9 – First Snow and Donuts
After the disciple declaration.
I began learning everything except magic.
*
Benjamin’s explanation was as follows.
Magic is divided into two parts.
The formation and manipulation of matter, and the encompassing of classical magic such as [transmutation], [levitation], [rotation], and the like, constitute the first type of magic.
Dealing with fundamental forces like manpower and leverage, the second type of magic.
And whether it’s the first type or the second, it’s still too early for you to learn.
Now, it’s a warehouse turned into my room.
As the door opened, Benjamin came in carrying a handful of various books.
“From now on, these are what you’ll learn.”
Thud― a thick book was placed on the desk.
[Euclidean Geometry]
A geometry book.
“The source of the first type of magic lies in geometry. It’s reasonable to say that classical magic develops alongside the progress and flow of geometry.”
Thud―
[Elements of Algebra]
An algebra book.
“You need to know addition and subtraction.”
Thud―
[Basic Alphabet]
And a children’s vocabulary book. Both in Imperial and Prowovian.
“To read books, you have to learn how to speak first. Don’t you think so?”
In addition, literature such as drama and novels, as well as natural philosophy books, were piled up. Literally, there were only magic-related books missing.
I looked at the tower of books on the desk and asked,
“What about spellbooks…?”
“Magic book?”
Benjamin, engrossed in unpacking a pile of books, peeked his head over the stack.
Then, he burst into laughter.
“Someday, when you present your research results, you’ll have to write a whole paper in Frauviavian. Mix in plenty of academic jargon, too.”
In his searching hand under the coat, there was a fountain pen.
Handing me paper and pen, he said,
“Write your name in Frauviavian on this paper.”
“….”
“You can’t, huh?”
He laughed heartily.
“At least you should know how to write your name when writing a paper. Learn some alphabet quietly. There’s no easy way to learning.”
It’s been a long time since the Empire’s scholarship fell behind the Federation.
While the Empire basks in its past glory, the Federation has made remarkable leaps in various academic fields. The quality of information obtainable through Imperial language books and Frauviavian language books is bound to differ.
For those on the path of academia, mastering the mainstream language of the scholarly community is essential.
Benjamin was tactfully expressing this fact.
“When you learn all the languages, from then on, I’ll personally teach you mathematics and magic.”
An irrefutable argument.
But being ignored like this only stirs up resistance in the human heart.
Suddenly, this thought came to mind.
Benjamin Oslo.
I want to shock that mischievous old man at least once.
“Benjamin. I promise.”
“Hmm?”
“One month.”
She held up her index finger.
“In one month, I will recite books written in Frauviavian one after another.”
Benjamin’s eyes widened.
It was a challenge worth taking. Self-study was my expertise after business.
#January 1st. Snow.
I opened my eyes on the bed.
“….”
Warm.
The floor covered with worn clothes on gravel and dirt turned into a bed, and the old blanket changed into a quilt. The roof replaced what covered my head with the shadow of the half-rotten legs.
A small change.
But it was also a significant change.
No more worrying about freezing to death in bed.
Despite being an old storage room, the indoors felt like indoors. It was dimensionally different from homelessness.
For the past few years, warmth I hadn’t felt before was fully contained in this small bedding, making the cozy warmth tempting me to lie in bed forever.
Longing for it, and longing for it.
“Ah, now is not the time.”
I suddenly woke up.
The beginning of a new year.
At the same time, a day that would mark the end of the year for the Oseullo family was dawning.
The time I opened my eyes was probably early dawn.
To succeed in mastering the Praubian language within a month, it was important to use time systematically.
Even in the early morning, I couldn’t afford to waste any spare time before going to sleep.
Hastily tidying up the bedding, I sat down at the desk without even thinking about organizing the nest of hair on my head.
On the desk, there were various books such as Praubian editions of classical plays and Praubian-Imperial dictionaries, scattered haphazardly.
On the other hand, a half-melted candle on the candlestick was boldly showing its figure.
Traces of studying from the previous day.
A feeling of accomplishment, but at the same time, the thought that I couldn’t settle for it came to mind.
Already, about a week has passed.
About half of the month has been consumed.
Thanks to dividing and subdividing time, progress has been smooth. If I concentrate hard during the remaining period, I might be able to surprise Benjamin.
Sigh. Yawn.
After taking a deep breath, I was about to delve into the letters again.
A small window on the left side of the desk.
White snowflakes were fluttering outside.
“…Were they that beautiful?”
Exquisite snow. The streets were dyed white.
The falling snow itself was a rare occurrence, and observing the scene from the second-floor indoors was also a first.
When it poured down onto my face, I didn’t realize, but looking through the window, it seemed like a remarkably beautiful sight.
With a small smile, I began flipping through the pages.
It was the first snow of the year.
*
The morning at the old duplex was early.
Perhaps it was due to the old man claiming to have no sleep. Benjamin’s early waking time and Captain Dorothy’s military duty coincided.
Even now, with the addition of a new vagabond, the pattern continued without much change.
Click—
Opening the door and stepping outside, the vitality of breakfast time had already filled the house.
As expected.
Descending the stairs to the first floor, Benjamin in casual attire was already occupying a seat at the dining table.
“Eugene, sit down.”
It was Benjamin who already claimed a spot at the table. He put down his coffee and casually tapped the seat next to him.
I still wasn’t accustomed to eating three meals a day.
Mumbling, I took a seat next to Benjamin.
Around that time, I spotted Dorothy’s back in the kitchen. Looks like she’s in charge of today’s cooking.
The fragrant smell of baking bread wafted from the kitchen to the dining table.
Perhaps due to the warmth inside, in contrast to the winter wheat bread with no smell, the simple act of baking bread produced a scent comparable to the grilled fish I had eaten before, even overpowering it.
Shortly after, Dorothy returned from the kitchen.
A plate with toast and marmalade, three of them.
It was quite a warm breakfast.
“Please have some.”
Dorothy placed the plates on the table one by one and then sat down at the table herself.
Farthest away from Benjamin.
In other words, in front of me.
“I will enjoy this….”
From that moment, it became difficult to breathe.
Unlike me, who was still in a state of disarray, Dorothy seemed to find it difficult to look at me, perhaps because she was already dressed up as a military officer and even had her hair done.
Is that all? It was still unfamiliar for her to be seen as an adult woman, and even more so to dine with a federal military officer.
To put it simply, it was awkward.
While I was lost in thought, the two of them started eating.
They picked up the toast, scooped up a spoonful of orange marmalade, and spread it on the toast.
Thanks to the warmth, the sweet citrus scent became even stronger. Then, with a crisp sound, they took a bite.
A natural movement.
It was evidence that they had been having meals like this for a long time.
“……”
I was not like that.
Hard rye bread. It was a very unfamiliar meal for me, who occasionally had grilled fish.
So, my act of picking up the toast was based on the “learned” way of eating during this week. It was perhaps as important as learning Plovian.
Where should I look?
I hold the toast in my left hand. Not gripping or holding the side, but placing it with a feeling of laying it down.
Then, I take the spoon in my right hand, carefully spread the marmalade, and flick it onto the bread – it doesn’t spread well.
At this point, I use the spoon again. I use the back of the spoon to evenly distribute the sweet and sticky oranges.
This completes the toast, filled with the scent of oranges.
“Phew.”
I let out a relieved sigh. It was ironic that this was not the feeling of a clown who had successfully finished juggling, but breakfast. But whatever.
I opened my mouth, expecting a crispy texture and the harmony of sweet marmalade.
“….?”
From Noble mtl dot com
I froze in that state.
Gaze.
Beyond the toast, the eyes of a woman resembling a winter oak tree pierced through me.
It was Dorothy.
Thump–
“Hey, Eugene. That’s not your mouth, it’s your nose.”
Tuck–
“That’s your chin.”
Benjamin’s remark barely allowed me to put the toast in my mouth and chew.
Crunch– As expected, the crispy texture came, but I couldn’t taste anything.
Around that time, Dorothy turned her gaze away from me. For some reason, she had a satisfied expression.
“……??”
The chaotic morning mealtime concluded with Dorothy’s departure for work.
*
The Praubia Federal Army.
For imperial refugees, that name is synonymous with terror.
Individuals wielding legal authority over the police, judiciary, and various other empowered entities, enjoying unmatched power.
Normally, they maintain a semblance of quiet, but given the pretext of maintaining public order, they are a group that can get away with anything.
Having once been pursued by the military myself, I was well aware of this.
However, I never expected to end up living with the leaders of that terror.
Just after breakfast.
I had to consciously calm my pounding heart.
What was it just now?
The lingering presence of those intense, ink-dark pupils still remained.
I had been becoming numb during these past few weeks due to the lack of any particular incidents, so I was completely unprepared for such an unsettling event.
Do they have a reason to stare through me?
Are they planning to demand two hundred pounds even now? Or is a promotion to lieutenant imminent, and they urgently need achievements?
Such thoughts crossed my mind as I roamed near the stairs.
A difficult-to-ignore phrase sprang from Benjamin’s lips, who had finished all his coffee.
“Eugene. Finish your studies early today and come downstairs. Dorothy, who went out, will probably be back around evening.”
Going out.
“Did you go to work?”
Captain Jung Bokdo hadn’t even dressed and gone out.
When I asked, Benjamin laughed and replied, “Who works on the first day of the new year?”
“….”
The suppressed anxiety returned, now doubled.
