Across the hall, several kids could be seen running. They all sat at a table where food could be seen prepared on it. One of them shouted at another kid who went to the table last.
"Ken you're so slow!"
I rolled my eyes at his provocative words and let it went from one ear to the other. His attention was instantly diverted back to the food.
Another week has passed since coming here and my body condition have significantly improved. I could freely walk now with a bit difficulty running. My throat has now improved and speaking short sentences was now possible.
Being completely honest, I was disappointed with the speed I was recovering. I have wished to run wildly every since coming here and to feel the wind on my face again. However not yet, I have waited for 3 years, a few weeks is nothing compared to that.
The kids were happily eating at the food. I also ate with them. The food was... bland. The bread was tough, the meat was little and the veggies have no flavor at all. I couldn't clearly remember what the food back in my original world was like but it was certainly better than this, partially because I was born with a golden spoon.
'I won't complain though. I miss the taste of food. And...'
Looking at the everyone present, I could see them happily eating at the tough bread, savoring each piece of meat and mixing veggies randomly to other dishes.
'If they can do it, why can't I?'
Thanks to my improved condition, Nasha also allowed me to rejoin her evening class.
Every evening, Nasha spend 3 hours teaching all the children here. The lesson mainly focus on how to write, read and basic math. There's also lesson on history, magic or the outside world once in a while.
The reason it's 'rejoin' and not 'join' is because the previous Ken has already attended them. Thanks to that, I was somehow instinctively read some letter, though writing is a different story.
However, that brought me more questions than ever. There's too many thing to think about. The previous dream I had with the 'other Ken', what's the meaning of it?
But what bothered me even more than the previous Ken was Nasha. I didn't want to doubt her but too many things just didn't add up.
If we were really as poor as we seems, why did we have such a big house? Although every meal was plain, how comes we always manage to get enough nutrients? How could she get enough to provide for 8 kids when she barely leaves the home? There were too many inconsistencies and no answer.
It's not a stretch to think Nasha has or once had a prestigious position from the encounter with Hans so how come she's here now? Being a 9 years old kid doesn't help in getting an answer either. As for asking her directly... I would rather not. Not until I learned more about the world at least.
Finishing up our meals, the other kids left the table to play while 2 stayed behind to help clean the dishes. Today it was me and another kid named Tok, the oldest kid.
He was 11 years old with black hair reaching his waist and a bright blue eye similar to Nasha but dimmer. He has the integrity trait. He was rather tall, his body look a bit frail. Being the oldest kid here, he naturally has a more mature personality.
We only need to bring the plates back to Nasha while she washes them, we didn't have any conversation along the way. I don't know what to say to him and I don't think he knows what to say to me either. In fact, most of the kids barely interact with me. How much of an introvert was the previous Ken..?
After we're done, Tok went back to play with the others. Before he did, he turned and look at me, his hand nervously scratching his head.
"Hey... Ken, would you like to join us?"
Although a bit unnatural and forced, I can tell he has good intentions. Since I didn't have anything to do there was no reason for me to refuse. I was also curious as to how they entertain themselves.
Tok and I go back to the other and hearing that I will joined, the other kids look at me with interest.
"We will be playing Beast chase? Do you know the rule?" Tok asked.
"No"
"There are-" What interrupted Tok was a loud voice.
"Ken you are beast!" Said Layla before running away. The other kids also did the same, leaving Tok and I behind. I look at Tok with a wry smile and and he did the same.
"Well... it's simply really. Beast will go and find other and once they catches someone that person will be sub-beast.
The human side have a healer and healer can revert the sub-beast back to normal. Sub-beast can't affect healer. Beast win if they catches the healer while human win if they survive for 5 minutes." Tok kindly explained to me.
"How can I know if someone is a healer?"
"We have a marble on one of the bed. Whoever hold that marbles is the healer."
I took a second to take in the rules. It sounds surprisingly fun for what they have. Tok was gone before I notice and now I was here alone.
'Guess I'll go catch some kids.'
"Got you."
"Catch."
"Found you."
"Boo!"
"Andddd that's game!"
~•~•~•~
The result? Of course I won. Is it unfair that I'm an adult? Nope, I could barely run after all. It's all fair game. Yup life is fair.
"Awww no fair! Ken is too good!" The youngest, Beko whined.
'You guys all hide in the same spot though...'
"Yeah! How come he find the healer so fast!" Hubris complained. He was the most competitive of them all.
'I just hid around a sub-beast before the healer appeared...'
"Salty loser, blgghhh" Layla said, putting her tongue out.
"Fine I lost but you also lost!" Hubris said wit a humph.
Uncontented with the result, we played several more rounds of beast chase. I of course was never beast after the first round.