Skotonys and the newly-renamed Vetyros Lauryn spend the next couple of days at the Astikos, not training. In practice, this is because no one trusts Lauryn to control her demons and therefore they don't want her summoning them inside the tyr's seat of power. Or anywhere inside a friendly city, in fact. So the tyr -- or rather, his people -- are looking for some out-of-the-way place to send them where they can't to do too much damage. Until that's ready, Lauryn's orders are to do nothing.
Which is easy enough for Skotonys, who never ever seems to get bored or lack for things to do. On the morning of the second day, he is doing one of his slow-motion martial exercises on the balcony of his room at the Astikos when Lauryn finds him. "Good morning, Ria Vetyros." He holds a single wooden practice sword in his right hand, and he brings it down and forward oh-so-slowly in a thrust, his feet shifting position, just as slow and precise. "Tell me: what is the longest you have ever gone without the isityros coming to you?"
Lauryn watches the slow-motion exercise with a a bemused air, ears slightly askew, but they perk when the question comes her way. "The time varies, Archon. Ria Vetyros had to place an exact number on it, Ria would say four days. There have been times when the isityros have come in lesser strength for a period longer than that, however. Ria feels confident she can restrain Ria's isityros for the time Ria is within the city walls -- and there is much to bolster Ria that was not present before," she answers. She folds her hands neatly on her lap, having taken up a cushion; its taken some time, but she's learned to sit comfortably the strange Loasian seats.
"Four days." The fox draws the practice sword back with a slow pivot that looks like it would be easier to do quickly. But nothing looks difficult when Skotonys does it. He glances at Lauryn, whiskers tilted forward. "It has been seven since the battle at Osaon."
The woman smiles at that, almost slyly. "Ria is not what she once was, in name or in power. Ria will make the isityros fear to bother Ria, in the name of the Tyr, and for herself," she remarks, sounding more confident than the Archon has ever heard her.
Skotonys nods, his muzzle dipping just a little as he continues his slow motion advancement on an unseen enemy. "In the past. Has the interval between visitations been random, or is it more akin to a pressure that builds over time? Is it like a well re-filling with water, where it will always reach the level of the water table given time, or like the flip of a coin?"
At that, Lauryn cocks her head. It astounds her she had never considered just how and why the isityros came to her,but then she realizes she never had cause to believe they were from her until the mage came and explained, and that was but a short time ago -- which given all that has transpired, feels like a lifetime. She opens her mouth to answer, but then looks suddenly vexed, shutting it and narrowing her brows in thought.
After a moment like this, Lauryn answers. "Taking what Ria has learned in Laos Enosi, and adding past visitations, Ria would suggest Ria's power is like the well analogy. But Ria feels there is more, Archon. Perhaps Ria is also like the cup, to be refilled, and held delicately, least Ria or another spill forth from the cup of isityros?" She frowns, not quite liking that explaination, but goes on. "And it is true the isityros last of their own accord, if Ria does not intercede, and that has happened successfully only recently. There is a mystery how and why isityros come, and what causes the cup to spill. Ria is sorry if she cannot explain better."
"I see. That it fills does not mean it must overflow. Seven days has been a good start." The sword shifts into a high block. Skotonys steps forward, stops, moves the blade into a low block. "Let us discover how long you can go now without spilling the cup."
Lauryn's ears perk at that, but she pauses before protest can escape her. This is no longer about what she wants, she thinks, it is about duty, a promise, and repaying the Loasians for what they have given her. "Yes, Archon. Ria Vetyros will not fail," she says instead. She had considered saying "Ria Vetros will do the best Ria can," but it felt insufficent in her mind; as if she were giving herself room to fail, and as such, allowing for failure in the face of her duty. The Archon does not say "will try my best," no, he simply does it and by action promises victory. She will do the same, but not conceeding to, or acknowledging, failure as a option. That it may happen, the young woman can't deny, but she will not allow it a place in her mind.
Skotonys nods again. He doesn't smile, but there a cant to his ears and his whiskers, and Lauryn knows him well enough to read that as a sign of satisfaction. While continuing his exercise, he asks, "Before you came to Laos Enosi. What did you do in the prodotis world, when you were not afflicted?"
Thinking, the young woman realizes she hadn't done much of anything -- and most that she did seems trivial or indulgent to her now. If she did anything with focus, it was pretending to not exist. When important company would come, she would pretend to vanish. When the family was out on the town, she was either left home or dressed so as to not bring attention to herself. Even at home, only her father truly wanted to see her. The memories make her ears wilt and force her eyes away from the Archon, sad feelings making meeting his gaze difficult.
Taking a breath, Lauryn prepars to word her uncomfortable life in answer, feeling honesty may help ease the pain. Further, by airing her memories, maybe she can finally rid herself of the pain they bring, much like her new name has freed her from the curse her blood. "Ria Vetyros pretended to not exist, mostly. That is, Archon, Ria's family was ashamed of Ria, and did not wish the world to know her. Beyond that, Ria read many books, and sometimes studied maths and histories. Ria can sew, and cook, and has, on occasion, gone out on her own without permission. It was not Ria's city that was ashamed of Ria."
Skotonys considers this answer. "Of these things, which did you do best?" He pauses in his routine, lowering his sword to look at her. "When you pretended you did not exist, were you convincing?"
Letting out a sigh, Lauryn shakes her head slightly. "Ria was not very good at not existing; the isityros demand attention if Ria wants to give it to them or not. And if Ria will not play, isityros will find others -- such what happened when Ria first arrived at the outpost. But beyond that, Ria managed to be quiet, when such was possible, even if Ria did not like it. Instead, Ria loved her books. So many stories and places, it was easy for Ria to imagine Ria was elsewhere, or another, far away from Ria's lonely room and lonely life," says the Gallah. She then grins a little, looking back to the Archon. "Now Ria is someone else, in a far away, mysterious land. It is funny, is it not, Archon?"
"And being someone else, in a far away mysterious land, is not like the stories." Skotonys gives her another nod. "Yet it is nonetheless better than the life you had before." He resumes his exercise, the pattern of steps taking him backwards now, but just as surely. "To be a true servant to the tyr demands more than excellence at a single thing. It requires skill in many areas. One must be prepared to render different types of services, depending on the needs of the time. Ria Vestyros must have an afentis, one who will teach her skills beyond the management of isityros."
"It is, Archon. I intend to repay the great honor and kindness Dynatos Tyr has shown me; there is no other land Ria would rather protect," says Lauryn, smiling a little. She then listens, nodding several times. "That would be nice, Archon. Ria is happy to grow in any direction Dynatos Tyr wishes and, perhaps, in learning more of ither matters Ria will learn more of the isityros. It has struck Ria that the isityros called forth in our battle were much as the Yemenos axe, wide and brutal, but lacking in precision and grace, 'for Ria did not know how to strike at their heart and mind, and so needed to strike broadly, if that makes sense to you, Archon."
"Managing the isityros is a matter of skill and talent, which you must do because no one else can. In other things, you will not be special or unique. That does not mean they are useless. You must learn what else you can excel at, and do that as well. As you say, additional information may aid you in your primary task, as well. Since you know nothing of Laos Enosi -- " it's funny how he says that, as if to say 'you know nothing that matters', and yet without a sense of contempt or condemnation. It's simply a fact: She knows nothing that matters, and this must and will be remedied " -- study is the appropriate place to begin."
As he finishes that statement, his movements abruptly shift from slow and deliberate to lightning quick. He moves through each position, in exactly the same sequence and with the same precision, but at many times the speed. The wooden sword blurs as it flashes through the motions. An exercise of twenty minutes is completed again in one, and he ends where he began, at rest with sword in hand.
Instead of feeling insulted at the insinuation she knows nothing, Lauryn finds herself amused. The Laosians are a conceited, xenophobic people, but many are their other virtues and she has come to like them -- even if many hate her. "Ria Vetyros understands, Archon. Ria will do all that can be done to become a person of meaningful knowledge. Ria-" She pauses but briefly when the Archon accelerates his practice ten-fold. Not because she fears being struck, but merely because she is startled. The Archon would never strike her by mistake; such a base action seems beyond him, and as such, she trusts her safety to his skill, even were his blade whirling about her body. "Ria looks forward to proving Ria's excellence."
Lauryn is here alone, holding a scroll to explain her purpose to the Afentis Eisas. Skotonys assured her that the human woman knew to expect her, but he did not come with her. At least a couple dozen other people are in the library, in small groups or alone. It's not silent here, but as is typical of Laosian society, it's quiet. The Laosians talk in low voices, clustered close together if they're conversing. Eisas is, Lauryn was told, to be found on the second floor, at a table by the window.
The young woman hesitates at the door, before urging herself onwardto find Afentis Eisas. She fully expects to draw stares, whispered comments, and oher unpleasantries, as she has in almost every other part of Laos Enosi. And though the fear and loathing may remain, much has changed since her meeting with the Tyr. She is no longer who she was. Lauryn is a part of these people now, and will not, will not, allow herself to fear or dislike them, however they may treat her. If they cannot accept her as she is, she will just have to do better.
As she proceeds through the lower floor towards the stairs, Lauryn notes the many wonders of the Astikos library. The little machines are the biggest curiosity for her, not having expected such marvels in these distant lands, but also impressive are the sheer amount of books. She can't help but ponder what Laosians might write about, what makes their heart soar, which qualities they find worth putting to paper, and all else that might inspire them. It's almost too distracting, but finally she reaches the top floor and pauses to look around.
Laosian writing is very difficult for Lauryn to decipher. It has a lot more characters than the twenty-six of Rephidim Standard, and little marks on the characters can change their pronunciation comepletely. Puzzling out even one of the cards inside a case takes a few minutes, and even then she's not sure she's translating it correctly. The display nearest, however, is a model of a pump mechanism. It's broken into its component parts so that each stage of it is visible, and how it fits together to bring water from deep belowground to a water tank sixty feet above.
Her presence at the library does attract looks, especially from a couple of groups of young students who are clustered near teachers. The teachers spare her only a quick, dismissive glare before sternly recalling the attention of their pupils.
"How facinating," whispers Lauryn to herself as she views the device. She is certain Rephidim must have such devices, but she never really realized how impresive they they really are. When she catches the looks of the students in the reflection the glass, her first instinctive reaction is to frown, and feel outcast. But, she remembers her early oaths, instead taking a moment to consider how better she migth react to the situation. "They embarass themselves with their stares, and I would do the same, if I reacted without dignity," she tells herself. Keeping her head high, and with a slight smile, she walks on and doesn't look back.
At the far end of the balcony that overlooks the ground floor of the library, sits an old human woman with iron-grey hair wound into two braids coiled about the crown of her head. Two books are open before her, and a slate is under her right hand. She is writing careful lines, right to left, with a stick of paper-wrapped chalk held like a brush above the slate.
Memories of the Afentis of Magic come to Lauryn as she approaches this new afentis, making the young woman hope the Laosians scholar aren't all of the same mold. Still, she keeps her worries on the inside, not wishing to make a bad first impression, and in trying to keep with the cultivation of a Laosian manner. When she reaches the table, she bows, as she was taught, and says, "Ria Vetyros, here on behest of Archon Skotonys, Afentis Eisas." She extends the scroll forward as she bows, though more as a presentation that it is related than a direct offer to hand it to the woman -- that she'll do when the Afentis shows interest in taking it.
Afentis Eisas bobs her head a bit as if to acknowledge Lauryn's presence, but she doesn't look up from her writing. Instead, she holds a hand up in a forestalling fashion, then continues her writing. A glance at the slate mystifies more than it enlightens: most of the characters are clearly Laosian, but Lauryn doesn't recognize all of them and what she does recognize doesn't spell anything. Eisas looks back at her texts. These have lines of standard Laosian writing in them, although Lauryn can't decipher them at a glance. They also have more of the non-writing 'gibberish' lines as well, like what Eisas is doing on the slate.
Lauryn's head tilts curiously, and she wonders if what the Afentis is writing might be art. Laosian poetry, perhaps, or maybe a kind of mix of word as asthetic letter shape. Whatever it is, Lauryn can't be sure. And so, Lauryn waits patiently, attempting to puzzle out the characters based on her limuted knowledge of Laosian and their letters.
After a couple of minutes, Eisas finishes the fourth line she's written since Lauryn arrived. Each line is samller than the previous one. Lauryn's picked out a few words from the text books -- angle, relationship, period, arc -- but not enough to make sense of it. Eisas sets down her chalk. She gives Lauryn a cursory, unimpressed look, and takes the scroll from the young woman's hand. "Tk." She reads the message, then gestures to the other side of the table. "Sit."
Lauryn sits, hardly surprised at the afentis's unimpressed reaction. She neatly folds her hands in her lap, turning to watch her teacher expectantly. Since she isn't sure how to approavh the matter without the Archon to guide her she decides silence is the best course for now.
"Prodotis, all learning belongs in the three areas: language, because knowledge that cannot be communicated is cannot expand nor be used. History, because without knowing the past you have no guide to the future. And math, which describes the relationships between all things with a precision that words cannot match. You are prodotis, so you know nothing of history and little of language. Can you read?" She turns the book around and flips to the back of it ... that would be the first page, right-to-left. "Read this."
Lauryn leans forward to examine the offered page, eyes scanning the lines as she works out the lettering. She considers saying she knows something of math, but, since it isn't Laosian math it is unlikely to impress. Instead, she decides to keep that knowledge a seceret unless asked, and to use it to help her understand the Laosian version, that she might impress by seeming to learn quickly.
After a few minutes, Lauryn has puzzled out this much: 'An Advanced Study of (unknown) as Applied to (unknown).' The first paragraph starts with 'On the surface of a (unknown) the closest (unknown) to straight lines are great circles, that is, circles whose center (unknown) with the center of the (unknown). For example, (unknown) and the (unknown) are great circles on Sinai, while (unknown) lines of (unknown) are not great circles.' Eisas waited patiently for thr first minute, but the old woman has steepled her fingers and the weight of her gaze is palpable on Lauryn. She isn't drumming her fingers or showing other visible signs of impatience, but Lauryn feels as though the woman's opinion of her is sinking by the moment.
Deciding to simply face the music, Lauryn recites what she understands, making it plain what she does not. Agter having accepted her service to the tyr, she has found a grim satisfaction in facing the pains of the duty, for in her service she has found comfort. Before it was simply pain, a shadow of the distaste her family and society showed her -- a reminder of her flaws and inability to fit in. Now, that pain has meaning, and she is glad to martyr herself with it. By pain, she grows stronger. It is a good thought.
Once done, lauryn leans back and watches the afentis as impassively as she can manage, trying to hide her feelings as the Archon does. It's surprising to her to realize how bracing the gesture is -- if the afentis cannot see her despair, then her heart remains unknown.
Afentis Eisas only makes another "tk" noise, and closes the book. "What do you know of math?"
"I know of prodotis maths," Lauryn answers, feeling any further explaination will probably be piintless. She knows Laosians.
"Tk. What is twelve plus nine?" she asks. She reaches into the bag at her side and produces another slate and a piece of chalk.
"Twenty-one," Laurn answers simply, and without delay.
Eisas sets the slate and chalk before Lauryn. "351 plus 712?" She waits until Lauryn answers before she asks the next question. "9012 minus 765?" Again, she waits. "8 ilisi 8?"
It takes Lauryn somewhat longer to answer the questions with the larger numbers, as she usually has something to write them down with, and has never been called to answer large-number mathmatic problems on the fly. The lack of visual memory makes answering slow, but she does so. The addition she gets right, the subtraction is off by three.
"Ria cannot answer the last question without knowing what ilisi means," Lauryn answers, finding it easier to be direct and honest the more she does it.
Eisas says another word Lauryn doesn't recognize. She rolls her eyse at Lauryn's continuing incomprehension, then tries, "8 ilisi 8 is 64. 9 ilisi 9 is ... ?" She taps the slate she put before Lauryn. "You may use the chalk and slate to use your prodotis notation, if you wish."
"Ahh, a 'times,'" Lauryn murmurs as she rewrites the problem in a way she can understand. She copies down even the problems she's already solved, including brief notation on Loasian words she didn't know. Once settled, she writes 9 X 9, and answers, "81."
"Yes. 52 times 112? 10 divided by 2? 663 divided by 51?" Eisas waits. She doesn't seem as impatient now.
52 times 112 takes Lauryn a few minutes, straining her mathmatic knowledge. It had been discussed she might be found a simple job in the private sector or within the Temple as a clerk, so basic mathmatics were part of her instructions until the isityros put and end to that. She answers at length, then follows with a quick answer for 10 X 2, but looks stumped on 663 divided by 51. She does give an answer, but again, it's somewhat off.
The woman acknowledges the first two answers with a nod, but frowns at the third. "You do not know complex division?"
"Ria knows it, but Ria is not very good with it. In Ria's birth lands it would have been taught more, but instruction was ... aborted," the prodotis explains, ears flicking.
"Tk." Unimpressed again. She continues with another question: "If li minus 4 equals 6, what is the value of li?"
At first, Lauryn frowns at the question. But, it only takes her a moment of thought to realize what li means. She answers, "Ten," then jots down the problem with a note for what li translates to.
The afentis nods. "Yi plus po is 6. Yi ilisi po is 8. What are the values of yi and po?"
Again, Lauryn turns to her slate to review the unfamiliar words. "If that's that, and this is this ... then ... In instance one yi and po must be 4 and 2 ... And ... Ah, it is a trick question, Afentis? Yi and po may be either 2 or 4?" Lauryn looks up to see if she's correct.
Eisas makes a few notes on her on slate, then nods. "Yes. One must be 4 and the other must be 2." She continues with a few more harder algebra equations, which Lauryn stumbles through, then tries geometry and trigonometry, where Lauryn ranges from "cannot figure the answer" to "cannot even understand the question". Calculations with fractions and decimals goes a little better, as Lauryn understands the concepts from doing currency problems, but problems involving complicated fractions or multiplying and dividing with decimals are still beyond her.
Afterwards, the afentis takes back the slate, and shakes her head as she looks at Lauryn's notes on it. "You know a little of language, a little of math, and nothing of history. Tk. I would buy more clay, if it were up to me. But no matter. Here." She writes in Laosian on the slate. "Find these books; they'll be on the first floor in the northeast corner. Bring them back here. We shall see what we can make of you."
Lauryn takes the despairing review with aplomb, reminding herself every pain brings her closer to fulfilling her duties and replaying her lord. Instead of sighing, frowning, or even plain neutral regard, she bows to the afentis, and says in an appreciative tone, "Thank you for teaching me, Afentis Eisas," before rising to find the books.