Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Chapter 23: Creepy

As for the sea folk, their origin is deeply intertwined with the vast oceans that surround the continents. Legends tell of ancient sea deities who ruled over the depths and held dominion over the creatures of the sea. It is said that the sea folk emerged from the magical union between mortal sailors and these powerful sea deities, resulting in a hybrid race capable of dwelling both beneath the waves and on land.

Humans, on the other hand, had their own stories of origin. They believed they were born from the earth itself, blessed with the gift of adaptability and resilience. Humans were known for their ingenuity, resourcefulness, and their ability to forge connections and form societies.

However, as time passed, individuals from each species began to venture beyond their territories and encounter one another for the first time. These chance meetings sparked curiosity and intrigue as the various species realized that their world was much larger and more diverse than they had previously believed.

The history lesson had been pretty interesting, to the point that Rain decided to do some studying on his own, even though it seemed that they would study every single aspect of the history of the world until the current times.

In any case, after two hours of classes, Rain had the chance to head home to have lunch. Some kids brought their own and had lunch with the other kids that they knew. Some others had their servants bring the food to the school since they only had one hour of break. Leiah asked Rain if he wanted that as well, but he decided that he didn't want to increase her workload.

"Rain! Rain! Let's play!" Dana said and then hugged Rain when he showed up.

"Only for a bit after lunch," Rain said while patting his little sister's head.

"Was it fun, Rain? The school," Leiah asked.

"It was so-so," Rain replied.

It was a bit different than he had expected, but it wasn't half bad. Going there for a year or two won't be a waste of time. The only downside is the fact that Rain will end up owing a few favors to his grandparents, and they definitely will ask him to pay them back with interest in the future. Still, he decided to follow that path for the sake of his little sisters.

After lunch and playing with Dana for a while, Rain returned to the school to have two hours of Etiquette lessons… Rain could already imagine himself dying of boredom.

Rain frowned a bit since the class suddenly had a lot more girls than before. It actually filled the whole room… Rain knew that diplomats in the human country tend to be mainly women, but he still was surprised that girls truly wanted to learn that. Then again, it seemed more natural that girls would show more interest in that than boys.

In this introductory course on etiquette and manners, students delve into the foundations of polite behavior. They learn essential skills and practices that contribute to cultivating a refined and respectful demeanor in various social settings. The course covers a range of topics designed to shape students' understanding and application of etiquette principles.

Students were taught the art of proper greetings, including handshakes, bows, or other culturally appropriate gestures. They learned how to introduce themselves and others with clarity and confidence, considering factors such as hierarchy, age, and social contexts.

The course explored the significance of nonverbal communication and body language in portraying respect and attentiveness. Students learn how to maintain appropriate eye contact, use open and welcoming postures, and control gestures to convey their intentions positively.

Effective communication is a vital aspect of etiquette. Students develop skills in active listening, expressing gratitude, and using polite language. They learn to be mindful of their tone and to speak respectfully, avoiding offensive or inappropriate remarks.

"As expected, that was very boring… in any case, it seems that in the afternoon, we only have one lesson for everyone," Rain thought when he saw the corridors of the school filled with kids. "I wanted to do some research about the system, but it is too noisy right now…"

Rain decided to leave that for another day and spend the rest of the afternoon playing with Dana. Looking after two toddlers and working at the same time might make Rain's mother age faster.

Since Rain wasn't talking about it, Leiah decided not to pry about the school. Still, Roan wasn't that tactful even though he had studied etiquette for a few years and soon asked Rain how the school had been.

"Not very impressive. The etiquette lesson had been pretty boring as well," Rain replied.

"The etiquette instructor was an old lady called Mona?" Roan asked. "An ice-cold lady that wears pointy glasses?"

"That is right, you have a good memory, Dad," Rain said. "Was she your first love or something?"

"Hahaha, don't even joke about it," Roan laughed. "I pity the bastard that decided to take his chances with her. Anyway, you can probably tell that she is very stiff and loves stupid rules. So, try not to stand out, okay?"

Rain nodded. He could tell that she was the type that would look down on him since he had a commoner's blood. He noticed her gaze a bunch of times that day, even though they just practiced simple greetings and smiles at each other.

The next morning, Rain and the others had another lesson with Leion. Just as he told them, he didn't show up until one hour before the lesson, and after, everyone ran for two hours.

"You three, tell me your names," Leion asked when the last group of kids entered the class. "You arrived late today and started three minutes after the others. Until the end of this course, you will have penalties during the tests."

The kids froze on the spot since everyone knew that, and they couldn't ask for help from anyone… while he didn't show up, it seemed that Leion was watching the kids from the shadows… that sure was creepy.