12 - Chapter 10
Sa Bina watched as people milled about discussing their options. Only a few people definitely moved to the left or the right. She didn't try to rush them.
“Those of you who have decided to stay, please form a line in front of General Han Ji, so that we can start the paperwork.” said Sa Bina. “can someone bring out a table and chairs?”
Soon a line was formed and the people who were staying started going through the forms. It looked like enough people would be staying to minimise issues for her. They could always fill in an missing positions once they had a final tally of the numbers.
“Thank you Minister, I wouldn't want to hold you further.” said Sa Bina.”You are invited to visit us at your convenience once we are settled in, in a few days.”
“Thank you Ambassador,” replied Hang Fo. “I would love to visit. We can ask our secretaries to arrange a suitable time.”
There was still a lot to do today, and Sa Bina would have plenty of time to examine her opulent mansion.
“Be Net and Han Ji, I leave dealing with the paperwork to you.” said Sa Bina, “Be Net, please ensure we have the provisions and staff for dinner. Also send someone to look over the other half of the estate. The soldiers, and their families, will be billeted there.”
“Dian Fu, identify the master suite, and have it prepared for me.” continued Sa Bina.
“Sun Li, would you be staying here tonight?” asked Sa Bina.
The staff hurried to carry out Sa Bina’s instructions.
“I would be delighted to stay.” said Sun Li, “shall be get our tasks completed for today?”
“Yes, I think a quick visit to the bank, then the school?” asked Sa Bina “It shouldn’t be too late, we can make both?”
“As long as we leave quickly, and don't take too long at the bank, it shouldn’t be an issue.” replied Sun Li.
With that the two embarked on the carriage, and with 2 guards for protection, left towards the bank.
It didn't take them long to arrive at the bank, this time the guards were very quick to let them in, having recognised them from the last visit.
Jang Ko met them in the conference room again. “Greetings my lady, it is good to see you again. Have you already procured a residence?”
“Greeting Jang Ko.” replied Sa Bina, “Yes I have purchased the two empty diplomatic estates in the capital. I would also like to make a withdrawal of 5 tier 2 spirit stones. Lastly, it seems like I do need access to a secure storage facility. We are in a hurry, as we still have to meet with the headmaster at the preparatory school. Anything you can do to speed up the process would be much appreciated.”
“Of course, of course, let me get that organised for you forthwith.” replied Jang Ko.
Jang Ko returned with her 5 tier 2 spirit stones, and while they waited, Sa Bina gave him the names of all the people she had hired. She asked Jang Ko to set up a separate household account and a military account, with appropriate access for her staff. She would work out how much to allocate after having them prepare a budget, and when the accounts were ready.
It didn't take long for the storage facility to be ready. It didn’t require a key, but rather used a Qi imprint to log the authorised users. It still required two people to authorise the opening of the unit. Once she had used the Qi seal to attune the lock to her, she proceeded to put the deeds to her properties and lock the storage unit. With her tasks at the bank complete they left towards the school.
The school buildings were grand yet harmoniously integrated into nature, showcasing traditional eastern architecture with sweeping, curved rooftops, intricate carvings, and red-and-gold accents. As it was the end of the day, the school was quiet, only the gate guards and staff still in attendance.
Upon reaching the gates, Sun Li identified them and asked to be taken to the headmaster of the school. They were shown in and escorted to the headmasters office. They were ushered in, announced then the guards departed.
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“Greetings, I am Yan Jian, headmaster at this school.” said Yan Jian, “What brings a cultivator and an ambassador here?”
“I am here to escort and vouch for Sa Bina.” said Sun Li, “I am from the Green Mountain Sect.” She preserted her sect token which the headmaster examined then returned.
“I am not actually an ambassador, I am a royal that does not wish to reveal her identity at this time.” said Sa Bina, handing over her bank token. “I am here to enrol in the school.” The headmaster took longer with the bank token, before returning it.
“Hmmm, I have not heard of the kingdom of The Rising Dao. Nor have I seen that particular heraldry before.” said the headmaster. “How old are you Lady Sa Bina?”
“I have just turned 13,” replied Sa Bina, “I am not sure when the school year starts, however I have only just arrived in the this kingdom, and would like to attend as soon as it's possible.”
“The term only started a month ago, and joining is not an issue.” replied the headmaster. “The fees are 1 tier 2 spirit stones per year. The issue will be what classes to add you to. As I am not aware of your academic history, and since you haven't mentioned it I can only assume you don't have any transcripts from another school, then I am afraid I will need you to go through an entrance examination to judge your abilities. Please be assured this is standard for all new students. We instituted this policy due to wide range of disparity in the levels of our students.”
“What subjects do you teach here,” asked Sa Bina.
“We cover language, literature, mathematics, law, economics, management, arts, history and geography.” replied the headmaster. “There are also several student and teacher-led clubs covering other topics.”
“Well I can tell you I have no knowledge in history, geography, law and literature.” said Sa Bina, “I am here in strange circumstances, and those subjects are likely more heavily influenced by the region.”
“I am confident in my understanding of language, but may not be able to articulate the rules. I am more confident in mathematics, economics and management.” continued Sa Bina. “As for the arts, it would depend on the curriculum that is covered. I am happy to go through an examination of my understanding of those subjects.”
“I see,” said the headmaster. “If you are happy, then I am happy to administer those tests now.”
The headmaster retrieved some test papers from a drawer, sorted through the subjects, then passed the relevant tests to Sa Bina. Sun Li was very interested in these results, having full knowledge of how Sa Bina ended up here, she was eager to see what the girl knew and revealed.
The maths test provided proved to be easy for Sa Bina, it just took her a few minutes to get used to the notation with her weird language power stepping in to translate the concepts. Once that made sense the level of maths was laughable easy.
The question on economics were also rudimentary, it didn't seem like there had been the development of advanced economic theories.
The paper on management was interesting, and Sa Bina tried to answer it in a way consistent with how things were done in a feudal society, however, Sa Bina was sure her modern bias came across in certain answers.
As Sa Bina completed each paper, the headmaster proceeded to mark them. He had purposefully given Sa Bina papers that covered the curriculum across all four years at school. This was because some students enrolled having had a thorough education and could immediately test out of certain subjects. It was his first time having a 13 year old girl with perfect marks in mathematics. He found it surprising that she was so competent, not only that the speed with which she had completed the paper was also astonishing.
As he stated to mark her economics paper, he saw similar results, some of her answers were unconventional, though not necessarily incorrect. It was just a different way of looking at economic theory. He was sure his economics professor would love to debate theory with her.
Her management paper answers were the most perplexing, it was as though the answers were written by someone presenting a theoretical understanding of a system they had heard about. Moreover a system they didn't necessarily agree with. He didn't know what to make of that.
“So having finished marking your papers, I feel like you don't need to attend the Mathematics or Economics classes as a student,” said the headmaster. “I would recommend that you attend them as a teaching assistant. As for management, your ideas are certainly different, though your understanding seems more theoretical rather than practical. Were you trained as a research scholar?”
Sun Li was shocked to hear Sa Bina was erudite enough to pass out of two classes, and that too the classes considered the hardest by many.
“No, I just studied whatever took my fancy.” replied Sa Bina.
“So I think I have an understanding as to your academic level.” replied the headmaster. “How about you start at the beginning of next week? That will be give me time to inform the professors, and finalise a timetable.”
“So in 4 days from today?” confirmed Sa Bina. That seemed reasonable, it would give her time to finalise her shopping and settle in.
With that they made their goodbyes and left to return to the estate. For Sa Bina it had been a hectic few days, what with dying, waking up in a strange body, being a slave, being rescued, being told she was royalty, gaining an insane amount of wealth and buying a massive home.
She was also taking responsibility for a sustaining number of people, and she was only just beginning to learn about this world. She would need to learn quickly to ensure she could live up to her new role.
It had been a long time since she was at school, and she wondered how her second time would compare. Her first time having been cut short due to the war, she looked forward to enjoying her second time more. This time she wouldn't get swept up in the drama, she would enjoy it instead.