After Mr. Kinderman intervened to quell the dispute between Benjamin and myself, the class finally commenced.
"Now, since Benjamin and Alexander had such a spirited exchange, let's see how well they fare in class!"
Though invisible, a hint of mischief danced across everyone's faces. It was as though they secretly relished the thought of sacrificing Benjamin to witness my discomfort. Mr. Kinderman, often seen in formal attire with a rarely cracked smile, now wore a smirk. I couldn't help but notice,
"Seems like the 'dislike Alexander' sentiment is shared even by the teachers."
Following this, attention was directed at us, as Mr. Kinderman declared,
"Alexander, Benjamin, please rise!"
Both of us stood, poised for the impending question. Mr. Kinderman turned to us, a knowing grin playing on his lips, and posed the query,
"Name five significant deities from any religion!"
A struggle ensued as Benjamin and I fought back laughter. Benjamin, usually exuding nobility and reverence towards those more powerful, suppressed a chuckle. Offering a smile to the teacher, he began,
"Piece of cake, Mr. Kinderman. Here's the answer: O-"
I interjected, eager to contribute,
"Odin, Zeus, Ra, Amaterasu, and Dagda."
Benjamin's face reddened like a tomato, his irritation palpable. He shot me a puzzled, slightly respectful glance, and retorted,
"So you're letting this family-less fellow meddle with my flow, huh, Mr. Kinderman?"
Mr. Kinderman met Benjamin's gaze with a glint of understanding and responded,
"I never stated this question was exclusively for you. My intention was to create competition, and Alexander caught on. Therefore, he's earned a commendable grade for this."
A wave of collective resentment seemed to wash over me, Benjamin leading the charge. His eyes blazed with anger as he scrutinized me, then shifted to Mr. Kinderman to voice his frustration with a hint of respect,
"Permitting this family-less fellow to interfere, huh, Mr. Kinderman?"
Mr. Kinderman met Benjamin's gaze with a mix of amusement and comprehension, chuckling,
"Well, in a way, yes. I deliberately left the question open-ended to observe who would grasp the competitive aspect. Turns out, Alexander did."
Amid the tension, a smile crept across my face. It wasn't just Benjamin; it felt like everyone resented my intrusion. Yet, it hardly mattered; my mind was preoccupied,
"Hmm, someone was definitely raised differently. But I've had my fair share of unconventional upbringing."
Rewinding the clock five years, three days after my father's passing:
Ambrosio took me in, and three days had elapsed. Three days of abstaining from food and drink, a personal protest against fate. The commitment I had made now seemed distant, almost unattainable. Tears streamed down my face as I contemplated the end. Meanwhile, Ambrosio and Noura discussed my state. Ambrosio inquired,
"How's Alexander holding up?"
Noura responded with a touch of sadness,
"He's been on a hunger and thirst strike for three days. It's as if he's lost his will to challenge that god anymore."
Ambrosio chuckled and said to Noura,
"Well, maybe he needs a little nudge in the right direction."
With those words, Ambrosio stood and headed towards my room. In that moment, I reflected,
"Why not just end it all? I could reunite with my father and bid farewell to this cursed existence."
Engulfed in these dark thoughts, Ambrosio burst into the room, snapping me out of my reverie, and addressed me,
"Alexander, what's the deal? I expected you to be all gung-ho about training when you came here. Instead, you're locked up in this room, crying like a lost child."
Just then, Noura entered, an exquisite vision in her Arabic dress and hijab. Ambrosio's words brought tears to my eyes, yet he quickly added,
"Don't be a crybaby. You want to become my student, right?"
Sniffling, I managed a nod, and he continued,
"Great! We'll start tomorrow. For now, you need to eat and drink. Quality doesn't matter; you just need sustenance."
With renewed determination, I replied,
"Alright, Ambrosio."
That day, I ate and drank until I was content. Ambrosio introduced me to everyone, and during the introductions, I met Jolie, an older girl learning the ropes as a practicing maid, much like me. She was captivating, seizing my heart at first sight. I memorized every detail about her – her flowing brown hair, her entrancing blue eyes, and her graceful demeanor. After mingling, I retired to bed, excitement bubbling within me.
The next day, I rose early and made my way to Ambrosio's room. I sat by his bedside, ready for the new day. As he woke, he regarded me with a bewildered expression and inquired,
"What on earth? Why are you lurking here at this hour?"
I thought to myself,
"Oops, perhaps a touch too eager."
With enthusiasm, I explained,
"Since you're now my mentor, I thought I could assist with household chores – you know, like a servant. I don't want to freeload, and I can't contain my eagerness for the training to start."
Amusement twinkled in Ambrosio's eyes, and he chuckled,
"Listen, Alexander, you'll be living here without obligations. I'll teach you to be a knight, maybe even more. But for now, I'm off for a run. Stay here and wait for me to finish, alright?"
I agreed, and couldn't resist asking,
"Can I join you on the run?"
Ambrosio grinned, almost laughing, and countered,
"Confident you can keep pace with me?"
With unwavering confidence, I replied,
"Yes!"
And so, we set off for our run, Ambrosio instructing me to warm up first. As we dashed towards the finish line, he counted down,
"One, two, three!"