Master Aaron was a brilliant craftsman who lived in a small village known for its handicrafts and skilled artisans. At his workshop, he also had a group of apprentices who learned the craft under his mentorship. Although he was so famous that people came from neighboring regions to buy his pieces, he had one trait his students weren’t very happy about: Master Aaron was a very strict and exacting teacher who sought perfection in everything created in his workshop.

Thus, his apprentices often felt overwhelmed by the weight of their mentor’s expectations. Even the ambitious young Zack – a natural at carving – felt suffocated under Aaron’s constant scrutiny. He couldn’t think how his ambition to change the world would be realized under these conditions.

“A single mistake, no matter how small, can ruin an entire masterpiece,” Aaron would often be found saying.

After the day’s work was done and the candles in the workshop were snuffed out, the apprentices would gather in the courtyard, venting their frustrations under the stars.

“I’m exhausted,” groaned Casey, who specialized in weaving. “No matter how fine my stitches are, Master Aaron always finds fault.”

“Fault? That man thrives on it,” grumbled Jasper, the woodworker. “I spent three days carving a chair leg, and he said it lacked ‘soul.’ Soul!? It’s a chair leg!”

Zack listened, arms crossed, his expression thoughtful. “We can complain all we want,” he said at last, “but nothing will change unless we take action.”

“What kind of action?” Casey asked, her voice tinged with both curiosity and skepticism.

Zack leaned forward for a conspiratorial whisper: “You know, Master Aaron is too comfortable, knowing we will bend to his every whim. So now, if we want to create things as we like, we first need to humble him.”

The three exchanged uneasy glances. Though Zack’s boldness was something to appreciate, they all knew better than to trifle with Master Aaron.

“Umm, what exactly do you mean by ‘humble him’, Zack?” Jasper asked.

“Well, I think we should prove to him that he is not as irreplaceable as he thinks he is,” Zack smirked.

Thus, the three apprentices gathered the next evening to listen to Zack’s final plan.

He began confidently, “What if we create a masterpiece so extraordinary and flawless that Master Aaron is unable to find a single flaw in it? If we manage to do that, he won’t criticize it, would he? But here’s the catch: we will not tell him who made it.”

The apprentices stared at him with doubtful expressions.

“Think about it, guys,” Zack pressed on. “See, if we succeed, we’ll show him that we’ve grown beyond his constant corrections, and then he will have to give us respect as equals and no longer treat us as his students. Also, if he doesn’t know who made it, he won’t be able to play favorites or blame any one of us for mistakes. What do you say?”

Casey furrowed her brow: “That does sound impressive, Zack, but how do you say we pull this off? Master Aaron keeps his eye on everything we’re working on. He will definitely find out if we are working on something together without getting it approved from him.”

Zack waved off her concern by saying, “Don’t worry, we’ll work in secret, after we’re free from the workshop. And I’ve already found a hidden corner in the storage room where we can gather supplies away from Master Aaron’s eyes. But we have to make sure we put in our best efforts in what we can do best, whether it’s woodwork, painting, weaving, or carving. If we do this, I’m sure we will succeed in making something that will leave him speechless.”

Although the apprentices found the idea exciting and thrilling, they also realized the risks that came with it: if Master Aaron found out about their secret project, the consequences would be severe.

There was complete silence for a few minutes after which Jasper spoke up, “Zack, it’s a pretty bold idea. Are you sure we can do it practically?”

Zack’s eyes gleamed with determination as he said, “I do, yes, but only if each one of us commits to it.”

And so, the apprentices began their covert work. Late at night, after Master Aaron had gone to sleep, they would quietly sneak into the storage room like thieves. There, Jasper carved the wood; Casey wove with perfection; another apprentice, Elena, painted a mural; and Zack worked on a bird-shaped centerpiece, its wings spread as if it were in mid-air.

In the beginning, the work was overwhelming, but the 4 students felt a sense of freedom unknown to them before. All of them poured their hearts and souls into their work, taking care of even the smallest of details.

However, as days passed, they began to feel exhausted, for their days were filled with Master Aaron’s usual critique, and their nights were consumed by their project. Hence, their tempers flared, and the number of mistakes increased, causing doubts to creep in.

Casey finally admitted one night, “Guys, this is harder than I thought.”

“Of course it is! Greatness doesn’t come just like that. Do you want to prove Master Aaron wrong or not?”

Hearing this, the group felt silent, unsure whether what Zack said was inspiring or suffocating.

Finally, after weeks of unstoppable hard work, the night arrived when the 4 apprentices completed their secret project. Even though they were fatigued, they couldn’t help but admire the masterpiece, which was a towering sculpture surrounded by a woven fabric and framed within elaborate carvings. It was, indeed, the finest work they had ever done.

“This will finally prove our expertise to him,” Zack said with pride.

The next morning, before Master Aaron arrived, they placed their creation in the main workshop and stood alongside it, eager and anxious. And after a while, the old master entered.

At first, he said nothing and just walked slowly around the sculpture, examining every detail keenly. The apprentices stood holding their breath, waiting impatiently for Master Aaron’s reaction.

Finally, he turned to them, and with an unreadable expression, said aloud, “Who has made this?”

The apprentices exchanged nervous glances. Zack stepped forward, “It doesn’t matter who made it,” he said, his voice steady. “What matters is whether it meets your standards.”

Master Aaron raised an eyebrow. “Very well.” He pointed to a joint in the wood, “This is uneven.” Then, to the tapestry, “The stitching here is loose.”

He moved to the carving next, “The proportions are slightly off.”

The apprentices’ faces fell. All their work, all their effort, dismissed in a matter of moments.

Zack’s temper flared. “How can you say that? It’s the best thing we’ve ever made!”

And for the first time, Master Aaron’s gaze softened, and he addressed them in a gentle tone, “It is extraordinary, yes, but perfection is not something you achieve in secret or through rebellion. True mastery requires patience, collaboration, and, on top of all, the willingness to learn – even from criticism.

The apprentices stood in stunned silence. Zack felt his pride crumble under the weight of Master Aaron’s words. He realized that while it had been easy to suggest proving the master wrong, the reality of creating something flawless was far more difficult than he had imagined.

Master Aaron turned to leave, but he paused at the door. “Your work shows promise,” he said, glancing back. “Come to me when you’re ready to learn, not just to impress.”

That evening, the apprentices gathered in the courtyard, their spirits low.

“I thought we could do it,” Jasper murmured, staring at his hands.

Zack sighed, his bravado gone. “I thought so, too. But maybe… Maybe there’s more to this craft than proving someone wrong.”

Casey nodded. “He did say it was extraordinary.”

The group exchanged faint smiles. Though their plan hadn’t gone as expected, they had learned a lesson that would stay with them forever: it’s easy to dream of grand solutions, but seeing them through requires humility, effort, and the willingness to face reality.

And from that day on, they returned to their work with renewed determination—not to outdo their master but to grow under his guidance.