Days are getting shorter, nights are growing colder and wind sweeps away the falling leaves, Autumn is upon me for the third time.
Balout isn't coming any more, he joined an other “kindergarden” after the sister of the temple finished our catechism. Leaving me with Melodi and Gel.
On cloudy days the 3 of us are playing outside. The girls are pushing me to my physical limits, Melodi is stronger than us thanks to her beastkin heritage and Gel , despite getting leaner and floating inside her tunic, is more deft than ever. I'm trying my best to keep up with them. When we play not-dodgeball, only my technique and poise gives me the upper hand now, but how long will it last ?
I blame it on my father for not inheriting his chi yet, just you wait when I awaken my potential, girls.
On rainy days, that are getting more and more frequent, we are to stay indoors on the first floor in a room that is used as storage for various bolts of fabric, tools, completed dresses and such. There is no light crystal here, only a few candles to cast an uncertain light, casting moving shadows from the cobwebs on the ceiling.
Sister Sunyeo stopped coming, saying that she had plenty of other children to teach to before the next naming ceremony.
Miss Tarina takes it upon herself to take care of us. I manage to cox her into teaching us how to count.
She is a free citizen, the only one I met so far, and probably the most well learned person around me. I'm eager to learn as much as I can from her. My motivation must have reached her (or my cute puppy eyes, warm hugs and constant pestering).
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The numeral system of this world is a conundrum to me: it's an hexadecimal count system. Ms Tarina uses the joints and tips of the fingers of one hand to count to 16, excluding her thumb, marking a decimal on the joints of the other hand every 16 full count.
All numbers from 1 to 16 have their own name. A full 16 is a hex, our equivalent of 10. So for example seventeen is a hex and one.
I'm only familiar with a decimal count system, so it'll take some time for me to fully get used to this new one.
I do understand the merits of their choice : in a world where only a few knows how to write, being able to count 16 times 16 (so 256, also call a hexex) on one's hands, is superior to being able to count up to only 10. Allowing commoners to grasp quite big numbers in their everyday life.
I can quickly remember the name of the new numbers, it's no big deal to recite 16 names. Melodi comes next and for once Gel is the slowest of us.
“My oh my, little Telerios, arent you in a hurry, is it that boring here that you are all that willing to learn how to count?” probes our teacher.
I cant decently answer “yes”, so I decide instead to suck up to her a little “it's only because you are so clear and such a patient teacher.” I try to make it sound less sucky than it is. But Melodi's contemptuous stare tells me i failed to.
I feel that Ms Tarina is challenging me, testing my limits when she moves forward to additions and subtractions on the following days (if only she knew just how much maths I can really do, probably more than her, i'm just a bit sped down by the need to make some conversion between the 2 systems).
Although she's asking for simple problems, I take my time to solve them, both to not show too much uncanny wits and to allow my comrades to keep up with the pace. Melodi is left a bit behind, understanding additions but struggling with subtractions :
“but if the pebbles are behind your back, they haven't disappeared, why shouldn't I count them ?” she explodes then pouts, ears low behind.
Gel surprises me the most, being almost as good as I am except on the trickiest subtractions. (I say trickiest, but it's still simple problems... still tricky as mental calculation for a 4 years old)
Ms Tarina is both delighted by our progresses and intoxicated by her own teaching talents. I praised her a lot, playing the brown noser as much as I can, I need to squeeze as much knowledge as I can out of my plump tutor later on. And flattery is a good way to do so, it's not me that is too good at maths for my age, it's her that is “just too good of a mentor. Miss Tarina.” I can feel on my neck the glares of the two girls, I know, I also despise myself, but this is needed right now. A man should know when to leave his pride at the door.
As a reward for all of our efforts she gifts us a rare treat: one candy each. It's a soft brown ball of sticky fudge tasting like honey. We thank her with a syrupy kiss on her cheek, delighting her even more. “Thanks Ms, you are the best, I wish we can stay with you forever” says Mel.
Now who's a sucker ?
* * * * * * * * * *
As rainy days keeps coming one after another Ms Tarina is on tutor duty again. I say duty, but I can tell she enjoys taking care of us even if just for a short while.
Today I push my luck asking “can you teach us how to draw numbers ?”
I want to be able to write my arithmetic down without inciting suspicions and it is a good way to get my hands on some paper and pen. Sadly she says she has nothing for us to write on. (even Gel's puppy eye didn't manage to compel her, so it must be true, maybe paper is that rare of a commodity around here)
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Subdued by our sad looks, well mostly mine, I'm kind of the teacher's pet now: it comes with its ups and downs.
She has another proposal for us “Do you kids know which month we're in ?”
“Fall “ answers a candid Gel, causing some giggle on my side and Ms Tarina. This earns me a kick from my purple eyed companion, not taking the mocking well.
“No, we are currently in Fall season indead, but there are 4 months inside of it, and this one is Piscost, when the fish comes upstream back from the sea. Attracted by the rain.”
Melodi seems instantly captivated, drooling at the thought, fish are one of her object of interest, a bit cliché, but good to know.
She spends the day teaching us about time.
This world's calendar is stranger than I though. There are 16 months divided in 4 seasons of 4 months. Each month is dedicated to one of the gods, except the last month of the year that is a pantheon celebration instead of being dedicated to the loathsome monster god.
A month is 4 weeks of 8 days (so 32 days or two hexes). The first week is the rising moon of Amidea, the blue one (also the goddess of water). Second week is her descending moon. Third week is rising of the twin moons : Jalea the white and Arteus the red, culminating with daynight on the 24th when both are full. 32th day is the last one of the month, there are no moons and it's called darkest night, it is infamous for monster attacks but also thefts, murders and sneak attacks between kingdoms at war.
Each day is 16 hours long (two hexes),and made of four quarters of 4 hours each, marked by the Temple's 4 different bells. “I'm sure you've heard at least 3 of them”
Morning bell is the first one and has a clear and powerful ring to wake up everyone. It lightly rings once at what would be around 4 AM on earth. Then twice for second morning at something like 6AM, this is when most people wakes up, (those waking up on third bell are viewed as lazy) and then four times at the end of morning.
Then comes day bell, ringing once at around 10 AM. Then same pattern, two rings marking snack time for most workers, then three and finally four daybell's rings at what would be 4PM. The start of the evening.
Then comes the aptly named evening bell, a more light ringing one. The two chime of evening bell is dinner time ( around 7PM I guess). At around 10PM night bell, the most discreet one will ring once, announcing bedtime for most. (although children are put to bed more on the 4th ring of evening bell: something like 8:30PM).
Conversions are taking a toll on me as I must make most calculation without writing them, while being amazed by how long a year is in this world: There is a huge difference in the number of days in a year, 16 months of 32 days is 512 days, so around 45% more than on earth.
Days doesn't feel shorter than Earthly ones to me, but I have no tool to confirm this sensation.
I stop listening to miss Tarina as she names the months and seasons for the girls and I lay the maths in my head : if a year is 45% longer, and I'm currently 3 years something old (I think I was born in fall, I shall ask mom later), it would make me more than 4 years old on Earth. I'm no expert in child development, yet I still think I look more like a 3 years old than a 4 years old. I would need someone older to confirm my hunch, but I am wise enough not to ask Ms Tarina's age, it'd be rude I believe and I want to stay in her good favours. I'll have to ask Grand ma later. (it might also be rude to her, but I know she will forgive me, sorry grandma)
Our plump teacher stops here, feeling satisfied by our progression for the day. The three of us were hoping for another candy but today is just simple bunta crackers for snack and a refreshing mint-like tea.
As I'm seated on Ms Tarina's lap (comfiest cushions around), I ask her “what a free citizen is ”, since she's the only one I know.
“Telerios, a free citizen is one that is able to defend himself from the monsters, not relying on a protector. Either because he is strong enough, or has enough money to pay for protection.” she says, proud of her condition. “I was born a shielded one, just like you. I worked hard to build this shop and could later buy my family name.”
“What's a family name ? Do I have one too ? What's yours” the little kitty throws a barrage of questions
Ms Tarina smiles and goes on “ A family name is a second name, added to show your importance in the eyes of the gods and for the city. As customary, I took the name of our city and became Tarina Nakunaui in the Temple's ledger.”
I make myself comfortable and lie my head on her generous bosom before wearing my most naïve impression to ask : “what's the difference with me ?”
“You and your parents are shielded ones. Citizens that depends on a blade” It sounds like a noble's title. “Blades are in charge of protecting citizens in all the kingdom, risking their lives to fight monsters. In return, the commoners under their protection must pay them a yearly tax, usually commoners also lives in houses belonging to blades, your family does, and also pays a rent to your blade in charge.” I can feel a hint of bitterness in her tone, understanding that this protection must cost an arm and a leg, thus explaining why my family is so poor.
She keeps going on : “ under the commoners there are the servs, those who cant afford the protection yet need it. So they pay their lord with their time and workforce. You've probably met some, but most are living on east cheek (?) or outside the city, tending to the farms.”
Melodi chimes in and ask “can I become a free citizen too ? Or even a blade ?” her tail is standing straight up and her whiskers are trembling in excitation at the prospect.
Ms Tarina gently laugh, her trembling body gently shaking me : “of course you can my dear, just keep working hard like today, worship the gods and be a good citizen and opportunity to become a free citizen will arise.”
She pause for a short time to let the catgirl swallow her excitement “But becoming a blade is on an other level. You would need either great chi to be a martial hero or magical powers to be bestowed with such responsibilities. Blades must be strong enough to protect those under them. They also must wages war, protecting our borders, both from monsters and intruders.”
Melodi is a bit disappointed, but still high on the hope of becoming a free citizen.
The usually low profile Gel, dares a question : “is the lord of the city a blade ?”
Our teacher scoffs lightly, amused by her ingenuity “No the city lord is a Shield. We are in a capital city, only the most powerful ones can rule over it and the kingdom around. Shield Iroto is blessed by the gods, he is a strong and brave warrior, protecting all of us with his sword an shield, may Husnd keep his arm strong” she prays.
* * * * * * * * *
When going home this evening, and while talking about our day with mom and grandma, I ask grand ma her age. She emits a wavery laugh, stops to count on her finger joints and says “ooh sweetheart I'm far older than you, I am 3 hexes and seven springs old, may Dard keep me going” she says with a edentated smile at me.
She wasn't angered by my question, maybe the women in this world don't care about telling their age. Or that living this long is kind of a worthy feat, something to be proud of.
After dinner (today was the usual bunta bread and vegetable soup, but with a fish that Barasti caught added in the soup, giving it a far better taste than usual and making it more satiating).
I lay in my futon and wait for my brother to start snoring.
I do the maths: If grandma is 3hexes and seven, that make her 55 years old in this world. She does indeed look like a 55 years old commoner with a harsh life. She is wrinkled and grey haired, but still alert and sprightly. Her 55 years would translate in (doing some maths) : 80 years old on Earth. She definitively isn't that old (I bet commoners dies before reaching that old).
So there is something wrong here : either days are shorter than I think, or something is slowing the physiological ageing in this world, be it the gods, magic, different entropy laws or the food, pick your best guess.
Althought it might means I will live longer/more in this world, it also means growing up will take more time. I wonder if it is unusual for kids in this world to grow wise beyond their years because they live more days, or if the physiology ends up being more influent? Looking at my brother I think the later, but still hope for the former, as it wouldn't force me to act like a kid that long.
I fall asleep on this befuddlement, wondering if this night's sleep will be as long as my nights on Earth.