrow laid stone path were two commoners: an old man in his 30s and a young girl around the age of 10. On their sides, there were the occasional stone and wooden built houses handcrafted by their humble neighbours.
Along the way, they greeted the occasional commoner they saw. Always remaining humble and friendly to everyone they saw. After greeting yet another neighbour they passed by, the little girl couldn't help but get a little confused.
"Papa? Where we going?" the girl asked whilst she dragged the man's hand. Looking up to see his face.
"I heard this from one of dad's friend. There's a new school in Hestanar, and I want you to attend it." The man said whilst he gave his little daughter a soft smile, curing the little child's curiosity.
"A school?" the girl asked again, assuring she wasn't mishearing.
"That's right, a school where you will learn." The man reinstated what he already told his daughter.
"But papa, I don't want to attend no school. I want to help you with big people's work." The girl said whilst he pulled back to release her little hands from his father's grip.
The father by then stopped in his footsteps. He turned around and dropped down to level his eyes with his daughter. With his right hand, he patted her head, scuffing up her hair in the meanwhile.
"Sofia. You are yet too small to help me significantly. But going to this school will help us more than you think. No matter how much or little you learn there, try your hardest."
"But papa, you always come home late, and you are always so tired, why wouldn't you just let me help you." The little girl said whilst she stomped her feet on the ground, acting all angry.
The father could only sigh as he heard this. As a fully grown adult that understood the hardships of life, he knew just how much this opportunity was. He was also once like his daughter, naïve that by working his hardest for his family to lead them to prosperity.
But with his age and experience, he knew what his daughter couldn't understand.
"Will you please promise me to just try for at least once, Sofia? I promise I would cook your favourite carrot soup tonight if you do." The father said whilst he held out his pinkie finger to the girl in front of him.
"Carrot soup? Hmph, not interested!" The girl stated as she turned her head to the side, acting uninterested in the offer. However, the father could see her gluttonous daughter licking her lips.
"You sure honey? Are you sureeeee– you don't want to eat daddy's magical carrot soup?"
"No, I said no!"
"You are really reallyyyy– sure? Daddy's cooking is very magical." ✧･ﾟ:* The father said as he twinkled his fingers, adding a sense of mystique.
"No!"
The father sighed as he dropped his head. "Ah, such a pity… I guess only I could enjoy carrot soup tonight." The father dramatized his tone with a sense of regret, sighing as loud as possible.
Finally, the little girl couldn't withhold her desires and cracked under the temptation. "Fine, fine. But just this one time." Sofia said with her back turned. However, she was hiding the fact that she was wiping off her drool with her sleeve to his father.
The father grinned secretly. 'She's gluttonous as always…' he thought.
As the father and daughter duo stopped their conversation and continued back on their travel, they left their neighbourhood to arrive near the marketplace.
Then, through a side valley, they made their way to the pub that the father remembered going to often during his drinking days. They were making their way to the Quartermaster Pub, where the guards stated the new school will be operating.
The duo continued down the side alley.
With a few twists and turns, the pub was in sight. But to his surprise, they weren't the only ones gathered around here.
The father and daughter could see other parents and kids of various other families, all gathered around the Quartermaster Pub, if he had to count the number of people, he estimates there were at least 300 people all gathered here.
He even saw some of his co-workers that work at the same place as he does. When the father and his work buddy met eye to eye, they couldn't help but give themselves a soft laugh, waving at each other. It seems they all had the same idea.
"Pa, I can't see anything down here." The little girl complained as the crowd blocked her sight.
The father, upon hearing this, gave his daughter a piggyback. Sofia sat firmly on his father's shoulders.
"Hold on Sofia, don't lose your balance." The father warned her, even though his hands were tightly clasped around her ankles.
"I will… hey look papa, someone's going on that stage." Sofia pointed at the very front of the quartermaster pub, where just outside laid a wooden platform.
The platform was clearly purposed for someone to deliver a speech.