Post by aoibheni on Oct 1, 2018 17:35:17 GMT
Yktal quivered nervously before the small assembled observers. His hands were sweaty and the pages in his grasps were worse for the damp seeping into them as the seconds ticked by.
“You may begin” a familiar but unwelcome voice said.
“Um,” the amplifier kicked in at his first sound, sending evidence of his nerves echoing around the vaulted room. “The Impact of the Cantra Civilisation on the Varisi people... Um, so... The um... we...” he floundered, only now remembering that his mother and older brother had helped him with much of his report and that he held it in his moist grip. He looked down, blinked and took a deep breath.
Don't worry, kiddo. It's easy. Everyone has to do it in their second quarter.
“The Varisi, that's us...” he read, “have much to thank the Cantra Civilisation for.” He focussed on his page and pressed on. “Without their influence on our people we would not have roads, or set rules for how to write. We wouldn't have the beautiful language of Catran to write poetry in, and we wouldn't have learned how to make janch.” A ripple of laughter could be heard among the few teachers present who were bothering to listen. Yktal was grateful that his mother had insisted on that little joke. “Not that I drink it, of course. Cause they also gave us lots of rules, like how kids aren't allowed get intoxicated.”
He swallowed, took a beat and turned over his wrinkled notes.
“They also, um... took away our ignorance, so we know that a tree is only a tree, and that spirits don't live in the rocks or air or that there are no spirits at all, which means we can do science now.”
“Um... Before the Cantra Civilisation spread this far east, we were no better than our Eblani neighbours. They fought the invasion and lost much of their culture. We welcomed our new rulers and much of what makes us special survived. And even now, centuries later, and with the Cantra Civilisation long gone, we still see the benefits of their influence in our every day lives. Thank you”
He wasn't sure if he should bow. His Mom had said “do”, his brother had said “don't be a dork”.
He bowed; his brother didn't do his laundry or feed him.
No-one clapped, he left the stage only to be replaced by another child with another piece of crumpled paper. She started speaking loudly, reading out her title; “Our Eblani neighbours and why they should have just given in...”
The teachers winced. It was going to be a long recital.
“You may begin” a familiar but unwelcome voice said.
“Um,” the amplifier kicked in at his first sound, sending evidence of his nerves echoing around the vaulted room. “The Impact of the Cantra Civilisation on the Varisi people... Um, so... The um... we...” he floundered, only now remembering that his mother and older brother had helped him with much of his report and that he held it in his moist grip. He looked down, blinked and took a deep breath.
Don't worry, kiddo. It's easy. Everyone has to do it in their second quarter.
“The Varisi, that's us...” he read, “have much to thank the Cantra Civilisation for.” He focussed on his page and pressed on. “Without their influence on our people we would not have roads, or set rules for how to write. We wouldn't have the beautiful language of Catran to write poetry in, and we wouldn't have learned how to make janch.” A ripple of laughter could be heard among the few teachers present who were bothering to listen. Yktal was grateful that his mother had insisted on that little joke. “Not that I drink it, of course. Cause they also gave us lots of rules, like how kids aren't allowed get intoxicated.”
He swallowed, took a beat and turned over his wrinkled notes.
“They also, um... took away our ignorance, so we know that a tree is only a tree, and that spirits don't live in the rocks or air or that there are no spirits at all, which means we can do science now.”
“Um... Before the Cantra Civilisation spread this far east, we were no better than our Eblani neighbours. They fought the invasion and lost much of their culture. We welcomed our new rulers and much of what makes us special survived. And even now, centuries later, and with the Cantra Civilisation long gone, we still see the benefits of their influence in our every day lives. Thank you”
He wasn't sure if he should bow. His Mom had said “do”, his brother had said “don't be a dork”.
He bowed; his brother didn't do his laundry or feed him.
No-one clapped, he left the stage only to be replaced by another child with another piece of crumpled paper. She started speaking loudly, reading out her title; “Our Eblani neighbours and why they should have just given in...”
The teachers winced. It was going to be a long recital.