Chương 16: Thrills

Everything was, for the most part, was nondescript. The cafeteria was just a basic wooden build with, maybe, five tables. A handful of chairs surrounded the tables. Most everything there was scattered haphazardly. A pair of chairs were at one table, and the table right beside it had, something like, ten or so. Yeah, it was unexceptional.

Maybe it was the time Otec and I got to the cafeteria, but, nobody else was gracing the location. I miss having a clock, to know what time it is. Other than by the position of the sun, there is really no accurate way to tell the time. The small things, that my other life had, were some of the things that I missed the most.

The food, while not spartan, was boring. It was pretty much similar to what I had eaten at home with my parents. Hey, at least it was not gruel. I am still a child, I want this body to be healthy. I do actually like vegetables. That, at least, was added to the meal. Better than nothing, I guess.

After the simple meal, Otec led me to where I would be sleeping, at least for tonight. Like the cafeteria, the room was boring. One bed, just large enough for an adult to sleep in. A table and a chair, also graced the room.

It was clean. In my other life, I had spent time in apartments that were rather questionable in their cleanliness. Being able to tell, that this group of people, cared enough to keep an empty room clean was a good sign of things to come.

Otec, at least, told me where there was an outhouse, if I needed to grace it. Chambers pots, thankfully I have rarely had to use one, that often. Modern sensibilities made me not that big of a fan of them. Performing body functions into one of them, and then have to port it somewhere else at a later time, have just seemed wrong to me.

It was nearly dusk when Otec had left me to my own devices. He did warn me that I need to stay silent, and the only reason to leave the room, was to answer the call of nature. I understand already. Be silent. Be unseen.

I wish I could say I was so exhausted from my ordeals of the day. Unfortunately for me, I was not. Yet again, I am bored. Why could they not have given me a book, so that I could start my learning. I had informed Otec, during our meal, that I was able to read. So a book would not have been averse. The only limiting factor would have been the lack of bright light.

It was a clear enough day today. And, since there are no large cities of electric lights, the moon and the stars would still give me enough light to read for a few hours. Sleep would eventually come to me, before there would be little enough light, preventing me from reading. If I have not said it yet. I hate boredom.

I am not sure how long it was before I felt tired enough to sleep. Entering slumber has never been easy for me. I like to think too much. And my brain, it will not ever shut up. The other world was fraught with many sleepless nights due to the churning of my thoughts. Midnight had probably come and gone before I was able to slink into slumber.

* * *

* Blech *

I was awoken, suddenly to something smacking into my chest. If you have never been hit hard in the solar plexus, you would not understand. The lack of being able take in air, is painful. So much of your breath has been released so suddenly, that there is nothing to exhale. You want to be able to exhale some air, to relieve the pressure to your body. That or just scream.

Breathless, I could do nothing. How could I do something? I was awoken with a blow to the body. Minutes, seemingly, passed before I could take a needed breathe.

"What the…?" (Rehor)

* Whack *

Just minutes prior, I was struck. And now again I was hit. I do not even see who is hitting me. I mean, I can, vaguely, see Otec, in the darkness, by the door. But he is too far to even touch me from there.

"What did I say last night?" (Otec)

"Yo…" (Rehor)

* Whack *

Ouch. Again I was hit. Why? Why?

I think that there was something that Otec told me. What was it again? I can not remember. It is too early in the morning, or should I say, night. There was not, from what I could tell, a glimmer of light, outside.

"I said, BE SILENT. Can't remember something as simple as that? And you think you can learn to wield Putere?" (Otec)

Silently, this time at least, I recalled that last night, I was told not talk. Come on, though, it is this early in the morning, before the sun has even started to rise. I was talking out of instinct. How can you think that I would be able to remember something like that, after being brutally woken up?

"Get out of bed, and get dressed. Your training has already started, and you, you are just lying there. If you aren't ready by the time I get outside…" (Otec)

I hate open ended threats. They have always, to me, seemed as if a punishment had not been thought of yet. That, or they are a complete joke. Just a way to motivate someone. Real threats should have their punitive action told. Knowing what is coming is, at least to me, more scary.

I am up. I might as well hurry up and follow along behind Otec. Pants, shirt, and shoes are all the I need to wear. Give me less than a minute and I will be ready.

By the time I was ready and trying to follow behind Otec, he was already out the door. Was your threat, not, just supposed to be vague, making me hurry up? Why are you outside already? This is my first real day here, give me some leeway. Please?

It had been, maybe, two minutes since Otec left the room. In the time, I had gotten dressed, and outside. That is a completely reasonable amount of time for someone to get ready, after been suddenly awoken, at such an early hour. Right?

"Finally, the young master is ready." (Otec)

Uh oh.