"Remind me, what's our next lesson?" Grace asked, urging the goat and the sheep to move faster as they were already running late.
"You really are such a scatterbrain, little big sister. It's philosophy with Grandpa Blind today," Gray replied, calmly sitting atop the cow like a seasoned herdsman.
"I am not a scatterbrain! It's just the heat! My brain feels like it's going to melt the moment I try to think. Aren't we in Nightingale? Why is it so suffocating here?"
"It's always like this in summer. The days might be short, but the heat sticks around. Granny Cornelia says it's because the ground and the plants are so dark—they absorb all the light and warm up really fast."
"Oh, right. Like with clothes. Light ones reflect sunlight, and dark ones absorb it. That's why we're roasting."
"Exactly. By the way, did you do your homework?"
"Mmhmm. Even though Grandpa Blind's lessons are always fascinating, his assignments are a nightmare. I'd take history with Constantine and Constance over this any day."
"Well, yeah. Those two vampires are over ten thousand years old. I'm sure most of what they teach actually happened to them."
They hurriedly herded the animals into the barn and dashed toward the blind man's home, praying they weren't too late. Grandpa Blind was always kind and welcoming, but he was strict about punctuality. And that was a struggle for the twins, especially without a proper clock. They relied on the sun and their inner sense of time, which often betrayed them.
When they knocked on the door of the small triangular-roofed cottage, they were greeted by the ever-elegant elderly man in his signature round spectacles. Despite his blindness, he always wore glasses—more out of habit than need. The house, like the man himself, was impeccably neat.
"You're five minutes late, young masters. I'm afraid your tea is nearly cold," said the blind man with a faint note of regret in his voice.
"Grandpa Blind, how can you still drink hot tea in this heat? I'd take cold juice any day," Grace said innocently.
"Hot tea quenches thirst better. It dilates your blood vessels and triggers sweating, which helps your body release heat faster," he explained matter-of-factly.
He was the kind of person who seemed to know a little about everything. He carried himself like a professor, and could hold a thoughtful conversation on any subject without ever missing a beat.
His manners were refined, his posture noble—worthy of the grandest lords. Yet he was approachable and could make anyone feel at ease. Even small talk with him could blossom into passionate philosophical debates.
His depth of knowledge likely came from his past—he had once been a conman. And in that line of work, you had to gain people's trust, present yourself as a master in your field, and know more than the experts. To deceive someone, you had to be the smartest person in the room.
"Grandpa Blind, how do you know so much? You're not even the oldest person in the village, but you seem to know everything," Gray asked, full of admiration.
"My life motto is simple: 'Learn something new every day.' If you've picked up even a word or mastered a single skill, then you're alive. Otherwise, you're just rotting from the inside. And that's a dreadful way to go," he answered with a warm, instructive smile.
"Hehehe, umu, Grandpa, you're always right. So, what are we learning today? I don't want to rot!" Grace chirped.
"Please sit. But before we begin, tell me—why do you look so disheveled?"
[How does he always know that, even though he's blind? He's freaking blind!] Grace thought to herself, but still answered aloud:
"Sorry, Grandpa. We were by the forest stream watching over the herd and got a bit messy."
"Be mindful of your appearance. There's a saying: 'People judge you by your clothes before they judge you by your words.' Do you understand what that means?"
"It means that if you wear expensive clothes, people see you as someone of high status, and they treat you with caution and respect," Gray answered.
"Correct, Gray. But that's only part of it. The core of the idea lies in first impressions."
"People form opinions about you based on your looks—your clothing, your posture, your grooming. Before you even say a word, they decide if you're worth their time. The better you present yourself, the more eager they are to engage with you."
"Think about it—who in their right mind would want to spend time talking to a drunken, ragged beggar? What good would come of such a conversation? What value could that person possibly bring to your life?"
"Of course, natural looks play a role, but clothing is something you can control. Neat, tidy attire amplifies the impression you make. Even plain clothes can impress if worn with dignity."
"In this world, strength reigns supreme. But status and connections are forms of strength too. If you're well-connected, you'll never lack for anything. And looking refined, clean, and confident helps establish those very connections."
"Appearance, manners, and knowledge—these are the three greatest weapons in the arsenal of social power."
"Do you understand?"
"Yes / Umu," Gray and Grace replied together.
"Good. Don't be so tense. I'm not angry. Who didn't play around as a child? Joy is a beautiful thing. I just hope that someday, my lessons will help you. Now, relax and have some tea."
The children hadn't even realized how stiff they were until now. As always, his lessons flowed like gentle conversation—never forced, never dull. Time seemed to melt away during his classes, and before they knew it, the lesson was over. And today was no different.
"Let's talk about geography today. Grace, you've always wanted to travel. Tell me what you know about our world—and where would you like to go someday?"
"Hmm... okay. Our world is called Eridania. It's a massive planet with eight continents and three moons—Nyx, Venus, and Mani. We're currently on the continent of Nightingale, home to vampires and werewolves. This continent and the demon continent to the south are always accompanied by Nyx. When we lived in Alaz three years ago with Mom, only Venus was visible."
"Did you know that our moons are named after gods? Nyx is the goddess of night and watches over all dark beings. Mani is a saint from the Norse pantheon—gentle and loving, shining even through the blackest night. Venus was named after the alias of Aphrodite, the most beautiful goddess of all. Though she's not directly linked to the moon, the name was chosen in hopes of drawing her attention. They say that for one glimpse of Aphrodite's beauty, even gods are willing to end their lives," the blind man continued, buying Grace a moment to collect her thoughts.
"Grandpa Blind, have you ever seen Aphrodite?" Gray asked, unable to believe there could be anyone more beautiful than his own mother.
"No, I never had the honor. And honestly, I wouldn't want to. The legend says anyone who beholds her true form loses the ability to find beauty in anything else. That's terrifying. Now, Gray, tell me what other continents you know of."
"Well, there's the continent of angels, opposite the demon lands on the north pole. I think it's called Everest, named after a massive mountain that spans the entire region. Then there's Yggdrasil—the biggest continent—home to beastkin and elves. Cassia told me all about it. That's where she was born. And next to Alaz and Nightingale is the continent of Vel'nora, where witches like Granny Albedo live."
"Very good. You forgot to mention that Yggdrasil is named after the Tree of Life, which the elves guard with their lives. They're currently the strongest race on the planet, and that tree is the source of their power. Vel'nora, on the other hand, is home to bizarre creatures and was chosen by witches as their sanctuary after fleeing persecution. They created their own race—one apart from the rest of humanity."
"You've named six of the eight continents. Not bad. I'll tell you about the last two."
"Near Alaz lies Pratos, the most chaotic of them all. It's technically human territory, but in truth it's mostly overrun with cultists and warmongers. Constant war defines that place."
"Opposite Pratos lies the Neutral Continent. It's the grand marketplace where all races meet to trade. It's ruled in ten-year cycles by whichever race wins the right. Currently, the Angels are in charge. Only the strongest races may compete for the throne—there are nine of them: Witches, Vampires, Werewolves, Angels, Demons, Elves, Beastkin, Humans, and Merfolk."
"But... I know a secret," the blind old man said, leaning in to stir their curiosity.
(To be continued.)