Matilda in Elcenia
+ Show First Post
Total: 1236
Posts Per Page:
Permalink

"I'm learning a lot of things earlier or faster than most people," says Matilda. "Because I like learning things more than most people and I'm better at it than most people."

Permalink

"Well, that makes perfect sense to me," says Raha. "Do you go to an accelerated school when school's in session?"

Permalink

"I go to an ordinary school, but I get lots of extra books and things and I can skip ahead when I want."

Permalink

"Do they not have accelerated schools?" wonders Raha.

Permalink

"I'm not sure. What's an accelerated school?"

Permalink

"Well, around here, if you were in a public school and learned a lot faster than the other students your age, they'd put you in one that went through the curriculum a lot faster and got to more advanced topics. My niece goes to one of those."

Permalink

"That sounds like fun! I don't think we have anything exactly like that. But I don't mind going to Miss Honey's school instead."

Permalink

"Oh, she's a teacher?"

Permalink

"Yes! She's a teacher and her aunt used to run the school but then her aunt left so now she runs it instead."

Permalink

"Is it usual for families to run schools? Will it be yours when you grow up?"

Permalink

"I think sometimes it works that way, but it might not have if Miss Honey wasn't a teacher at the school already. I don't think I'm going to be a teacher when I grow up, but I'm not sure yet. I have lots of time to decide."

Permalink

Raha nods. More ingredients ensue. "They think they'll have a dragon available to teach you Ertydon tomorrow or the next day."

Permalink

"Ooh!"

Permalink

"So then you'll want to look over your schedule again and see where you want to fit in those lessons, atlhough I'm not sure the dragon they find will have as flexible a schedule as me."

Permalink

"We'll see when I meet them, I guess."

Permalink

And: ingredients, until Terali comes to make sure they're done and unsummon Matilda home.

Permalink
So many ingredients!

When it comes time for Matilda to be unsummoned, she says, "That was really fun! Thanks, Raha! Bye!"
Permalink

"You're welcome!" says Raha. And she is back home again.

Permalink




The next day, in addition to her own notebook, she brings a book for the anthropologist; it's a comprehensive history of books and writing on Earth, from cuneiform and papyrus up through the printing press and the typewriter. It's not recent enough to discuss computers.
Permalink
The anthropologist is delighted to have this book.

Also, there is a teenage girl with silvery hair present. If she were on Earth, apart from the hair she'd look southeast Asian. Terali introduces her. "Matilda, this is Fena; she's a dragon. Fena, this is Matilda. I don't think Fena has much time before she needs to go off to school herself, but there should be a chance to figure out a schedule."

"Hi," says Fena.
Permalink

"Hi! It's nice to meet you! What sorts of times can you give me language lessons?"

Permalink
"I have school from right about when I get up until ninth-and-twelve," says Fena, "but after that I'm free except for Saanen afternoons."

"Saanen is a day of the week, and it was yesterday," Terali says. "Today is Sinen, and from there it goes Fenen, Lunen, Chenen, Inen, Arnen, Saanen."
Permalink
"Oh, we have seven-day weeks on Earth too! Ours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Today is Thursday."

She does some calculations in her head, and then proposes a schedule to Fena that satisfies her constraints and doesn't conflict with the witchcraft lessons. Matilda is going to have a busy month.
Permalink

Fena takes the notes on this and then convinces Terali to teleport her to school, and Terali agrees, disappears with Fena, and comes back alone. Matilda is then free to continue studying witchcraft while the anthropologist supervises.

Permalink

Witchcraft! Yay!

Total: 1236
Posts Per Page: