“We have a few announcements, as this course ends on Friday,” The professor said. She wrote the dates on the board, then she pointed to them. “You will have one exam, and I expect a paper worth two pages. The exam is worth thirty percent of your grades, so you must be careful with it. I am going to give each and every one of you a report card, so that you know where you can improve.”

When Lukas received his report card facing downward, he didn’t want to look at it. He wanted to pretend as though it didn’t exist. The professor, when she reached the front of the lecture hall, would begin speaking once more.

“Now, I know this grade is a complicated one, but such a grade will determine whether or not you can start courses for your desired major this summer. Therein, after this course, if you are successful, you must prepare to start your university career in full. You will discuss everything with your academic counselor, and you will choose a path to go down. But that can only be achieved if you have a grade over eighty percent, and you are in the top ranks of the class. Now, can we continue?”

When the class remained silent, the professor took it as a chance to to keep going. Lukas would keep up, putting his report card in his backpack, not even pausing to look at it. He would have other times to look at in full. But at this point, he had other, more important things. Studying, learning, and working.

But as he found his way through the day, the instructor gave him a topic for his next paper: write about the feud between Lord Alik and Lord Isidor. Lukas held it to his chest. At this point, he didn’t know whose side the professor was on, and there was a chance that if he were to write praising Lord Alik, Lord Isidor would be mad. On the other hand, if he were to write about Lord Isidor, perhaps he would offend Lord Alik. The lines between duty and truth had kept him. That was, if there was an objective truth that framed their conflict.

It felt odd to have dated someone he had known in his classes. He had found himself to believe that the conflict was complicated. Most feuds were, of course. But he had taken it to be nuanced. But this professor had asked him to take a stance on his paper.

When he made it to the front of the class, he would nod at the professor, before trying to dart away.

“Lukas,” she said. “Come over here for a second. We need to talk.”

Lukas turned back to her. “Sorry, Madam.”

“Have you looked at your report card?” The woman said, eying him suspiciously.

“No,” Lukas said. “I was going to look when I wasn’t distracted.”

“But you always seem a little distracted,” she said. “You take proper notes, which I can appreciate. But I gave you such a task so that you could go find a more concrete answer to your question. But I want you to take a stance. In university, you’re going to have to argue your points quite a bit. Even if you want to go into art school. Everyone will have to take the upper level composition classes regardless of their paths.”

Lukas guffawed. “Yes, Ma’am.”

The professor would grab her ruler and point at her backpack. “Before you leave, I want you to look at your report card. Seriously.”

Lukas would open it, and he would see his points. The relief would linger for only a second.

Your grade is at a 89%, and you are number 3 in the class. Do note that you have plenty of other assignments, and that the final exam is worth 50 points, while the paper is worth 20 points. You are rather studious and careful, but I notice you’re rather tired. I would suggest you reorganize your personal schedule, so that you can not be so tired in my class. Overall, a good score, but I do worry about you passing my class and advancing to the next level.

Lukas would take her admonishments and he would nod. “Thank you for the feedback, miss.”

“What, did you think you were doing horribly or something?” She asked. “But don’t worry. You’re one of my better students still.”

“Well, I don’t have family to distract me,” Lukas said. “A job, yes. But no family, really.”

“Well, I suppose that’s for the best,” she said. “At least for this class. As long as you understand hard work, you should be fine.”

Lukas would go outside, greet the dogs with another treat, then he would make his way back home to his painting. In finishing the pieces of the pier, he would, and then everything else, he would smile. It was done. He would just have to find a way to gift it. But as he let it dry, he would be satisfied.

It had been a long time since he had drawn like this, and at this point, a part of him wanted to keep it. If he were meant to go to art school, he would have to have something to showcase for it. He would plan on painting something else, or even going to one of the art stores later on. Maybe then, he could begin painting something from this world.

The longer he looked at the painting, the less it looked like home. Sure, he had spent most of his life in the city. But right then, even with a sketch guiding him, it wasn’t enough for him to remember the city fondly. After all, even though there were a lot of things which were amiss with this world, he had found a lot of people who cared about him, and above all else, he had found people who saw him for more than just his work, or his grades.

He would work on his studies throughout the day, trying to take things as best he could. On top of his work for the daily quizzes, he would also work on the papers, finding a book on the feud between Lord Isidor and lord Alik. The title read A Tale of Two Noblemen: The Two Political Directions.

Lukas would find the subject interesting, how the feud had begun after a war two hundred years ago. There would be more details, but the whole ideal of bringing money to the state to fund the palaces, the military, and state-funded artwork, verses that of working to better the lives of those who still farmed for their feudal lords. Many people had lived below poverty, and it took a wide range of tactics to get out of the situation: marrying your daughter off to someone better, working jobs closer to the palace, or elsewhere. Lord Alik and his family had long been advocates for changing such a system. Meanwhile, Lord Isidor and his family had surmised that such a system, while necessary, would eventually create an uproar which would undo the very fabric of society they had come to know and love.

Lukas would sit with his progress from that night. Between his studies for the exam, the studies for his paper, and the studies for tomorrow’s quiz, he had hoped it would be enough. Meanwhile, he knew there was a decent chance he still was behind.

Tomorrow, I go to the art store in my free time, so that I have a better portfolio for which to apply for art school. I am going to complete another large canvas of materials.