In a room filled with 30 cleanly made small single beds, a crib with a "sleeping baby", a cobble stone fireplace, and wooden floors, two voices can be heard escalating.
Alfonso: (Common) "I swear Ms. Anera, I didn't take the silver coin! I never went near the donation bowl!"
Anera: "Now Alfonso it isn't good to lie. I found the coin under your pillow. Please tell me the truth of when and why you took the money."
Alfonso: "Did you not hear me lady. I DID NOT TAKE IT!"
Anera: "Do not raise your voice at your elders Alfonso, it's quite rude. Huh, since you won't tell the truth and have become quite hostile no dinner before bed for the next three days. Now go outside, the other children are about to leave the walls to pick herbs, berries, and grab firewood."
As Alfonso starts to storm out he kicks Alexander's crib almost knocking it over.
"Stop that right now, and leave!"
Alfonso: "Damned knife ear."
Spitting on Alexander's crib before slamming the door behind him, a sly grin finds itself on Alexander's face.
"Ohhh, that boy. He has never been the best child, but to steal from the donations. And, his anger is getting worse by the day. I wonder what happened to him?"
Anera walks over to Alexander's crib, bends down brushing away his white hair and gives him a kiss on his forehead.
"Have a good nap child, and I'm sorry for his behavior."
She soon strolls out of the room, and as the door closes Alexander stands up in his crib. Stretching high into the air then reaching down to touch his toes.
Alexander: "Ahhhh what a lovely day, the sun is shining, birds are chirping, and the air smells so sweet with a hint of sea salt. I really do love early spring"
After taking off his white tunic Alexander pulls himself up and over the crib walls easily landing on the ground. Walking over to the fireplace Alexander jiggles free a loose stone revealing an empty space between the inner and outer wall. Inside is a 8 x 12 burlap sack with a drawstring. Pulling out the sack and opening it, Alexander smiles. Removing three copper coins from his diaper he drops them in one at a time.
Clank, clink, clank.
"Another three to add to my collection. Coff coff! Man, must have breathed in some dust. Let's see here, that should make the total amount 105 copper coins and one silver. Not too bad for a year of effort and as always, nobody suspects the baby, hahaha! Now then, time for some exercise."
After putting back the burlap sack and resetting the stone Alexander begins to jog laps around the room. His feet create a quiet thump with every step he takes. Alexander's form and breathing are perfect due to his years of staying in shape back on earth. Round and around he goes for nie on 10 minutes stopping only when comes short of breath, and climbs back into his crib letting out a deep breath.
"Hoooff. Now, ahh, for the 20-20-20."
He proceeded to perform the impressive feat of 20 pushups, situps, and squats. After all his work Alexander is drenched in sweat. Once again getting out of his crib and heading in the direction of Alfonso's bed. Alexander uses Alfonso's pillow case as a towel to dry off his whole body before putting it back on the pillow.
"Alright, now that I've done my routine let's get back to reading."
With this Alexander walks his crib quickly grabbing and putting on his tunic. Then heads to the door and pushes it open. Alexander takes a right heading down a hallway, walls adorned with white flags that have blue vertical stripes on the sides, a quill and cog embroideries to his left. Passing by a door to his right that leads to the dining room and subsequent kitchen where Anera's voice can be heard as she aids in preparing a late lunch. Light shines through open windows to the right casting Alexander's shadow onto the floor. Reaching the end of the hallway he takes a left into the temple's prayer hall. To his right the entrance door stands ajar and to his left are four rows of pews with walkways down the middle, left, and right sides of the room. At the end of the hall were 5 kneelers and a podium in front of a statue depicting Cognitios. The statue of a God stands with carved out robes; a book in one hand; writing with a quill in the other; a cog on a necklace; and a braided beard coming out of a hood that hides the face. This statue is silhouetted by a stained glass window that is white with specks of blue. There are a few people that look like students with matching robes praying at the kneelers with a priest watching over them.
Alexander (inner monolog) "What fools, gods don't really care for the weak or dull. They only aid a few, and only when it suits them."
Continuing onward Alexander reached another hallway that turned left. Passing bye a few rooms on the left and right he approaches 8ft tall double doors that tower over him. Alexander, to open the door, puts both hands on it and begins pushing with his legs. As he presses forward crossing the threshold to the library the distinct smell of ink and paper permeates the air.
"Now where did I leave off? Oh. Yes, that's it. I just finished brushing up on some common spells I'll have to find a way to learn. It's a shame that only specific places allow the sale of magical scrolls and texts that have information on the verbal, physical, and material components needed to cast a spell."
"Up next, local geography and culture."
After sifting through books on the shelves Alexander finds one of promise.
"The Shattered Jewel, by Tiberius J. Zeelin. 2389 PC. Hm, it's pretty, only made ten years ago. Quite the poetic title too."
As he opens the book Alexander begins to read out loud.
"This book details important events and locations on Insula Malefici, the heart of the Imperium Maginostrum, after the Imperiums floating cities fell from the sky, all the way up till 2389. Let's see here, after the initial collapse there were some attempts to restore what once was, but even though some Wizard Lords remained the disruption of the Veil of Magic that encompasses the world was too damaged. Making practitioners of magic much more limited in their abilities and they could no longer dominate the political scene. 456 PC, the Faith of the Eight, a religion rather popular before the collapse, gained mass sway over the broken territories of the former empire. Claiming to be the one true faith they, to solidify their prestige, rebuilt the crashed capital of the Imperium, Cormeum, making it their seat at the center of Insula Malefici. 1634 PC, due to Insula Malefici being an island with natural trade routes between the former Imperium holdings many large towns founded during time period of the Imperium Maginostrum have developed into large urban cities. Ah, here's some information about the city I'm in. The city of Orbis, founded on the northern coastline bordering the Sernoon sea, is a strong mercantile republic that trades as far south as the Durahan continent, and as east as the Black Mountains of the Karakin. 2389 PC, Over the centuries the most powerful and successful cities on Insula Malefici annexed their neighbors one way or another. Currently there is a tenuous peace between the rivaling city-states after a 32 year long period of war. The outbreak of another war may come at any"….
Anera: (Common) "Where are you child?! Are you in the library again?!"
Hearing this Alexander quickly puts the book he was reading back into its place and grabs a picture book off the shelf. He sits on the floor opening the book somewhere in the middle and starts to pick his nose just before Anera walks in.
"There you are. Are you having fun?"
Alexander takes his finger out from his nose and points at the book.
Alexander: "Pretty!"
A warm smile forms on Anera's face.
Anera: "Come child, the others are back and eating, you don't want to miss out on food do you?"
Alexander looks down and creates a pensive look on his face appearing to be deep in thought.
Alexander: "Carry me."
Anera: "Ok, come here."
As Anera picks up Alexander and puts up the book, Alexander smirks, happy with the events of the day.