Early morning the next day, Obrecht left to escort Mortimer, Kali, Nehal and his father to see his cave as promised. I was left behind with Odeti to help with the house chores.
"Here, try this", Odeti says as she places a bowl of food on the table in front of me. "It's tomato egg drop noodle soup, one of Obrecht's favorites when he was little."
"T-Thank you." I shyly pull the bowl of hot reddish soup in front of me with both hands.
Odeti hands me a pair of thin light brown sticks. "Use this", she instructs.
I stare at the pair of foreign utensils. I hold one in each hand ponder how to use them.
Am I supposed to use them separately like a spoon and fork?
Merrily, Odeti giggles at my reaction and takes another set to show me how 'chopsticks' are supposed to be used. Her fingers swiftly and precisely demonstrate the motions and I imitate her, clumsily lifting a few noodle strands up in the air before they slide back down on the bowl with plop.
"Ah, so cute~" Odeti grabs my head and cuddles it. I blush fiercely. "If only my son was half as cute as you! Always swinging stuff and breaking things by the age of six! Do you know how many of my plates and vases he broke?" Odeti lets go of me and starts complaining ferociously. "Where am I gonna get kid who helps with the house chores and cooking like you instead of playing with his wooden swords all day!" She sighs, dejectedly. "Well, I can't do anything about it; he is my adorable son."
Perhaps getting hungry with watching me, Odeti goes back to the kitchen to make herself her own serving for breakfast. I take quick peek at her, push my mask to the top of my head, and then lift the bowl to my lips after making sure she wasn't looking. I devour everything minutes before she comes out. The mask on my face had already been fixed back by the time she returned.
Undisturbed by my timidity and ungracious devouring minutes ago, Odeti just continues to eat as she sits beside me on the dining area, and I stand to tidy up after myself, with the intention of washing the dishes in the kitchen sink.
The knob on the front door clinks and turns. We both turn involuntarily to the door to see who had come.
"We're back!" Obrecht bounces in from outside and leaves his outdoor sandals on a rack beside the door. Halvalt comes in after him and closes the door.
They both put on a new set of indoor slippers of which we all wear inside the house, despite the warm white carpeted flooring. "I got you some wild foul, Ama. A few strayed nearby on our way."
Odeti stands up to take the plump thing to the doorless kitchen. Delighted by it, she praises Obrecht as she prepares it, as if she wasn't complaining about him just moments ago.
I feel a bit warm while enjoying the atmosphere. It may be the small things but I do miss these similar interactions. Odeti treating me like her son as well has been one of the greatest blessings I had received thus far but I do feel a bit uncomfortable sometimes. I feel more gratitude at having my fate cross Obrecht's but sometimes I feel as if I'm stealing away his family by being here. Although I do feel that, I'm sure that if we hadn't met that day, I cannot imagine where I'd be now. I might have already been dead by then.
"Are you done eating?"
I look to Obrecht as I once more bury my thoughts to the back of my mind. Nodding, I stand.
"Then let's go."
Obrecht and I had previously agreed to attend the training courses, of course, with the permission of the Batrani. They said that if I am to get a job and stay at Lumea, I'd have to learn the basics. I decided to try to be a literal prey hunter like Ob.
Calling out goodbyes to his parents, Obrecht drags me to the training ground after a few turns and stairs that I had lost count after three consecutive left turns and four adjacent stairs.
I'd just have to stick close to Obrecht so I don't get lost.
The training grounds can be found upon a wide clearing above the canyon. There was a medium-sized circular concrete stage in the middle, a line of dummies with multiple rotatable limbs to one side, and a row of heavy-looking gray benches arranged in a certain classroom-like manner. Aside from those tree was the wide expanse of free space and dirt.
"Obrecht, Videre."
"Tito Otis", Obrecht politely greets back the approaching man.
"Are you here to deliver Videre to my class?"
Otis and Rohati were the instructors for the younger ages since they have the talent for it, or so Halvalt explained before we left this morning. But that doesn't stop them from inviting a few members of the Batrani sometimes too on special occasions, just to widen the scopes of the students, or display their skills for educational purposes.
"No, I'll be staying here with Videre in his classes."
"Are you sure? You're second periodical battle this year is gonna come sooner than you think. I know you took on the job of escorting Videre around but that doesn't exempt you from your responsibilities as a student either does it?"
"Of course, Tito Otis. I'm well prepared. Besides, Videre is a fast learner." He smiles smugly.
I look to Obrecht at Otis' second periodical battle statement. He explains it thoroughly to me at the sight of my puzzled gaze.
Apparently, it's a test done by one on one battles to see if one has applied what the teachers have taught, and correct or improve any and all flaws and shortcomings using on-the-spot fighting. It holds the purpose of analyzing the growth of a student's ability and the gauging of their potentiality, all through one battle. Metaphorically, it's like sharpening a tiger's claws by the many hunts and fights it has experienced, as they say.
The class Obrecht is in was the advanced class while I'll be attending the basics class that had students two years younger than me.
Since the occupations like Healers, Potions-Maker, Scribe, Clothes-Maker, Swordsmith and the like were in the minority in Lumea, they were taught through apprenticeship instead. I had wanted to try being a Scribe but I don't think they'd let me handle something as important than that. Besides, Obrecht won't be able to monitor me as the Batrani pleases if I do a different job than his. I had to acquiesce.
"Alright, if you need me, I'll be over there, by the benches. My class will be starting soon join us in a few." Otis nods once at us before heading over to the outdoor classroom I had spotted early on.
I grab Obrecht's shoulder just when he was to follow Otis.
"…" Is it really fine?
"What? Are you worried about me too?" Obrecht lips curl into a carefree smile. He takes my hand in his and he pulls me to the benches. I eye the warm hand on my skin. "I'll be fine. I've done a lot of practice and I'm ahead of my class so no worries."
How haughty of you.
We sit down near the edges at the back of the class of fourteen to fifteen year olds. Those who had finished their coming of age ceremony were put in the advance class like Obrecht but with his ceremony, my arrival and the trial all happening, I doubt if he really is at the top of his class. Just where did he get the time to even practice his sword?
Otis calls the attention around by clapping his hands.
"Salutari."
"Salutari, Maestro", the students greet back teacher Otis.
"Before we start, I'd like to ask a few of you to do a summary of our previous lessons."
I catch a glance from Otis and realize that he is doing this mostly for my benefit. I listen closely as he asks several students to summarize the theories of body language, the tactics of one on one battles, the basic strategies and compatibility of members in group battles, and the basic plants, preys and predators that were edible and inedible in Lumea.
Otis gives a few more tips about which prey are the easiest targets and how to attack using their habits and weakness, as well as how to determine if a plant is poisonous just by the shape of their roots, smell and color, despite not knowing what kind of plant it is. He then praises his students afterwards.
I try to absorb as much information as I could.
"Alright then. Let's move on to the practical one on one fights. I'll be teaching you all basic defense postures for a few scenarios we had gone over in the last lessons."
Everyone seemed to be excited at getting a chance to practice hand-to-hand combat even if it meant it was just about defensive stance. I feel a set of eyes on me and I turn to see a girl sitting a few benches in front to my right, studying me and my companion. She grins at me when she notices my attention, before looking back at Otis.
What was that about?