Eos’s Perspective.

Indeed it is my perspective. The one who is omniscient, hahaah, but I jest. I’m merely an old fool at this time pondering for a surprise solution to the predicament of this step-father. For the onlookers, this part differs from those preceding it. It’s more analytical, and I must apologize for this inconvenience.

It is a part unlike the rest, my own unique stigma I bear unto this world. I’m currently in the process of figuring out how to keep Azalea’s peace with the extra factor of a potential step-father. It’s tedious, but I like her and I’ve begun to feel something I haven’t felt for a long time. I feel a yearning not to be outdone by someone else.

That is the line of thought that brought me to where I am today, observing and listening back at the house. Azalea’s childhood house. I perceived a small carriage in the front porch, it bore a crest that felt regal. Perhaps he is from a royal family? I pondered, but that didn’t matter when it came to the sensation of a good father. I’ve seen too many kings abandon their duties of a father to pursue the duties of a king. I too have seen the father of hunter-gatherers who risk their lives protecting their children by hunting for meat everyday. There is no better father, but one of these examples puts their priorities in the correct place.

I hope that he isn’t a person who resembles my young self. Pursuing the temporary in exchange for the eternal.

“Nations, Cultures, Arts, Civilizations these are mortal and their life is to ours as it is to a bug. But it is immortals we work with, joke with, marry, snub and exploit” - Emperor Phyllias Archeron

I made the mistake of pursuing power when I was younger eons ago, but alas is no time to talk about it. Life is not to be looked at through a rear-view mirror. I walked past the stone path that Azalea grew up on, through the wooden door, and entered the house. I perceive a young man, in his 20’s or 30’s according to Azalea’s standards. He was irritated, impatient and bothered. His eyes contained a glint like that of a greedy wolf. Hungry, not from the pains of starvation but the taste of normalcy. He wished to devour on the pompous lifestyle he was given instead of normalcy.

Another man was inside as well, accompanying the first man. He looked cleaner, upright, standard and dignified. He carried the relaxed confidence you would see from a top university student. Patience, Softnessand Cunning came from this man. My observations brought upon the conclusion that he resembled a tiger that was disguised as a soft kitten. He stared into the windows leading outside where I assume Azalea’s mother was searching for her. Azalea’s mother Camellia is a very kind woman. Azale’a’s lucky to have her. Many other mothers have fallen into deep expressions out of grief for their husband, but Azalea mourned and learnt to move on. Time heals all wounds, but not everyone wants to be healed.

Camellia came back, opening the glass door, shaking her head. I felt a defeated sigh come from Camellia’s mouth.

“I’m sorry, I can’t seem to find her.”

“Would you mind giving me the chance to look for her?’ The patient, combed back gentlemen offered.

Camellia shrugged, “Feel free to search, but she usually doesn’t get found unless she wants to be found”

“She has to come back for dinner, no?” the impatient, curly haired kid suggested.

“I hope so, but she can survive in the woods for a couple of days. She used to play in the woods all the time when she was young”

“How old is that kid now?” The curly one asked

“She should be around 7 but she acts like we did 10 years ago.”

A surprised eyebrow raise was warranted from the scruffy kid, “She’s that mature?”

“Yeah, they grow up so fast”

“Then she’s still not mature enough to run away when guests come”

“Can you help me understand why you think you could talk about my daughter that way in my own household?” Camellia retorted

The polite one smirke while the scruffy one jumped, then looked away ashamed.

“I’m going back to the carriage so if you need me just call me brother.” The scruffy one got up and began to leave.The entrance was just the two of them, the well-mannered one and Camellia.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“Then what are we going to do?” The polite one asked.

“We’ll just wait until she comes back.”

“You’re not worried she’ll run away?”

“No? Why would I?”

“I swear Camellia, you raise your kids too loosely”

“So you suppose she should be brought up in a strict household with disiplineee, tacttt, honorrrr, atttituuudddeee & graceee” Camellia stretched each word ridiculing them in her progress.

The gentlemen internally cringed at the thought, “But, well, she is your child. I hope she doesn’t become spoiled”

Camellia smirked, “Of course she isn’t spoiled. There aren’t any maids, carriages, butlers or any of that fancy schmancy stuff you seem to be incapable of living without.”

“I just find that I have better things to do,” he responded.

“Well brother-in-law, How’s sister?” Camellia asked.

“She’s doing splendid. She still seemed as young and beautiful as the day I met her” A blissful expression crept on his face.

“It’s good to hear that she's doing well. Any updates on the property I currently own?”

“Still doing well, their prices went up but you keep the rent flat”

“I just feel bad taking advantage of the families who live there,” Camellia jokes, “But I rather have stability for now than chase marginal profits”

“So it seems” the gentlemen responded. Silence filled the room, with the sound of teacups being clinked together against the glass table heard around the house.

“So…,” The gentlemen went on, “How’s Azalea? Do you think she’s ready for the academy?”

A sad look appeared on Camellia’s face, “I’m actually afraid she’s too prepared for the academy. She’s gifted, you know, not like normal children. She’s not just smart, but wise. Wisdom comes from experience, sometimes it feels like I’m the one learning from her.”

“You did say she loved to read”

“She couldn’t live a second without having her head in some book! It’s frightening sometimes, but she’s incredibly smart. I wouldn’t want her to be bored out of her mind, doing stuff she already knew again, and again, and again until she becomes numb. I’m not letting you stunt the growth of my daughter”

“Rest assured, it’s in my best intentions to support her”

Camellia still squinted her eyes, unspoken doubt laced in her stare. “Tell me more about the academy”

Hoho! I’ll need to hear if this academy thing is good enough for Azalea. She’s the harbinger of my knowledge and soon my powers too, it better be a school good enough for my little Azalea.

“Of course, they have the best teachers we got from the continent there. It’s a special school for those who can afford to attend. Not all are welcome, but the select few excel like shining stars.”

Vagueness. I hated vagueness. It’s time to use a bit of my magic, Azalea only has a bit, but I can implant a singular question into Camililia’s mind. I took a strand of magic, weaved it together, and formed a line of words before promptly sending it to Camellia’s head.

Camellia looked like she had a sudden inspiration, her eyes glowed with brilliance, “Tell me more about the schools’ vision and mission, and what they want their students to be?”

“Camellia, I never thought you would be interested in that” the man responded, “To educate the next line of leaders who will bring substantial change to society”

Not the best, I squinted. Leadership is not privy to a small group of people within an organization. That’s a common misconception that a large part of this society seems to believe. The factory worker who finds a way to make his job easier is a leader in himself, and an organization built well will have leadership on all levels.

It’s also a misconception that you can teach leadership. Firstly, you can never assess leadership. You can’t slap an F or an A on leadership.

Secondly, everyone has a unique leadership style that they learnt from their childhood. A kid from a military household will gain a leadership style of a general, versus a kid who was born into an engineer’s family will adopt a leadership style of innovation. There is no textbook as good as experience itself that can teach you to be a better leader.

Thirdly, If you want to have leaders that create substantial change, you need to have the right leadership style at the right time. A General in peacetime will never create the substantial change that a General born in wartime can make. So the only way to consistently output influential leaders is to accept students who already learnt the proper leadership skills that are catered to the appropriate time. Then the school is freaking useless! You might as well read a ton of books from their syllabus and call it ‘good enough’.

The quality of a person’s job isn’t dictated by the level of education they gained, but the wisdom, knowledge and contribution they can bring! Education alone, dedicated to giving work, then receiving a letter in return is useless. That’s why I keep getting kids in my office from brilliant schools that say that they learnt more in a single month than they did in 4 years of education.

I will admit, this system can work for some. Those that are inquisitive, talk to the professors, read more and study with a burning fervor can gain wisdom, knowledge and the ability to contribute, but not for Azalea. She is comptant in reading the text, she only lacks experience now! Giving her more time to read more books would be like filling a cup that’s already full of water. We need to expand the width of the cup.

There’s a fun quote I remember, “We are embolden to the concept of truth, until the impossible becomes possible” - Vers “Knowledge’s Concierge” Sorcilliers

Perhaps you’re reading this for the fun observer. I can’t see you, but I feel you. I’ve lived my life too as an observer, it’s fun, and powerless. For I can do anything. I can choose to corrupt Camellia, and the observer can do nothing. Quite a daring scheme I may say.

But worry not, as long as you don’t hurt my Azalea, we should be on good terms. I hope you can help me and her on our journey together, bits of information goes a long way for a friend in arms.

Anyhow! I must admit, Azalea is not meant for an academy, not this one at least. I need to make the perfect curriculum for her! I need to gather the best teachers, get her to the best curriculum, and give her the best education. Haha! Now you may ask, What about the school experience itself? Growing up with friends, falling in young love, secret crushes, rekindling lost memories. We’ll get those too, you don't need to worry, but I know another academy in mind.

An academy befitting a daughter of mine. It will contain the greatest teachers I know, no, it’ll be a curriculum catered to hers alone. I’ll make my own academy, with me as the main teacher! I’ll bring her to experience the world, so that she is befitt to live any life she wants to live, and if that life is outside this realm, no amount of education can help her prepare for that. No one, except for me.

Let me tell you observers something. “Live everyday like it's your last, learn like you’ll live forever” -Ghandi. Azalea taught that one to me, and it’s an excellent way to encompass the essence of learning. Education and Learning are two different things! Education prepares you for the world, Learning prepares you for life.

Azalea is prepared for the world. She’s been through her own education before, my personal education and the education of books. Hmph, Hmph, Hmph, Azalea will get the real leadership training. The first thing I need to figure out is how do I get her out of this 2nd Rate Academy, and let her escape from the house.

I...I have to kidnap Azalea.

This is bullshit!!