ã€ŠKnowledge and Powerã€‹


 The dead scientist

    Alone with my thoughts

    This work is the story of my life, my story in this new world. Something like a diary and I decided to write this down since I finally know how to write in this language. From time to time I will write down what happened to me in recent events. For my dear readers to be able to be drawn into my story I will write in present tense. Even thoughit all takes place in the past. My Past. I want you to feel like living with me. As if you are right by my side. And I hope the way I tell you my story will be enough.

    But first I have to tell you my backstory:

    I already lived before in another world.

    I lived a whole life. At least I am able to say it to that extend. Was it happy? Was it bad? I don''t know. Was it fulfilling? I''m not sure. Did I manage to be someone? At least I''m sure I did that!

    I died from cancer a quite painful experience. When I was 53 it has already spread throughout my whole body until I finally found my final rest.

    But unfortunately I left no one behind. Neither had a wife, nor children. I was alone my whole life but that was okay, I thought. I left behind something that I knew was even more valuable than anything else.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    KNOWLEDGE!

    When I was still alive I craved for knowledge, because I learned quite early in my childhood that knowledge is power. At least where I lived. Even until I died I was studying everything there is. I wanted to know it all.

    I studied Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemie, Psychology, Economics and even Theology and Philosophies. I was able to at least read and write in 12 languages. Everything I was interested in, I studied it until I understood it all. By the age of 35 I already published 2 revolutionary theories about astronomic and build, applied and had proven a new fundamental rule for mathematics. Everything that was logical or that I was at least able to comprehend. Things that I understood, were things I never forgot.

    I was known for my scientific work and after I died I left knowledge behind. But I don''t know if it was worth it. And after I died and thought it all over and over again, I regret just one thing. I know how people should work, and I know what instincts are driving them. But I have no idea about human relationships or how to interact with them, because I never tried.

    Maybe it''s a result of my craving for knowledge, but for the first time I am interested in human beings and interactions with them.

    I died and now I drift through this nothingness. Even though it''s not sure if I am moving or standing still. I see, hear, feel, smell or taste nothing. I am alone with my thoughts. There is no way to know if there is anything around me and all I can do is think about my past. I never had enough imagination to do anything else. When I am not captured by my memories, I calculate and build formulas, new theories in all scientific ways I know. But as I am not able to share them it is just a waste of time. Though ''wasting'' time is everything I am able to do. This boring nothingness could drive me crazy and maybe it already did.

    Thinking about my past now I understand and remember what I missed. I regret it now.

    An eternity later, even though time seems to not matter anymore, and after I am fully aware of what I am regretting, I hear a voice...-

 The go... beings?

    Suddenly I hear a voice.

    ?Soooo... You finally realized what you needed??

    The voice sounds like a little boy. It is not like hearing sound, more like a vibrating feeling deep within myself. It doesn''t even say it, with words but whatever way it uses to ''talk'', I somehow understand. Is this what it is like hearing ''voices'' when you get mad?

    ?You are not getting mad! You are dead, for a while now and you already have realized. Quite soon if I may say so.?

    This voice, vibration, somehow is able to read my mind and that concludes it is me talking to myself. So I AM driving mad!

    ?No you are not, I already told you!?

    ?AND I already told you, it''s creepy if you just read their minds and answer to them through their thoughts!? begins another voice. This one sounds more female and extremely childlike, too.

    Different from the ''boy'' this one feels more like actually hearing the voice.

    A second voice in my head? Soul? I don''t even know if there is anything like a body for me. Two voices are talking to me which makes me more confident in getting mad!

    ?I''ll give you a body first, so it will be more comfortable to talk with each other.? says the girl and as soon as she finishes this sentence I am able to see.

    The first pictures I am able to see in a while.

    But all I see is a dark space dotted in different colours. It feels like drifting through one of the pictures human drew of their imagination how colourful the universe looks like in space.

    And right before me there are two human children wearing wide grey cloth. They seem to shine in slowly changing colours. Those change from yellow to green, become blue and sometimes mix themself with the light of the surroundings. A boy and a girl.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    This is it! I am really driving mad! Seeing images, hearing voices. Did I not die from cancer but an overdose of LSD? I never tried LSD before but this is how I imagine it feels like.

    ?How often do I have to tell you, you are not getting mad!?

    ?I guess if you just had told him what''s up he would not assume to be mad?

    This time both voices sound just like talking normally to me. Surprisingly the boy has the feminine voice and the girl the boyish one. So I will have to change the genders now. What a pain.

    ?Why didn''t you do it then??

    ?It''s your turn, I am just here to look over you, I am bored.?

    ?Okay okay. Welcome to the plains my dear lost soul.-?, began the girl with the boyish voice to say.

    ?You finally realized what you were regretting all along.?

    ?Regretting all along?? I am surprisingly able to speak.

    ?Even when you were still alive, you sought human interactions and wanted to be near them, but you somehow always evaded this and were absorbed in your studies. Finally after being on your own, with nothing else to distract you, you realized your only regret. Your loneliness.?

    ?And after leaving me alone all this time you just somehow decided to free me from this eternal... boredom??

    ?Time? That thing doesn''t matter here.? says the boy intruding our conversation.

    ?Nothing matters here if you get me.?, he winks and seems to have made a joke. I''m not sure whether that was a joke about the matter not existing in this space or something philosophical, perhaps both?

    ?Whatever. Before you ask anything, we are neither angels nor gods. We are just beings allowed to give you a second chance. In another world.? the girl continues.

    ?And what if I don''t want to??

    ?That doesn''t matter. It''s already been decided. We are just here to inform you, that you will be reborn in another world. You may not be able to know specific details of your last world, like languages, your name or things like that. Mainly about unnecessary things you won''t need.?

    ?Does that mean I will remember things??

    ?Yes you will! Exactly?, says the boy.

    ?What else would be the reason to let you realize your regret?? follows the girl.

    ?Well that''s the gist of it.? the boy says.

    ?My job is done. Have a fun!? finishes the girl.

    Both wave at me to say goodbye and without any chance to do anything or answer I feel something pulling me away.

    The next thing I realize, is a heartbeat. I am in the womb of my ''new'' mother. Naturally I am not able to do anything.

    ¡­

    So I slept for a long time.

    ¡­

 The new me

    Over the time I slept inside of my mother I seemed to have forgotten everything. Until I was slightly over a year old I had no memories left. Then they gradually started to come back. One after another I was a really confused little child, is what my new parents told me afterwards.

    When I reached the age of two and about five month in autumn, one day I hugged my crying mother. She had fought with my dad, but just a day later they made up, because I seemed to be ill.

    Truthfully I was not really ill, just as mom was holding me close to her, I heard her heartbeat resonating deep within me and suddenly all the missing memories came back. Even the one in my mothers womb, which was kinda creepy. Just a few details were missing, but it was just like the two children had told me. I was really good at remembering things, at least those I understood or was interested in, like I already said. And therefore a lot of information stormed my little brain and I collapsed due to the stress.

    For four days I slept. When I woke up my mind was sorted. I had access to all the knowledge I gathered in my past life and that was a considerable amount!

    I do not know the languages I had learned, but knew about linguistic and such. Characteristics of those different languages and their grammar.

    I do not know any specific names of people, be it historical ones or the ones I personally knew. I do know what was written about the history of my original world, I do not know any country names, I remember what happened in my life and what happened to the few people I cared about, I do not know how I and they looked like. To tell the truth there were very few people I cared about. Besides members of my family there were some of my professors at university, twoteacher, some brilliant colleagues and people I looked up to.

    I am ashamed of myself for forgetting most of the people that worked under me.

    After I got my memories back, the first thing I thought about was analyzing in what kind of world I amliving now. It iss definitely some kind of medieval times. The fact that there arelarge animals I have never seen before made it clear that it isnot in the past of my original world.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    My new name isChelo Melosake Widjomson.

    I grew up with my new parents who call me their little wonder, because they tried to get a child for so many years and finally got me. We lived in the city. My mother Melosa is a blacksmith and owns a workshop. My father Widjom is an enchanter and has his shop right next to my mothers, where he sells magic imbued and enchanted goods. Also some alchemetical ingredients and tools.

    It is kind of a tradition to name your child after the parents, just like they did in some Countries way back in the past of our World.

    Apparently both of my parents are able to use magic and therefore I have a magical aptitude myself, at least I should have.

    Realizing my premature knowledge and ability to learn quickly they brought me to school at the age of four. One year earlier than regular children. Surprisingly there was another child my age. She was one of my neighbours. A girl I had seen outside my window sometimes.

    At school I somehow realized for the first time, I had also forgotten about letters, numbers and signs I used in my old world. Be it for writing or even road signs. It also had its own benefits. Not knowing those made it a lot easier to learn a new scripture. Perhaps it was my new young brain, too. Well, at least it was unexpectedly easy to learn the new letters and numbers.

    Back home I studied the books we had, Some of them about history, the art of blacksmiths or magic. We also had novels, legends and fairy tales.

    After my father saw me reading an old tome of his he told me to not do it alone and said he will teach me magic if I wanted to, but not until the day I reached my 9<sup>th</sup> birthday. The reason is simply that a child magic is too unstable and forms itself while maturing mentally.

    I guess he shouldn''t be worried anymore about my mentally qualification, because my old self had manifested itself in this tiny body.

    I don''t feel old at all and I have no problem being a child, because my past lifes memories are so vague it feels more like another persons mind that has been absorbed. Like a movie I have seen and that makes it a lot easier living here. Good job children who send me here!

    After I learned to write I had the idea of writing down about my new life.

    The main reason is to reflect on my actions, so it will remind me of not to end up like my old self...

    Hopefully...

    And here is where my story actually starts. Because we reached my present state.

 Schooldays

    Before I tell about my school, I bet some people might ask: Why didn''t I already start learning the art of smithery?

    It''s almost too good to be a coincidence (and I bet it is a way to test my resolution, too), for me to be born by this pair of parents, which enables me to use my knowledge to the fullest. I have thought about this alot and came to the solution that I am here in this life so I won''t repeat my last mistakes. Also I don''t want tocause my parents sorrow.

    What would you think if your child would behave like an old man? Or be a super genius you can''t deal with? On Earth I was absorbed in other things, that does not mean I have no clue about what is socially awkward and what isn''t. I am not and wasn''t autistic in that way, I just wasn''t as much interested in socializing as in researching stuff.

    Naturally telling anybody about my past life is out of question. I just have these memories which feel like I watched another person. If I told other people about this they might see me as an old geezer.

    By the way, I already have a plan to revolutionize this world, but first I have to learn how far the science in this world is and what''s more important, do the same laws of physics apply to this world. There seems to be magic here, but the concept of magic does not make any sense yet.

    So before I can start my plan, I will have to learn about this worlds customs, laws, scientific progress and most importantly magic. Additionally this may be just a hobby while trying to socialize.

    I''ve been in school for half a year now and the progress of the classes is too slow. Mathematics and learning to write is boring. So are classes like Art and music. It somehow resembles the elementary school in my old world. I did never expect to have art and music classes in a medieval world like this. It''s quite surprising that their numeric system is quite close to my old worlds, too.

    Should I give my old world and this world different names for easier understandings? I will just do so! Let''s call the old world Earth* and this world Gaia.

    To continue what I wanted to say, the only studies I am really interested in are the ones about nature, economics and history of Gaia. Even though there is no lesson about economics, yet. I hope there will be some. We also have some lessons in self defense. They aren''t that useful against humans, because logically somehow every other human seems to have learned them, too. Those aren''t meant to be used against other humans but mainly to defend against some beasts in the wilds and ¡°lower¡± creatures like goblins. This ¡°lower¡± creature thingie would have offended and ''triggered'' a lot of people on Earth.

    These self defense lessons are quite interesting, too.

    While practicing physical combat I realized, that my body feels a lot lighter than on Earth. One reason is that this is the body of a child, but no child was able to jump it''s own height at this age, on Earth at least. I have to find the difference. Wether it''s a lower gravity, stronger muscles or does it have to do with magic again?

    Isn''t learning to fight at thos age a bit early? Not really, it is a dangerous world and some nasty and stupid beasts happen to come into town occasionally.

    We are told to try to run at first, but there is always the possibility of being cornered.

    The school is, thanks to my vast knowledge of Earth, quite boring so I use my time to try to socialize. No child seems to care how old the others are, younger, older, we all in class get along quite well and have a happy life in school together. Five boys and eight girls. Some little fights were over in a blink, mainly thanks to Avia. A girl who somehow seems to be quite social and also is able to see everything in an emotional but also an objective way. She is like a little babysitter at times.

    Also our teachers seem to have fun with us and are really motivated. Which builds up a good environment for us togrow.

    As I am sitting on my desk in art class I draw a vehicle from earth. The teacher told us to be as creative as possible. Nothing is more creative than a machine from another world, isn''t it? At least in the eyes of a teacher who doesn''t know of it.

    So I draw A car**. It is a specific sports car but thanks to the deleted names I don''t know how it''s called anymore. It''s one of those from the company with four rings. I don''t know why I draw especialy that thing, but it''s not like anybody cares or knows it, except they come from earth, too.

    Someone gets over to me. It is Samel and he is quite curious about it.

    Samel is a boy, blond, curvey hair as long as one of his fingers, to try to be precise. Brown eyes. Slender body. He always carries a smile with his two lost front teeth and freckles.

    ?What is that??

    ?A car. It''s like a carriage, but without the need of horses. I''s able to drive by itself using oil. Someone still has to control it from the inside. It''s also a lot faster than a horse or even a griffin.?

    Samel frowns,

    ?So like a magical driven carriage??

    ?No, without the need of magic. There is an engine inside the front that moves the wheels by burning oil.?A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ?That''s bullshit! How can something like that be faster than a griffin? And even without the use of magic??

    ?Well, treat it like a fantasy of mine,? , I said to not have to argue with him, ?Someday I will build one and you will see!? I say with a slightly arrogant tone. Even though I don''t know if this will work in this world. Magic exists, so why should the physics of Earth apply to Gaia?

    ?HEY EVERYONE,? Samel begins to shout, ?WHATCH WHAT CHEL DREW! IT''S BULLSHIT BUT LOOKS AWESOME.? I am quite proud of my ability to still be able to draw quite well. I had messed up sometimes on purpose and did not get too detailed to not stand out too much. I didn''t like him telling it was bullshit though. ?It''s not Bullshit. Also teacher told us to draw whatever we like.?

    ?Well it does look awesome.?

    The next moment Samel gets to his place again while others from class come and look at my work of art. Most of the class gathered around me which made me kind of proud, but at the same time it felt awkward, did I go too far?

    ?You draw really well.? ?Do you draw a lot?? ?It looks like from an adult.?

    While everyone is bombarding me with their questions an comments which I don''t know how to answer, the teacher just sits in the corner and smiles. Finally the last person in class comes over.

    ?Hey everyone, don''t pressure him that much. He seems uncomfortable.? - she says.

    It is Avia. The most mature child I have ever known. But some children seem to be really like that.

    ?C''mon let''s get our arts done.-?

    it''s not like it matters. This is practically like a break for us.

    ? We have a whole...?

    There she goes.

    Avia presses herself through the flock and goes for a glimpse at my picture while talking.

    Suddenly she stops, at the most important part of her speach.

    I bet she wanted to say break and realized that art class is just like a big break. Mature but slow!

    Her eyes suddenly widen and after a fewseconds that felt like an eternity watching her, having everyones attention, she switches and looks deep into my eyes. Her lips twitch. She seems to want to say something but is somehow not able to. Samelcomes back, too, and has his desk and chair with him, intending to sit next to me, probably. He looks at the group from behind.

    ?Move, I gotta through.?

    Noone reacts and all attention lies on Avia. Is she about to cry?Did her brain freeze or this whole universe? I realized the universe is okay when a boy tried to put his pencil in her nose.

    It was Bonillius, called Bon. A black and really short haired, lightly overweighted troublemaker. He is a funny guy but spoiled. When he plays tricks on you it''s all fun, but he himself can''t take a joke. Ignoring that attitude he is a nice guy I get quite along with.

    Suddenly Aviashand lashes out and hits away the pencil. She moves back a bit and gets out of her stasis.

    ?What was that?? - she shouts halfheartly while sending that boy a mad glance and occasionally looking at me and my drawing again.

    ?Hey that hurt. My pencil...? - His voice trembled and it was all about to escalate.

    Without me noticing the teacher got to us. A young woman clothed in a really nice long blue dress.

    ?Okay everyone, back to your seats!?, she commands. And after seeing Avia following her orders with most of the others she tends to Bon who is on the verge to cry. Guids him to his pencil, so he can pick it up and then leads him to his seat.

    Considering Avias reaction I am curious now. Did she come from Earth, too? She was so captured by my car drawing.

    Samel got to me with his desk and chair.

    ?What was that??

    ?I... I am not sure.?

    ?Care if I take my seat next to you??

    ?No do as you wish.?

    Did I really have met someone who could become a close friend of mine?

    ?You know. I always dreamed about flying. Like a bird. The magic isn''t sufficient to keep flying longer than ten minutes, at least for normal people like us. - ? Samel begins to talk about his dream, probably inspired by the car I drew.

    ?- I will need the magical abbility of a high mage at least to do more than that. I know I could ride a Griffin, but that wouldn''t feel like I am the one flying.?

    He reaches out his right hand at my chest and points with his index and middlefinger at my heart.

    ?Le ¨C let''s promise.?, he unexpectedly proposes, ?When you build that thingie, and it really is faster than a griffin, let me be the first to ride it with you.?

    I don''t know why, but this made me extremely happy. Even though he pronounced the ''thingie'' part quite disturbed. So I do the same and point at his heart.

    ?Only if we fly together some time!? I answer, proud of myself for being ''social'' for once. We both bend our arms to make them corss each others, to confirm the promise.

    ?It''s a promise then?, Samel smiles wider than ever.

    While continueing to draw and talk with Samel the other three boys of the class including Bon came over with their desks and seats and we all talked about our future dreams and so on.

    I noticed Avia frequently looking over to me. I guess I will talk to her in the near future, I am really curious about her reaction now.

    A while and some weird conversation about kind of everything later.

    Our teacher begins with math. It''s kind of a elementary school so the math is elementary and boring. The teacher knows I am bored and after giving everybody an exercise, I already finished while she made herfirst round checking on everybody, she gives me the exercise to add every number from 1 to 144 together***.

    I remember that on Earth we had the decimal system, here we use the duodecimal system.

    The exercise reminded me of one that a mathematician on earth assertively got. The answer is easier than you might think and I answer her immediately, almost. I need some time to calculate it in my head of course.

    ?It''s 10440.?

    ?How did you calculate it so fast??

    ?It''s simple. One plus 144 is 145, so is two plus 143 and so on. Until you reach the middle of 72 plus 73. Therefore you just have to calculate 145 times 72.?

    She hesitates and calculates it herself.

    ?That''s correct! How did you come up with that??

    I couldn''t say the truth so I went with:

    ?Dunno. I like to do things the easy way, I guess??

    ?I think there is not much more to teach you in math. If you want to you can do your own little things. Next time I''ll bring some slightly advanced stuff, how about that??

    ?No please don''t. Can''t I just use the time for my own??

    Even advanced stuff could be boring, so I was not interested.

    ?Well if you insist. But if you don''t mind, I can have you meet my professor from the university I studied at. He will be here In some weeks and I bet he could be interested in you.?

    ?Sure. If he brings something interesting!?

    This was the perfect chance! Finally a way to find out how far this worlds mathematics are. Although it is quite earlier than expected. So I agreed and was able to do stuff on my own for the rest of the math lesson.

    The rest of the classes went by quite fast and nothing particulary interesting happened.

    So after the schoolday is over I try to catch up to Avia. We are living quite close to each other, so it isconvenient for a little talk. And perhaps we will walk this way together in future a bit more. I have to make friends, don''t I?

    I can see Avia leaving the schoolgate and begin to shout out to her:

    ?HEEYY, AVIAAA...?

    ...

 Avia Ellenja Benediodat: Excitement

    Full of excitement while grinning widely from ear to ear my face was hot and red. It has not been easy to conceal my happiness through the schoolday.

    Shortly after leaving the schoolbuilding my emotions took over and now I feel like a creep. But I have to keep myself together before others, otherwise I might be seen as a really strange one.

    Happiness filled my heart and I was lost in thought on how to approach him.

    Suddenly I heard a voice Loudly shouting my name.

    ?HEY, AVIAA...?

    I turned my head around to look back and see Chelo approaching me.

    I still had my widely grinning read face and realized how weird and creepy it probably looks.

    My head turned forwards again. My face went from a wide grin to a sudden shocked and blushed pokerface. In my head I cowered in a corner and smashed my forehead against a wall out of embarrassment.

    It was Chelo who called out to me and I showed him such an unsightly expression of mine.

    Swallowed by thoughts like

    What have I done?

    I''m so stupid!

    This is sooo embarrassing...

    Waaahhh!!!

    Full of shame I forgot about Chelo who now has drawn close to me and then overtook me by one step to look at me from the front.

    ?Avia, hey...?

    ?Hii...?,I squeaked quietly by this surprise and moved myself back a bit.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    ?H-heyy. What''s up??

    I had no clue what to do anymore after this surprise. My brain was about to shut down.

    ?is something wrong??

    ?N-no, nothing.?, I replied.

    What''s up with him? I am not prepared for this! not yet.

    Also I am overhelmed by the urge to smash my head on the ground for the face I showed to Chelo. But that would be even more embarrassing and weird.

    ?You act kinda weird today. Are you really okay??

    ?Oh yes, I am fine. What do you mean? What do you want??

    I answered with my forced pokerface, while I felt severeal muscles of my face twitching.

    Oh God, Make it stop, please!

    ?I was curious about you.?

    Curious about me? Does he feel something for me? Something more than curiousity? At this age? As if...

    Was my behaivour that weird? What did I do to get his curiousity?... Someone, please save me!

    ?Curious in what way??, I asked with a forced smile. Overflowing with various contrary emotions about to explode on my facial expressions, the muscles of my face didn''t know how to arrange themself which surprisingly made it easier to control them.

    ?You know your reaction after you looked at my drawing was... weird.?

    Oh my god, was I that weird? Of course I was, after staring that intensely at that time. He stared back at me and probably noticed. But I can''t tell him the truth. I want to, but can''t.

    ?Yeah I was fascinated. I mean seriously, you are really good at drawing aren''t you??

    ?Oh thank you a lot, but you weren''t just looking like you were amazed. You were in a shock or something. Do you perhaps know of what I have drawn??

    ?No it was really just so amazing, that I was shocked. I always thought to be the best in class at least when it comes to art. Your talent with math and all the other subjects was ... just amazing as it can be. But to even be able to draw that well just overhelmed me.?

    I want to tell him the truth, but I literally can''t! It is physical impossible. I am completely blocked and my body won''t react to the intend to tell the truth. But instead does the reverse and I automatically begins to lie!

    ?Oh, then I must have misunderstood. Nevertheless You are living close to me don''t you??

    ?Y-yes I do... I guess.?

    He is really asking me right? RIGHT?

    ?Seeing you going home all alone all the time... you know... I thought about going home together from now on.?

    KYAAAA He really did!

    ?The other guys all live somewhere else and so I thought it would be convenient to not go alone.?

    ?Y-YES LET''S DO THAT!? My excitement overhelmed me. My emotions weren''t under control anymore. I couldn''t bear the pressure of all the emotions dwelling up within me and just gave in. A wide happy smile garnished my face. I moved myself closer to Chelo with joy filling my eyes. Bending my body forwards towards him. To think that one of my wishes came true this soon.

    When he took a step back with his surprised expression I realized how pushy I was and moved back again, too, while blushing.

    ?S-sorry. I came too close and screamed at your face.?

    ?Oh, no don''t be, you took me by surprise with that reaction. I did not expect you to be this motivated.?

    He smiled at me kindly and my heart once again filled with warmth.

    ?So let us go, right??

    ?Yes!?

    ...

    From that day on we did not just went back home together, but he even picked me up from home to get to school.

    I wished these happy days to never end, but after some time I realized this was by far not enough for me anymore.

    So I build up a strategy to make him mine...

 Chelo: Ready to go

    I have become friends with Avia. We''ve been walking to school and coming bacl together for some weeks now. (It''s weird to have a 12 days week, but at the same time convenient.) After her weird reaction regarding the car I had drawn I confronted her. Concluding from her behaviour I thought she came from earth, too. But she denied it. Well not exactly but she at least did not tell me that she is from earth and said she had another reason to have reacted like that.

    Regardless I am still not convinced. There still are possibilities for why she did not tell me, even though it might not be awkward to do so.

    First: She might really not come from earth, but I can''t bring myself to believe that.

    Second: She does come from earth but has a reason to not tell me.

    Third: She doesn''t fully remember and is not sure herself whether her memories are a dream or were reality.

    I can''t be sure that mine are real, but to tell the truth, I don''t care and the only thing is, I have these memories. They feel distant but close at the same time. As if it was me living them but also it wasn''t me. Thinking about that just makes me worry about something that doesn''t matter anymore.

    Whatever is the case soon or later I might be able to find out the truth.

    While walking and talking with her I realized that Avia is really smart even though she had some problems with math at the beginning. Her behaviour is an unusual mix of mature and childish. I did not expect her to be that talkative and she regulary gets red faced from really normal situations. This leads to my imagination she somehow might have the hots for me. But this wouldprobablybe just a little childrens romance. Thinking this further could lead to some misunderstandings and it is way too early to do, for my age. So I leave this thoughts locked for now.

    The situation between Avia and me is just a sidenote, because the important part begins now:

    My teacher promised me to let me meet her university professor. And when she told me he is interested, too, I made some preparations and wrote down some basics in math and physic from earth.

    After I told my parents about the meeting, father was worried a lot while my mom just said:

    ?That''s wonderul! Let him go. Milli will look over him. so don''t worry.?

    ?But still. Even though it''s her, there still are so many bad people out there.?

    My teachers name is Milla Parchel by the way and she is an old acquaintance of mom.

    Apparently to be allowed as a teacher you need to have a Guardian license of at least Level 4. The license Level maxes out at 10 and only 9 or 10 are qualified to be attendants of high nobility. For that reason most teachers were mercenaries, soldiers or other fighting specialists before. Why do they need a Guardian license? The world is, like my father said, full of bad people. Kidnapping children is not that rare. They are mostly used to be raised as soldiers or even worse as experimental objects.

    If you raise a soldier from a young age they will develope faster. Also nobody suspects children to carry out assassination missions. Probably most people today do suspect those, but it''s still hard to differentiate between a really helpless child and a soldier. That''s why most Guardians keep children as far away from their employers.

    A childrens magic is still unstable, which makes it also easy to absorb, disturb or change through external influences.

    That''s why children are valuable to various people at the blackmarkets, mischievous organisations and such. Where else would you be able to get a lot of them if not at a school?

    My teacher reached rank 6 as a Guardian. And she will pick me up in a few minutes*.

    I just finished packing the notes into a bag. They are just loose, unbound papers so I Sorted them and put them in a package my father gave me.

    For my parents my notes were just childish fantasies and they didn''t care as long as I had fun. In their eyes I was just a smart and curious child. Fortunately!

    I take my bag and go down. I mostly use the exit through my fathers shop like today. After walking down the staircase, I enter the dining room, to the right is the exit through the backyard. to the left is the door to my fathers shop. I reach out my tiny hands to the handle at the height of my forehead. A significant amount of strength is needed for this door to open. At least for a child.

    With a little creakthe door opens while I enter. To the right is the counter of the shop where my father is talking to a customer interested in some herbs for medical purpose. The herbs are mostly behind the counter. Other merchandise is in glass cabinets or show cases throughout the room. artifacts, devices and some lightly enchanted equipment is everywhere. The valuable stuff is in the back and my dad only gets them out for special customers.

    At the wall to the right betweento the shelf with the herbs and the door I come from is a chair. To the left is the door to my mothers workshop.

    I sit down on the chair in the to patiently wait for my teacher to pick me up. My dad is currently talking to a customer interested in some herbs for medical purpose.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    ?Cheloo? A silent whisper reaches me from the left.?

    My mom has opened thr door leading to her workshop just a little gab wide. Without the faintest sound.

    ?come over. She whispers and beckons me through the gab.?

    My dad is still talking and doesn''t seem to notice mom. I jump off the chair with a thud. Mom pressed her index and middlefinger horizontally against her lips. A sign to be silent. Looking back at my dad I cautiously sneak out of the room.

    The workshop of my mother is mainly filled with swords, axes and knifes. There also is a large assortment of different arrows. Some tools for working like hammers, tongs and alike. Also some ordinary ones like scissors, forks or even spoons. There is no armour because my mom is a bit special about her job. An armour is something that has to fit its owner perfectly to just make an armour to fit anyone or as a display is a waste of resources. She also won''t make a warhammer or mace because ''everything close to a hammer is a holy tool of forging and not meant for war nor violence''.

    ?I have something for you.?

    My mom said quietly while pullingme along softly. We enter her smithery. And then begins to search the room for something.

    ?Wait... where did I put it? ...I - just finished it yesterday...?

    Mom was a master in putting her stuff somewhere she wouldn''t be able to find it. When she is absorbed in her work it even gets worse. After she finishes her new project, she can''t even find the tools she just used a moment ago. It''s like an unfortunate superpower.

    ?AH I GOT IT! ... How did it end up here??

    Good question. How did it end up there? She is currently using a ladder to go through the storage at the intermediate floor close to the ceiling. Looking in a box far in the back. She just made it yesterday so why is it that far in the back?

    She jumps down with a #Hepp and goes down on one of her knees.

    ?Here this si for you, but don''t tell your father! he would be just too worried.?

    Her hand reaches out to me. In it lieing a short sword, a really short sword perfectly fitting for my size. It feels strange getting handed a little sword by my mother.

    ?Really? For me??

    She smiles

    ?Yes for you. This is just for today! You will have to give it back when you come back home. But you learned some selfdefense in school, so please use this in worst case. JUST-_-FOR-_-SELF-DE-FENSE!?

    ?I knew you would do something like that!?

    Dad surprised us.

    ?I told you it is way too early to let him play with such dangerous tools.?

    ?He is not gonna play with it?

    ?Even though giving him a sword is an act of irresponsibility!?

    ?I had my-? -?WHAT does it matter? you always were a weapon and smithery freak...?

    The sight of my dad scolding mom looks kinda cute. By the looks of it dad is not that mad but upset that mom tried to do it behind is back. Except talking it over.

    The scolding is harmless. My mom is around one and a halfheads smaller than dad so it looks impressiv and brutal at first with dad running his mouth and hitting on the head with the sheathed shortsword she wanted to give me. But at second sight those words were just filled with worry and his hits were so light they couldn''t even bend a flower. After some fatal verbal hits about parenthood, she begins to... smile. I guess she realized how much dad cared about us and couldn''t hold back. Dad is confused and the scolding is interrupted by my teacher calling out for me.

    ?HELLO? Chelo? Melosa? Anyone here??

    she shouts through the workshop.

    ?YES BACK HERE IN THE SMITHERY! ...You are lucky - I guess.?

    My teacher comes around the corner.

    ?D-did I interrupt something??

    ?No no, everything is fine.?

    My mother answered while walking to her. With a smile she greets her.

    ?Welcome again.?

    ?Nice to be here again. I was at the enchantment store first but noone was there. Is it okay to leave it open and alone??

    ?That''s right, I should head back fast. Chelo take this.?

    Dad gets closer to me while mom and teacher began to their smalltalk. He kneels before me giving me the shortsword and a pendant. Then pets my head. I nod.

    ?Always keep that pendant close to you. Your mom and I care a lot about you. Don''t do anything rash and keep close to Miss Parchel. I have to go and keep an eye on the shop. Or it may run away again!?

    Dads Shop never ran away. But he keeps that pun** alive. Though his shop has exploded, burned, been flooded, turned into a chaos by a wandering armour, turned puple before or other curious things happened to it... most of that many times.

    I don''t know how it works yet, but dad once enchanted a statue of a minature sized goblin. Afterwards it began to talk, stole some goods and ravaged through the store using some of the magical tools and devieces. He said he would not stop until Pronk Nomborg is the ruler of this land and demanded a 3 winged Promonkel as his mount. Dad assumed that Pronk was the goblin himself and he just talked about himself in third person. Whatever a Promonkel is, most likely we will never know.

    ?Yes I will be careful! Thanks a lot.?

    I am really happy that my dad trusts me that much. I give him a wide grin as goodbye while he leaves for his store. Mom and my teacher already went deep into their conversation. It''s like a special ability of those two to get there this fast. I put away the shortswort into my bag, the pendant around my neck and hide it under my clothes. Then I proceed to go to mom. I pull on her coat to make her notice me.

    ?Oh yeah I almost forgot the reason you came here.?

    My teacher was also suddenly pulled out of her trance tied to the conversation.

    ?Yeah Right. We need to go!?

    ?Sorry I distracted you... Did Widdi go already??

    ?Yes, Dad is already in his store again.?

    ?Well whatever. Chelo have fun and take care. Milli if anything bad happens say farewell to this world!?

    ?Yeah yeah i know. Chelo will come back without a scratch don''t worry.?

    I say goodbye to mom who hugges me tightly and gives me a kiss on my forhead.

    ?Don''t make any trouble!?

    Teach takes my hand and walks off with me.

    ?Don''t worry we''ll be fine!?

    -

    We would have been fine... If the professor did not have that kind of assistant...

 Dangers of Gambling

    Teacher and I are on our way to the east end of the city we live in. The city is called "Cara''athio"*. It''s the 4th lagest city of this country. Even though it is so big, it can''t rival any of the other 7 big cities in anything exept for one thing. The reason this city has developed this well is because it has low taxes, good infrastructure for trading and many little villages near which bring in resources like wood and metal. But more than those resources a lot morefarms and food resources can be found near. Which makes the costs for living here even lower.

    The city itself is parted in 8 sections.

    The center has a the villa of the citys lord in it with houses of the rich and nobleman around it. Therefore it is the district for the higher standards, named Saar but also calledthe Center.

    Like a ringaround the Center(Saar) is the district of the knights and soldiers, building something like a protective wall around it. Named "Saarl Wosh" or the Knights Ring. Located at the east border of the Knights Ring (Saarl Wosh) is the Knights school. On the north/east border of Saar and Saarl Wosh is the Academy for nobles and magicians.

    South-southwest cuts a river through the city dividing the harbour district in a northern and southern part.

    The southern part was originally the export harbour for the surrounding villages. But a lot of mischievious people took it over and now it is ablack market place paired with the slums.

    The northern part is now the main trading route for import and export and also has really popular restaurants the closer you go to the center. At the border between the northern harbour and Saarl Wosh is the mainbuilding, great church, of the twelve religions govourning this world.

    At first the Harbour was just one district called Parawe, but now is devided in Parawe Ba''al (northern) and Parawe Nos (southern).

    Northwest is Marask Al a district filled with bars, Inn''s and everything a mercenary needs. Also the district my parents and I live in quite close to the Center.

    North and East are Gav and Iondra the districts most people live in. Most people of Iondra (East) have a greater fortune than people of Gav.

    The last district in the south east is Vile. It is also a trading district but also has the only casino of the town. And that place is our goal.

    For safety reasons normal people like us are not allowed to enter Saarl Wosh and Saar without a special permission.

    We do not own one, so we have to go all the way around the Center. We take the route through Gav and Iondra because it seems shorter and safer. Parents and chaperones seem to have a hard job.

    I have been in these parts with my parents before to visit some friends of the family, so the scenery is not that unfamiliar. Every time I wander through this parts I look around carefully and inspect the architectural changes of the housings. The closer We get to the Center the older the buildings get. But they also become bigger and more expensive. The value also rises while coming from Marask Al to Gav and spikes in Iondra. But it also lowers again when coming from Iondra to Vile. What''s more interesting, great architectural differences are visible between the different districts. The houses of Marask Al are mostly half-timbered houses. In Gav the houses are mostly halftimbered houses too, but have a lot more ornaments and are often combined with brick elements. Also in Gav are more brick houses. Iondra is mainly build of brick houses and not only ornaments on houses but also gardens and statues can be seen everywhere. When arriving in Vile the architecture becomes a lot more simple and mainly wooden houses can be found. It looks a lot like Marask Al but even more simple.

    After around 3 hours of walking through this city we finally arrive at a huge house unfitting to the rest of the buildings around but at the same time it merges perfectly with the rest. A work of art if I may say so. This house is made of a halftimbered and bricked combination with ornaments and decorations making this building stand out more than any other. But the colours and edges fit to the other houses around so perfectly that it doesn''t seem out of place.

    Before the entrance is asheltered staircase leading to a huge open door. Two muscular guards stand before it. My teacher takes my hand and pulls me softly along.

    ?Let''s go.?

    she smiles at me.

    Pulling a letter out of her jacket and showing it to the guards, she wordlessly passes through the door with me. Inside is a big hall with an open hallway of the second floor on the sidewalls. It''s loud and smells of cigars and a faint note of spruce**. At the entrance there is a lot of space, a bit further in are many tables with people off different stands gambling against each other and the casino itself. at the other side on the wall is a bar and a band plays lively music on the stage in the left corner. Maids wander through the room serving drinks and snacks. in the right corner is a seating area with seemingly rich customers having lots of women in their arms and laughing loudly while drinking. There are no windows for this hall. some doors on every side lead to seperate rooms where maids sometimes go in to serve special guests.

    Suddenly a commotion breaks out. Someone flies out of the door leading to the second room on the right side. Landing on a table disturbing the game and making the guys gambling there angry.

    ?There he is...?

    My teacher said monotonely.

    I look up to her with questioning eyes.

    ?WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE??

    A shouting female voice draws my attention back to the commotion. The hall went silent in an instant.Two even bigger guys than the guards from before, clad in white long mantles, walk out the opened door to the right. Bigger I said, but one of them is just really tall and the other one bulked like a gorilla. The one closer to us has a big Weaponon his back, the other one has two on his belt. Unfortunately thanks to my size and them standing with their fronts to me, I am not able to tell what weapons those are.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    Following them an elegant clothed woman, in a fine red dress with blue ornaments, steps between them. Smoking a cigar she looks older than my teacher but still young. I guess around 35 years old? Her hair is red as her dress and boundinto a bun with one big skein hanging over her left shoulder. She is angry... definitely.

    ?YOU LITTLE SHITHEAD! COMING IN HERE, GAMBLING A FORTUNE YOU DON''T HAVE AND NOT PAYING AT ALL??

    ?Yeah definatelyhim...?

    My teacher mumbles.

    ?WHY SHOULDN''T I KILL YOU RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW? FOR TRYING TO BETRAY AND STEAL FROM US??

    ?Chelo, stand still here and wait for me. If anything happens just call the guards or shout out to me.?

    With those words she walks up to the commotion. The angry woman swearing and threatening without waiting for an answer.

    Eventually the angry woman notices my teacher, but ignores her and continues the ranting. Commanding her bodyguards they gradually move closer to the guy on the smashed table. Clenching their fists and leaningdown their bodies slightly. Seems like they have no intention of drawing their weapons yet, which is a good thing, right? YET!

    A faint scared squiek can be heard from the poor guy.

    ?STOP IT!?

    My teacher shouts and moves up to the closer bodyguard. Both stop and glare angrily and slightly confused at my teacher.

    ?Keep out of this, sweetheart! ... Or do you intend to pay up for him??

    The woman is surprised at first, but then looks curiously with a faintly mischievous smile at her. The bodyguards straigthen their backs again and wait for commands. Meanwhile I tried to get a better position to see whats going on.

    ?... If you don''t pay for him then we shall continue. Brovurion! Asab!?

    ?Wait, wait, wait. please don''t.?

    The guy on the ground begs for mercy. Everyone in this hall is fascinated and just looks whats going to happen.

    In a Swift action teacher suddenly stood between Brovurion, Asab and the guy on the ground. Thanks to my new positioning I can See that the guard closer to me has a Warhammer on his back. Mom would be really mad to see him.

    ?Please give me just a second with him, I need to talk with him.?

    ?Oh thank god you are here!?

    ?Just shut up! I am talking to this gracious Lady. So like I said, just a moment and afterwards you may do as you please with this... guy.?

    The woman grins.

    ? Brovurion, Asab!?

    The bodyguards turn around and the woman gestures with her hand to allowteacher to proceed. The bodyguards take a step back. At this moment I notice Mr. Warhammer jerks with his right shoulder weirdly.

    ?Thanks.?

    ?Milliana, thanks goodness you are here. Please help me.?

    ?I said shut up. I am not here for that. Whenever I meet you, you are in trouble.?

    ?It''s not like-?

    ?DON''T talk before you''re allowed. I thought we could meet the Professor here, but it''s just you. You probably arranged this. But you know where he is. So just tell me and have fun with these guys.?

    I never expected teacher to have such a crooked character. That guys scared expression changed into an arrogant grin quite fast.

    ?Yeah, I do know. But why should I tell you whithout getting something back? If you let them get at me there won''t be a chance to tell you anymore.?

    Teacher is unimpressed, looks back at the lady, and whispers something while pointing at the bodyguard with theweapons on his belt. The Lady nods and commands him.

    ?Asab, if you may.?

    Asab draws out a sword and holds the blade under the guys chin. Then teacher begins to talk again.

    ?Hear what I say Dumbelo***. I don''t need that information. If needed I can just search for him myself. But obviously it''s your fault for us to not have him met yet. You as his assistant set this up. So may I kindly ask where he is? It''s more like an atonement for trying to make me save you again. There are even worse things than death ,too. So a last time, where is the professor??

    At this moment I got scared of teacher. Always the happy, kind and caring person but at this moment just scary. Even though teacher was that mad, aggressive and serious the guy did not change his expression.

    ?Well if you don''t want to rescue me, what would the professor think? I could even tell some stories about you and your past.?

    ?You would not dare to do that!?

    ?Oh, what if I tell about the time in Dassi-?

    ?CHELO WATCH OUT! BEHIND YOU.?

    My teacher suddenly turns to me and shouts. I turn around reflexively. And there is... nothing. A loud BANG echoes through the silent tension of the hall instantly followed by a cracking noise. And I turn to my teacher again, realizing I was not the only one that turned around to look what''s behind me. Dumbelo, the name teacher called him, was silenced. his head was now burried on the ground and the table beneath even more shattered. He seemed to be knocked out. Teacher turned to the lady again and bowed.

    ?I deeply apologize for taking this time. Unfortunately what kind of teacher would I be if I don''t help an old acquaintance and show that I am a proper role model. Also like he said my old mentor would be ashamed of me. So, how muvh is his it??

    ?It''s 2000 Bha****. Do you think you can offer that much??

    I don''t know yet how much that really is, but a whole new custom armour from Mom costs around 250 so that seems like a lot.

    ?Oh wow... Far from his record at least. But unfortunately I don''t have that much. Neither has he i bet. I know this is really impolite, but is there anything to lessen thisdept??

    The smile of the lady converts into a neutral facial expression of thought. And answers lesurely with a playful smile.

    ?You know I won''t! Well not just like that. But judging from your appearance you seem to have some experience in fighting. More than a normal person. That hit looked good and I''ve come to somehow like you and your spine. If you have something to bet with, I will consider lessen it if you win the challange. But only once.?

    ?I am deeply thankful. But what kind of challange would it be??

    She obvious wants teacher to fight, does she?

    ?What would be the fun if I told you so beforehand? Just take the challange and bet something. Depending on its value we can negotiate.?

    Teacher puts her hand on her forehead and shoes signs of not wanting to. She looks back at Dumbelo and clicks with her tongue.

    ?Okay...?

    The ladies expression becomes a wide grin with a faint hint of madness. She does not intend to hide her hapiness and anticipation.

    Teacher gets out the document she showed at the entrance. And shows it to the lady.

    ?You know what this is??

    The ladies eyes became wider. The grin changed into a surprised open mouth to just become an even more mischievious grin.

    ?Of course you do. I guess with this document aswager the hole sum should be met. And as bonus he will pay for the table nevertheless.?

    ?I love that guts of yours. Let''s go all in. Let''s take the bet. But he shall never come in here again! You will be an honored guest in the future though.?

    ?Naturally I won''t let him do this again.?

    The Lady holds out her hand and my teacher grabs it.

    ?Then it''s settled! EVERYONE, GET YOUR LUGGAGE AND MONEY, WE WILL GO DOWNSTAIRS!?

    Suddenly the silence of all the others is liftet and the whole bar begins to shout and cheer loudly. The lady points at Dumbelo and the bodyguards look at each other. after a short exchange of gestures the guy with the two swords gets him and carries Dumbelo with them. The Lady goes forth, behind her the bodyguards. And just shortly after them the rest of the people from the bar. Teacher squeezes herself through the turmoil to me and grabs my hand.

    ?I am sorry that you have to see this from me. Please don''t tell anyone of the others... Let''s go.?

    She begins to pull me along while I am deep in thought with many questions on my mind.

    ...

 The first match starts

    Chelos persepctive

    <hr>

    Millas (teachers) persepctive

    <hr>

    Without any chance to reply I am pulled along by my teacher through a door at the end of this gambling hall. We are following the other guests and even the musicans who go ahead reaching a big distinguished staircase leading downstairs until we reach an even bigger hall than the entrance. More like a colossalunderground arena. A huge Battlefield in the middle with stands surrounding it. The stands are quite empty even though the whole people of this building got here. In front of us is the lady waiting for my teacher behind her the bodyguards are holding on to Dumbelo who is still unconscious.

    ?Welcome to my underground arena! I am sorry for not realizing that I haven''t introduced myself so far. I am Safania Taraja Vindat, the owner of this establishment. Miss Parchel, was it? If you may come here.?

    She knows Teachers name probably from that seemingly valueable document of my teacher. What kinda thing is that? My teacher still pulls me along until we stand right before Safania.

    ?This must be one of your students. Hello my little gentlemen.?

    Safania bows down to me and smiles gently. This time not a even the faintest sign of malice, mischief or madness reside in that new smile of hers.

    ?I am CheloMelosake Widjomson. Nice to meet you Madame.?

    ?What a good raised little fella. So I shall explain the rules.?

    Teacher lets go of my hand. and looks attentive at Safania

    ?The fact that you are a teacher and that hit you knocked this asshole down with, brought me to an idea. You will fight with these two behind me. One at a time. You loose the first match and your little paper is mine. If you win the first match the depts will be halved. Now you choose to stop or continue either is fine. If you choose to continue, fight the second one and win, the whole dept will be erased and you can all go. Shall you loose the second match the dept will be at 2000 again and that letter is mine. As long as he has further depts you will be hisguarantor to pay up. Is this fine with you??

    ?So I have to be his guarantor? Don''t you think that is a bit too onesided??

    Either teacher doesn''t care or she didn''t notice that the "guarantor-thingie" was a bait to make it easier for Lady Safania to get on that document. That Lady didn''t care about teacher being the guarantor. But should I really say it? Teacher seems reallyconfident in herself about this.

    ?Well if you want to we can leave out you being the guarantor. But that will allow me to do with him whatever I want. You sure about that??

    ?I will take this match but won''t be the guarantor. No matter what I dragged myself to deep into his problem. Any more and I would pamper him. Should I loose that guy gotta learn that lesson.?

    ?Excellent! As a favour you shall have the choice with whom to start. And don''t worry, I will takke care of that little guy and I promise whatever happens he will be kept safe.?

    Teacher thinks a bit too long to choose between those guys and Lady Safania gets impatient. So I pull on teachers clothes and wave my hand to make her bow down to me so I can whisper something in her ear. She is a bit surprised but does bow down to lends her ear to me. So i begin to whisper:

    ?I am not sure myself, but judging from Brovurions body he is more of a heavy hitter. Therefore he has to have a firm defense, too. But he has problems with his right shoulder which seems to be his dominant one. Asab has two light weapons so he probably is more a speed based guy. But judging from his height his attacks probably act more like a whip. He has to be flexible, too. If you intend to just beat one, take Brovurion, If you think you can beat both take Asab first!?

    I move away slowly from her ear and she slowly moves away from me. Then her head turns to me. She looks with big eyes at me. A surprised expression but not shocked, more like a "that''s amazing" and admiring myobservation skills. I always was like this and that''s the reason my life before ended the way it did. I was bullied as a child but thanks to my alertness and observations I was always able to get back at them quite fast. I am not proud of whatI did to them so I won''t tell any further details. That was just one of many uses to use my knowledge.

    <hr>

    I had bowed down to hear what Chelo wanted to say but the things he said were quite amazing. I knew he is really smart, but that information about Brovurion was a bit scary. So I used this information and chose Asab as first opponent.

    ?I''ll take Asab first?

    ?So be it.?The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Ms. Safania Taraja Vindat answered. Asab let go of Maredelo and Brovurion alone held him confined. Asab bows down towards Ms. Safaniaand immediately went into the arena. Loud cheers were heard, even though the viewers were just a drop compaered to the sea of audience this arena is able to hold. I stepped forward with Chelo and Ms.Safania held out a hand to Chelo with a kind smile. When she made the deal her expressions were kinda ... dirty. But when looking at Chelo all her feelings seem really honest and I decided to trust her. She would be in serious trouble if anything happened to him and she knows it. So I prepared to fight and went after Asab.

    <hr>

    Teacher glares at Lady Safania with serious eyes. Then she unexpectadely loosened the lower half of the skirt belonging to her dress. It was definately made so it can be taken off fasty. Her "new" skirt ended a bitabove her knees. revealing something like a shortswords sheath which was hidden beneath the dress. She then proceeds to take of the upper half of her dress and reveals a showy shoulderless black top which fitted very tightly around her chest. I am not an expert, but those kinda clothes didn''t seem to fit each other. Like wearing pitch black armour at the top and simple green trousers beneath. But who am I to judge? Teacher then goes into the arena where Asab is already waiting for her.

    ?Shall be proceed to our seats??

    Teacher seemed to trust her this far and I also believe in her honesty regarding me so I take Lady Safanias hand and she guides me to a seemingly VIP seat. Brovurion follows us. When watching down from the upperposition I see that teacher has drawn her weapon which looks like a one handed black longsword and also is equipped with a weird black iron glove covering the other arm to the elbow. Another not fitting piece of armour. How should I say it? She added a black birthday hat to the black armour and green trousers! But who am I to judge? More importantly how did that sword fit under her dress without me noticing?

    Her height would be roughly 1,70 m*, therefore her hips are around 90 cm. The swords length is roughly 1,1m. So even tilted it should have left a bum on her skirt. I also remember her having something like the sheath for a shortsword, so maybe some magic is involved? My eyes widen the moment I realized that something like portals and bending the room might be possible with magic. I want to learn how it works even more and faster now! But my mind drifted too far.

    Back to the arena:

    Asab is a head tallerthan Brovurion. The tallestguy I have ever seen so far. He already has thrown his white mantle in the corner of the arena. His equipment that was covert by the mantle is a light leather armour and two long curved swords. He has white hair but fairly dark brown skin with blackish eyes.His shoulders are wide but his waist is quite slim. He has keen muscles, but his tall and long build makes them look really slender. His arms and legs are like thick branches of a tree. He stands upright like a statue just waiting for the match to start.

    ?Would you mind telling me what you have told her??

    ?Maybe after the match is over.?

    I answer instinctively with a childish grin.

    ?Okay, if you don''t want to, I don''t mind.?

    While Lady Safania stands up she announces in a loud voice resoudning through the hall:

    ?Thank you all for waiting. This will hopefully be an interesting Match between Bar Asab and Miss Milla Parchel. Let''s all enjoy this. Place your bets! In a short while the fight will start. May the contestants prepare themself physically and mentally.?

    <hr>

    After a short time waiting Ms. Safania announces the start of the match. Asab takes his stance immediately. His arms form a square with his left arm over his head and the right one along his belly up to the other shoulder. The sword in his left hand looks like protecting his right side. The sword in his right hand is pointed at me. His whole body is in a crouched positioning to dash. But he is waiting for me to do something.

    I hold my glove in front of me, bend my knees slightly and hold my rapier over my head pointing at him. It''s a defensive stance for quick counter attacks. We both muster each other and analyse eaches stances to try to predict each others first and following moves.

    Looking at his body he seems to be a descendant of one of the normads tribes from the north. But his stance is not from the normads tribes but one of the western or local schools. Unfortunately that stance belongs to 24 of the western and 3 of the local schools I know.

    The waiting and mustering feels like an eternity but in the second I blink he suddenly dashes at me. And the sword art schools are narrowed down to 3. still one local and 2 western arts I know. To use the most basic bodily functions of the opponent to strike is on of the most dangerous techniques you could use. To time your dash perfectly to the split second of a persons blinking is a hard to master technique. His wasn''t perfect enough and I was able to deflect his right hands stab to the left. His left arm swings immediately at me. So fast I was not able to counter but had to evade it by a hair''s breadth. Followed by another slashing attack with his right hand using his momentum from the left hands swing .His swing was faster than expected and just like ... a whip. I parry with my glove and use his power to gain a distance between us.

    At this moment my mind drifts to Chelos words and I was amazed what he has forseen. I could have only guessed half of it after Asab removed his mantle, but Chelo amazingly saw through it with one glance. But I have to concentrate on this match so I fixate on Asab again.

    His neutral and composed expression more like a statue of a soldier has become a shocked face and moves into the expression of a happy child who has just found something to play with.

    This wasn''t his full power yet neither was it mine, but we both knew, this match will beexciting for both of us.

    <hr>

    Asabs Attack was faster than any human dash I have seen on earth before and my heart skipped a beat. He closed a distance of approximately twelvesteps in the blink of an eye. It seemed that teacher was able to parry it and evade the following two attacks with ease. Is this how this worlds humans fight? At the same time it''s amazing and scary.

    The tiny crowd gives a big cheer. And Lady Safania whispers happily:

    ?Not bad. I knew she was more than a Level 4. But to be that good was out of expectations.?

    And after a short exchange of stares Asab suddenly began to glow slightly yellowish. Excited I wait what happens next.

    <hr>

    He activated a magic not only surrounding his body but also filling his body and circulating withing him.

    I smile wryly.

    And with this the match had begone!

 Milla Parchel vs. Bar Asab

    Milla:

    His magic manipulates the Aether* flowing through his body. He takes the charging stance again and I don''t know what happens next. He will charge of course. But I have not seen that magic before, there might be a surprise.

    To not let that happenI load my glove with a huge amount of Aether to be able to cast a countermagic asfast as possible and I begin to forcibly blink one eye after the other. And there his charge comes again. Right at the moment my first eye blinks. He''s fast. A lot faster than the previous attack. This time I deflect his right hands stabbing attack to the right and cast a protective barrier around the glove of my left hand. The moment I begin the counter stabbing attack aimed at his shoulder he turns his body, swings his leftarms sword close along his right arm to block the attack and uses his right to do a vertical slash from the bottom up. I block with my glove and jump over him using his swings force. My attack from above is blocked with the other sword again.

    His bodyturns fast to face me again and he swings his right again. I am about to block it and suddenly his right arm is moving away his whole body positioning changed faster than ever before and the left is coming at me. I jump back,his sword grazes my shoulder. I try to analyse what happened. He glanced at me surprised as if he was saying "not bad".

    I stare at him again and concentrate on the Aetherflow within his body. It has a clean cut in the center. He charges at me again. This time though the swords are hold like sheathed around his hips. Adifferent type of charge attack. A clear swing from the bottomupwards of his right arm. The first one was easily evaded but the second one from his left arm was just too fast and cut through my gloves barrier. Luckily just that. But at this moment I realized what kind of technique it is.

    I let him attack once again to confirm it. Two sideway slashed the second one a lot faster than the other with a weird flow of his Aether.

    The Aether within him copies the other side of his body like a mirror to make his movements a lot faster than originally possible by forcibly making his one body half copy the other. To surprise me he did this with both body halves at the first charge, but afterwards just with one so his swords will not cross. Like that all his right sides movements are accelerated through copiing the movement of the left side, and the other way around.

    <hr>

    Chelo:

    I have no real experience incombat. On Earth Ihave seen some martial arts as refference shall I be attacked once. I did not really expect to be able to protect myself against an experienced opponent. Well Ithought I had some chances combined with the knowledge about the human body and its weak points. Though the things I remember can''t be compared to this! The speed and movements look so unnatural. After the first exchange of attacks the speed just increased. The second charges exchange of blows was so fast my eyes were not able to follow. Just slightly, but I am able too see the magical barrier around teachers glove.

    Even though Asabs attacks are so fast teacher deals with them professionally and precisely. Like I said I have no idea about this worlds combat but even though teacher was the only one getting some bruises and cuts she seemed to not give it her all. When Asab begins to sweat teacher doesn''t bat an eye, stays cool and collected. Teacher looks like testing Asabs limits and cautiously waits for her time to strike.

    All those Attacks and exchanges are led by Asab while teacher is mostly defending. And then I noticed something.

    Could it be that Asab wants to hide something behind all his furious but precise attacks?

    He does let teacher time to think and there are breaks in the fight to collect her thoughts, but as soon as the fight starts he tries to dominate and lead the fight by force. The breaks probably are just for him to collect himself and help to disguise his weakness a bit.

    And analysing further his weakness seems to be his defense. While fighting he decides the rythm and counter-attacks within therythm that he set are all calculated and dealt with.

    Every blow is cheered by the crowd. Every evasion, every tiniest hit or parry. But to me it looked a little like acting. How can a fighter have these fast reactions?This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    So for teacher to break through she has to set the pace of the fight or has to interrupt his rythm just for a moment and the openings will come. But there is no use, I can''t tell her, so all I do is watching their fight and trying to remember as much as possible for future references. In this world I am not sure where I will end up. So I decided to be prepared. Nothing bad happened yet, but I hear stories from all over this world. My teacher alone is this strong, how strong must a person be that tries to assassinateandkill me?

    Some people may ask why I expect the worst things to happen. It''s easy! By using my past lifes knowledge I want to revolutionize this worlds science as much as possible. And I can''t be sure, but I expect to make a lot of enemies. Even on Earth the biggest enemy of science was the church. In this town are already twelveof them!

    So I had already prepared myself to learn how to fight. And this will be one of the most important excercises to learn it. Watching it, trying to analyse it and apply it for myself.

    ?Your teacher does great against Asab.?

    LadySafania says.

    ?I expected her to be a bit capable but this exceeds my calculation a bit.?

    She smiles at me kindly. Afterwards she continues to watch and her forhead wrinkles remotely.

    I follow and continue to watch the fight, too.

    <hr>

    We exchange blows, slashes and piercing attacks in a really fast and heat up battle. Some of his attacks are so fast my joints begin to hurt. His tricky technique made it hard to find openings. While attacking with one weapon he blocks with the other one skillfully. Then attacks through his mirror-like body magic again. His unique mix of the Heeishun-Sword-Art from the northern countries and the local Bra''an style, combined with the magic is perfectly adjusted for his body type.

    We seperate again and use this pause to analyse and plan our next moves. He is sweating and panting. I take a deep breath and collect myself again. I am covered in several light cuts. Mostly just my armour but here and there he managed to graze my skin. But my joints and muscles which had to block his furious attacks ache the most.

    I have not fought in a long time so I betterfinish this fast.

    I collect my Aether and prepare the counter. Taking my stance again. He goes into his second dashing stance and charges. I hold out my glove and fire a simple high concentrated Fireball at his feet to mess with his balance. It worked and the blast messes with his footing, his charge did not stop. I charge head-on, too. Wait for the first offbalanced and misstimed slash, fire an airbullet out of my sword holding fist and use that impact to duck immediately. Flat on the ground I fire another Airbullet out of my gloves elbow and hit his chin. HARD. He was not able to react.

    Asabflies up but is still concious. I turn my glove to the ground and fire Air out fo it and my feet for a fast jump. Thanks to Asab being out of balance and my surprise attack he was not able to turn his body midair fast enough. He stares down iritated.

    Asab is definately specialized in combat on the ground so if I finish him now in midair it will be an hopefully easy win.

    I charge my sword with fire magic.

    My body rises fast,my sword nearly reaches him while he is still flying upwards. He tries to put his swords before mine. I expected that. I let go of my sword and fire with my glove to the side to alter my movement. The next moment i float behind him. His own swords blocked his sight. Surprised of the light hit by only my sword covered in firemagic, he did not expectme coming from behind. I grap his head with my now unoccupied hand and fire wind magic out of my glove to the ceilingwith my greatest force. Our risingmovement has been foced by the magics impact to go downwards immediately. Eventually his head smashes on the ground. His body follows. A dustcloud rises.

    I pant. I am exhausted. Try to look at his face.

    The dust lays down slowly and after some seconds I can see his face again.

    He is unconcious.The sound of mysword hitting the ground behind me wakes me from the trance I fell while fighting. My handlets go of his head.I Rise and fight the urge to take a deep breath.Whilecoughing I go out of the diminishingcloud, backwards.

    <hr>

    Teachers fight so far was amazing. Asab begins a new charge.

    Suddenly teacher fired a Fireball and what happened afterwards was too fast. All I saw was she suddenly countercharged, then duck down, evades a horizontal slash to give him aclean uppercut. Immediately she suddenly appeared behind him, grabs his head and flew with his head downwards.On earth it would have killed him. Abig dustclowd arised covering both.

    Now a single person walks out of the dustcloud backwards. It was my teacher. The cheers became louder. How can that few people make such a noise?

    The cloud sets down and on the ground lays Asab. I really hope this didn''t kill him.

    Teacher lays her head back in her neck and takes a deep breath.

    Two people, seemingly medics, rush to Asab. They check his vitals and then carry him out of the arena.

    Teacher turns to Lady Safania and begins to shout...

    ...

 Milla Parchel vs. Brovurion Annariake Wolfenson

    Teacher shouts: ?First one is down! Do me a favour and bring out the other one fast, I still have plans with my pupil.?

    As an answer Safania beckons two staffmembers who were taking the bets who hurried here. Then Brovurion holds out Dumbelo. The staffmembers first look surprised at each other, take over to hold onto Dumbelo and are uncomfortable at first but then accept this situation quite fast.

    Brovurion goes down into the Arena and arrives while Asab has already been brought out a sideexit. Coming to a stand some meters before teacher.

    He first bows down in an elegant way. Teacher responds accordingly.

    He strives off his Warhammers holderletting the Hammer fall to the ground. A heavy thump resounds. Like a little Meteorite has landed a huge wave of dust comes up and the hammer burries itself into the ground. Never thought that thing would be this heavy. But unexpectedly he did not undress his coat and just took his stance. The Hammer on the ground before him and holding onto it''s stemwith both hands. In this pose, just slightly revealing his arms, I can see that there is an armour hidden behind his white coat.

    I am not a professional regarding this, but seriously, he must feel really hot beneath all those clothings. All the times I looked at him before he never broke a sweat, even though he additionally carried and held onto Dumbelo!

    Teacher takes her stance and Safania announces the second match. Through teachers pressingthis break was really short.

    ?Through the first matches victory by Milla Parchel I am happy to announce the second and last match for this event. Milla Parchel against Brovurion Annariake Wolfenson. May this match be as exciting as the first one. And now, START!?

    Again teacher and her opponent stare at each other. Brovurion with an advantage of knowing teachers fighting-style from her previous fight, additionally it''sher already used energy against his probably full charged power. Even though you can see the previous fight as a warmup... I guess?

    I want to win this fight fast, but I don''t know anything about that guy. Except for his shoulder. I''ve got some light cuts here and there but they don''t really bother me. The only problem from the fight before is a bit of Numbness ind my arms from defendig against Asabs heavy attacks. That numbness is luckily going away quite fast.

    Judging by his weapon and build he looks like a heavy hitter with a decent armour beneath his coat. His Movements are probably slower than Asabs but even stronger and heavier. I first have to penetrate his defense and then an opportuity to make a decisive blow.

    This kind of matches are especially hard against armoured guys because you normally should prevent fatal blows.

    Okay first let''s try out how fast he is.

    I begin to charge at him. My sword pulled to the back a bit for an easy straight piercing attack and my glove guarding me like a shield. It''s an easy attack he will proably block, but in which way I wonder.

    My piercing attack starts and his body moves to the right while the armour aroud his left (from my perspective) arm deflects my piercing to the side. Easy but efficieant. The next moment his other arm grabs the hammer and swings it at my body. Nothing unexpected so far. I accelerate a bit, to get out of his range and turn around instantly, where his Hammer misses me by a wide margin.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    His reflexes are good and he did not show anything extraordinary yet, but most probably because this was a standard situation.

    His expression is neutral and kept beeing like that since the first time I saw him.

    I look into his eyes. They tell me nothing. But he seems concentrated and careful.

    Okay next I''ll try something else.

    My second charge begins, but surprisingly he charges as well. At the point we meet his Hammer swung by both arms has the upper hand against every weapon of mine. I duck down under his hammer to deal an uppercut with my glove. Again charged with some fire magic at my elbow to enhance the power of the blow. But the moment my counter begins suddenly his upper body moves back and his knee comes up my chin. Just closely being able to react and turn my body away his knee graces my chin.

    That was dangerous. He anticipated this attack from the fight before and used his hammers swing as a decoy, then used it''s swings weight to pull his upper body away from my attack while transferring that power into his knee the same time.

    While I roll to the side he does a backflip and after his landing charges again, while I am still getting up. He holds his hammer behind him for a second swing. But this swing comes so fast, I am not fully able to evade or block it. The barrier of my glove isn''t finished in time and he hits me from the side penetrating my gloves blocking. My rips are hit, the next moment I fly some meters to the side. Fortunately I had a barrier around all my body, but this attack still hurts a lot. I am wondering why I still feel quite good and the hit wasn''t as heavy as expected.

    The moment I look at Brovurion I understand. He didn''t hit me with the hammer, but only with thestem.

    Again, while I am trying to get up he charges again, but I fire a Fireball at him with my glove and use some magic controlling the air to get up faster. Using the Fireballs cover I charge at him too. He uses his staff to disperse the fireball. Not having noticed me, I slash my sword cutting open his amour beneath the clothes, but not getting trhough to his skin yet. Using this spin and further accelerating it with Wind magic I combine it with a strike of the back of my glove that hits his hopefully hurt shoulder with all my might.

    This time he gets blown away.

    That Moment I realized from his back the head of the hammer comes flying at me. I evade it with a shot fireball and air manipulation.

    This guy is trickier than expected.

    He gets up again, his Hammers had flying to his staff and connecting again. I guess this fight will be nastier than the previous.

    I hold onto my rights hips, he holds his shoulder.

    ?Staring at each other volume 2!¡° begins.

    I''ve set my strategy and am the first to charge again. Brovurion swings his Hammer, the head flies at me and I evade it. My swordslash from the side is blocked by his staff leaving a noticeable mark in his Staff. But it wasn''t supposed to hit. The force was meant to strain his hurt shoulder to give me the opportunity to hit him with my glove. It strikes forceful at his armour around his belly where I''ve damaged it already and my glove penetrates it enought for him to feel it and he slides back on the ground. I duck down as the expected hammer head flies above my head to Brovurion. I charge for the last time, his Staff and hammerhead connect again. The next moment my glove comes in for another hit at his belly. He blocks it with the staff, but the staff can''t bear the force with the Cut my sword left and breaks. My sword comes up and we stand still while my swords tipis held at his throat.

    Brovurion lets go of his broken Staff and hammer, raises his hands and for the first time his expression changes. A kind, caring smile. The halves of his stick fall to the ground and again the hammers head leaves a deep mark in the ground throwing up a lot of dust.

    ?I give up!? -he says.

    At that moment me knees are about to give in. I let down my sword, take a step back and breath in deeply again.

    Brovurion looks at his broken weapon and frownsdiscontently. Then he looks up to Ms.Safania.

    The loud cheers of the crowd are a mix of excitement and disappointment.

    Ms. Safania then announces my victory.

    ?With this the match has concluded. The winner of both matches is Milla Parchel! Like always you can get the payoutof your bets at the counter outside. Let''s have some fun furthermore and enjoy the rest of the day. Remember this evening the preliminariesof our weekly turnament will take place. It''s still early, have a nice day. The staff will take care of the main hall and its damages. For the people at the destroyed table, I apologize for it''s hard to fully reconstruct the way your game was. Therefore our staffmember dealing at that table will give you your share plus a bonus. If you have problems regarding his choices you may come to my office!?

    Then she whispers something to one of her attendants, takes Chelos hand going outside a special door at the back of her gallery. Dumbelo is carried right by two other staffmembers behind her. I try to hurry up, but i realize it''s hard to move through the croud at my entry. On the other side though the attendant has opened another door beckoning me. Brovurion already went through that door.

    I hurry there.

    ¡­

 Impatience

    The attendant bows down and introduces herself.

    ?Honorable Lady Parchel, it''s a pleasure to meet you. I am Mallin Percurija Fallaldat, please follow me. Madame Safania* is waiting for you in her office. ?It would be a bother to talk in here. You won''t have to squeeze yourself through the crowd.¡° - Madame told me to tell you. So again, please follow me.?

    Chelo is a smart kid and I decided to trust Ms. Safania and her staff, for now.

    But first I pick up ma clothings and belongings I undressed and but to the side for the fight.

    Leading me through a corridor with some rooms, probably for waiting fighters and even a infirmary where Asab lays down in a bed with a doctor by his side still checking up on him. I guess that man is a doctor or at least someone with medical knowledge. Brovurion is not in there.

    A staircase leads up to groundlevel again and instead of going to the big hall again, we go through a guarded door leading up another staircase.

    We turn left and the attendant leads me to an open door. She gestures me to go in.

    In there Chelo sits on a fancy armchair with a biscuit in his hand. Ms. Safania leans on its right armrest.

    Dumbelo lays on the floor, even though there is are two Couches.

    She noticed me and greets me once again.

    <hr>

    After the fight is over and Lady Safanias announcement. She tells her just arrived attendant to bring teacher into her offices and then reaches out a hand to me.

    ?I hope it''s okay for you, but would you follow me to my office??

    Over the short time I know her I judge her to be trustworthy, so why not. Taking her hand we go out through a backdoor and she leads me upwards.

    Dumbelo is carried by the two Staffmembers behind us.

    Is he okay?

    As we walk she asked for the answer I denied before.

    ?Soo, what did you tell your teacher before the fight began??

    ?Oh yeah. It was just that Brovurion showed his already injured shoulder through some weird movements before the fight. Additionally Brovurions coat seemed tight, a result of his big armour beneath. Paired with the warhammer on his back it seemed obvious for him to be a sturdy but powerful fighter. Even though his fighting style really surprised me, when he only had a Staff.

    On the other side, judging by the build of Asab and the looseness of his coat he did seem like an agility and quickness kinda fighter. His long arms and legs would therefore be fast but strong due to leverage and act like a Whip. Also having two onehanded weapons it seemed obvious.?

    I stop talking as Safania comes to a standstill with slightly startled eyes focused at me. We stand before a guard in front of a staircase. She turns to him and announces that her attendant Mallindi* will bring in a guest so he shall let them pass.

    As we move up the stairs I continue:

    ?Well the only important part was Brovurions shoulder. My teacher has probably seen through the rest herself.?

    I myself only realized the shoulder due to a professor of mine who did a lot off woodchucking and had similar movements after dislocating his shoulder.

    ?That''s amazingly well concluded for a child without much experience in combat. Or am I wrong there? How old are you??

    A second time we come to a stand. This time Lady Safania unlocks a sturdy and well crafted door, if I may say so.

    ?I am 5 years old and you are right I haven''t experienced much combat. But somehow I find it fascinating to try and get as many informations as I can from a glance at something.?

    ?You are a really weird little fellow. But I like curious children like you.?

    The door opens and she announces

    ?Let''s get in. Your teacher will be here quite fast.?

    Then she leads me into a huge office room with a big desk, a lot of bookshelves and books, a blue Corner with couches and many fancy decorations. Also some paintings, some plants and even a weird sculpture which is climbed by another plant. On the ground lays a blue carpet and most decorations are kept in a combination of blue and green Paired with the dark wooden shelves it somehow makes me sleepy just to look around. In comparison it contrasts Lady Safanias red hair and dress splendidly.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    I expected a lot of red, so this is unexpected.

    ?You can take a seat here.?

    She directs at an armchair. Where I sit down promptly to find out its soft and comfortable embrace.

    ?Wanna have a biscuit??

    ?Oh yes please!?

    I answer happily. I mean why not? Everybody loves sweets. At least most people. Additionally sugar helps your brain to stay awake and concentrated. Doesn''t it?

    She opens a jar at the table and takes out two biscuits, to hand one over to me and eat the other one herself. Her staff is still holding onto Dumbelo at the entrance of the office. They stand there waiting for orders.

    ?Just put him on the floor at the side.?

    The two look puzzled at first, both taking a glance at the chouches in the corner where I am, then looking at each other simultaneously.

    A funny conversation just via glances, expressions and gestures unfolds betweens them both.

    Staffmember 1: Is she serious? Just here on the floor?

    Staffmember 2: I know right? I mean there are two empty couches. She normally treats everyone really nicely!

    S1: What the hell did this guy do?

    Both look with a curious but also disgusted face at Dumbelo.

    S2: Probably something about money.

    A smile arises on each face.

    S1: You are right, when it concerns money Madame is someone else.

    Suddenly my hairs stood up. A cold shower rushes down my spine but just as sudden as this feel appeared it justdisappears. The attendants shriek together looking at #Safania.

    Both glare at each other again.

    S1: Let''s just lay him down

    S2: Yes, it''s not like the floor is that uncomfortable.

    At last they just shrug and do as they were told. After laying Dumbeo on the floor, they bow down and leave the room. A gesture of Safania tells them to leave the door open.

    And thus this wordless conversation concluded.

    I wonder if Dumbelo really is still alife, after being carried here and all that time. He hasn''t woken up yet!

    Deciding to change the flow of this situation.

    ?This room is kinda unexpected. It''s dark but in a cozy way. Don''t you normally use brighter colours for an invoronmet centered around work??

    Safania begins to laugh lightly, then leans on a armrest.

    ?Well yeah. The blue decor was red and yellow before, but after my daughters were born I had this changed in morerelaxing colours. I have to keep watch over them most of the time. And this looks more friendly for them. I don''t work much here anyways.?

    A second time my eyes scan the room and I find some tales for children and additionally a box in the corner with seemingly some toys.

    The next moment teacher comes through the door.

    ?Welcome again! Please excuse me for just bringing him here without your consent. But I judged this surrounding for a better place to talk a bit.?

    ?Like I said, we have plans for today. It would be nice to make this quick.?

    ?Well I like to be sure about every deal I make. Please have a seat wherever you like, I''ll do this as fast as I can.?

    She points at the couches then gets up and moves to her desk taking some papers out of a drawer. Teacher glances at Dumbelo then rolls her eyes. After she sits down, Safania writes something on the papers and i begin a conversation.

    ?That guy seems to be alive, but after being carried here and there and all this time he hasn''t awoken yet.?

    ?He will be out for about another hour. The way I hit him he should not be in danger but his head was shaken quite a bit... I think.?

    Teacher seems to doubt her own words.

    ?But normally a person would have awoken around the time he is carried into the stadium, but it''s already more than an hour isn''t it??

    ?Oh sorry that''s my fault!?

    Lady Safania interupts without looking up.

    Teacher and I glare puzzled at each other silently. This was unexpecte for both of us.

    ?You know when a person awakes after being knocked out and realizes he or she is held down by people that person always struggles for no reason. And I am not sure if my staff, other than Brovurion or Asab, could have held him still, so I drugged him.?

    ?So you knew teaher would win the first fight??

    ?The probability was high. She is a teacher and at least a low class noble. Therefore she has a long educational history in combat and magic. I guessed there would be a high chance for her first opponent to lose. And whatever happens after I drug him, I don''t care for a scum like that.?

    I stare at teacher but she puts it off with a wave of her hand.

    ?When will the drug wear off??

    ?In around two hours I guess? Could be more... or less... he will wake up eventually... probably.?

    ?That doesn''t sound promising.?

    ?Don''t worry, don''t worry! A highclass alchemist works for me. I trust him!?

    Teacher didn''t look like intending to tell anything so I decided to ignore the thing about nobility.

    Silence.

    Teacher sits on a couch with her arms and legs crossed, tipping impatiently with her fingertips at her upper arm. When taking this position she had slightly pained expressions and tried to not let anybody see her weak side.

    ?The first one is finished.?

    Teacher looks at Safania curiously.

    Safania holds out a paper.

    ?Here take this, go outside take a turn to the left and use the next door to the right. There should be my head assistant. He will lead you to this houses personel Aether Doctor**, then get your attire repaired, too, and help you to get everything else you need!?

    ?No need thanks, just hurry up!?

    ?You wanted to meet a professor if I recall that correctly.?

    Teacher stays silent and just pulls up an eyebrow.

    ?Is it possibly Professor Rolagson??

    Teachers other Eyebrow follows. Safania looks up for a moment.

    ?Oh I hit the head! He is closer than you thought he would be.?

    Safania looks back at the papers.

    ?And you knew all along! You just didn''t say anything to get the money back, I guess.?

    ?That guy owed me a fair lot and that was the best and fastest way to earn at least some of the money back.?

    Teacher looks pissed with a mixed feeling of some understanding.

    ?Would you be so kind to tell us where he is??

    ?Of course, but i will be finished in about 5 minutes. So please wait just that bit. Like I said, you can use that to getEverything checked.?

    Teacher doesn''t take the offer of going and waits impatiently for Safania to finish.

    I took out a book from the shelf and casually skim through the pages. Safania had noticed but let me do as I liked. It''s an anthology about some creatures living in the surrounding of this city. Nothing special, just some way to not get bored.

    Just a few moments later she finishes writing and shows teacher a contract where everything from their bet was summarized.

    Neither teacher nor Dumbelo has to pay anything anymore and Dumbelos dept is cleared. Also the table will be payed by Safania herself.

    Teacher signes it.

    Then Safania rises and goes to the door to lead us the way.

    ...

 Meeting the Professor

    Together we wander through the hallway following Safania and reach the other end.

    This building is just too huge!

    ?The professor is in here?

    Safania stands before a double door with her back still turned towards us. With a great push she powerfully opens it. The light from within the room shines brightly into the hallway and at first is blinding me for just a moment.

    Safania turns around grinning proudly like a child revealing her tresury to her parents. She then steps to the side bows sligtly to show us the way in.

    Stepping forward, behind the door awaits ahuge Library. The suns light shines through the big ceiling windows to lighten every corner and tiniest nook. A hallbigger than the one at the entry, but smaller than the arena. After stepping into the libabry we start on a kind of open floor with a staircase to the left leading to the bottom layer of the library. There are also two more upper layers. Its build reminds me a bit of an Atrium*. In difference to the rest of the buildings interior just the shelves and other furniture is wooden, but the floor, walls, pillars and railings are in a bright grey marble. It''s not yet white. As decoration on the floor lays a red capet with golden pattern at the border running into a fine golden lace. To finish the atmosphere some small treelike plants are in the corners and well cut creepers hang down from high spots to add a soothing atmosphere without the being in the way. All in all this is one of the tidiest and best groomed neat places I''ve been so far.

    Just a few people are in here. I am able to see nine at the moment, other than Safania, teacher and me. Six of them are at tables or sitting in comfortable couches on the bottom layer. Two others are looking through the shelves and one is seemingly sorting books into the right places.

    Teacher had an angry mood being on edge from Safania, but seeing this library made her mad expression change into a marveling gaze.

    ?Wow, i-it''s so bea¨²tiful and huge!?

    While Teacher stands there paralyzed Safania gets by and goes to the right where there''s a door that leads to a balcony overseeing the rest of the library.

    She knocks three times.

    ?May we come in? Here are guests for you Mr. Rolagson!?

    A silent dull voice answers but I am unable to understand any of it.

    Safania opens this door for me, too.

    ?Get in, I bet the professor is waiting for you.?

    The character of Safania is as weird and twisted as this building. From her wrath over owed money to her haughty slyness to get teacher to participate, leading into a collected and ballanced relaxed uniform and finishing it with an overly friendly politeness.

    As fast as the interior design changes, her behaivour seems to warp.

    Teacher is still mesmerized by the sight of this library while I walk forth into the separee where the professor should be, believing Safania.

    Stepping through the door, the kind of inside logia awaiting me is filled with more shelves. But a quarter of them is empty, this is probably a room for research or similiar which has storage for multiple books as Cache. An open side let''s you overlook the rest of the library and also provides light. In a corner are also other halv empty container and even lots of unwritten papers and scribing material. A room worth for research and work. There is even a big blackboard at the counterside of the rooms opening. a big desk in the middle of the room and eight chairs.

    Before the board is a man standing looking over at me curiously. Sitting on the table are two little girls also glaring at me but with a more puzzled gaze. Clones? ... No twins!

    The man has greyish black hair, a fully grey stubble beard and white but faintly blueish skin. His dark blue eyes have dark bags and little crow''s feet wrinkles. He wears a darkblue long robe and a kind of... doubled tie? It''s a tie like the arms of a clock. A long slim end hangs down to around belt level, while the other one is a bit wider, lays on top of the other and reaches around half that length.

    The little girls have curly hair as red as Safanias. One wears a weird bun on the left of her head, the other one a sideways ponytail on the right. Their eyes are light blue. And both have some dominant freckles on their cheeks and nose. The bun wears a dress in light magenta while the ponytail wears a dominant orange one.

    Silence...

    I feel perforated by the glares of those three inside the room. It makes me really nervous. The girls give a quick simultary glance to Safania standing behind me and then begin to whisper something to each other.

    The man first looks at Safania but then at something distant behind her. His eyes are searching for some clues to analyse what it is. A happy smile arises in his face.

    ?MILLA!?

    I look back and bend my body a bit to look at teacher still starring though the hall. On the mans call she abruptly turns toward us.

    ?PROFESSOR ROGALSON!?

    she shouts back and as soon as she realizes what kind of place this is she shrinks her bodies posture in embarrassment.

    She gets closer, tiptoeing in a rush, Safania pushes me into the room and follows. At the rooms entrance the Professor and Milla meet close up. The Professor spreads his arms for a hug, but teacher parries with her outheld hand pressing at his chest to keep a distance.

    Professors face turns sad and looks at teacher with the gaze of a little puppy.

    ?For various reasons I wont let you do that! And you know it!?

    ?But I am clean, you see? I even got this fancy suit!?

    The professor does an elegant pirouette to show off.

    ?And your groping habbit??

    ?I told you many times that I don''t grope... it at least doesn''t happen on purpose! It''s a natural reflex! And it goes against my principles to fight nature! I work with mother nature not against her!?

    ?And I won''t let that nature make me feel uncomfortable!?

    Teachers smile turns slightly mad .

    ?Why did you bring Dumbelo with you??

    On those words suddenly I somehow feel a chill. A dark aura emerges from behind me. I want to turn around but I fear to see what it is. A shower rushes down my spine. The professors face seems to have frozen. A cold sweat runs down his cheek as he slowly turns towards me.

    Safania moves by and I feel this aura leaking from her. The little girls begin to giggle.

    ?SO AS I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU!?

    ?I-I''m not sure what you are talking about.?If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ?THAT WORM! THAT LITTLE ... Insect!?

    Safania seems to try to control herself.

    ?HE belongs to YOU DOESN''T HE??

    Her teeth are gnashing.

    ?TRASH like that would have NEVER been able to get in, normally.?

    ?I am still not sure what you are talking about.?

    ?I AM talking about that Dumbelo guy, WHO seems to have come in with YOU! I am trying to operate a SERIOUS business here. Who do you think you are by bringing such a guy in here? Not only did he RUIN the reputation of this etablishment, HE RUINS MY REPUTATION! ?

    ?I am very sorry, I don''t und-...?

    The professor does a bad job at lieing there. He is really nervous and he can''t keep eyecontract. Safania interrupts him abruptly aand goes on.

    ?EVERY SINGLE GUEST in here is checked by me and my personal. ONLY chosen and trusted people get a pass in here to maintain an environment where people can enjoy their time and gamble all they want. Without fearing Fraud, deception, scam and other swindles. There are rules based on your assets! And many more regulations.?

    ?So... what''s the problem??

    ?WHATS THE PROBLEM? I TOLD YOU BEFOREHAND WHAT THIS BUILDING IS LIKE! I GAVE YOU PERMISSION TO BRING IN SOMEONE OUT OF TRUST TO YOU! BUT HE DID NOT ONLY BET MONEY HE DIDN''T HAVE! HE EVEN TRIED TO CHEAT! DO YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE EVEN ONE OF THESE GUYS CAUSE? I HAVE TO CLEAN UP EVERYTHING, PAY FOR HIM AND EVEN HAVE TO COMPENSATE WITH SOMETHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR THIS TO EVEN HAPPEN! YOU TWO ARE LUCKY THAT MISS PARCHEL WAS HERE TO WAGER FOR IT!...?

    ?It can''t be that much of a...?

    ?SILENCE! YOU DON''T KNOW HOW MUCH WORK IT WAS TO BUILD THIS...?

    After a fit for about another five minutes and rambling about it all while the professor lowered himself in apology for bringing Dumbelo in here my teacher finally stepped in between.

    ?Isn''t it enough? We did not come here to see him being yelled at.?

    Safania calmed down after being able to give him a piece of her mind.

    ?We will finish this ...?

    Safania mumbles at him. She then waves joyfully at the two little girls in a playful manner, turns to the professor with a last glare to leave us with a ?Until later then.?

    The casual smalltalk of two adults who have not seen each other in a long while began between Safania and the professor. I remember that being normal on Earth, too. But I don''t remember myself being someone who did that, too. Thinking about that I sure was fixated on my work wasn''t I?

    While they catch up on things they haven''t told each other yet i sit down at a chair opposing to the girls. I take a quick look at the blackboard to realize he seemingly taught those two girls some easy percentage calculations**. Even though it is simple to me, in comparison to my classes level this is something advanced.

    After directing my face to teacher and the professor I notice the two girls bowing towards me and staring at me intensely. I automatically ignored those two after coming into this room, which was really unfriendly of me. After turning towards them I realized how far those two bed over the table to look at me which first surprises. They even went with a knee on the table to get this close to me. Did they need my atention that much?

    Slightly nervous I begin:

    ?Oh, sorry. I- I was distracted. I haven''t introduced myself. I am Chelo Melosake Widjomson. Is there something to need to get this close??

    Both look at each other again and begin to smile.

    ?I am FMailddoassssaahh R. Safaniadat.?

    Both spoke in perfect unison, which felt creepy and made me unable to understand their respective givenname.

    this close I see for the first time that their pupils are not round but vertically oval, which distracts me for a moment.

    After sorting what they said I try repeating their names and first point at the right girl with the the rightsided ponytail and orange dress and then on the left one with the bun on her left and magenta dress.

    ?Faldassah and Midossah, right??

    Both nod in agreement. And suddenly they just talk to each other again.

    ?Chelo??

    ?Mello??

    Are they searching a nickname for?

    ?Widi??

    ?Chelli??

    ?Melli??

    ?Will??

    ?Well??

    ?Chid??

    ?Mid??

    ?Wilo??

    a pause...

    ?Mel??

    they suddenly ask at the same time.

    ?MEL!?

    they agreed.

    ?Can we call you Mel??

    It''s a bit weird to be called by the second name I get from my mother, but it''s fine with me.

    ?Well if you want to. Call me the way you like.?

    Boths faces seem to sparkle from happiness. Occasionally I sometimes take a glimbse at teacher and the professor to see if they have finished their greetings.

    They haven''t.

    Suddenly I am barraged by the twins.

    ?How old are you??

    ?Where do you come from??

    ?Do you know mum??

    ?Who is that??

    ?Why did you come here??

    ?Do you want to be friends??

    ?Aeehhm... I am Chelo Melosake Widjomson, come from the Marask Al district, I just met Safania today but she seems very nice and caring, that is my teacher from school Ms. Parchel, I came here to meet Professor Rolagson and... I guess I woud like to be friends with you.?

    ?Teacher? From a school??

    ?Are you going to a school??

    ?How big is the school??

    ?Are there many children??

    ?How many friends do you have??

    ?Is it fun at school??

    ?Y-yes, she is my teacher from the school I am attending. The school is not as big as this building but at least a building with around 6 classrooms where there is space for up to 25 children, some other rooms as well and a big backyard. There are at least 50 children. I guess I could say I have...5 to 12 friends, I am not sure how half of my class feels about it. And School is fun... I think.?

    Their curiosity and barrage of questions seem to imply that both don''t go to school. I take it they are taught at home, or here. I don''t know whether they live in this building or not. After some more questions they asked whether we had the same mathematics at school that the professor is teaching them right now. I told them we haven''t learned that yet and so they asked if I wanted them to teach me. I said yes, because that way I have something to do while teacher and the Professor are taking an eternity to talk and it also helps those two to remember that better. ''Learning by teaching''.

    Here and there I tried to unnoticingly correct them. It worked.

    Finally Teacher shockingly remembers why we are here, so she interrupts the girls and me, which makes them a bit mad at teacher, introduced me to the professor.

    ?This is my Professor I told you about. Before I became a teacher I studied under his care.?

    ?Nice to meet you Professor-?

    ?And this is Chelo Melosake Widjomson. A really bright child ahead of his class and age.?

    ?Melosake??

    ?Yes, he is indeed Mellos son.?

    ?Oh, nice to meet you little one, I read much about you from the letters I got from Milla. I am Widjom Hannehake Rolagson. No need to be that fornally you can call me Widjom.?

    ?So you have the same Name as my father Mr. Widjom??

    ?Seems like it, It''s a popular name.?

    He smiled at me gently.

    ?You should try to test him in anything about mathematics, he is a little know it all.?

    I don''t know if that was a praise or an insult but I better take it as as a compliment.

    ?So you have talked to Falda and Misso about the blackboard I guess??

    ?Yes they taught me.?

    ?And I take you understand it??

    ?Yes I do.?

    Of course I do, I''ve got fragments of an old dudes memories, from another world, in me.

    He asked me some easy questions about the percent theme which I answered fastly and seemingly correct. His curiosity is minor. Faking amazement like all adults do before children. So I sign him to lend me his ear. I begin to whisper.

    ?I know it is a bit weird but can we talk about something in private??

    He first seems confused but then I take the package of my beforehand prepared notes to show it to him. He takes his time casually passing through the first pages.

    While he does so I observe him and teacher began to talk to the two girls.

    The Professor starts agreeing to the contents of the first pages, as it is nothing special. At followed comtents he looks like he doesn''t understand what I wrote as if it was in another language. After trying to comprehend for a bit he continues to just take glimbses at the following pages. After passing through the first half he takes his time again. He reached the basics of physics and this time around looks interested in the things I wrote. But after two pages he begins to just take little glimbses at the pages again. Then one page caught his attention, he stops to read it thorough and carefully.

    Based on his advance I guess he reached the last theme: ''Keplers*** laws''. Based on what my parents told me the people here believe in everything circulating around Gaia, but that makes no sense, so before I started school I got curious and my mom told me about the nine stars which reflect nine of the gods here. I watched them closely and also tracked them a bit over half and a year. They are other planets in this solar-system. A fascinating observation about the humans mind. On Earth and Gaia gods were named after the other planets of the solarsystem... or was it the other way around? Probably caused by their weird movement they do in comparison to the ''other stars''. Based on my tracking I was able to roughly use Kepplers laws. They are not exact because I had nothing to mesure it all and was only able to roughly sketch them. For my parents those tracks were just pictures of the nightsky. I thought this would catch the professors eyes, so I included it. I was right!

    The professor is caught in my notes. After a while he finally looks up. He stares into my eyes. It''s a gaze full of wonder, curiosity and questions.

    ?I have a lot more so please just some minutes.?

    A bit unsure he begins to look at teacher.

    ?This is not a prank of yours is it??

    Teacher turns her head while squinting her eyes in lack of understanding.

    ?What do you mean??

    ?Would you mind taking care of these two? I would like to talk to... sorry, Chelo was it? - in private for a bit. Would that be okay??

    Teacher is a bit confused and looks at me.

    ?It''s okay, I want to do that, too.?

    ?Well I guess, Yes.?

    ?We are in the room next door.?

    The professor leads me out. Teachers eyes follow us still confused and is brought back by Midossah poking her.

    We move to another room which is like the one from before but a bit smaller, with four walls, no windows and therefore the light of some lantern is needed.

    ...