Chapter 9: The Smart Kid

"So, my precious little bean. What do you like to eat the most?" Grandma Ase smiled.

"Chocolates and spicy things!" said Erland with a straight yet happy face as if he's rather bemused by Ase's enthusiasm already as she is walking like a child rocking both of her hands back and forth while holding her favorite doll.

"Then let's go! There's a stall where they sell pickles."

"But grandma Ase-"

Ase pulled him away to the stall. They were selling various kinds of pickles. Erland took the spiciest of all and admitted his defeat.

"What kind of chocolate do you like?" grandma Ase looked at him with hopeful eyes.

"Uh...D-Dark chocolate?" Erland was bemused whether he should say anything or not.

"Oh my that is expensive. Anyway, they sell some in that mall."

"You don't have to buy me this many things. Why don't you buy some for yourself? Besides, I don't like these things THAT much. Buy something for yourself."

"Oh...darling...my precious little bean..." Ase seemed touched and rather even more enthusiastic this time.

"(I unintentionally applied reverse psychology...)" Seeing Ase's sparkling eyes, Erland's face became expressionless.

Afterwards, grandma Ase massacred every single stall and mall along her way until she ran out of money.

They soon reached an apartment which seemed to be an apartment for a wealthy person to live in. Erland looked around and saw that every single building were as highly developed as the one he was standing in front of.

"We are home, Frode, my precious. I brought you a friend~" grandma Ase called out.

"Great-granny Ase! I can walk pretty well today. Who is this?" said a boy who opened the door. The boy's hair was completely white. His eyes were so lightly blue that it almost felt like he has no vision. He was wearing a white tunic and a gray trouser. He seemed like light itself given how pale he was.

"This is Erland. Erland, this is Frode. I talked to you about him before. You two play now. I will go somewhere to help an aunt."

"Nice to meet you." said Erland and offered his hand for a handshake. He dropped the snacks on the floor.

Frode shook his hands with him. When they looked at the door to see grandma Ase, she had already left. Erland took the snacks in his hands and said,

"Can I store these snacks in your room for a moment?"

"Yeah sure. Great-granny Ase is kinda pushy, but she is a nice lady." said Frode while leading him to his room.

The room was filled with various books and bookshelves. There were various little dolls and a small desk and chair.

"Hey Frode, how old are you?" said Erland.

"I'm two years old right now. I'll become three after a month." said Frode with a bright smile.

"Wha-" Erland widened his eyes. "Do you study a lot? Oh by the way, have half of the things she bought me."

"No I already have a lot..."

"Oh...(I can give these to orphans then.) Hey, aren't there kids who has no family?"

"Yeah, orphans. They live in orphanages. There is one in the Eastern Gaion which is the closest from this place."

"Oh...how about I give these snacks to them?"

"That would be great! Let's go after momma comes back. She will be here when the sun gets on our head."

"You mean when it's 12?"

"You know how to see the clock?!? Teach me, teach me, teach me, TEACH ME!" Frode got in front of his face with a glimmer of expectation.

"Okay..." Erland seemed a bit pushed.

"I have a small sundial in my room. Now tell me, how does it work?"

Erland took it in the sunlight and spoke "Head it to the true north. This sharp thing will cast a shadow. These number will tell what time this is. I only know that if it comes here it's twelve, if it comes here it's three, if it comes here it's six and if it comes here then it's nine O'clock."

"Woah..."

"Can you teach me about numbers?"

"Sure!"

They both started studying instead of playing. Erland noted the numbers whilst Frode taught him how to say the numbers. The number 'six' seemed really suspicious to Erland and made him uncomfortable.

"(Heh...what a world...Come to think of it Vikings used to say this thing on a daily basis...Good that some things of my world are parallel to this world. It's easy for me to understand stuffs.)" Erland looked apathetic.

"Well then, memorize the first ten numbers- Hm? What are you thinking about?" said Frode.

"Hey Frode, do you think that if there was a big thing where you could get anything by searching it, books would become less popular?"

"If someone could get what they want by just searching for it everything would get unpopular."

"No I mean I'm just talking about knowledge."

"That's a wicked thought. I don't think that it's possible though."

"What if it is? If all the knowledge are stored in something that is like a human, then it would be possible right?"

"Then...you can make it!"

"No if I make cool things or do cool things then my family will be taken away from me..."

"That's a sacrifice great people make. You have enthusiasm, go on, try!"

"Nah...I was just...saying.( I should keep my genius to myself...Even though the knowledge I have are a grain of rice to me but to them these are paradise.)"

"Well...maybe you'll have a change of mind? I wanna be the greatest scholar in the entire middle world."

"Woah..."

"What do you want to be?"

"I just want a cool job where I will be able to rest well and spend enough time with my family and also get paid well."

"That's cool! What job do you think that you will chose?"

"I don't know. I am still little and sort of dumb."

"Hehe. Well then, let's get back to studying."

After two hours, Erland did memorize all the numbers. He realized that he has forgotten several of his 'Viking' stuffs.

Someone came in the house. They both got out of the room to see who it was. It was no other than Frida.

"Why didn't you lock the door?" said Frida.

"Sorry mommy. I forgot. Where is daddy?" said Frode.

"He's at work. Oh hello Erland! How are you?"

"I'm doing okay. What about you? Why do you have a new scar?" said Erland with frowned eyebrows.

"Oh this?...It's...nothing." said Frida and smiled as if it really was nothing. Since it seemed the exact opposite of what Frida was stating to Erland, he tried talking to Frode about it.

"Hey Frode-"

"Now, let's go to the orphanage!" said Frode.

"Oh...yeah! Okay..."

They both packed some of the snacks and were about to head to the orphanage. On the way, Frida stopped them. "Where are you two going?..."

"Mommy, can we please go to the orphanage?" said Frode.

"I can't let you two go to such place alone! There are scoundrels hunting children even in daylight, Frode."

Someone knocked on the door again. It was no other than Svend.

"Dad-"

After explaining everything,

"Oh...okay...I'll send someone." said Svend with his usual apathetic face.

"Hold on, man. Don't you have common sense? You take them. I've got works to do at home." said Frida.

"It's my vacation darling. I can't-"

"You are going to spend a single day on them. Your vacation is for about three or four days. Now get the hell outta here." said Frida with a stern face.

"*sigh*...You kids have ruined my day..."

Erland cheered as if he was happy. Having no choice, Svend went outside with them wearing the same cloth, being exhausted.

On their way, they crossed a bridge to go to the Eastern Gaion. Beneath the bridge there was a lake which was as blue as the ocean. No one even dared to get close to the water. The ones who got close were carrying something to store some water in.

"Can't people go in the water?" said Erland.

"No. It's the holy water of this land. None can even touch the water unless they need it to drink."

"Is it something given by the lords?"

"Good question. Yes, this lake's water has been given by the goddess of pure water, Tethys. She is one of the Oceanus, the ones who control every single drop of water."

After crossing the long bridge, they got to the Eastern Gaion. It seemed to be comparable to a slum. There weren't many people living there. Some houses were empty. There were some people smoking or drinking.

"Dad...has it always been like this?" said Frode.

"Yes. You two, come here." said Svend and lifted them up.

"These are people who steals children. They usually hunt them in this area because it has the least protected orphanage." Svend frowned as the two kids in his arms seemed slightly discomforted by the information.

After a short walk, they reached the orphanage. There was a guard dog guarding the place. It was big and bold. It didn't have any eyes. It was dirty and had large teeth. Hearing people's footsteps, it rushed towards them.

It growled in front of Svend and then showed it's belly. Svend kept the kids down and rubbed his hands on it's belly. It put on a happy face and jumped on Svend and started licking his face.

"Okay okay. Enough licking. Go tell the manager, we're here." said Svend with a gentle smile.

("Everyone is actually pretty nice here...)" Erland went close to the dog to give him headpats. The dog smelled Erland for a while. It didn't show much reaction to Erland. It left showing nothing but his back to him.

They both headed to the wooden building. The place wasn't greatly built but it was neat and clean. There was a farm and kids were taking care of the animals such as cows and sheep. There were some caretaker around the place. They were wearing usual cloths like how the normal people in the land does. They mostly wore shirts, vests, frocks and mostly low quality pants and shoes. They headed to the office room in the building where there was a woman sitting on a cushion, in front of a small wooden table. The woman welcomed them and told them to take a seat.

"These kids have brought some snacks for the kids here." said Svend.

"Oh, how sweet of you two!" said the lady as she looked at Erland and Frode.

"Actually great-granny Ase bought us these stuffs." said Erland.

"Even so, the credit is yours."

"You two wanna go home now?" said Svend and put on his hat.

"No, we wanna stay here for a bit longer. Right, Erland?" said Frode. Erland, having no other choice, simply nodded.

"Okay, do what you wanna do. I'm leaving then. There are many nice people and animals here. Go play with them then. Ma'am please send a dove after they are done playing."

"Sure thing. Goodbye Mr. Svend." said the lady as Svend left.

"Okay boys, since you two brought these, you two will give them yourselves." the lady got up from the cushion.

"Nice lady, how many kids are there?" said Erland.

"You-you can do math?"

"No, but I think that you can. I want to give these to them equally. By the way, do they have any favorites?"

"No, they are pleased with anything. The gifts you two have brought might seem like a blessing from the lords to them."

The lady counted the snacks. There were 46 snacks in total. It was a perfect number for the orphans since they were 23 in numbers.

The lady and the boys went to the dining hall. All the kids were called. The lady gave a short speech. Erland and Frode handed them the snacks and candies. Before eating, the kids prayed to the lords. Everyone said the same words. They prayed to a god named Andhrimnir and finally took a bite.

"Why did they pray to a god? My family never told me to do that." said Frode.

"It is because mortals are neglected by all. Since these kids are the most neglected, even the faintest amount of pity, even from fate seems to be something to them, that must be repaid for."

Meanwhile, even before Erland reached Frida's house, there was a little man who's virtue was elegance. He is no other than Leif Avery. He was sitting on his throne eating the sweetest fruits of all. His servants were staring at him with grace.

"Can you all stop staring at me, it's creepy." said Leif while taking a bite.

"Your Highness, you must not talk while eating." said one of the servants.

"I wanna go out."

"You must not, Your Highness. His Majesty will get upset."

"Why should I listen to the old fart?"

"This is why your father doesn't allow you to go out, Your Highness. You are catching their filth." said Colin while holding a cane.

"Shut up. If you all let me go then I will offer-"

"Don't bribe, Your Highness. It's one of the sins that has been forbidden by your father."

"It's not bribing, it's an exchange. Let me out and you will get rewarded."

"I see that your mortal filth is thriving rather than your grades..." Colin looked at him with a stern glimpse.

The prince couldn't help but cry. Everyone tried to stop him from crying but it was too late. For such heinous crime, Colin was told to pay his piper.

"Ha ha...I am back!" Leif was happy because he could once again go out of his palace. But this time, he landed on the eastern Gaion, which is comparably filthy than most part. Even though it disgusted him, he found it interesting.

"How does it feel not to be able to talk and obey everything Colin?!? Do you feel me now?" said Leif.

Colin without a word, walked away. It was a silent treatment for the prince. The prince had no other choice but to stay silent with a gloomy heart as well.

He suddenly heard children singing. He peeked from the window to see what was going on. Colin tried to stop him but he couldn't. Peeking without permission is considered disgraceful. He could see Erland distributing snacks to the children.

Leif stared at him with eyes of a hunter, as if he was looking at his prey. The royal filth of manipulation is inside of him, as well...