Korv awoke to a rainy morn with the feeling that something was amiss. What, he did not know, but deep within his bones something did not feel right. He stretched, let out a loud yawn, and shrugged to himself.
He made his normal morning brew and stared out the window, deep in contemplation. Korv truly enjoyed the rain and the snow. Where others loved the sights and sounds of Spring and Summer, Korv felt the spirits of the Autumn and Winter months within him always.
Deep down, Korv knew why his mood was off. He had to deal with the damned hydra of bureaucracy this day. Of all the battles he had faced, these were the ones Korv dreaded most. Not out of fear, but out of sheer boredom and frustration. The bureaucrats were always slow to move, unless they were reaching in one’s pocket for a mandatory stipend. Korv knew he was not the only citizen of the realm who detested these tangled webs, but that did not improve his mood in the least.
After a second cup of his beloved morning brew, Korv readied himself for the dreadful slog to the local town hall. Oh, what he would give to face a horde of thieving pirates right now. At least if he was killed in battle, he could die only once. When dealing with bureaucrats, one could die several times.
Korv arrived at the town hall and waited none too patiently for his turn. His mind wandered as he thought of all the things he’d rather be doing. He could be training right now. He could be writing, or reading the words of his fellow villagers. He could be searching for his next adventure. But, alas, here he sat. Waiting.
Finally, Korv’s name was called and he approached the counter. The attendant was a stuffy looking bastard, who had the look of a man who existed merely to make others miserable.
Korv presented his parchments, and the man studied them meticulously, occasionally casting an agitated eye in Korv’s direction. Korv smiled at him as pleasantly as he could, as the man gave a slight sneer in return. Let a snarl be your umbrella, indeed.
Finally, he set the parchments down and told Korv he would need to fill them out and present them again.
Korv looked at him in disbelief. He had spent hours filling out these damned parchments already. The man offered a half-hearted apology and told Korv it simply couldn’t be helped. Korv could sense the satisfaction in the sniveling bastard’s voice.
Korv gathered up his parchments and spun on a heel to leave. May the gods help anyone who blocked his exit.
Korv released a deep sigh as he stood outside the town hall, the rain pelting him indiscriminately. This, dear friends…This is why Korv hated dealing with the blasted bureaucrats.
Frustrated though he was, Korv knew it couldn’t be helped. He would simply have to fill out the parchments again. When he got around to it, that is.
With that, Korv put it from his mind for the time being. Plenty of time to be annoyed later. It would give him something to look forward to, he thought sarcastically to himself.
Before he made his way home, he would stop at the local market and procure food for his horse. Like we humans, the noble beast needed fuel too.
Korv grumbled to himself about the price of feed being ridiculous as he mounted the horse to be on his way.When he arrived home, Korv’s mood was still slightly salty despite his best efforts to be otherwise.
While he was gone, several messages arrived for him. Korv put his horse in the stable, made his way inside, and began to read through them.
The first was from a friend who shared some struggles in common with Korv. As Korv read his friend’s message, he realized that while he was without work and had some nagging health issues, he could be far worse off than he was. There were others with far bigger issues than he had. Korv took a moment to be grateful for all the support he received, to reflect on the good things in his life, and lastly, to pray for his fellow humans that they found their way to a better place in life.
The next message was from a local merchant who wished to meet with Korv about the possibility of enlisting his services. Aye, it was merely an invitation to discuss, but it was a an opportunity nonetheless. A slight smile broke out across Korv’s face as he grasped his parchment to draft a reply.
As Korv sat down for his evening meal (he had decided to indulge just a little today), he once again watched in quiet contemplation as the rains fell from the night sky. But this time it was different. This time, Korv was contemplating what a lucky man he truly was.
The Beginning At Last 
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