"And that, children, is the most famous legend of how the world came to be," a young man declared, as he put the book he was reading to a close.
The young man was named Iris. After putting down the old book on the floor, he scanned the room and looked at the unblinking eyes of the children in front of him and smiled. There were roughly fifteen children of different ages that day but it was already very cramped.
He gripped the absent spine of the book that he held and only felt the bare edges of the pages inside. Its cover was definitely leather but it was so worn-out that probably even the most knowledgeable about leathers could've mistaken it for something else at first glance. And it was so old that it had to be stitched together because the original bookbinding wasn't holding the pages together anymore. Iris flipped the front cover facing him. The title was barely legible but by tracing the indentations left by the once copper fillings it read, "Angelus Votum".
"Well, did you like the story?"
Iris waited for an answer but it was to no avail. He let out a deep sigh. He thought that the children liked the story he just read but maybe he guessed wrong. There was a long silence before it was broken by a small voice.
"Do you believe in the story, teacher?"
The voice came from Maya, a small girl who's seated farthest from Iris. All the heads in front of her turned towards her. She looked firmly unto Iris' eyes and then the others followed her gaze.
Maya was a thin little girl with jet-black hair. She also had a set of big round eyes that even though she was the most shy and silent among all the children, looked at people with dignity and pride.
According to Iris' memory, she was from a family of traders who once travelled the whole world in a caravan but their business went bankrupt when she was still an infant. Her family now earns a meager living by selling linen in a small stall in the market. It was a far cry from what her family originally had but by looking at Maya; Iris thought that she's happy.
The young man seated in front felt the pressure from the children's stares. He figured that it was probably a question everybody wanted to ask but was just too shy to voice it out. He knew that what he'll say would greatly influence the children's opinion so he tried to answer as best as he could.
"Well, you know what they say; fantasy has reality as its inspiration and vice versa." Iris answered. "…So maybe beyond all the great magic and plot devices, there might be a hint of truth within these pages."
Iris smiled after explaining but then —reality hit him! He was talking to children five to ten years of age. What he said probably left more questions than answers.
There were blank stares in front of him. He was dumbfounded and couldn't think of the next course of action.
Iris laughed out loud and then said, "Well, it sure is getting late… That's all for today. See you guys tomorrow!" He was really embarrassed of his answer and dismissing the children as an excuse to escape didn't make it better. "I'll make it up to them next time," he thought.
The children stood up and ran towards the door. Maya was the first one to arrive but as she was about to pull it open, Iris coughed in an exaggerated manner.
"Aren't you guys forgetting something?"
The children looked back at him. They paused for a moment and then answered in a chorus:
"Thank you, antenato."
"You're welcome," Iris answered with a big smile. "See you tomorrow."
Iris waved the children goodbye as they ran outside. The door shut closed and the noisy room became dead silent.
Iris got up from his chair and scanned the room once again. It was messy with every trace of having children minutes ago.
As he went on to pick up the pieces of papers and sticks on the floor, Iris sighed and felt disheartened. "Sticks and paint for writing aren't really good enough," he thought.
He wanted to buy better materials for teaching but how could he? He was teaching for free and asking for donations was out of the question when most of his students came from the poorest families who barely ate two times a days!
Iris wasn't all that different from the families of his students. He also belonged below the poverty line but the truth was that he didn't have to! He was tall and had a nice face with rare green eyes and golden blonde hair that would be hard to miss even in a crowd. He'd occasionally be scouted by travelling troupes but would always turn down their offers immediately. For him, teaching was something he could never give up.
After cleaning, Iris went out with the book he just read to his students. The usual brightly lit sun and its accompanying scorching heat couldn't have been more present in the city of Ark.
Iris looked around him and compared his house, which he doubles as a classroom. to his neighbors'. Even though he lived in the lowest district of the city, his house was still one of smallest.
Actually, he always found it funny how it was probably a blessing that he lived in the middle of a desert. He was already struggling to buy decent clothing but since it was always hot, a few holes here and there weren't really an issue. He concluded that he would instantly die if he lived somewhere where two or more layers of clothing were necessary.
"But still, snow in the mouth wouldn't be bad compared to the gritty feel of sand," Iris thought as he spitted out the sand that collected in his mouth.
A large vulture, the size of four men, flew over Iris. He looked up as he noticed the passing shadow. His eyes widened as he realized that it was already high noon. His lame excuse before came true! It was really late! He just remembered that he was commissioned to help with building something in the upper districts and was supposed to start before noon.
Iris ran with the book Angelus Votum in his hands. He would return it to a friend later and then borrow another one but for now, he just focused hisself to running faster and faster, still, with a smile on his face.