Chapter 2
“Teacher! Aly! Over here!” Cattalice the Elder waved at Aly and Shanvi the following morning.
Little Catty saw a blue bug scurrying across the ground as she held her mother’s hand. She tried picking it up, but Cattalice kept her out of the insect’s reach by lifting her into her arms and walking over to Aly and Shanvi.
“And still calling me ‘Teacher,’ I see,” Shanvi said as he bowed.
The mastra slapped herself on the head. “Indeed, I did. Apologies, Master Shanvi. Be that as it may, understand that old habits die hard.”
“Of course. So, I take it you two are enjoying this fair morning, yes?”
“Truly. This be a good week for our mastras to begin school, yes?” Cattalice squatted down to Aly’s height. “And how do you fare, Little Alytchai?”
“Good morning, Mistress,” was all Aly said.
Cattalice frowned and kissed Aly on the forehead before getting back up. “Aw, and does the Little One once again suffer from nerves as she did the prior morning?”
Shanvi rubbed his Little One’s shoulders. “Indeed she does. I fear she did not fancy her first day of schooling, having grown some concerns over her current lack of being-control.”
Cattalice glared down at her daughter. “Now, Catty, what did Pappai and I speak of in regards to bragging? Surely you have not been doing this to Aly, nay?”
Catty rolled her eyes. “Of course not, Mammai.”
“Mind that look, Cattalice the Younger.”
The Little One eyed the ground. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Better. And what rumors do we have this morning, Teacher?” The mastra started to walk, with Shanvi and Aly following after her and Catty.
“And again, you just called me... Never the mind. The prior day’s late evening gave to typical silly talk. There were some loose tongues discussing some military conflict somewhere about in the Western Regions of the galaxy. It was with the Wethans, if I recall.”
“Ah, silly boredom talk then, yes?”
“Afraid so. Truly, it be such a, impractical rumor, given the Wethans are pacifists.”
“Indeed. Why must folk go about building up such nonsense? Truly, we all know that wars ended centuries ago in that last galactic conflict with the Cyogen menace. Such troubles were prior to any of us even being born.”
“Perhaps it is a means to draw in mere excitement around the tribe, yes?”
“Perhaps. Yet why compose rumors of the other nations that are homed astromilos beyond us? They suffer no concern over us, so why should we?”
Shanvi nodded, and left the discussion at that since people started greeting Cattalice and Catty while others said hello to him. The four headed out of Kutenbrya’s housing district and onto the red dirt road that Catty and Aly had raced down the other evening. The trail led into several acres of fields on both sides before they were overrun with forest terrain. Their first stop was going to be the sparring grounds, since the teenage and pre-adult Goolians – Young Ones – were already in the village’s one and only school house.
When the lot reached the sparring grounds, Little Ones were already unpacking their bags and acting like they were top-class fighters. Some mimicked shooting projectiles out of their hands while others climbed and chased each other in the giant green oak wood trees surrounding them. Catty was bouncing up and down even though Cattalice held her back.
“Truly, what did you feed this one prior to our departure?” Shanvi asked, laughing at Catty.
“A mere bowl of water and some fresh fruit from one of our trees.” Cattalice tugged Catty’s wrist so she’d settle down. “I feel I am to keep saying this: why can she not be as well mannered as Aly?”
Shanvi and Cattalice helped the girls find where they were supposed to drop their belongings before going off to the sparring priest.
“We shall be right back,” Cattalice told the mastras as she left with Shanvi. “We need to speak with Teacher for a moment.”
“Very good, Mammai,” Catty said.
“A fair morning to you, Mistress,” Teacher said as Cattalice approached him. “And to you as well Teach– Apologies. Master Shanvi.”
“Ah, and even the new Teacher cannot break the habit, yes?” Shanvi patted the master on the back. “And I must say, it be a well-deserved title for you.”
“My thanks. Truly, it is an odd thing having to give up one’s name while others with higher callings are allowed to keep their own. Yet, such is the way of things, yes?”
“Nonsense, Master. This one has a highly regarded obligation in teaching the tribe’s future in how to defend itself. Why have field lords, bakery priests, or any other job when there are no means to protect them? You do us a great honor.”
Teacher rubbed the back of his head. “I fear I am beyond words. Um, I pray your little mastras are fair this morning, yes?”
Cattalice turned around, and covered her mouth. Aly and Catty were playing mahu in the trees with the rest of the class.
“Truth’s Grace!” She took a step forward but halted, forcing her body not to intervene. “Were we allowed to climb so high at that age?”
Shanvi turned and shrugged when he looked up. “Actually, my generation was permitted to go higher than both yours and theirs.”
“Oh, come now, Master,” Teacher said. “You speak as if you have the tongue of an elder Goolian.”
“I very well feel like an elder Goolian. By Truth’s Grace, I still find it hard to believe that I am over a...a…”
“A hundred?” Cattalice said, wanting to ease the word. “A hundred be not a bad age. Truly, you have the luxury of looking back and noting all of the accomplishments you have made at the halfway point of your life.”
“Be damned with my triple digits,” Shanvi said, obviously disregarding the mastra’s compliment. “Perhaps I shall have to use a walking stick in another sixty years.”
The three spun around when they heard a Little One charge up his being.
Cattalice apparently had enough and headed over to the Little Ones. “I shall make sure they do not burn down the forest. Goodness, I pray this lot does not make your tents go too gray, Teacher.”
When Cattalice left, Shanvi motioned Teacher off to the side.
“I must say, Aly did quite well in class the other day, Master,” Teacher said. “She be a little nervous and shy around others, with Catty being the exception, yet that is to be expected with some.”
“Indeed.” Shanvi glanced over at his Little One. Cattalice was wiping her hands. “Such is why I need to speak with you.”
“Trouble?”
“Not really. Alytchai was just a little down about not being able to control her being yesterday. Thus I fear she may feel the need to be a little more mute than usual this morning.”
Both masters laughed.
“These Little Ones expect much out of themselves so soon,” Teacher said. “Nay, I insist that some of their current setbacks are merely that – a setback. Yet, when they have a mind of their own, what shall we do?”
“Truly, yet I pray she does not prolong her social skills too gravely by her bashfulness.”
The two looked over at Aly again, who was giggling at a joke Catty made while Cattalice scolded her child for making it.
“I suppose matters do not help a great deal with her height as well, yes?” Teacher asked.
“Truly. She be a tall one for her age, indeed. As tall as some of the lads, so it seems. I try to assure her that she has a mere head start on things, yet she knows better. That one be smart. Perhaps too smart for a single parent.”
“I am sure the late Alytchai the Elder – Truth’s Grace guard her heightening – is not one who can be replaced. Be that as it may, you have done a marvelous performance in raising your Little One. Even so, it takes a village to raise a child, yes?”
“Indeed, it does, lad.”
“Then be assured that we shall treat Aly as one of our own, and the other Little Ones shall do the same by my accord.”
&
nbsp; Shanvi patted Teacher on the back again. “Then I shall be at peace with that final notion. Now, do not let me delay the morning’s session any longer. Beyond this, I must report back to my hut to see how the construction goes.”
“Ah, yes.” Teacher rubbed his belly. “The bakery shall open soon. These are productive times for the tribe. I look forward to seeing what goods you may produce in the following weeks.”
“Well, I must confess that I fail in comparison in being as great a cook as Aly’s mammai was, yet we both shared a great deal of creativity when it came to some bakery items. So, until then, I pray that your second day of training is a productive one for both you and those young minds.”
“Very good. Be well then, Master Shanvi.”
Shanvi nodded and jogged back over to the mastras. Cattalice was giving both Catty and Aly goodbye hugs and kisses when he showed up.
“You two be well behaved, very good?” she said. “Mind your manners and listen accordingly, as you did the prior day. Especially you, Little Mastra.” Cattalice thumped Catty on the nose and gave a stern look.
“No worries, Mammai. I shall give no reason to bring shame to our shared name.”
“Actions are better than words, yes?” Cattalice held out her pinky and Catty locked it around her own.
“For actions are what truly make character,” Catty answered, as if reciting something for the hundredth time.
Aly wrapped her arms around Shanvi’s leg, squeezing it tightly. Shanvi picked her up, gave her a quick peck on the lips, and set her back down.
“Enjoy your day, dearest,” he said, following behind Cattalice into the line of other parents heading back to the village. “And remember, you and Catty stay together on your way back home.”
Aly nodded once and waved Shanvi off with a heavy hand.
“Fall in, young masters and mastras!” Teacher cried out. “In the same places as you were the prior day.”
The Little Ones were in their spots in seconds, making four rows of eight. Aly and Joquin were in the last row since they were some of the taller children in the class, while Catty was in the second one.
“Fair morning, Aly,” Joquin said. “We shall use our being today, yes?”
“Truly, I hope so.”
A mastra on Aly’s left poked her on the shoulder.
“Did you go to practice sessions last evening?” she asked.
“Um, I did.”
“Can you use your being now?”
Aly looked at Joquin, who turned his head away, probably so he wouldn’t get found out. The mastra tried to think up an excuse for why she still couldn’t use her being.
“Nay, Requai.” Her face blushed blue. “Yet Teacher did say it would take some of us a while to learn.”
“I think he only says such things so you won’t feel bad,” Requai said. “You best learn soon, Aly. If not, you shall be the lowest ranked in class.”
“I know.” Aly tried laughing the warning off as she looked up front.
Teacher checked the roster to make sure everyone was accounted for before getting started. When he finished, he made the Little Ones spread out, just like yesterday, so they wouldn’t hit each other with their energy. He also bored the class with breathing exercises again, this time making them sit down cross-legged. Aly, however, tried to take the exercise a little more serious than she did the other day. Maybe she couldn’t use her inner being because she wasn’t concentrating as hard as the others.
“Face the front, Catty,” she heard the priest say.
Aly peeped and saw her friend shoot her head back around. She then noticed him jot something down on the chart with the student’s names, and figured he probably wrote something like “Impatient and short attention span” beside Catty’s.
“Very good, eyes open and on your feet,” Teacher said moments later. “We shall continue where we left off the prior day. Basic stances, now.”
The class followed the command, spreading their legs and chambering their fists to their sides.
“Good. Now, breathe, and push!”
The class did as told and spurts of energy left twenty-eight of the thirty-two’s hands.
“I did it!” Joquin shouted as a sudden burst of energy flew in front of him.
“Good for you, lad,” Teacher said, raising a fist of congrats. “Now, back to your stance.”
Joquin kept smiling as he followed the order. Requai shrugged. She didn’t seem that impressed with the tiny shockwave the lad’s being produced. Aly, on the other hand, looked thrilled. If he could do it, then she definitely could. Joquin’s form wasn’t as good as hers, after all.
“Even he beat you to the deed, Aly,” Requai said. “Are you well?”
“I am fine.” Aly nearly growled as she checked her stance.
Requai shook her head and pushed another force of being when Teacher said to. Aly, more determined than ever, stretched her four-digit hands out as far as possible.
Stupid Requai. I shall show her. Aly took in a deep breath and demanded her fingers to feel the tingle Catty described before she discharged her being. However, the sensation never came. Not even a slight numbness. Aly shook away her temporary dismay. She just knew she’d get it right this time. She had to.
“One more time,” Teacher said. “And push!”
Aly closed her eyes and did as told.
“What is this one doing?” she heard Requai ask. “You may open your eyes, Aly. For you still produced nothing.”
Aly stomped the ground with both feet. Her entire row laughed at her before Teacher told them to quiet down.
“Pay attention, Little Ones,” he said. “Very well. That be enough. To the sparring ring. And no running!”
Catty skipped over to Aly, who took her time heading to the ring.
“Still no being?” she asked.
“Still no being.”
“What of it? Perhaps in the morrow. Come. Let us catch up with the other mastras. I do not want to be crowded with all the masters.”
The two hurried over to the group of other girls, fourteen altogether. But even then, segregation was already forming. It was only natural for the Little Ones to stay with the children they were babysat with. Aly and Catty grew up playing with five other mastras. Requai and another one named Glani were born the same year as they were, and the other three were a year older.
“Aly still cannot perform,” Requai said the instant she saw her and Catty approach them.
“Why the delay, Alytchai?” Glani asked. “Most of us were able to use our being months ago.”
“Just leave her be,” Catty said as she placed her hands on Aly’s shoulders. “She shall surely join our ranks sooner than later.”
“It best be sooner,” Requai said. “Or do you not wish to take part in the Evaluations, Aly? Perhaps you only desire to be part Goolian.”
“What? Yet of course I do! I simply – well – I do not know why I delay.”
“Perhaps you are sick,” Glani said.
“Nay. My pappai said I am not.”
“Then perhaps he lies.”
Aly shoved Glani to the ground. “Take that back!”
The other mastras gasped as Catty pulled her away.
“Stop that, Alytchai. She only plays with you.”
Requai helped Glani up, while the other three in the group backed away. Glani dusted herself off.
“That be mean, Mastra,” she said. “I only joke.”
Aly was actually more startled by her reaction than anyone else. She had no idea where that burst of anger came from. It was like blinking her eyes. At one moment, she simply felt hurt by what Glani said, and before she knew it, she just wanted to hit back. “Apologies,” was all she could say.
Glani and Requai turned around and went over to the rest of the group. The two, even though they knew Aly could hear them, told the other mastras to stay away from her for the day, since she had been so mean to Glani.
“Why do that, Aly?” Catty said. “You know Glani only p
oked fun at you.”
Before Aly could explain herself, Teacher called the class over for archery lessons. The bows were pre-made, the arrows had safety tips on them, and practice was a complete waste of time, as far as the class was concerned. Still, Teacher insisted that archery would help the class in the future when aiming would get graded.
It wasn’t long after that the sessions were over. Aly and Catty headed home with the other five mastras after class, since Aly remembered she had to follow her friend home.
“You did quite well at archery today, Mastra,” Catty said.
Aly just smiled and kept walking, not sure if Glani was still mad at her.
“Would you lot like to come over to my house and play war?” Catty asked. “Or perhaps dolls?”
“Not if Aly is allowed to come,” Requai said.
“Agreed,” Glani chimed in.
Aly and Catty both stopped walking, but the other five kept going.
“Hey!” Catty ran after them. “I beg, do not be so mean. Truly, Aly is unhappy with what she did. Are you not, Aly?”
“Truly, I am.”
“See? Thus she has apologized. Now we can be friends again, yes?”
Requai stopped and the others did the same. Catty and Aly were both too afraid to say anything else, feeling their fates hung on a thread as the other mastra grinned.
“I say nay. What say the rest?”
“Let this be a lesson to you, Aly,” Glani said.
The other three added their shared concurrence.
“Yet you may still come, Catty,” Requai said. “Let Aly walk herself home.”
“You lot are being unfair,” Catty whined. The mastra looked at Aly and then the other five. “Fine.”
The Little One took Aly by the hand and walked through the group.
“Come along, Alytchai. They shall not be able to play in my parent’s fields then.”
“Uh, very well,” Aly said as Catty tugged. “Even so, I still did not mean to push you, Glani.”
Glani and the others were too surprised to say anything as they watched the duo race each other back to the village.