Lesson 3: Math

“I can’t.”

“Zen.”

“I can’t!”

“Yes you can Zentella.”

“No!”

ALIESTER’S CATCH

The mere fact that a skill had been proc for a mere pencil should have surprised Leo, but considering the girl that threw it was a trained assassin, it being able to kill him was expected.

“Zentella.” He said with his voice even, “If you want to go on shopping trips on your own, then you got to learn math.”

“Humph.” She then crossed her arms.

They were in the inn in Bellen with Zentella at the table and Noah keeping his distance at the front door. He had already learned his lesson to not be close to her holding a sharp object when stressed. Well… at least from this distance he could react.

This was Zen’s punishment that Leo came up with. After all, all kids hate homework. Should he have introduced the concept of homework in a fun way to get her to engage with it? Probably… well he maybe should have. Well, how would he know? He wasn’t a parent. Still, her idea of punishment was wrapped through her abusive training and this seemed to be having the intended result.

Walking over to return the pencil Leo said, “Look Zen, the quicker you finish this, the quicker I stop nagging you about it.”

“Liar.” She spat refusing to look at him.

She has been at this for a while. He did a quick crash course of basic bath to both her and Cor. The little wolf girl had finished first and was smart. Sophia then decided to take the poor girl shopping to get her out of the rags the kidnappers left her in. This however seemed to anger Zen and had now began to shut down from even trying.

“It’s because you didn’t even answer the last sheet.” Leo sat down beside her against his better judgment. “You got this. Just take it slow.”

“Mmm.”

He felt for her, truly he did, but he didn’t want her to be taken advantage of. “Okay Zen. Let’s just look at it this way. This number represents the number of enemies and this number represent the number of throwing knives you have on hand.” Switching tactics Leo handed her the pencil. “So… you got twenty-five knives and fifteen thieves. How many knives do you have on hand after you clear the room from a distance?”

Zen thought for a second and answered “Five…”

Leo patted her on the back, “See you got it Zen. If the actual numbers bother you, look at it from a different angle.”

She nodded slowly before picking up her pencil and began the sheet again.

Leo was glad that numbers worked the same in this world and Earth. When he began this it seemed that while he can read and understand the language, he couldn’t write it. Whatever magic affecting seemed to not provide him with the knowledge of the written word. It was like he was still reading english transforming their letters in his head in real time. Why was that? What were the rules of his summoning? Maybe he should see if Sophia could help him with that.

“Uncle…” Zen then nudged him, “I’m done.”

That was surprisingly fast, “Ok lets see…” His heart sank a little, “Zen?”

“Yes Uncle…”

“There is more to math than just subtraction…”

XxXx

Alone on a clock tower overlooking Bellen as the sun began to set, a lone figure appeared. With astonishing speed he landed before lying down.

“Man what a day. Found the heir, kicked a guy twice, picked up the catalyst, almost died to the catalyst, catalyst made a golem…” As he continued to list things off a sound could be heard on his person. He then pulled out a round communication artifact and opened it, “Yo, Barns here.”

“Where are you? Why haven’t you checked in?”

“So funny story right,” The man called Barns sat up to talk more to the man in the artifact. They both wore the same colored hood. “So there I was minding my own business-”

“Enough,” The other man in the artifact said seemingly used to Barns rambling, “You are supposed to be on the look out for Zentella. Not loafing around.”

“Well if you let me finish you would have known that I had to protect my life from a golem.”

“Why were you- Argh never mind.” The man groaned

“Relax. Anyways Zentella was there, no idea if she lived though.” Barns said putting a hand to his chin.

“What! What do you mean that you don’t know if she is alive!?”

Barns then moved the artifact further away from him to avoid the screaming, “It was a very strong golem. I had to get out of there.” Barns then started waving his hand, “Besides it was after me, who knows maybe she lived.”

“You are supposed to bring her in! How could you just leave her fighting a golem!?”

“Cuz it wanted to kill me? Duh.” Barns then sighed, “Stupid thing was spawned by a piece of the catalyst.”

“Wait! You also found a shard of the Catalyst! AND YOU LEFT IT!?”

Barns then plugged one of his ears saying, “Hey! I thought you were an assassin, why are you making so much noise!” He then started looking his hand, “Even if I did bring it, I would have chucked that thing far away, it messed with my head for a second there before it made that golem.”

“Why did you pick it up.” The man in the artifact pinched the bridge of his nose “We have to report it, not just bring them together. Look, just get back here and we’ll see if we can still track Zentella and the catalyst fragment.”

“Sir yes sir!” Barns said mockingly with a fake salute before the other man groaned. Barns then stood up and dusted himself off. Turning Barns let out a yelp, “Oh shit!” He come faced to face with a gargoyle. He stopped himself from stabbing it and let out a breath, “Damn nobles. You’d think they waste enough money and now they put tacky decorations in public areas.” Then just as suddenly as he came, he leaped to his next destination at a breakneck speed.

Soon, the sun had finally set and lost beyond the horizon. The gargoyle began to crack. Stone began to fall off the winged humanoid’s image as it stood up reveling the same beast within. He then started stretching ready for his night, “Tacky huh?” He hated hearing the voices about his stone appearance. How he just wished to crush those humans worthless sculls for dare mocking him. Yet, they did provide good intel when they believe themselves to be alone. “Someone shattered the catalyst huh?” He then began to sniff, “And it seems that Barns guy did come into contact with it. I wonder where that will lead me.” The then launched himself into the air ready to track the catalyst and, putting two and two together, the one called “Zentella” as she was last seen with a specific Golem.