Lark's evening instruction took a more accelerated approach. More than once, I had spoken with Jan about my plan, as I could increase Lark's retention of ideas within his level of reasoning. Lark and I were by far a resounding success, so Jan and I came to an agreement on the methodology of instruction. Lark needed to focus on understanding the world, and not get bogged down on the more finicky details of what was going on.
Sure there were 'guest lectures' that would come to teach us. But there was more to it than that. This was the chance for others to learn from Us.
Lark had met with every representative within Haven. Of course, they introduced themselves as a member of their race and taught Lark about their profession, not saying anything about their official role within the government. And every lecture was different in topic. While he might have learned about the importance of personal hygiene from Shurik of the Gole or about reproduction from Uriel of the planetouched, he was also learning about cultural values of races and the economics of the world.
Some conversations Lark picked up easier than others. He learned very quickly about economic trends, supply and demand, and the work and methods of the merchants and traders. He did not understand politics as well, and did even worse understanding the subtly of statecraft and the importance of deceit in foreign dealings. And when it came to understanding relationships feelings it was difficult for him, but it was the subject he was most interested in.
Lark was also beginning to be shown off to the Allies of Haven. There was a (King) Jeffrey of Thul, a nation of Tamers, that talked at length of the complexity of the bonds between tamer and tamed. Lark absorbed it all, and King Jeffrey fully understood that Lark, a PDD case, understood everything being taught. It was the same with an 'inventor' from The Collective, a 'Cleaner' from the Corvid Society, and a strange fellow in a mask of a dog from our allied citystate of Ston. All of them were there to learn about our success overcoming PDD, all in the guise of teaching Lark about something from their home.
There was, however, one lesson that gave me pause.
I was already painfully aware of the vast differences between the races, and in my mind I had no idea what 'glue' kept these races together in Haven. From dietary issues like the vegetarian diet of Forest Elves vs the carnivorous diet of the peaceful Dhamphir, to the views on marriage that were as varied as all the races, but definitely stood out with the changelings. It was a large web of information to present to Lark. So instead I had spoken with Jan.
Lark was already starting to develop emotionally. Before he had the mind of a child. Now with the growth of awareness and emotion, there were new things coming to him. We would need to ensure he had an outlet for these.
Jan seemed to have taken the suggestion in the wrong way. What I was expecting was a Demis to teach Lark about the importance of relationships, marriage, and of learning to love. Of course Jan started with the first subject.
And he sent in a changeling. They craved, above all, 'genetic code'. And they would get Lark's. It was a mark of pride for a changeling for how many children from different races they had produced. Strangely enough, they would never take more than one mate from any one race, as there was never enough of most races to go around. Except humans, of course.
As I thought about it, this was something he needed to know, and something he needed to do. He was near 30 years of age, but I could tell he had never been with anyone in an intimate manner. But there was something I felt in myself.
If I was a fool, I would have thought it was jealousy. But that was not possible. I was Lark's parasite. He was my host. It would be insane for me to feel jealous of what was most likely about to happen in this classroom. I could smell the perfume this changeling was wearing. And the skill in which she walked, she had done this before. She was going to get what she came for. And I did not want Lark to be interrupted by me.
[Lark, I am feeling kind of tired. I am going to go to sleep. You have fun with your guest, and wake me in the morning.]
"Ok Sophia. Have a good night and sweet dreams." he responded.
[Good Night Lark.] I tried not to sound disappointed.
This was the first time I outright lied to him. I was always with him. I listened to him as he slept, and when he had nightmares I massaged them into pleasant memories. I would never leave him. But for now, I think it was best that he think I was asleep. He could not due with thinking there was someone watching him as he learned about, well, 'how' to love.
The changeling had walked in with their natural form. The discussion was simple. She had started by talking about the Charisma stat. She talked about the importance of Haven's child initiative, and how each race was the last of itself in existence. It was also up to each member to assist with the repopulation of their race, so their existence was not threatened.
"You see Lark, every race has things that they find attractive in a mate." Her form began to shift as she spoke. "For the Skygge, the brighter the eyes or the darker the horns, the stronger the magic and the better the mate." Her form shifted again and again as this seductress spoke. "For the Lybringer its their glow. For the Dhamphir its the length of ears, while the Demis appreciate a bit of a curve. The Elves like those who are tall while the constructs like their user. The Humans like symmetry, while the Changelings, well. Well like it all."
Then the girl came very close. I could feel a quickened heartbeat from Lark. "So tell me Lark. What is it that you like?" She was close enough that Lark had frozen. "What is it that you most want to do, as you lay in bed alone at night?"
"I really like it when Sophia is there. She is asleep right now, but she usually holds me when I feel alone. And even before she could hold me, I somehow knew she was there with me. I haven't felt alone like I used to ever since I met her. I just wish I knew more about her. No one talks about her or her people."
I did not know how to react. Nor was I expecting the reaction from the Changeling. She smiled, "I don't think it would be right for me to continue our lesson Lark. So instead how about you tell me something. Tell me all about Sophia. She is asleep now right? Tell me how you feel about her. I promise I wont tell her."
I take it back. The temptress had a heart. All though she knew I was awake.
"I think it is fair to say that Sophia is the most important person in my life."
As Lark began his explanation, I could feel another emotion I shouldn't feel.
"Sophia and I met several weeks ago. Unlike the other Races of Haven, I have never met any of Sophia's people, but I have met their forever friends. I can tell because they wear the outfits of the clinic with two names on them. So I can't really say much about them.
But I can tell you about Sophia. She is a very patient person. I can tell she understands things much better than I do, and she still slows down and takes time to explain it to me. She is always here with me, and I don't know why. I am sure if she wasn't always in my mind helping me learn things she would have done much better for herself.
But still she stays with me. I want to be the best person I can, the person she knows I can be."
"How does she make you feel, Lark?"
"I don't know how to describe it. Its several feelings all at once. I don't have a baseline to measure them against. But I do know that I hope she will one day feel the same way about me."
If I had eyes, I would be in tears.
He had never met me. He knew only my voice. He did not know I was a worm in his head, patching his brain to function normally, lending out my mana and subsisting on nutrients from his blood supply. I was a parasite trying to make my host the best possible person. And I was pretty sure I knew how he felt.
I then felt something else I wasn't supposed to feel.
But for now, I had to keep this quiet. What happened when Lark figured out what I was. He knew only that I was somewhere he couldn't see, and that I inhabited a [shadow clone] as the closest thing to a body. Yet he still felt this way.
The Changeling girl smiled, "Well Lark. I definitely couldn't continue the lesson unless Sophia was here and approved. It's against my people's code. However, if she was here, I would tell her that she was a very lucky girl."
I take it back. Changelings were tolerable.
***