章節 56: Memory From The Past
23rd May 300 Paign Era.
After approximately two months of preparation, it is now late May. The month everyone is anxiously waiting for is finally here. Richard for sure didn't expect the Noble Coalition to finish preparing in a mere two months. It's a combination of forces that has never been seen before. Fortunately, the Ryntum never slows down in their preparation.
Presently, Richard, Riz and the head knight, William Geofrey are in the lord's office.
Richard began the discussion, "What did our scouts say?"
"Milord, the first prince is leading an army of 15,800 men to Bideford. Furthermore, our spies in Baroks reported that the duke has gathered 10,000 men." William replied.
"Hiss..." Riz took a deep breath. They are going to face 25,800 men with only 15,000 men at most.
Richard sneered. "So, Nicholas I himself has no intention of stepping into the battlefield. He must be confident if he let that waste lead an army."
"The first prince..." Riz muttered. He has heard a rumour about him and his dissatisfaction with his young brother. He must be eager to gain some achievement. Riz looks at William, "They are coming straight for Bideford?"
"Yes, young lord. They have trebuchets with them too."
"Well, that's not surprising. They probably want to finish this fast. It takes a lot of resources to sustain a large army." Richard commented.
Riz suggests, "Then, should we make it a battle of attrition?"
"It's a bit risky, young lord. If those ragtag soldiers become desperate, they might lash it at our people and cause a lot of destruction."
The discussion went on for hours. It is only until late at night that Riz reaches his room. He instantly fell asleep.
....
*Slap*
Ryan slapped his eight-year-old son.
Rosana is just watching him fall to the ground while his sisters are giggling seeing their brother in such a pathetic state.
Ryan said while holding the report card, "How disappointing, I didn't send you to school for this kind of result".
Riz just silently heard his father remark. He knows whatever excuse he has means nothing right now.
His end-year exam finished a month ago and today he got back his report card. The results were disastrous.
He was demoted from the third classroom to the fourth one. There are only five classrooms in each grade. So, being demoted to the fourth classroom means that you have a high potential of being an idiot.
Currently, he was at home being scolded by his father.
"Aren't you ashamed of yourself?!!!", Ryan shouted as hard as he could.
'Bear it. It will be over soon enough', Riz inwardly motivated himself. He doesn't bother to ask for help, nobody will help him anyway.
"Did you hear me!!! There's no point buying you a lot of books if you don't do exercises in them."
Riz thought, 'But I never asked you for it. You're the one who buys it on your own'. Of course, he didn't say it out loud, he didn't want to receive another slap.
"Don't sleep until you finish all these questions". Ryan said and threw the book at his face.
"Yes, father".
That night, he only slept when the clock showed one in the morning.
....
The next day, he wakes up early as always. He only sleeps for five hours but he still feels energetic. The reason is he will buy a toy on his way back from school. The toy is very popular among kids his age right now. All of his friends except him have it. Previously, he was left out and can only watch them play. Now, things will be different. He has been saving for nearly two weeks now by tightening his belt.
Once he opened his piggy bank, his eyes were wide open when he saw nothing inside.
"Mom", Riz called his mother.
"What's wrong?"
"Where's my money in the piggy bank? It's gone."
"I took it", Rosana gave a short answer.
"Why? That's my money!!"
"I give you money to buy food at school during your break time. Since you are not using it, I will take it and give it back to you again as your daily allowance. I will save some money by doing that", said Rosana proudly.
Sometimes her thrift is almost frightening.
Riz was stupefied hearing Rosana's words. He then said, "But I have saved it for two weeks to buy a toy."
*Slap*
He got slapped by his mother first thing in the morning.
"That's why your exam results are so bad. All you think is playing around", Rosana berated her son.
"But all of my friends have it. I want it too", he was on the verge of crying but he held it. Crying won't help him.
"I don't care!! If they don't want to befriend you because of it then they're not your friends. Just stay at home and study. That's your only job. Don't do or think anything else."
Riz was helpless. There is nothing he can do. All of his efforts were wasted.
Later he goes to school with one of his cheeks red due to the slap and a dark circle under his eyes due to not getting enough sleep. Many students and teachers just pretend they see nothing. His teachers saw it but they did not bother to ask.
He is not an academically excellent student therefore he holds no value in their eyes. They probably thought his parents scolded him for his bad results.
At school, he goes through the same routine every day but today he was so sleepy. Every teacher seems to target him today as if they have reached a mutual understanding beforehand.
The only thing that freshens him up is the sound of the bell ringing at the end of the day. Riz immediately stood up but he was held by his teacher.
"Wait, Riz!", said his teacher. "You need to clean up the classroom today"
"But today is not my turn"
"I know but today your excellent friend, Daniel here has an interview with a local community newspaper", his teacher proudly said.
Riz tried to argue, "But why me? There are a lot of other people that can replace him".
"Because you are the most energised one. Didn't you just slept in my class a moment ago?"
Everybody in the classroom laughed at him.
'I don't have enough sleep yesterday since I am solving tons of questions', he grumbled. He chose not to argue with his teacher anymore. Even if he tells him the reason he is sleepy, he wouldn't believe it. He has no value so whatever comes out of his mouth is also worthless.
Teachers only look at the results since that will improve their teaching profile and increase their chances to get a promotion. They don't care about the process.
Together with his other classmates, it took him an hour to finish. He grabs his bag and hurriedly returns home. He didn't want to miss his favourite cartoon show.
....
Around five in the afternoon, he changed his clothes and went to a nearby park to play with his friends.
It's just five minutes to walk from his house. Once he sees his friends, he instantly shouts to call them.
"Hey!!", Riz runs toward them and asks, "What are you playing?".
"Football (soccer)", replied one of them.
"Let me join too", said Riz. Football is his favourite sport.
All of his friends look at him with complicated gazes.
Riz couldn't help but tilt his head and ask them, "What's wrong?".
"Err...Riz. Don't be angry, okay? You see...Our mothers told us not to play with you or they won't let us go out to the park anymore."
"What? Why? Did I do something wrong". Roz looks at them with a questioning gaze, waiting for an answer from them.
"They say that you're a bad influence on us. If we hang out with you, we will be influenced by your stupidity", one of them said.
"Ohh....", Riz stays silent for a few minutes. He then realizes that the friends in front of him are all better than him in their studies. "I guess it can't be helped then."
"Yeah, that's how it is", another one said before they left him alone at the side of the park.
Riz stood there for a few minutes before moving his leg. He is going back home since there is no place for him to go. A short distance feels very long. He ignored all the sounds and voices around him.
His mind is empty right now. 'What day is it? Why do bad things keep happening to me?'
The money he painstakingly saved was taken away from him. He didn't get the toy he wanted. He got slapped by both of his parents in less than 24 hours. A new record!!
"Hahahaha", he laughed and unknowingly cried at the same time.
Something inside him broke. He doesn't know what it is but he knows he will never be the same as before.
....
"Haa... Haa...", Riz woke up from his dream, trying to grasp his breath. The sun has already risen and shined through his bedroom's windows. He cursed, "Damnit! To think I have a bad dream a night before an important day."
His mood is ruined in an immeasurable way. "Let's hope this war went well or I am dead."
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