Mirrond: So… another chapter. Having plenty of free time really speed this up. That’s more or less everything I have to say now. Resus, you have something to add?

  Resus: I just wish this whole thing would be easier to write...

  Mirrond: If it was easy, everyone would do it. So… stop whining, it’s O.K.

  Resus: Write a story, they said. It would be easy, they said xD

  Mirrond: Who said that? xD And why did you believe such an obvious trap?

  Resus: … Shut up...

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  Chapter 10: My new prison life and cellmate

  The darkness disappears and I lie in my bed again.

  Shadow’s last words were… spooky, on many levels. So, not only I have two rivals now - even more can show up later. And even without additional reincarnated falling from the skies like snow in Siberian winter, there are more factions around here than I previously thought. Shadow and his still unknown ‘colleagues’ - at least if he really have friends who aren’t imaginary - his sister, and the Old Gods. And I’m still not even sure if by that name he might have meant the goddess-protector of Res…

  I really need to hurry up with my rehabilitation. I’m five years ahead, sure, but I can’t afford to waste any time. If Res is a one of the Old Gods then their Chosen One is going to have Temple’s full support in search for me. And if I won’t be capable of a proper self defense by the time he will grow up and begin his search… well, let’s hope that it won’t happen.

  For a moment I want to go asleep, but… no - I finally have a bit of time to look through Options menu. WITHOUT ANY DEADLY INTERRUPTIONS!

  The screen looks more or less like I remember it from last time. Though I wasn’t paying much attention to it back then. I can see that Shadow dropped his game and managed to set the triggers for map and… chat… as simple and doable voice commands. That’s surprisingly domestic of him. Maybe after what just happened, or even right after that… previous interface disaster, he thought that it’s pointless to torture me like that when I’m practically paralyzed? Or he’s simply making me feel safe, so he can surprise me when I least expect it…

  I open the map screen after my third try… It seems like I have to say the command fairly quick or it won’t register.

  A low detailed map is floating before my face… It’s basically just an outline of what looks like a continent. There’s no legend nor any additional information. It seems fairly useless for now. Maybe later, when I’ll actually gain some knowledge about geography of this world this map will get more detailed.

  Anyway, nothing interesting there for now. So, I decide to try this ‘chat’ and… really, Shadow? Keyboard? I can see a small keyboard floating in front of me, together with a chat window. There is contact list next to the window, but there is only one contact written there. ‘Shadow666 <3’... fortunately he is offline. It also looks that my nickname is Dark Lord… and for some reason it can’t be changed. So lame… urgh. SO FUCKING LAME.

  Then I move on to HUD. I switch it on and… well, it’s a weird thing. The empty HP bar in the lower left corner of my view feels like… that moment, sometimes, when you notice your own nose and it shows in your field of view for a while until your brain filters it out again. I guess I will have to get used to it. After a moment of consideration I decide to switch HP and nonexistent MP bars off. It’s pretty unnerving… and, well, empty. But clock seems useful, so I left it, and update messages, on. The clock is in the upper right corner of my vision. It’s small, and well, it shows time with numbers, instead of a clock face. Useful thing, I don’t need to look at a Temple’s clock tower anymore.

  Hostile Status Display… well, lack of hostiles to check it on. For some reason I doubt that Iverie would count as one, at least as long as she won’t attack me with something sharp.

  And at the end… Automatic Translation. Auto translating idioms and month names? Ok, count me in. That’s something really useful.

  I turn the interface off. Well… I feel sleepy, so let’s call it a day. And from tomorrow on, let’s just focus on getting back into the right shape.

  * * *

  It took half a year… and now I’m more or less back to normal. At some point I noticed that there was ‘paralyzed’ status effect with a vague timer. It was actually quite correct in its predictions. But… when it disappeared, it was instantly replaced with another one, that will take another half a year to remove. At least I can walk now. With crutches and painfully slowly but I’m not confined to my bed, and occasionally the wheelchair, anymore. And that in itself is a huge success for me.

  It gets slightly worse when I’m tired, when I sometimes feel like my limbs refuse to listen. And my words get less and less understandable. But that’s just a minor inconvenience, right? I can at least go to the toilet without anyone’s help. That’s more than enough to make me happy.

  I also learned how to read and write! My father hired a tutor to teach me during my rehabilitation. And I actually learnt it quite fast. Although, my old knowledge was a big help in the whole process… so while I weren’t exactly branded as a genius, I was definitely very, very praised. The only problem was the fact that local alphabet is so totally messed up… It reminds me a bit of Earth latin alphabet. A bit. My first thought was that, at some point in history, someone showed it to the locals without explaining which letter is which. And the results of that… for example local letter ‘A’ looks a lot like the ‘X’ I knew from Earth. Many letters are also missing, or at least it feels like it, because they added combinations of two letters to serve as a different one. And FOR FUCK SAKE, who was crazy enough to make stressed letters be written UPSIDE DOWN?! It’s ridiculous… I can’t possibly describe how painful it is to write even the most simple question.

  Now I really want to conquer this world… simply to enforce new, and much simpler, alphabet. Future generations would love me for this. Urgh.

  I was learning more or less alone… because my newly met family members - by whom I mainly mean Meritri and Ni’ren - were busy. The former with avoiding me for some reason, the latter with… well… learning. It turned out that Res - or rather Temple and all the venerable Houses like Veles - decided to change local educational system… just around now.

  Previously it was left to private tutors hired by rich families. After learning basics, kids were allowed to enter the library in the Temple, which was… more or less… the only real library in the whole city.

  However, few years ago, the Temple decided that it requires more place to store books, the number of which gradually grew over time. So, they expanded the Grand Temple’s complex by adding additional buildings to house expanded library. They also decided to add ‘classrooms’, and entire new wing of the building to house and accommodate students. They turned it into something in between of a classical university and a boarding school. It was opened this year for the first group of students, which was composed of 5-8 years old kids from all Houses. And that was actually the reason why Varthia moved into the mansion in the first place - because this allowed her granddaughters to attend this new ‘school’.

  At first I thought that this was retarded… I mean, boarding school? With every student living in the same city…? But then Shadow’s blessing made me understand what it was all about. By making all wealthy kids spend five days every week under the care of the Temple, and its tutors, the Temple gained considerably big influence on them. And within twenty or thirty years most of the students is bound to start becoming influential personas in the city…

  It was actually quite surprising to see all the Houses let it happen so willingly… It looked that I severely underestimated the current influence the Temple had in the city. In the beginning I thought that Res was an oligarchy, where the wealthy families used religion as a way to legitimize their rule over the city. But now I begin to think of it being more like theocracy, with Houses being loyal servants of the Temple. Sure, they are rich and have power over everyday matters of the city, but only because Grand Priestess doesn't bother to deal with them. She lets them thrive for as long as the Temple is well supplied, and the city stays relatively peaceful.

  It was quite a fun time, mainly because neither Shadow, nor anyone else bothered me too much. However, it just ended. And quite abruptly at that. It’s saturday, and I’ve just been called into my father’s office. So, I took my crutches and slowly but surely begin my walk towards father’s office with Gavlan following slowly behind me.

  It’s actually rather surprising of father to call for me like that as - since my brother’s death - he diligently avoided any contact with me. Shadow’s blessing’s telling me that he may be afraid of getting too close to me, because then if anything were to happen to me, he would be hurt again. I think of it as irrational, but I guess that’s how psychological trauma works, right?

  The much more upsetting thing with father right now is his increasing levels of paranoia. Making sure that both his and mine meals are thoroughly tested before eating is ok - he also included Lena in that treatment, after my numerous outbursts of crying that I don’t want her to ‘go away like my brother’ - but being surrounded by bodyguards 24/7 is… a bit too much. He even avoids leaving the mansion because he’s afraid of assassins! Sure, he leaves when he absolutely has to, but only by carriage. And a well secured one at that.

  I’m probably the only person who has no problem getting through his security. Although this may change when I get older… Nevertheless, they let me in and I’m in father’s office. The window is covered with thick, dark curtains, and the only light source in the room is some sort of a magic device that hangs from the ceiling. It’s decorated, surely, an fits quite nicely to the design theme of the room, but I really feel like I’m in a World War II bunker with a lone bulb hanging from the ceiling…

  “So, how are you feeling?” He starts after a cold greeting.

  “It’s much better, father. It’s still hard to walk or speak when I’m really tired, but other than that… I’m good.” I reply and he nods. For a while he’s deeply in thoughts and doesn’t even look my way.

  “That’s good to hear, because after the weekend you are going to join Ni’ren in the Temple’s school.” Oh, so here goes the happy - even if a bit lonely - childhood. I’m not going to argue about that, though. I wasted enough time being sick. “I decided that it is a good time for you to start attending school, as you are going to have company. Meritri is nearly five years old, so it’s a high time for her as well to begin her education.”

  Now that I think about it… Ni’ren? Meritri? It’s the first time I hear my father mentioning kids that aren’t his own by their names. Iar’e is always just ‘Lenniel’s child’ or ‘nephew’. Even Lena is ‘Alva’s daughter’. Did he get closer with Varthia and her branch of our family when I wasn’t paying attention? Ding ding ding! My blessing is giving me signals. Are they cooperating against Iverie? I hope so…

  “That’s great, father.” He finally looks at me when I answer him. This time with a bit worried face.

  “There is also… another matter.” Ok, now I’m worried too. I sense more problems coming. ”It is possible that some of the kids there… might act towards you in a similar way to Lenniel’s kid back then. We are the only Great House composed of humans, and humans… well, we aren’t exactly the most respected race here in Res. If something like this happens, try to ignore it and focus on learning as much as you can, can you do that?”

  Oh great. I try to conjure a genuinely curious look on my face.

  “Why would humans be treated this way?”

  “That is because we have no magic. And this makes many nonhumans feel… superior. Lack of magic doesn’t make us any dumber, but some of them think of us as a race inferior to them in every aspect. It is rare to see human family that is wealthy or influential, but… as you can see, we are an exception.” He gives me a weak smile. “Go and prepare yourself. Good luck.”

  I return to my room accompanied by Gavlan. Dark thoughts rumbling in my head. Shadow… WHY?! I like being human, sure - it’s something I am quite used to. But if they really are universally disliked or even despised... HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO RUIN THIS WORLD?! It gets really, seriously hard, when people around you think of you as a dumb, magicless weakling… urgh, it must be an elven revenge for the Witcher’s world. Definitely. When Shadow will give me magic with this secret method of his, maybe I’ll try to pose as a hidden half-breed? Urgh, no, then it would mean that I’m not fully legitimate Veles, and it would generate issues with my standing in the family. Aaaargh!

  Alright, there’s no need to be depressed about it! I’ll face it on Monday. But before then… well, time to indulge myself in pleasures such as doing absolutely nothing while I still have some time left for that.

  * * *

  The carriage ride to school is unsurprisingly awkward. Even more so as, while I expected to be here alone with Meritri and her shy slash scared attitude towards me, Kiera and Ni’ren are here with us. It feels really crowded in here even though the cabin is pretty big - it could easily contain six grownups.

  Kiera and Ni’ren are busy talking but they’re mostly whispering to each other so I can’t hear anything. It surprises me at first when I think about the scene six months ago with me meeting Varthia’s branch of the family and their opinions of Iverie, but then Ni’ren’s parents weren’t there so I can’t just assume that they would feel the same. Anyway, that leaves me only Meritri to try and talk to, the problem is that she… isn’t the most talkative person around.

  Oh damn it… I should start the talking, shouldn’t I? Getting through the town is seriously taking forever. Sure, the distance is short, but the atmosphere in the carriage is… urgh. Now, what should I say? I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY! She seems shy and since we meet she’s been purposefully avoiding me. It’s not the case of breaking the ice. It’s a full blown glacier between us right now… Or at least it feels like it.

  Oh great, she notices that I’m looking at her and, well, reacts more or less as expected. She looks like she’s trying to discover a way to become invisible or something… seriously, how shy is she!? I hope she grows out of this.

  Okay, I officially abandon all plans to end this silence. Let’s just pretend I’m alone in here. Step one, look through the window. Step two… Ok, so it’s a one-step plan but it seems to be working. Some time passes like that without anyone bothering me and vice versa. But, there had to be a ‘but’, it seems like the older girls don’t feel entertained enough with just talking and begin teasing my younger cousin.

  “Meritri’s silent again. Can you even speak? I never heard you speaking.” Kiera, of course it’s her being mean and all. She really start to look like a younger Iverie, but why so childish? Wait, childish?

  It just occurred to me… It’s going to be fucking kindergarten… What did I say earlier? 5-8 years old? I’m going to be stuck… with little children… five days a week… and I’m supposed to act like one of them or else someone might start to see me as ‘the weird child’... and that could lead my enemies to discover that I’m the reincarnated one. It’s very unlikely to happen but not impossible. Up till now it was fairly easy for me to pose as a child because effectively there was no one who would care about my behavior… Wait, what are the girls talking about?

  “Yeah, she’s silent like a slave girl.” Now that’s pretty heartless… I mean, majority of slaves in the mansion are strictly ordered to speak to family members only if there is some serious matter to talk about… like reporting that they finished their work and want another one, or to inform that there is a group of assassins hiding in the closet. Besides, that slaves are treated pretty much like furniture, so there is barely a place for being friendly and talkative.

  Not to mention - Ni’ren, if you are siding with Kiera against your own cousin… I’m seriously disappointed in you.

  I really expected better from her. On the other hand… they spent a lot of time in school together, with all other students most likely ignoring them or something… so, theoretically, it’s no surprise they got closer. It’s still a bit sad, though.

  Meritri tries to retort but… whatever she said, it looks like her voice decided to surrender midway, so it’s incomprehensible. Ok, I give up. I’ll try to shut them up, but I have to make it sound somehow childish, I guess. I just need to remember all those insults from my early school years and use one… Easy, it was only like… 15 years ago!?

  “Why won’t you to just go back to whispering? It was so nice without your squeaking.” What become of me. I can’t even think of an actual, basic insult… THAT WAS PATHETIC! But, surprisingly it worked. In a way. I’m their new target now.

  “Shut up retard.” Well, Kiera definitely tries everything she can to antagonize me even further. Great.

  “Yeah, who asked you,” Oh, Ni’ren, Ni’ren… you know that you act like moderately intelligent sidekick to the antagonist in school-life chapter of some second grade fantasy novel? Seriously, you should be intelligent enough to say something beside ‘Yeah, who asked you’… it’s… just infinitely stupid, seriously.”

  “It’s your fault for taking stupid like that.” I feel my IQ dropping with every word I speak… The worst part? I’ll need to keep acting like that for a long time… Argh, why does it always happen to me?!

  “You can’t talk to me like that, you’re just a retard!” It makes me wonder if she even knows what ‘retard’ means, or is she just repeating her mother...

  “C’mon Kiera, don’t listen to him, he’s stupid.” IT’S FUCKING WORKING!? I don’t know if I should be happy or sad about it.

  “You’re both stupid! And ugly!” I’m literally crying on the inside right now. Shadow, if you’re listening to this - please, tell me you can fast forward this shit show called my life. I WANT TO BE AN ADULT NOW, PLEASE.

  “I’m not ugly!” Is she crying? I… made Ni’ren cry… And Kiera’s just staring at me… As if I’m the bad guy here...

  “SHUT UP NI’REN! AND YOU, RETARD! SHUT UP!” YOU ONLY MAKE ME WANT TO SPEAK EVEN LOUDER AND ANGRIER. And… wait, what is it now?

  Oh, thank you SO FUCKING MUCH, Shadow. I sincerely hope that you are serious this time and you really are going to leave me alone. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!

  “No, you shut up!” No, seriously, I’m really acting retarded now… eh, it’s not like I’m in position to think about something better. And even with just this, the carriage looks like it’s going to change into Fight Club’s youth group in a moment… Although, I would really prefer to avoid all this. I mean, using violence against kids? And girls, on top of that… I’m not even sure if I would win! Now THAT’S pathetic...

  The carriage suddenly stops. The doors open, and there’s Gavlan’s face with ‘WTF ARE YOU DOING HERE YOU LITTLE RICH BASTARDS I HATE SO MUCH’ look painted all over it. I, of course, stay silent - you don’t talk about Fight Club! - and the rest doesn’t know him at all - maybe beside the fact that he’s my bodyguard - so they also say nothing as we leave the carriage one by one.

  Now, wow, that’s some serious architecture over here. I can only see a small part of the entire complex, and in itself it’s quite spectacular. Even though I don’t have time to enjoy the view. Gavlan is urging me - without words, but I can see it in his face - to get inside. And local servants - slaves of the Temple - unload our baggage from the carriage. Gavlan looks restless because he isn’t going to accompany me inside - the school has it’s own security - so he’s going to be temporarily freed from following me everywhere.

  As we enter, there’s a hall with few armed people with bored expressions on their faces - local guards, from the Temple - and a man in a robe that looks like some fantasy-like cleric’s robe in light and dark shades of… mainly blue. He has wolf-like ears, so he is a beastman like Gavlan. Ni’ren and Kiera pass by him without even noticing him, so he must be just a low rank Temple-member. And he’s looking my way, so I guess he’s the welcoming committee for me and Meritri. How lovely.

  “In the name of Grand Priestess I, hereby welcome you in our Library.” He begins, with a rather… neutral expression. Well, we’re just two human kids, right? No need to get all excited about us. ”I hope you will enjoy your stay, and learn as much as you can.” Am I overreacting because of what my father told me? Because just now I nearly heard the unspoken ‘but of course it won’t be much since you are just humans’ Argh, damn it.

  “I am here to lead you to your room.” Wait, room? Singular? Not plural? He can’t possibly… “We only have double and triple bedrooms, and as our policy is assigning students from the same race to them, you are going to share a room.”

  Oh for fuck’s…

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  Resus: Does this counts as actual story and not just a buildup? I honestly can’t tell…

  Mirrond: Well, I can’t help you. The first thing that comes to my mind after seeing the word “buildup” is bodybuilder at the gym, so I am ABSOLUTELY NOT QUALIFIED to speak about this. Let’s just be happy that we finished it.

  Resus: Yeah, one more thing. It’s your turn to beg for comments and reviews :P

  Mirrond: Eh, I find it rude and offensive (if they want to do it, they’ll do it) so let’s just stick with something like that: We sincerely thank you for every review (even the ones without text that doesn’t really show on a main page), for every comment, and for every one of you that decided to follow us and/or fav our story. God bless you, kind people :D I hope there will be more people like you in the future.

  Resus: You don’t sound sincere enough for me… GIVE ME A PROOF THAT YOU BELIEVE!

  Mirrond: Is that another one of your hidden MLP quotations? NEVERMIND, I don’t even want to know. Let’s just call it a day.

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