First Encounter

Jack's first impression of Erik was that he was the epitome of seriousness.

He was tall, neatly dressed with humble robes, grey haired, and had a perfectly groomed grey beard on his face which reached his lower chest. His eyebrows were bushy and faced upwards, like a battalion of spear-wielders attempting to breach the gates of Heaven. His eyes were dark green and deep within his face; the tell-tale sign of one who spends all his time in front of poorly lit books in deep concentration. His mouth was frozen in a deep frown as if smiling were physically impossible for him.

From the moment Jack walked into Ichabod's office with Jadelere in tow, Erik hadn't stopped examining him. In fact, he hadn't even spared a glance to his former colleague.

"Young Jack Hare, I presume." He said in a deep, and surprisingly mellow, voice, befitting his serious demeanour.

"It is I, good sir." Politely said Jack as he bowed in greeting.

"Aye, this is my son, good mister Erik." Said Ichabod, who was sitting at his desk. "I would very much appreciate it if you could examine him."

"Very well. But first, I wish to go over the basics of his education before conducting any medical exams." Said Erik in a tone that admitted no disagreement. This made Ichabod raise his eyebrows almost imperceptibly, but Jack and Jadelere noticed that he wasn't pleased with Erik's attitude. "If you are in agreement."

"If that is how you wish to proceed, so be it." Said Ichabod, not wanting to chase Erik away but making sure to remember this slight of his. "Good mister Jadelere will go over the minutiae of Jack's teachings."

"Hello, Erik." Almost as if on cue, Jadelere straightened up and cupped his fists towards Erik. "Always a pleasure to see you."

"Aye." Erik turned to look at Ichabod for the first time since the conversation began and the repudiation in his eyes was palpable. He didn't cup his fists in return. "It is always a pleasure to interact with someone of your great stature."

"Ah, sarcasm, the ever-lasting recourse of fools trying to sound intelligent."

Jack couldn't help but secretly roll his eyes at Jadelere's blatant plagiarising. Although he'd told Jadelere he was free to use that insult, he hadn't expected his teacher to use it on the very same day.

"Jadelere!" Ichabod angrily gave Jadelere a dangerous look. "We spoke about this."

"No need to fret." Erik waved his hand to dissuade the tension and Ichabod relaxed when he saw that Erik hadn't been overtly offended. Then, Erik turned to face Jadelere. "That was a good one, where did you get it from?"

"From my student, Jack, who is the source of many similar pearls of insight."

"Funny." Chuckled Erik, completely disbelieving Jadelere's words. "Very well, then, shall we proceed to your classroom?"

"By all means, let's go."

--

Erik shook his head from the moment they entered into Jadelere's study and hadn't stopped shaking it. Clearly, he was extremely displeased with the state of things in there.

"How is this place conclusive to a decent education?" He said with evident scorn. "No clear method of organising work, documents piled senselessly on the floor, clotted desks with no sign of ever being used, no windows from which fresh air can flow… This is terrible even by your standards, Jadelere."

"As our headmaster used to say, a chaotic workspace is the sign of a busy mind." Shrugged Jadelere.

"But not in the context of education." Sighed Erik as if he was having to explain theoretical physics to a retard. "Education is a hallowed treasure which we gift to the younger generation and which we must always make sure to give one hundred and ten percent of our efforts. Do you honestly think you're setting the right example with your actions?"

To his words, Jadelere was left without a concrete answer. Although he agreed entirely with what Erik was saying, it had been years since he'd given Jack a proper lesson. After all, the boy had far outgrown the syllabus by then. However, he couldn't exactly explain this.

"Nothing?" Sighed Erik once again. "Very well, let us go over the basics. Young Jack Hare, come over here." Erik waved his hand in a beckoning motion and Jack obeyed. "We will proceed by reorganizing your daily schedule. From now on, we will start every morning with classical literature, calligraphy, and interpretation of texts. Then, we will move on to arithmetic and problem solving. Finally, we will review runic inscriptions and their history. Every week you will be tested as to what you've learned."

"Aren't you being too hard on him?" Interrupted Jadelere, unable to contain himself any longer. Not only had Erik completely disregarded him, he'd even changed Jack's entire schedule without asking for a single iota of his input. Ignoring the fact that Jack could handle it with ease, it was extremely disrespectful for Erik to come into his classroom with such an attitude.

"Hardly." Said Erik. "The true crime is having had you teach this child with such evident neglect." Erik flicked his beard scornfully. "But, very well, we shall keep one part of Jack's education up to this point. Young Jack Hare, what is your favourite part of your daily lessons?"

"Chess!" Exclaimed Jack without a second thought. He'd been pondering how to get Erik to listen to him in the same way Jadelere did, and he now had the perfect chance. After all, he wasn't going to adhere to such a strict and pointless agenda.

"Chess?" Blinked Erik in surprise, having expected anything but this answer. "You play chess?"

"Aye, uncle Jadelere taught me how to play."

Erik seemed stunned for a moment before chuckling humourlessly. "A decent intellectual pursuit, to be sure, but hardly something a boy of your age should devote themselves to."

"Don't be so quick to shoot the boy down." Interjected Jadelere, somewhat guessing what Jack wanted to get at. "Why don't you give him a go?"

"Me? That's hardly appropriate. I was the intercollegiate chess champion back at university, as you'll recall." Proudly proclaimed Erik.

"Aye, I do remember." Sighed Jadelere. "You've never let anyone forget." He added in a barely perceptible whisper. "And because you're a champion it would be such a valuable experience for the boy."

"Very well, then." Evidently, Erik had been beguiled by Jadelere's praise. "We should have a match so that young Jack Hare can witness true skill."

They set up the chess set on an unused surface in the study. Erik ceremoniously placed each piece in its corresponding spot; highlighting the reverence he felt for the game. Then, he took a seat and gestured for Jack to take the opposing space.

"Young Jack Hare, you may begin." He said, full of conceit.

"Wait a second." Said Jack as he flashed a strange smile that gave Jadelere goose bumps. "You're amazing at this game, right?"

"I'm alright." Replied Erik with false humility.

"And it would be child's play to defeat me, right?"

"Well, I wouldn't exactly say that." Erik was left puzzled with Jack's words.

"Therefore, it is safe to assume that your victory is assured."

"I'm not sure what it is you're trying to imply." By this point, even if Erik knew nothing of Jack's true capabilities, he was beginning to think that something was amiss.

"A meagre wager is what I'm trying to imply."

"Gambling with chess is dishonourable." Sternly remarked Erik, glancing sideways to Ichabod with eyes that revealed he blamed him for Jack's penchant for betting. "I will not participate in such an endeavour."

"What a pity." Sighed Jack. "I wonder how the world will react when the great chess grandmaster Erik backed away from a simple match with a five-year-old child because he was afraid of losing."

"I am not afraid of losing!"

"But will the world think of it in those terms when the news spread?" Smiled Jack as he folded his hands in front of him as he usually did when he was winning. "I certainly won't engage with petty gossip; but I can't say for certain that Jadelere won't."

"Oh, I will." Nodded Jadelere, gloating in Erik's misfortune.

"You!" Erik pointed a finger towards Jack but he was at a loss for words as to what to say.

"Me? Whatever do you mean?" Jack tilted his head to the side and eyed Erik innocently. "Oh! It's my turn!" Jack moved one of his pieces forward calmly.

"What do you want?" Erik's head drooped in defeat. He realised now that the boy in front of him was unlike anything he'd ever come across before. Not even the crown prince had been able to command such authority at Jack's age.

First, Jack had acted innocently and became excited at the prospect of playing chess, luring Erik into a false sense of security and agreeing to play a match. Once both players sat down, Jack called for a wager to be placed. Erik could, of course, refuse to play, but he'd be accused of backing off because he was afraid of playing against a child; this being an unacceptable blight on his reputation. He had the option of lying, of course, but that didn't sit well with his moral code of conduct which valued truth as a paragon of justice.

"As I said, I want to make a bet." Jack tapped his fingers against the armrest of his seat. "If you win, I will abide by any and all of your requirements, constantly aiming to become the greatest pupil you've ever had the pleasure of teaching. If you lose, you will do something for me."

"Very well." Sighed Erik. Although he'd been caught off-guard by Jack's exceptional rhetorical skills, he was still confident with his own superb ability to play chess which had distinguished him enough to receive a scholarship to pursue higher education. "I'll agree to your bet."

Erik moved a piece forward, not seeing Jadelere struggling to keep himself from laughing out loud.

The end result was to be expected.

Erik was miserably defeated.