In a quiet corner of the square, Anos, Julius, and Sophia sat on the stone edge of the central fountain. The water within shimmered gently under the golden lanterns, and the distant melodies of musicians still reached their ears. Occasionally, a child would gleefully run toward the water, tossing in a pebble, their laughter ringing like silver chimes through the air.
The three of them conversed peacefully, as if all the world's worries had been left outside the city's gates.
Sophia glanced around, her eyes gently observing the joy of the people. Elves with colorful sashes danced alongside dwarves, while half-humans played with human children. The scene was so harmonious and full of warmth that tears welled up in her eyes, yet a soft, contemplative smile graced her face.
In a quiet voice, as if emerging from deep thought, she asked.
"What do you think... is truly the most important thing in this world?"
Julius looked at her, momentarily surprised, then raised his head to gaze at the night sky, where stars sparkled like points of light across the indigo expanse.
"For me? Family. And friendship. It might sound simple, but without them, life feels like just a shell—existing, but without meaning."
A brief silence settled among them, broken only by the sound of the wind and distant singing.
Anos placed his hands on his knees and leaned forward slightly. His expression appeared serious and indifferent, but his voice was firm:
"I believe power is the most important. Because power brings freedom... respect, and even love. Without power, all these beautiful values are just empty words. Power is the foundation of everything."
Julius furrowed his brow slightly and responded firmly:
"But what if you have power and no one truly loves you? If everyone fears you but no one is honest with you, what's the use of that power? True love and friendship are what give life meaning."
Sophia, still listening to the sound of the water and not lifting her gaze from its shimmering surface, said softly:
"I think... the most important thing is inner growth. Facing yourself, not fearing your mistakes, learning from them. Being able to forgive... not just others, but even yourself. It's this spiritual evolution that gives life depth."
Julius's voice softened, and a deep smile appeared on his face:
"That's a beautiful thought, Sophia. Growing through your mistakes is very human. Very real. We're not perfect, but we can become better... and that means being alive."
Anos shrugged, gave a brief smile, and said:
"Maybe you're right. Maybe not. But in the end, we all cling to something that motivates us. For me, that's power. But perhaps it's different for everyone..."
At that moment, Arthur and Professor Charles approached with calm steps through a pathway lined with shrubs and small lights. Professor Charles carried a bag emitting the aroma of dried plums, cinnamon biscuits, and nut-filled breads. The sound of their footsteps mingled with the rustling of dried leaves beneath them.
Arthur, biting into a biscuit, suddenly asked:
"Professor Charles, have you ever... made mistakes in your life?"
The professor paused. His gaze was on the trees, but his voice was calm and warm:
"Yes, Arthur. Many mistakes. But... I don't call them mistakes. They were choices. Choices that shaped me."
Arthur listened with wide eyes. Charles bent down and picked up a dried leaf from the ground. In the moonlight, the leaf glowed like a piece of gold.
"Some choices had a bitter taste. But just as the tongue can recognize bitterness and appreciate sweetness, you must learn to savor your mistakes. Experience them. Not just with your mind, but with your heart."
Arthur nodded. Something within him felt at peace.
The professor smiled and gently placed a hand on Arthur's head:
"One day you'll understand, Arthur... the day you're also shaped by your choices."
Moments later, they headed toward a stall where an elf woman, with a warm smile, offered a packet of dried plums. The professor turned to Arthur and said:
"These dried plums are excellent. Let's take some for the others."
And finally, the two of them, with treats in hand, returned to the square.
As they approached their friends, Arthur's voice rose amidst the music and laughter:
"Hey guys! We're back!"
Sophia and Julius turned their heads and smiled as they saw Professor Charles approaching with Arthur.
Julius, with a joyful expression, said:
"Professor?! You came to the festival too? That's wonderful!"
The professor replied with a gentle smile:
"I thought it might be time to enjoy a bit of life's celebration... alongside those who will shape the future."
Their group was complete. Under the starry sky, beside the lanterns' glow, amidst the music and laughter, a moment of peace, connection, and hope blossomed in the heart of the night.
The children joyfully welcomed the treats Arthur and Professor Charles had brought from the bustling, colorful stalls of the square. The scent of fresh sweets and dried fruits filled the air, and their faces lit up with excitement and smiles.
Professor Charles sat beside them on the stone edge of the fountain, where the torchlight made the water's surface shine like a golden mirror. He looked at the group and, with a mischievous yet gentle voice, said:
"So... what were you discussing? I could hear your debates from afar, but the music made it hard to catch the topic."
Julius, enjoying a juicy apple, smiled and said:
"We were talking about life's values, Professor. Each of us had a different perspective."
Sophia nodded softly, her light hair swaying in the night breeze. With a calm and thoughtful tone, she said:
"Yes... and it's interesting how each of us thinks so differently."
Professor Charles, his eyes fixed on the torch flames, gave a faint smile and said:
"It seems like an intriguing discussion. Well, let's hear it... Julius, you first. What do you think?"
Julius: "I believe family and friendship are the most important. Loving someone, having someone by your side to strive for... that's what makes life real and alive."
Professor Charles nodded gently:
"Beautifully said, Julius. Love and friendship... the warmth that saves a person from the coldness of meaninglessness. But... have you ever considered that the same love can lead people to the darkest places?"
He paused, then continued:
"Sometimes madness, revenge, and even betrayal stem from incomplete love, not hatred. The more important question is: Do you know how to love without burning someone?"
Julius paused for a moment, then confidently said:
"I protect those who love me. Being strong means being someone others can rely on."
Professor Charles looked deeply into his eyes. His tone was calm but layered:
"That's a lovely sentiment... but even a wolf, if it loves the pack, is still a wolf. Power and love together can create the bravest protectors... or the most dangerous monsters. The question is knowing when to use your power. And more importantly, whether you're truly strong inside or just wearing the mask of strength."
Julius fell silent, his gaze fixed on the torch flame. The professor's words echoed in his mind.
The professor placed a hand on his shoulder, kindly saying:
"But your perspective is heartening. Valuing friendship and love shows the warmth of your heart. Well done."
Then he turned to Sophia and said:
"Now it's your turn, Sophia. What's your view on life's value?"
Sophia, her gaze still on the calm water, said:
"I think the most important part of life is inner growth. Learning from your mistakes, learning to forgive, and striving to become a better person. Learning to enjoy the journey, not just the destination."
Professor Charles nodded. He smiled, but his gaze was deep and contemplative:
"You gave an interesting example… the ant. Small, silent, powerless. But did you know ants build empires—without even a single commander? And if, with pride, you crush one under your shoe… a thousand more, without anger or violence, will simply change course and carry on."
He paused. His voice grew softer, deeper:
"The kind of power you're talking about… it's loud. But sometimes, the quietest things are the most dangerous.
So my question is:
Can power built on fear ever bring real respect?
Or is it just a silence born of terror… waiting to explode into a scream of rage one day?"
Julius smiled, turned toward Anos, and said,
"That's exactly what I told Anos. Respect built on fear is worthless. If one day you're even slightly weaker, you lose it all. If the foundation of a building is just power, one small crack can bring everything down."
Professor Charles looked at Julius with calm admiration. A faint, thoughtful smile played on his lips.
"You're right… power that feeds only on fear is like a castle built on sand. The first wave will tear it down…"
He clasped his hands behind his back and took a few slow steps. Then suddenly stopped.
"But be careful… many make the mistake of thinking love is the opposite of power. When in fact, true love is one of the greatest powers of all.
And like any power… if you can't guide it well, it can burn you."
The four teenagers fell into a heavy silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Something had sparked in their minds—a fresh perspective on life.
Then Professor Charles slowly turned to Arthur and said,
"So tell me, Arthur… what do you think?"
Arthur was slightly taken aback. He paused, searching for the right words.
"Me? Well… honestly, I'm not sure. My view is a mix of all of these. Love and friendship are beautiful. Inner growth is important. And power… it has its place."
He took a breath, paused again, and then continued, his tone more serious:
"But if I'm speaking from the heart… for me, freedom is the most important thing. To be able to do whatever I want, without limits. It doesn't matter if what I do is good or bad… because those words mean nothing to me.
I'm willing to risk others' freedom for my own… because I'm not a hero like Julius, or power-hungry like Anos, or on some spiritual journey like Sophia.
I just want to be free to do what I like."
Silence settled like a storm about to break. Arthur's words struck a different chord.
Professor Charles gave Arthur a deep look. He stayed quiet for a moment, then spoke in a low, resonant voice:
"Freedom… what a seductive word.
Its sweetness often calls to those who want to escape law, ethics, or even love."
He stepped closer, knelt to Arthur's level. His voice was gentle but weighty:
"You said you'd sacrifice others' freedom for your own… Do you know who else thought like that? Dictators. Criminals.
And sometimes… fallen heroes."
He stood up, turned his back to Arthur, and walked a few steps forward.
"Arthur… if one day you truly get to do whatever you want… I hope there's still someone left to ask anything from.
Because absolute freedom often brings absolute loneliness."
Arthur said nothing. His lips parted slightly, as if he had something to say, but even he wasn't sure of it.
At that moment, Professor Charles turned back to the group with a soft smile and said:
"My dears… the truth might be a blend of all these things. Like an orchestra:
Power is like percussion—it sets the rhythm.
Love is the violin—it brings warmth and feeling.
Inner growth? That's the piano—it adds depth.
And freedom? Freedom is the silence between the notes…
The space where you choose when to play, and when to be still.
If you only play one instrument, your music is incomplete.
But when all of them come together… that's when life becomes a symphony."
He smiled.
"Don't you agree?"
All four teens smiled back. They nodded slowly. Something had shifted in their eyes.
Then Professor Charles, with a warm, fatherly look, said gently:
"Before we go on… let me tell each of you something."
He looked at Julius:
"You have a pure heart, Julius. Like a canary that still sings inside a cage.
But remember… pure hearts break more easily.
Be careful not to let your honesty become the noose around your neck."
He turned to Anos:
"Anos… there's a dangerous future inside you.
Your hunger for power could save you… or turn you into a monster even you fear.
The question is: do you really want power for yourself?
Or are you running from weakness?
Because if you're running… you'll always be chasing something you can never catch."
He looked at Sophia:
"Sophia… you're like an unfinished poem.
Full of meaning, full of questions.
But even the most beautiful tree will wither if its roots are in the wrong soil.
Don't fear growth… but first, understand your soil."
And finally, he looked at Arthur:
"Arthur… you're like a bird that tore its own cage apart, even if you haven't learned to fly yet.
Your thirst for freedom is admirable…
But when you turn that freedom into a sword to clip others' wings,
Then you're no longer a bird… you're a hunter, alone in a silent sky."
Sophia, eyes filled with depth and questions, looked at the professor:
"Professor… if I haven't found my roots yet, how can I grow?"
Arthur, with a bitter smile, said softly:
"And if my freedom becomes a blade that wounds even me… but it still lets me be myself—what then?"
Julius placed a hand on Sophia's shoulder:
"We've still got a long road ahead… maybe even the professor is still learning."
Anos, quiet and thoughtful, added:
"Maybe power without understanding… is just a tool for falling."
Professor Charles, with a warm, meaningful smile, said:
"Bravo. The fact that you're starting to understand—that's the first step."
Professor Charles's warm smile lingered as he bent down to the teens' level and gazed into the flames, where people leapt with joy. The fire danced in the wind, and the scent of smoke mingled with herbs and damp earth.
With a soft voice, tinged with a childlike excitement, he said:
"Well, little ones… it's time to jump. Don't forget—when you leap, shout loudly:
*Take my paleness, give me your glow!*
Let this fire burn away your sorrows and your weariness."
Julius's eyes lit up.
"Whoa, Professor! I read about this in the book on ancient festivals! It's real!"
Sophia raised her hands, spun around with a giggle.
"Let's jump! Whoever jumps the best wins!"
Anos, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, grinned:
"Just don't let the fire burn my hair—I just had it done!"
And Arthur, who was always the quietest among them, chuckled under his breath:
"Today… it feels like a dream you never wake up from."
One by one, with laughter and shouts, they leapt over the small flames. The crackling of half-burnt wood mingled with their laughter. The yellow firelight lit up their faces, and their tall shadows danced across the ground.
When the jumping ended, the teacher said,
"Time for ash! The smell of kashk led me here!"
They all burst out laughing and headed toward the food stall. A row of large cauldrons stood steaming side by side. The warm vapor rose, carrying the rich scent of *ash reshteh*, fresh herbs, whey, and fried onions—it was enough to make anyone light-headed.
Arthur stepped forward with a mischievous grin:
"Five bowls of *ash reshteh*, please! Extra fried onions… the kind that get just a little burnt at the bottom!"
They all sat around a wooden table. The steam from the food reddened their cheeks, and the warmth reached their fingertips.
Julius raised his spoon and recited loudly:
"Let us scatter the flowers and pour the wine into the goblet!"
Sophia continued with excitement:
"Let us shatter the dome of the heavens and create a new design!"
Anos, his mouth full of soup, raised his hand:
"Wait… wait… I know a verse too, just let me swallow first!"
Everyone burst into laughter, and Arthur, gazing into the steam rising from his bowl, softly whispered:
"Spring has come… maybe this year… freedom will too."
Professor Charles watched them in silence. A warm, fatherly smile played on his lips. Inside, something stirred—a mix of joy, hope, and a faint sorrow. Under his breath, he murmured,
*"There's a flame in every child… some just learn to dance with fire a little sooner."*
After finishing their food and sipping on cold minty *doogh*, the crowd began to settle down. But suddenly, the professor stood up and walked off in a certain direction. His eyes searched among the families taking pictures with their children.
He approached one of the photographers—an older man with an old but professional camera, arranging people beside the fire to snap their photos. The professor stepped closer and said kindly,
"Would you mind taking one of us? Of my kids…"
The photographer smiled.
"With pleasure, sir! Come stand in front of the fire. The light's perfect."
The kids stood beside each other with delight. Julius stood with arms wide open and a grin stretching across his face. Sophia, caught mid-spin, had her hair floating in the breeze at just the right moment. Anos stood with arms crossed, his cocky smile brimming with confidence. Arthur stood quietly, hands in his pockets, smiling with calm—not too much, not too little.
Professor Charles stood behind them, resting his hands on Arthur's shoulders. His eyes were calm, and his smile… the smile of someone who'd found what they had long awaited.
The camera flashed.
The photographer smiled.
"Perfect shot. I'll print five copies—one for each of you."
A few minutes later, each of them held a photo in their hands. The firelight glowing behind them, the genuine smiles, the moment—one that perhaps would never come again.
Arthur stared at his photo, the shimmer of the firelight dancing across the glossy paper. He sighed gently and murmured,
"I'm glad I lived this moment with the ones I love… for a second there, it felt like everything… was just right."
And Professor Charles, standing in the hush of the night with distant fireworks echoing, looked at the faces of his students and smiled a smile that felt like a prayer.
The celebration had ended. The glow of the fires still flickered on the horizon, but slowly, they were dying down. The five friends, their cheeks flushed and eyes tired yet full of joy, returned to the academy. At the front gate, they hugged one another, laughed, and said goodbye
Charles watched them until the very last moment—their footsteps fading into the shadows of the night, their laughter dancing away on the breeze until it vanished. Then he let a faint smile cross his lips, turned up the collar of his coat, and walked toward his private quarters.
The night air carried the scent of smoke, *esfand*, and *ash reshteh*. The streets were still alive with people: children in colorful t-shirts leaping over small fires, families taking photos, and the steady popping of firecrackers shaking the night at regular intervals. But for Charles, the sounds seemed far away, muffled. He walked through another world—a world inside himself, made of memories.
His mind wandered, unbidden, through the scenes of the evening. Julius's smile, Sophia's endless energy, Anos's playful defiance, Arthur's deep calm… and that one sentence Arthur had whispered still echoed in his thoughts:
"Spring has come… maybe this year… freedom will too."
The moment he'd heard it, something in him had stirred. That unadorned sentence had landed straight in his heart. Arthur's way of seeing the world wasn't unlike his own—not just his view of freedom, but of pain, of release, of meaning…
He thought to himself:
*"This closeness… it's dangerous. Far too dangerous."*
He feared the resemblance. Feared that Arthur might walk the same path he once had—a path whose ending he knew all too well. A road paved with solitude, impossible choices, and a price that was always paid in full.
As Charles walked along the sidewalk, he raised his eyes. The sky was half-covered in clouds, but a single star peeked through. A cool breeze brushed against his face and hushed the noise of life for a fleeting moment. In that brief silence, his lips moved without thinking:
"I just hope something finds him… something that can help him not walk the path I did."
He stopped for a moment. Tilted his head slightly, and a quiet smile formed on his face. Not a smile of joy—but of acceptance. The kind that tastes both bitter and sweet.
Softly, he said:
"This gives me a better sense of who you are, Arthur… You're like a black swallow. Quiet, soundless… but inside, a storm."
And without saying more, he walked on. Through the crowd still celebrating—through the laughter, the music, and the spinning lights of fireworks—Professor Charles, in his long grey coat, disappeared like a gentle ghost into the night…