The Master's Silence

The court of Alaric had always been one of stifled breathing and quiet footsteps. To the king, words were money that he would never part with.

But his servant, Pippin, would often be a source of leaking silence in this court. He was constantly whistling while sweeping and humming while polishing. One day, while carrying a tray of glassware, Pippin burst into laughter on seeing a butterfly.

There was no sign of surprise on the face of the King, but the atmosphere in the room seemed frozen instantly. He raised one finger pointing towards the floor.

Without wasting time on any apology, Pippin knelt down before the King and bowed his head low enough to kiss the feet of the monarch. “I have betrayed my service to my spirit, Master,” he muttered.

There was no helping hand from the King. Rather, an iron ball was thrust into his hands as he was ordered to leave the premises. Pippin was made to kneel in the center of the garden with the "Royal Echo" in his hands. as thrust into the boy’s arms with a signal to move outside the courtyard. The king's scroll made him aware that there were all the carelessly made sounds stored inside the ball; if it fell or tipped over, the noise would destroy the sanctity of the palace.

Time passed, and Pippin's body ached. In order to prevent the ball from falling, he had to make himself motionless like the other statues. He found ways to control his heart beats and breathing; he lived as if no vibrations existed around him.

When the time was midnight, the king returned to the garden. He saw the still child staring into his Master’s eyes and made a gesture to have the sphere opened. Pippin slowly released the cap; there was nothing inside.

Next, using charcoal, he wrote huge words on the pillar, “A servant who can’t control his noise is not fit to govern his life.”

Pippin realized that his laughing was not his punishment but his burden. Even though it pained him physically, he raised himself up quietly.