Chapter 79: Today’s lesson
The sun peeked through the forest trees, painting gold on the dirt paths and rooftops of the village. One by one, children left their homes, clutching handmade slates and chalk. Their parents waved, some half-asleep, others already off to work. But for the children, it was the most exciting part of the day—school time.
Tikka stood at the front of the schoolhouse, opening the doors with a wide grin. Her green hair was tied up in a small messy bun, and her simple dress had chalk smudges from yesterday.
"All right," she said, arms crossed as the kids gathered. "Let's see if you all remember what a straight line looks like today."
"We do!" shouted Mik, a goblin boy who always ran faster than he thought.
"Do not!" Loma, a young dwarf girl, shouted back.
"Do too!"
"Enough," Tikka sighed, waving them in. "Inside, now."
The classroom was simple. Wooden benches, one chalkboard, and a few shelves with handmade books and plant-based ink. It smelled of wood, ink, and a little smoke from the torches on the wall. Sunlight poured in through the new glass windows that Caelen and the dwarves had installed. To the children, it felt magical.
Seri, a quiet elf girl, sat near the window. She liked the light. She liked watching the leaves move in the wind. But most of all, she liked listening.
She peeked at the blackboard. Tikka had written:
Math – Adding Bigger Numbers