Jerry paused, to look at me. Was he waiting for a display of confusion or some other emotion? I certainly wouldn't give him the pleasure. I smile with irreverence. He sighed disappointedly, and continued.
"I can't think of a nicer way of saying this. You're abnormal. A normal child, especially one in elementary school, wouldn't pick up a book on the Pruscian runes. Certainly wouldn't master the character set. And most certainly wouldn't think that it was normal. You were what, six, when you mastered Pruscian runes?"
"Yes," I nodded, seeing some light.
"Yes, six," Jerry said, shaking his head lightly. "A normal child at fifteen years old, like your classmates now, would struggle with learning the most basic facets of runes. The first two months of study are dedicated to their learning by heart the Pruscian character set. Mere memorisation. Through the rest of the year they learn application. They learn to read actual runes. Learn the process of investigation. Learn to decipher lost meaning. Only from the second year onward do they move on to other runes. Only in the second year does the actual education of runic archaeology begin."
He paused again. I saw more light. It definitely showed in my face, because Jerry was pleased. His voice was brighter, the words he spoke bouncier.
"And so, you, my dear Dean, are abnormal. Tell me again, what are the runic character sets you have mastered?"
I cleared my throat to show hesitation. And hide the embarrassment. I had to answer, though. Not only because Jerry was shamelessly patient, but because he clearly already knew.
"Pruscian. Itterati. Pruscian and Itterati are sisters really, so it was only natural progression. Vikari. Sayinsteh. And Iftaeri. That's it."
I scolded myself for taking the bait so easily. Jerry was devious and I had to be much more careful.
I was also extremely amused by the shock and disbelief on Jerry's face. Was I wrong? Did he not already know?
He seemed like he could read my thoughts as he spoke.
"I already knew. Still, hearing you list them out like it was nothing is truly shocking. Pruscian and Itterati, I understand. They're sisters like you said, share a lot of characters and the syntax is an exact replica. Sayinsteh is also fine. It was a short lived civilisation that was born from the collapse of the Iftaeri. Didn't have strong foundations and collapsed very quickly. There was little of original in their runes. Iftaeri is truly complex. But at least the numbers are high of those who mastered it. What is truly shocking, is you mastering Vikari. How did that happen?"
This was a question that I was prepared for. Vikari was an ancient civilisation that preceded even the Faery. It was a simpler civilisation, though. Not as embroiled in mystery as the Faery civilisation. But its syntax and structure was entirely different. Mastering it required changing the whole mental process. And so, even today, there were less than a hundred in all of the world who had mastered Vikari.
I hadn't registered with any archaeological society. One, because I wasn't of age yet. Registering with an independent society required a minimum age of eighteen. Two, because I had to be invisible. And so, I escaped the fame.
I thought back to that afternoon, before answering.
"I was at the library. I finished learning Itterati the previous day. I was searching for the next book to read, the next runes to learn. Someone in the next aisle was careless and knocked a book off the shelf. It landed right at my feet. Professor Bimbrizaas' and Professor Chu's textbook on Vikari runes. It was fate. So I just learned. I like Vikari. It's very interesting."
Jerry scowled, not in disapproval but in envy. Even I could see that. He definitely didn't deserve respect.
"You never had many friends, did you?"
I was stumped by the sudden change of topic. Keeping up with an idiot wasn't easy.
"No," I answered truthfully.
"Is that why you want to be average? To have more friends?"
The hint of incredulity showed in his face.
"Yeah," I said, nodding. "Average people have it all. They have friends. They fall in love. They are the heroes in movies and stories. They are just so happy and everything is just so easy for them. Yes, that is why I just want to be average."
Jerry had the most comical expression on his face. He was crying and laughing at the same time, and keeping the balance was clearly painful.
If I had a mirror, I would probably see that my face was no different. I was infuriated and tickled at the same time by Jerry's face.
"Alright," Jerry said after a minute, struggling to compose himself. "I'm sorry. Let's just move on to why I really called you out. You obviously can't endure the course, not in its current form. I have an offer. Here is the Faery long arc character set. Forget memorising, if you can understand it by evening, you don't have to attend classes. Instead, you can join us. Pratt, Dia and me. We'll get to deciphering the Faery runes."
I looked at the thin notebook and remembered what I read about runic archaeologists. They all hated loose papers because papers were so easy to misplace. And they all loved notebooks because it reminded them every moment that they were students studying and learning great knowledge. I respected runic archaeologists for this. Jerry, though, seemed merely pompous.
"Can you please stop looking at me like that," he asked, pleadingly.
"Like what," I replied, looking away from him and at the notebook.
Jerry thought too little of me. That must be why he dared me, saying that I couldn't memorise the character set. Did he think I'll fall for something so obvious?
"I'll show you," I muttered to myself.
I wouldn't just learn the character set. I would master it by evening. I'll see then how Jerry can belittle me again.