Turning around, Johnny and Cecilia found themselves face to face with their lord, an imposing figure. His stern gaze was juxtaposed by the evident joy he displayed upon witnessing the peculiar tent in the middle of the camp.
Immediately, without hesitation, the two siblings bowed in respect before the lord. Their reverent postures highlighted the hierarchy and deference that existed between them.
The lord, still enveloped in laughter, nodded in approval at the demonstrated submission.
Lord Kaloch, with his imposing presence, commanded Johnny and Cecilia to rise.
Sir Aldric, as a loyal knight to the lord, approached the children with a serious expression. He explained that they were in the lord's camp, and the peculiarity of the tent did not befit the dignity of the place.
Cecilia, showing her respect, nodded in understanding.
Lord Kaloch, however, intervened, acknowledging the youthfulness of the children. He softened the situation, stating that, for now, Johnny and Cecilia were there as observers and should not worry about the formalities of adults.
Sir Aldric promptly replied, "As you wish, my lord!" and immediately began organizing a more suitable tent for the children.
Meanwhile, Lord Kaloch directed his attention to Johnny, issuing an intriguing command. "As for you, boy, come with me. For the day's amusements, I shall reward you!"
Johnny's heart pounded with an intensity that echoed the anxiety in his soul. Each beat resonated like an accelerated drum, a sped-up soundtrack echoing the uncertainty and excitement permeating his thoughts.
Johnny followed Lord Kaloch toward the breathtaking desert, where a colossal pyramid stood majestically in the distance, bathed in the golden hues of the sunset.
The two walked through the gentle sand dunes, marveling at the sight of the imposing structure a few kilometers away.
The desert stretched as far as the eyes could see, its dunes sculpted by the wind providing a unique experience.
The pyramid, a mysterious and imposing monument, cast a long shadow over the arid landscape, while sand grains sparkled under the evening light.
Lord Kaloch led the way with majestic posture, the footprints in the sand telling the story of their journey through the dunes.
Johnny accompanied him, absorbing the grandeur of the desert and the dominating presence of the pyramid.
The intricate symbols on the pyramid's structure seemed to dance as the sun set.
The vastness of the desert and the immense pyramid created a breathtaking scene, and Johnny's anxiety mixed with admiration for the magnitude of that millennia-old construction.
Lord Kaloch, with his imposing figure, silently appreciated the view, while the desert breeze whispered ancient stories between the dunes and rocks.
A shadow of concern settled in Johnny's thoughts. He was fully aware of the overwhelming power of the lord's son, Derek. The young man's reputation for extraordinary abilities was already known, and Johnny couldn't help but wonder what kind of even more impressive power resided in the lord himself.
Anxiety grew as he contemplated the possibility of confronting such power. The simple idea of facing superhuman forces felt like a monumental task, leaving Johnny with a sense of helplessness in the face of the unknown.
Johnny expressed his admiration as he walked through the dunes, his eyes fixed on the imposing pyramid in the distance. "Wow, it's beautiful! Is that where the heretics live?"
Lord Kaloch cast a sidelong glance at the boy, "It's the ruins of an ancient, highly advanced civilization," he explained with a deep voice echoing through the dunes. "Probably abandoned. Our reports indicate that there's nothing as dangerous."
As Johnny walked through the dunes, his mind was invaded by fragmented memories of the great pyramid of Giza from his past life. However, the colossal structure before him was incomparably larger, rising like a sleeping giant in the desert.
Lord Kaloch stopped walking in the desert. Then he directed his penetrating gaze at Johnny, as if the vastness of the desert were an extension of his own eyes.
With a voice carrying the weight of decades of experience and wisdom, the lord uttered his words with solemnity that echoed through the dunes in the wind.
"We are far enough!" Lord Kaloch declared, the words resonating in the desert's silence. "Listen, young one! I will give you two gifts. The first is knowledge. Engrave it in your mind!"
Upon hearing the lord's solemn words about the gift of knowledge, a shiver ran down Johnny's spine.
Expectation mingled with a hint of anxiety as he considered the possibilities of what this knowledge might involve.
Johnny imagined that the lord was about to reveal ancient techniques, secrets of power, or even profound teachings on how to develop echoes of talents.
Johnny's mind began to spin with anticipation, anticipating the wealth of wisdom that might unfold before him. The idea of being mentored by Lord Kaloch, an imposing and mysterious figure, promised to open doors to previously unexplored understandings.
Lord Kaloch, with a seriousness that seemed to transcend the grandeur of the royal tent, continued with his gift of knowledge. With a deep and authoritative voice, he told Johnny, "First, you need to understand mathematics. There are calculations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division."
Johnny, upon hearing the lord Kaloch's math lesson, cast an incredulous look toward him. With an ironic smile, Johnny muttered, "Wow."
However, behind this disguised gesture, intense emotions boiled.
Anger pulsed through Johnny's veins, strongly contrasting with the seemingly serene expression he maintained. After all, Johnny already knew basic mathematics that Lord Kaloch was presenting. After all, Johnny was a doctor in his previous world, and the idea of being taught such fundamental concepts sparked a subtle irritation.
Johnny's ironic smile concealed latent frustration. He longed for answers related to the mysterious world around him: how dimensional portals worked, how extraordinary talents manifested.
Johnny, frustrated and determined to steer away from the seemingly simple topic of mathematics, tried to redirect the conversation, inquiring about talents and the mysteries of the enigmatic world surrounding him.
However, his attempt was quickly cut short by Lord Kaloch, whose unwavering belief in the supremacy of mathematics prevailed.
"Boy, this knowledge is the foundation of everything," the lord said with unyielding authority. "Mathematics is the language of the gods! The simplicity of mere portals doesn't compare to this!"
The lord's assertion struck Johnny like a dagger, prompting a mix of disbelief and anger.
The idea that basic mathematics surpassed the complexity of interdimensional portals was absurd in Johnny's eyes. He felt a wave of frustration.
Johnny, in a moment of resignation, accepted his silent defeat and decided to listen to the seemingly basic lessons that Lord Kaloch was determined to share about mathematics.