The Troubles of A Wounded World

Karl wordlessly came out. He took off his coat to a rack and spent the next hours tending to the patients. Without a single word. Focused solely on the treatment of the folks around him. After treating them, Lynda, who assisted him, got his coat. Lynda wondered where he would be going seeing his listless gaze.

The streets of Tiefenbrun took Karl to the slums. Lynda wasn’t worried despite the lamps being lit and the alleys dark because of Karl. Nonetheless, Karl carried himself all around the slums. Unlike the richer and developed area. The slums of the capital were not properly made. The road was muddy. It smelled of piss and manure. There was sewer water in the gutters. And the houses were ill-maintained. 

Poverty was not a surprise. But when Karl took a look at the open-air bars. He noticed that many of them were former soldiers who still wore their coats proudly. The cloak around them made it clear who they were and how many years they served in the war. The ribbon bars on their cloaks showed. But they only took their coats with them because they wanted to hide their prosthetics.

Silently, he walked past them. Children were looking at them. Those who noticed them, remained silent. Karl’s stature and build made people naturally curious and also think twice before approaching him. Naturally, it was also because Karl carried his pistol around his waist, making them wary. Not to mention that the lady walking next to him, despite being pretty, carried a semi-auto. It was easy to tell whether someone was just wearing the pistol or not. They could tell that they had practiced. And a tall broad-shouldered guy like Karl made others feel intimidated. It was only when Karl got a very good look at the slums that he returned to the middle-class districts. He found a good park to sit and sat on the benches with Lynda. They smelled awful. A mix of medicine and that stingy smell of blood.

“See now?”

“Oh, I do. I guess no wonder the songbird didn’t become a songbird. Is this happening everywhere?”

“Course it is. The government is much more focused on reconstruction efforts. The soldiers are given rewards and medals, then that’s that. That is the best we can do. Our pension is clearly not enough.”

A trolley went past them. Even during the night there were activities. Men and women entered retro bars and clubs to socialize. They wore dresses and fancy suits. Karl and Lynda looked awful compared to them. They wouldn’t say those words in front of them, knowing that they were armed.

“So are you really going to stop being a songbird? I think you will do just fine.”

“Oh, don’t misunderstand me, Karl. I just think that it’s best. But I can’t give up, never. I love helping my sisters. But I can’t also waste my life there. I want to sing. I want to be a doctor as well… I am so greedy.”

“You aren’t. It’s natural for you to have aspirations. Hell, I became a doctor because me and my brother Danil pulled a lot of people and did good in our treatment. If anything, the role deserved my brother more.”

“I saw your treatment. You are experienced, but not that good either.”

“I know. That’s why I’m still studying to become one. I’m a damn hypocrite, Lynda. I swore to never kill again, but what would happen if those loan sharks weren’t the type to be intimidated? What if something happened because of my arrogance?”

Karl rubbed his forehead. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I had other means to solve that problem, if anything I’m glad that you are able to handle it easily. Thank you for that.”

“It’s okay.”

There was silence. Automobiles and horse-pulled carriages passed by that. Lynda, who smelled the odor coming from her, took her pipe out and smoked. Karl casts a glance at her.

“What? Going to criticize me for smoking?”

“Do you have one?”

Lynda stared at him before searching her pockets. She handed it over to Karl.

“I thought you didn’t smoke?”

“I do it when I feel like utter shit or it’s time to celebrate.”

“I smoke because it feels good. Alcohol is good as well.”

“Moderation, Lynda,” Karl scolded, while lighting his cigarette. He took a long drag of it before staring at the granite paving.

“Times are hard here. In Avaios I barely could feel it. I think my homeland is just stable compared to this place.”

“This city’s doing well if you look at the external appearances. But other than that there is a deep sadness in this city. You saw how the slums are. Most of our veterans ended up going there. Even the factories aren’t able to hire all of them. And they are obviously disabled so it’s hard to take them to farms. There are craftsmen that are willing to teach them as long as they have their hands. But it just isn’t enough.”

Most of the works are available in big cities. Karl guessed that after the war there were many of the soldiers hoping that they could get a job. Some are fortunate to have one as a clerk for a business. The rest who couldn’t get a proper job, returned to their hometown. The unfortunate ones who have nothing remain in the slums, unable to get a job and even are ignored by the local government. The local veteran’s shelter was around, but it didn’t matter when there was an alarming rate of soldiers who weren't getting their help.

“It’s a terrible tragedy, but what can we do? The alliance is exhausted because of the war. We have surplus weapons and munitions but so what? We can’t eat them. Selling them isn’t profitable and even if they do sell it to other countries? They would go clamoring about how it is a matter of security. So many excuses, and unfortunately these excuses are legitimate.”

Karl knew that the state outside of the old continent isn't great either. Erob wasn’t so stable and who knows what might happen if they suddenly encountered another trouble?

“It’s a shame.”

Karl could only utter such words thinking about the problem. He was a good soldier. He was confident in that. But that was it. He had no political power. He had no wealth. He didn’t have such a masterful skill as a doctor or a surgeon. Aside from his ability to fight. Karl thought that there was nothing else he was proud to boast. Fighting was useless in such a civilized age.

His old man always told him.

That there is only so little that you could do with violence. If everything can be solved through bullets, knives, and punches. Then wouldn’t the world be a better place? No, it would just make the world sadder than it already is.

A Great Tragedy that took many lives.

And even after it was all over.

Those who fought still couldn’t live the good lives they were promised. That happiness that they envisioned turned into nothing more than this soul-crushing despair.

Broke bodies, and broken minds.

Some begged for peace.

Some begged for release.

It was a messy world. And in times like these, Karl couldn’t help but feel how small he is despite all that he could do. In front of that soldier, he had nothing to say other than a silent nod.

Karl took a long drag of his cigarette and stomped on it. Lynda smoked her pipe until the embers inside of it were gone. It was cool, not so cool that it made them want to find a coat to warm themselves.

Lynda stood up first with her hands on her waist. The determination in her eyes, despite baggy eyes, made her quite something, Karl thought. He stood up as well. He cracked his neck and commented.

“Smoking really is tasteless.”

“You’re the one who is tasteless.”

Karl looked at her. “Did you throw that shitty coat of yours?”

“I did. It sold for quite a price. It was also out of style. Oh, that’s right, your speech in that assembly. Good luck with that.”

Karl rubbed his wingtip shoes on the ground. “I hope that I can speak well. Are you still going to work in that place?”

“I will, at least until Nurse Melly stops.”

“I see.”

“Hheh, I thought you’d want to help.”

“I really would like to, Ms. Magnolia. But I guess I wasn’t so righteous either. It takes more than one man to achieve something. A man can make a difference, but it’s better if there is a lot of help.”

Karl’s intention here was to get his permit and visit his friends. But seeing what was happening around him. He thought to himself that he had to at least do something. His old man would be disappointed if he doesn’t act. He just couldn’t let it go now, especially that he had the chance to do it.