Despite her intelligence, Amy and Viola share a tutor and the same lessons although her grandfather mentioned hiring a private tutor exclusively for her.
Amy is really bored because she knew all this stuff already. Almost everything the tutor has gone over are the things she learned in her original life. She may not remember her past life but she knows. She feels like a grown woman back in kindergarten because, in a sense, she is!
But this time isn't exactly useless. Amy got out her things and began studying on her own. Her book on Herbert's Views of a Paragon Volume I and her notebook to write in. Her mother scolded her for not paying attention to the lessons but at this point they know it's useless. At first Amy thought she would have trouble with the language but it is basically the same as the language she is familiar with in her original life. The exception are the foreign languages.
Amy continued studying her own thing while Viola listens to hers.
Meanwhile Alina is getting used to doing the chores. Because she is surprisingly strong, she does most of the heavy lifting while the ladies handle the delicate work.
After lunch, Alina and Amy began teaching each other's languages until sundown. At first, Amy had the impression she would struggle teaching but she adapted quite easily and is learning. Luckily, the language is not as difficult as she'd expect. Heck, it might take her a few weeks for her to master it.
"You are a lot more smarter than what I gave you credit for." Alina said.
"The same goes for you although your handwriting needs some work. It's kinda hard to read." she said while struggling to read it. It is more blotchy and resembles an ink painting a child her age would make.
"We have no need for fancy handwritings where I am from." Alina protest but then stopped to look at Amy with a curious expression. It seems she's been wanting to ask for a while. "Why do I need to learn all this? If I go home, it will be pointless knowledge."
"The moment you spoke, I knew you were smart." Amy answered. "You strike me as someone who could use that knowledge. In all the five kingdoms, only your tribes do not understand the universal language. Your lack of learning is one of the reasons they look down on you."
She expected Alina to be mad but instead she looked down at her paper with a melancholy expression. "Is that so?"
"To tell you the truth, the barbarian tribes were pushed around by Getel and the monsters now. But you manage to put up a fight and survive all these years. Your homeland and old territory have been taken over and a kingdom was built there upon your lands. There is a lot of civil war and internal conflict that it will fall apart by itself at this rate."
"Are you suggesting that I take back our ancestral land? Your people might be affected too since the two nations are working together."
"That's not entirely true. Solin and Getel help each other sometimes but we're not that close and personally we don't get along."
Solin may have an alliance with Getel but that is only on the surface. They have large amounts of natural resources that Solin needs but Getel is too stingy to trade it for goods unless they get a large compensation and services in return. Getel often employs mages from Solin to take care of its monster problems which are a massive threat to both kingdoms. They even sell the barbarians to slavery for revenue. Prices are high when a slave is young, strong and good looking. They aren't willing to send any of their own men to take care of it themselves though.
And because of that, many people died in the story. Getel's noble class cares of its own profits, standings and safety than the safety of anyone else. It was because of that, the monarchy is incredibly unpopular. Amy thought. No one batted an eye when Getel was overthrown and usurped. They were more worried of the greater evil taking its place. Also, the fanbase rejoiced after Getel has finally been taken down. If anything, as long as Getel is taken down along with making new reforms, I could care less about that country.
Getel is also the largest kingdom in area and landmass alone. It is filled with fertile lands and natural resources but having the most territory comes with its own problem; monsters and the barbarians. It has monster problems which span for miles in its territory. It is because of that that the kingdom is in constant dangers and the kingdom itself is very weak despite its vast territories. The reason it was able to keep its standing as an independent nation is because of the fear of the threat of barbarians and the monsters from other nations. The barbarians however only want their territory back. They could honestly care less about the other four nations but if any of the other kingdoms try to take a piece of it, they will retaliate hard. No nation wants to willingly gain enemies if they're powerful to go up against.
In The Story of Aron, Aron grew up in Karnei before going to Solin and while he was still a student, he did take missions to Getel which created second arc of the story. One of the few rare similarities between father and son is that Rufus hates Getel too and he's the fricking villain and nemesis of Aron. There isn't much about his backstory to explain the full detail as to why, but he confirmed that his was a very bad experience.
"If I learn all this, will I have power?"
"What kind of power?" Amy said.
"To destroy my enemies." she said with a darkened expression.
Yikes, she should've expected this but it still surprises her. Alina is around ten years old.
Amy stared at her with a blank expression. "What do you think power is for? To beat someone in a fight? In intelligence? Or to crush your enemies?" Amy said with a tightened fist.
"Is that not enough? You need wits."
"Wits alone are not enough. It makes you feel powerful but does it make you strong?" she said and got off from her seat to approach her.
"To me right now, knowledge is power. If I have knowledge and a plan, I will succeed. Power is knowing what it is used for and how effective it can be. Power is both a cause and effect. Those who've tasted power or were affected by power know what it is like to have it." she said. With each sentence, she felt like gasping in surprise of her own straightforwardness and strong front. She feels scary and it seems to have an effect on Alina. "You know what it is like to be oppressed and be rock bottom. You've seen them fight and the lengths people will go through. Capturing barbarians and selling them as slaves makes them feel powerful and in a sense they are. The helplessness and hopelessness felt against your captors is strong and what can you do?"
Alina's face darkens in anxiousness.
"Nothing." Amy whispered.
Alina grip her pencil tightly.
"That is what power does to your enemies. Power makes them feel like nothing."
"You sound like you have experience. Is this why you wish to teach me? To give me power? Why your father rescued me?"
"I can't give you power. You start by making your own plan first then you gather it." Amy said. "As for my father, he has good intentions of letting you go but to go unprepared is unwise. I want to gather my own strength and I also need your help for that."
Alina's face then brightens up with hope. An admittedly new look, she has never seen before. "I think I understand now."
"I'm gonna go for a jog. You want to join me?" Amy asked.
"Not this time." she said. "I want to keep practicing." Alina then held her pencil in front of her to show her before she began writing. It is still gibberish but it looks like she is getting used to the idea of using a writing utensil.
Amy's aloof look didn't change. While Alina continues practicing her handwriting, Amy looked up at the orange sky outside the window. She may not remember her memories of her past life but she remembers some of the experiences and one of them tells her that she knows what it feels to be in Alina's shoes. The fear, the tension, the crying, the sound of her beating heart and the final act.
"bang" she whispered gently.
"What was that?" Alina looked up to see Amy.
"Just thinking out loud." she replied before leaving out to change.