Professor Aldric was laying against a log they had dragged over to the campsite to serve as makeshift seating. He looked like he was a few minutes from dozing off. “You never know when new knowledge will come in handy, Caffaret,” he said, taking on a sarcastically sage-like tone of voice. “Just because you can’t see the use doesn’t mean there isn’t one.”

“What then? What is the point of doing any of this? Tell me, oh wise professor, what benefit do I get out of crawling around in the dirt and struggling to make a fire?”

“Besides building character?”

“I am not some peasant woodsman learning how to live off the land. I am a noble born heir to one of the most powerful families in this country. There is nothing that someone like myself can learn from an experience like this.”

The professor abruptly sat up, startling everyone. “Fine, you want a reason?”

Codrin flinched noticeably, seeming to recall the last time Professor Aldric taught him a harsh lesson. The professor seemed to notice Codrin’s reaction, because he paused for a moment before taking a deep breath. “Fine... why does flint and steel cause a fire?”

Codrin, and everyone else, looked nonplussed. That was the last question they had expected. Codrin floundered a bit before speaking again. “What? What do you mean?”

“I mean, why does that work? What causes flint and steel to make fire?”

“Because... because when you rub two things together, they get warm,” Codrin replied. He tried to sound confident, but clearly wasn’t sure of his answer, or why he was even being asked.

“So, if you rub your hands together, they’ll start throwing off sparks like flint does?”

“I... well... no,” Codrin answered, frowning.

“For that matter, why do logs burn at all? Why do they stop burning after a certain amount of time? Why are some logs better for firewood than others? Why do the logs burn but the dirt beneath it doesn’t?”

“I-I don’t know!” Codrin spluttered, overwhelmed. “Why would I know any of that?”

“Exactly,” the professor answered, smiling.

Silence reigned over their campsite, the only sounds being insects in the dark forest.

Codrin looked he was about to blow a blood vessel. He finally burst out, “Well? What’s the answer, then?”

“I don’t know,” Professor Aldric replied, his smile undiminished.

Codrin’s draw dropped open as he sat there, staring dumbfounded at the professor. Lilianna wasn’t sure, but she imagined her own face was similar, as was everyone else’s.