Tardide Gains a Teacher

Both the old men looked embarrassed by Jayde statement.

"So what is the problem?" Jayde asked them both.

"It's this stubborn old coot, he won't accept the position as a teacher for the children of Tardide" Elder Ryunzo said frustrated with the old man.

"Why not?" Jayde asked with a confused look on her face.

"You explain it to her, you foolish old man" Elder Ryunzo grumbled.

Really he was at his wit's end with the stubborn old Mage.

With a slight look of embarrassment on his face, Rainer Gaires said: "As I have told Elder Ryunzo before on numerous occasions I am no longer a Mage."

Still confused Jayde looked at Rainer Gaires.

"I am not sure what being a Mage has to do with you being a teacher for the children of Tardide" she stated.

"Unless I am missing something, but I don't see how losing your magic could affect your brain," she added logically.

"Hah! See even she doesn't get it" Elder Ryunzo declared.

"Unless you think to teach the children of Tardide is beneath you" Jayde injected ruthlessly.

Rainer looked shocked at Jayde suggestion.

"Of course not!" he stated quickly

"I am no longer a Mage. I no longer have the qualifications to teach" Rainer Gaires said bitterly.

"Ah," Jayde said nodding her sagely.

"So only Mages have the right to teach nonmagical humans, guess that means only a person who has magic has the right to bestow knowledge to these lesser nonmagical humans," Jayde said sarcastically, indicating Elder Ryunzo.

"So all that stuff you said years ago to Elder Ryunzo about Mages and nonmagical humans being equal was just drivel, you never really believed it, you actually really believe that Mages are superior," Jayde said with disgust.

Rainer was horrified that Jayde was misconstrued his answer.

"I never once thought Mages were superior to nonmagical humans" he declared angrily.

"Oh really, then explain it to me" Jayde sneered.

"There are dozens of children in this village desperately in need of a teacher. You were once a mentor to hundred of Mages, you have the knowledge to share with these children, and you have nowhere to go, so why would you refuse to share your knowledge."

After listening to Jayde's argument, Rainer was bewildered by his own refusal, why was he refusing he asked himself. Thinking deeply he wondered if Jayde was right — was he really biased and believed Mages were superior to nonmagical humans.

After examining himself, he really did not believe Mages were superior, but he did come to the realization that the past ten years had eroded his self-confidence, and that he was just a shell of the man he once was.

Disgusted with himself that he had allowed those people to drive him this extent, they had taken everything from him, and he had even allowed them to take away his dignity and his self-respect.

Elder Ryunzo was taken aback by Jayde attack on Rainer, while he agreed with some of the things she was saying, the old guy had been through so many hardships over the past ten years that he wasn't sure attacking him was the right thing to do.

"I accept," Rainer said softly.

"Huh?" Elder Ryunzo said confused.

"I said I accept your offer to be the teacher for the children of Tardide" Rainer responded his voice louder and firmer.

"You do? Oh, you do! That is wonderful" Elder Ryunzo said clapping his hands together in glee. Well, maybe Jayde hardball approach was the best way he thought.

Elder Ryunzo and Rainer chatted for a while, mainly about what sort of supplies Rainer would need for his new school. Seeing that Rainer was looking tired Elder Ryunzo stood up to leave.

Jayde and Elder Ryunzo bid the old man farewell and turned to leave. As Jayde was walking out the door.

"Young Lady?" Rainer called.

Turning Jayde looked at Rainer, her eyebrow raised in query.

"Thank you," Rainer said smiling softly.

Jayde just smiled back at the old man and left, closing the door to his room.

Elder Ryunzo led Jayde to the kitchen, where Mrs. Ryunzo had already prepared some snacks for the two. Sitting down at the kitchen table Elder Ryunzo informed Jayde of all the happenings in the village since they returned.

Many of the village families were really interested in adopting the war orphans in Oldstrand and Elder Ryunzo had pulled all the men off their various duties to build extra rooms onto the families houses who were going to adopt.

They were also going to build two bunkers for now for some of the men and women beggars. They would build them their own homes later.

After the two had finished their tea, Elder Ryunzo looked a bit embarrassed.

"Er Jayde, I was wondering if we could possibly impose on you to help us. See we are short of stone, and well ... with your abilities we were wondering if you could help us in the nearby mountains, to blast the stones lose — it will only take a few days or so" he said in a rush.

Jayde was more than happy to help out the villagers, and she would also benefit, she hadn't had many chances to use her fire magic since she had arrived on Telia, and it would do her good to practice.

Promising to return the next day early, she calculated that, that would give her three days in the mountains to help the villagers and return in time to meet President Andillevé and his son when they arrived.

Waving farewell to the Ryunzo's her arms filled again with cakes for Reiko, Jayde returned to the cave to inform Yinxin that she would be leaving for three days.

Reiko was not happy about being left behind, but Jayde convinced him that he needed to guard the dragons.

Jayde spent most of the night cooking up meat for the dragons and Reiko and filling up water barrels, making sure that the five of them were well looked after.

The next morning after setting up her strongest ward, Jayde set off early for the village. When Jayde arrived a large group of men and women were waiting for her, most of the women were in wagons that were loaded with supplies, the wagons would be used to transport the stones back.

Jinko, Behro younger brother brought over a large dog-like creature, its face resembled something like old Earth bulldogs, except it had two large ivory fangs attached to its bottom lip. There was a strange seat made out of some animals tusk with wool beneath attached to the dog back for a rider as well as two large vicious looking horn on either side. Its legs were covered in hard leather for protection. The creature stood over five feet tall. All in all the creature was quite intimidating.

Jinko informed Jayde that these were Ovis Canis, they were extremely fast and agile creatures and were well suited for traveling through the mountains.

With little choice, Jayde allowed Jinko to help her mount her Ovis Canis, surprising while the seat looked strange is was really comfortable. Still, Jayde was feeling a bit uncertain about riding these creatures. Once Jayde was mounted, Behro called for them to leave

As Jayde and her group set off on their Ovis Canis, with the speed of their beasts it would only take them a couple of hours to reach the mountains, the women followed in the transport wagons, the women would make it to the base camp just before nightfall. A couple of men accompanied the women as guards to protect them on their journey.

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