Tutor Akeem

'Time, effort and money'. The limiting factors to all great things.

Equipping, training, and feeding this force was likely a massive drain to a border territory such as this.

Making his way through the keep, Cassius fell into deep contemplation.

If he wanted to create a satisfactorily large unit, then he would need funds. Lots of funds. He knew of a couple sure-fire ways to generate money based on what he's read on the holonet or studied from his old books and documents, and ways to rapidly improve industry… but that also required funds. When and if his system eventually woke up, he could also check to see if any documents or downloaded articles had survived his reincarnation, but it was unknown when and if it ever intended to make its presence known again.

He understood it was too soon to really start making an impact, but that didn't stop him from being frustrated about his lack of knowledge and funds.

There was so much information that he was lacking. What sort of forging techniques were they using? Have they developed robust ships for long-distance shipping? What sort of mining technology did they have available? Did they rotate crops? Have they developed a Bessemer Furnace? What was the population density of the nearby town? Gods and Christ above, he had so many questions. His pace sped up, determined to receive answers to his questions from his darling tutor, who hopefully could guide him on these topics and more.

Elsewhere, his elderly tutor sat in his personal room preparing for his umpteenth attempt at educating the young noble and felt incredibly good about today. He knew it was a silly feeling to have but… He could feel that today was going to be different, and so hefting his heavy satchel over his shoulders, he started making his way towards the study room that they had been using since Cassius first arrived at the castle.

Opening the large door to the chamber, the tutor entered the room to find Cassius seated, along with two unknown armed and armoured young men sitting at a table in the back of the room. The more robust of the two, was fervently educating the other on something about "Honour" and "Privilege" he also heard mention of "Salaries and allowances" while the smaller of the two was glued to his words with rapt attention, completely hooked on whatever was being discussed.

The tutor noticed with interest however that Cassius had neatly prepared his table. And was writing fiercely. Beside him lay a stack of paper obviously removed from the book beside him, he noted curiously that he appeared bouncing his leg in anticipation.

Which yes, Cassius removed those papers while nearly cursing himself for his poor note taking skills, mortified to find the original keeper of the book (himself) had taken essentially zero notes outside of a few moot details he had already learned from the encyclopaedia in his room, or had figured out himself in passing. Eventually he just gave up trying, and ripped out the old pages to start from scratch.

Noticing the tutor first, as he was facing the hall with his back against the wall, Carmen quickly pointed it out to Horace, who announced it loudly.

"Welcome tutor!" He shouted, quickly breaking Cassius's focus from his thoughts and notes.

Cassius stood up with a respectful look on his childish face and attempted a formal bow, pulling the tutors name from memory. "Greetings tutor Akeem"

Akeem the tutor was a tall darker skinned man, with a deeply lined face, his age was evident, yet his eyes sparkled with a youthful curiosity and understanding that belied his years. His presence carried an aura of wisdom that only those great sages and wisemen could cultivate after their many years of study. He was marked by a calm, reassuring demeanour that instilled respect and comfort. Cassius saw he was clad in what appeared to be a well worn dhoti and kurta, his modest attire reflecting his belief that knowledge held value over material wealth, which he no doubt possessed plenty of given his vocation. 

"Greetings, Cassius, I hope you have come to learn today?" His voice, gentle yet firm, carried a soft chiding tone. Cassius had made his education up until this point challenging, and he sincerely prayed for the boy to change.

"Yes, Tutor Akeem, I have not done right by you and father by skipping these classes, and I wish to make amends, and complete my studies honestly under your care." Cassius stated, genuine disappointment lacing his tone. His body's previous owner had truly made a mess of things. Knowledge is literally power in this age, and 'Cassius' had paid the price for ignoring it resulting in his assassination.

Akeem saw this genuine shift in demeanour and was quietly delighted. He had taught this boy's entire family in his lifetime. Including his father when he was a boy, and briefly advised his grand-father on various topics when he was much younger. Being unable to educate him filled him with sadness, and until this point he had patiently approached him with compassion and empathy hoping that one day the boy would change.

Akeem sat down across from Cassius at the large table, noticing for the first time the yearning for knowledge that burned within Cassius's eyes. 

"Before starting, tutor…"

"Yes, Cassius?" Akeem asked, happy to assist

" Where do you come from?" Cassius assumed that he was likely not native to these parts based on his attire and apparent race.

"I am from the grasslands from below the Cross Kingdom, Cassius. My people call it the Kingdom of Madhura."

"How did you come here, and why?"

"I came because I felt a calling, and because the Encyclopedia of Astria guild wanted to record your history after the Ironforge Kingdom rebelled against the Cross Kingdom."

"Is the Encyclopedia of Astria association located in Madhura?"

"No, they originally came from the lands to the east, a great island separated by the Kana Ocean. It is documented to be as large as this great island that we are presently on." Akeem spoke slowly, recalling the knowledge from heart.

"Do you mean a continent, perhaps?"

Akeem heard an unfamiliar term which piqued his curiosity.

"What is a continent?"

"Just as you described, a continent is a separate land; a large, continuous mass of land with its own ecosystem."

Akeem was surprised, he didn't know there was a term for the 'great islands' as they were more commonly referred to. He was intrigued with this new term.

"Is a continent the same as an island?"

"No, but a continent can be an island…What are the continents' names, and how did they cross the ocean to get here?" Cassius asked, his curiosity peaked. He was at his heart someone who loved to learn in both his past life and now this one, where this untouched and unexplored world awaited him.

The flurry of questions stumped Akeem, when had he ever seen this boy so eager to learn?

"The Grea-.. The great continent to the East is called Asha, and where we are from is commonly referred to as Kaldor, or the Westerlands depending on who you ask." Akeem found the term "Continent" To be vastly more appropriate than "Great Island".

"So then what about-" 

And so the pair, young and old continued to discuss and debate long past the morning and into the early afternoon. Speaking of the sun and stars, to the moons that orbited Astria, and about philosophy and life.