Osmond saw the woman that was entering the mansion and the three children that came with her. One of the boys was taller than him and looked stronger than the two.
Osmond went with Audrey after he came out serving the guests. He learned about the kitchen and the way to the gardens. He showed him the place where he will train.
From today onwards, Osmond was to take his food himself. He took the food to his table. Today he had pork, eggs and bread for breakfast. He took that and decided to read as he was told.
He saw books about algebra and language. He saw books about measures and currencies. He saw a book about physical training and meditation. He saw books about religion. He saw books on war and strategy. He took some of them and started reading.
He understood nothing. Before, when he was stuck somewhere, his mother would have helped him. He wished someone would help him. He wondered how his tutor is going to be. Will they be like his mother, or like his father? Or maybe someone like Connor. He spent the day trying to read.
Morning came and with it the tutor too.
He was in a hall behind the side room. A few bookshelves and some tables and chairs were the only pieces of furniture there. Sunlight came through the four windows placed symmetrically. In the room Osmond, the tutor and Connor stood.
Osmond didn't expect someone like him.
In front of him stood a frail old man in his seventies. His hair, or what was left of it was pure white. His pupils were watery blue. He had a wisp of white beard. He wore a white robe with two blue horizontal stripes starting from his arm to the leg. Its sleeves were loose and it hung over his hands. His skin was paper thin and veins popped over it.
Connor was standing next to him. "This man is Channing Grahams. He will be teaching you to control your Zest. Your lessons in Zest and Crux will be on alternate days. Now introduce yourself boy," Connor said.
Osmond looked at him and Bowed.
"Good morning. My name is Osmond... Ward..." He said politely.
"What?! Are you my bard?? No, I am here to teach," Channing shouted.
He frowned. "No, my name is Osmond ward," Osmond shouted back.
"What?! You will be my bard??! No, I don't want a bard," Channing screamed again.
Osmond was tired now. He looked at Conner and he sighed.
"Channing, if you don't take this seriously, I will need to look for someone else," he said.
Channing smiled. Perhaps there is more to this man than meets the eye.
"Sit boy. Connor, leave us alone," Channing said looking at Connor.
"Don't teach the boy strange things," Glared Connor and left.
"Let's see what you know, child," Channing said softly.
Channing wrote some questions about algebra, history, religion, commerce, and vocabulary. Osmond wrote what he knew and wrote them after which Channing checked it.
"It looks like you know math and language but nothing much. We have a lot to work on. But first, do you know what crux and zest are?" Channing asked looking from the paper.
Osmond nodded saying no.
"Well, we cannot start without you knowing about it. Now I am going to do a test. I want you to read this book without lifting your head once, and I going to time it." Channing placed a sand clock saying it.
Osmond started reading the book. It was about the war between the Deimians and Pemphredo when they first landed. Osmond tried concentrating. It was easy at first but after three turns of the sand clock, he couldn't bear it and looked up.
"Three times. That is more than average. I see that your mother had taught you well," Channing smiled.
Osmond was surprised. This man knew about my mother.
"You know my mother?"
"Know her, fed her, played with her, I took her to festivals— because she was my niece," Channing said, sorrow escaping his voice.
'My mother's family,' Osmond thought.
"We can talk about her later. We were talking about zest and crux, your physical endurance will be measured tomorrow. Now I will tell you what crux and zest, are and what can you achieve by controlling them," Channing said.
"Crux is the energy of your body and Zest is the energy of your mind. By controlling them, you can regulate the input to your body and mind respectively," Channing explained.
Osmond didn't understand what he said.
"For example, now you read about thirty pages in three sand cycles. You used energy for that, right?" Channing asked.
Osmond nodded.
"And at the end, what happened?." Channing questioned.
"I was tired," Osmond replied.
"By controlling your Zest, you can do the same work faster or do an easier task more efficiently. You can read those thirty pages in ten minutes or understand and remember everything in those first ten pages." Channing explained.
"What does this have to do with fighting?" Osmond was confused.
"Not directly, but you will be able to analyze and process information in the heat of the moment. You will be able to make better strategies. You will be able to recall information quicker," Channing said.
"Crux is similar but it is of your body. If you can control the flow of your crux, you will be able to run longer distances quicker, hit harder and sharpen your senses," Channing continued.
"But such power also comes with a danger," Channing concluded.
"What is the danger?" Osmond asked.
"You will find out soon enough. But first, we need to train your body and mind. In my sessions, we will fill your mind and meditate so that you will be able to focus longer. Connor will make a plan in order to increase your strength and endurance. We will follow that for some time," he smiled.
Osmond's lessons began and he was a little excited.