In the grand King's chamber, Nolan found himself seated beside the fireplace, but he was not alone. Two luminous figures, Polybius and Cicero, hovered around the room.
Nolan was already used to presence of Polybius' but, he now met another famed figure. He recollected his bizzare encounters, first meeting the erudite historian, Polybius, and now the eloquent statesman, Cicero. His memory of the previous day's events in the senate was hazy, as he had been drained of energy and overwhelmed with dizziness, but he now suspected that these illuminating figures were probably the cause of his journey back to his room.
Wanting to introduce himself, Nolan began, "Greetings, I am--" but Cicero interjected, "I already know about you, young boy.... Your greetings lack the finesse befitting noble causes, and you hesitate to address even a servant properly. Your timidity and reluctance to speak mark you as a pushover and a coward, oblivious to the beauty and power of words, yet unwilling to improve yourself. However-" Cicero paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and continued, "that is precisely why I will teach you the art of oration, my friend."
Nolan was taken aback by Cicero's unexpected offer. Why were these illustrious figures willing to aid him? Perhaps they were assigned or compelled to assist him in his journey, or maybe they simply sought an opportunity to interact with someone from the modern world. Regardless, the wisdom and experience these two held in their respective fields was comparable to national treasures.
"But how will you--" Nolan began to ask, only to be interrupted once more by Cicero, "Worry not. My techniques are highly effective and easily implementable, especially for a student like you. Remember, the man standing before you is hailed as one of the greatest Romans of all time."
Indeed that statement might hold truth. Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman statesman, lawyer, and philosopher known for his eloquence and persuasive speaking style. He defended the traditional Roman Republican values and opposed the populist measures of figures like Julius Caesar, who he viewed as a threat to the republic. Cicero's oratory skills were put to use in the Roman Senate and in the law courts, where he successfully prosecuted corrupt officials and defended his clients with eloquence and persuasion. In short, Cicero's speeches were characterized by their clarity, wit, and rhetorical brilliance.
"Well, I will leave you both to it. I will go around and explore the palace for now," Polybius said before he disappeared from the scene.
Cicero interrupted the quietened atmosphere and began his teaching, "Before we delve into the orations themselves, you must first recognize the immense significance of body language and gestures in complementing your words."
Nolan promptly spoke up, "I have heard of that-" but he was swiftly interrupted by Cicero, "You may have heard of it, but implementation is where you falter. Your hands rest in awkward postures, and it is quite evident that you are nervous and tense. First things first, we must work on fixing your body posture and hand gestures, as they instinctively reveal a lot about how you are feeling, and you must not convey shyness or lack of confidence."
"Y-yes! But how?" Nolan asked.
"First, stand up and listen attentively to my instructions," Cicero responded.
Nolan stood up from his chair, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement, eager to learn the secrets of rhetoric from the renowned orator.
"Avoid slouching or hunching. Stand tall with an upright posture. That should be eas-" Cicero paused, realizing Nolan's posture wasn't quite right. "No, not like that! Evenly distribute your weight to both feet, and stop swaying from side to side. Swaying can be distracting, causing the audience to lose focus on your message."
Nolan corrected his stance, carefully following Cicero's guidance.
"Alright, perfect! Now, maintain eye contact with me at all costs. Typically, with a larger audience, you would scan the room and make eye contact with different individuals throughout your speech," Cicero instructed, emphasizing his points.
"Keep your arms relaxed at your sides! Don't cross them over your torso," Cicero continued, correcting Nolan's defensive posture.
"And please, don't make an awkward expression. Facial cues are very important. Smile when appropriate, and show genuine enthusiasm or seriousness depending on the context of your speech," Cicero would keep fixing Nolan's faults.
As Cicero continued to guide Nolan through the nuances of body language and gestures, Nolan could feel himself becoming more conscious of his movements and expressions. With each adjustment, he felt a growing sense of confidence, knowing that he was learning from one of the greatest orators in history.
The teaching session continued, with Cicero patiently refining Nolan's body language and gestures. Though it would take Nolan months to really grasp natural movements, he was able to memorize Cicero's instructions.
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Nolan's breaths came heavy and labored; he had spent hours tirelessly refining his posture and gestures under Cicero's watchful eye. 'Was I truly that unapproachable?' Nolan wondered, his thoughts interrupted as Cicero spoke once more.
"Now, we shall delve into the art of orations, now that you have a grasp of the basics, though becoming natural with it will require time," Cicero said, his hands gesturing forward. Suddenly, scribes appeared seemingly out of thin air, summoned by Cicero's command it seemed.
Cicero would place the scrolls and scribes on the table and then implored Nolan, "These are written scripts of my own orations and some from Demosthenes, an Athenian orator. You shall memorize them and transcribe these speeches from memory. This process will allow you to internalize their style, vocabulary, and delivery, ultimately refining your own oratory skills." Cicero paused before continuing, "Though it will be a lengthy process, I want you to read at least one of these orations daily, and after a week, I shall assess your progress."
As Nolan immersed himself in the overwhelming task before him, Polybius suddenly made his entrance, hovering around Nolan's desk. "Are you both done?" he asked.
Cicero, annoyed by the interruption, would turn to Polybius, "We are not, Polybius. Do not disturb us. Mastery of this art cannot be achieved in a single day."
Polybius sighed, "I already know that. Let's leave Nolan to his memorization. In the meantime, I have gained some insights into some of your opponents and your own army."
Nolan turned to Polybius eagerly, "You have? Then tell me-"
Polybius handed him a scribe, saying, "Here's a scroll... I have recorded the most intriguing and interesting information from my ventures. I will leave the reading to you but It seems you will be up quite late," he remarked, noticing the stack of scrolls on the table, now added to with his own findings.
Nolan took a deep breath, feeling overwhelmed but determined to succeed and survive in this unfamiliar world with the guidance of his mysterious mentors. "I am grateful for your aid," he said to Cicero and Polybius, who smiled before gradually fading into thin air, leaving Nolan to his studies.
Alone with the scrolls and scribes, Nolan prepared himself for the tireless task ahead. But, before that he must first deal with the servants barching at his door.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! You still haven't had your food, are you fine?" Nolan gruntled but realizing that he was really hungry, he decided to first eat and then return to his studies.