Chapter Text
If there is only one word in the world to describe Eiden, it was that he is a trinket. A small ornament that holds little value. Yet there is a certain novelty to him that makes the clan members feel attached. A certain attraction that pulls them in. An unknown force.
Just like the force itself, Eiden is an enigma. Most of the time, Eiden’s words were like idle chatter, a filler for the silence. To the confusion of the clan members, his conversations somehow did not spill about his own personal life or interests. It was just usually random facts about his old world or an icebreaker. If they were lucky, Eiden would slip up and briefly talk about his past. However Eiden would divert the topic before any of them could question him. But they cannot push further because the memories Eiden brought up had a sense of foreboding behind them.
It frustrates them. How elusive Eiden is. How pathetic they are to cling onto small bits of information about him. How open yet closed off Eiden is. Maybe this is what pulls them closer to him. They want to know more. And maybe, just maybe, they want God of Klein to heed to their unspoken prayers. God knows Olivine really does.
_____
It was like any other day in the mansion. Chaotic. Calm.
It was a feat of itself for having no fights or arguments in the mansion. It was even amazing that the whole clan was in one room. The library. Everyone seemed to be busy being invested in whatever they felt like doing.
Blade was searching for some questionable books. Morvay was kind enough to help him out in his venture. Kuya was reading about some spellbook, hogging the couch that was meant for two people. Garu was having an internal conflict with Karu on the floor about which two books in front of them they should read. Dante sat next to them surrounded by various stacks of books with varying heights. The man in question was scowling at the page he had been reading.
Olivine, Yakumo and Edmond shared the lounge sofa, each reading a book suited to their taste. Eiden was just sprawled out on the floor next to their feet, lazily reading his book. There was a melodic hum that accompanied him. Quincy, unsurprisingly, was sleeping. He laid down next to Eiden with a book covering his face. Topper was comfortably perched on Quincy’s chest, looking down at the book Eiden was reading. Eiden doesn’t know whether Topper can read but he doesn’t have the heart to flip the page until Topper lets out a soft squeak.
Aster was on the spare desk doing his paperwork. He had his paperwork carried into the library, not wanting to miss this rare moment of peace. He was pouting when the figures didn’t add up. Somehow the amount was lesser than it was reported. From the corner of his eye, Aster could see Kuya smirking at his misery. That old fox and his sadistic tendencies. With a sigh, it seemed that Aster had to get the bottom of this. Seems like he is going to be pretty busy with the other nobles later tonight. Suddenly a soft cough was heard. Aster whirled his head to find that it was Olivine.
Now feeling everyone's eyes on him, Olivine gave a small apologetic smile. “Sorry to disturb everyone but does anyone have any book recommendations? I have already finished reading mine. I’m not picky but I would like to read a book that would make me tear up.”
Before anyone was actually able to recommend a book, someone beat them to it first. Without missing a beat, Eiden nonchalantly said “Cambridge International AS and A Level Mathematics.”
When Eiden looked up from his book, he didn’t expect everyone to be staring at him. Heck even Quincy was wide awake. “What?”
“I’m sorry but could you elaborate further, Eiden?” Olivine looked at him in astonishment (?). Something clicked in Eiden. It seems that he had made a reference that no one really knows. Oops. In his defense, that joke made a lot of people laugh in his old world. So it became a recurring joke whenever his colleagues ask for a book recommendation for something sad.
“Ah~ Sorry. It’s just a textbook back in my world. The amount of times I cried trying to get the correct answer was close to infinite.” Eiden scratched the back of his head. “Worth it though when I received the highest score in my cohort!”
Dante stared longer and more pointedly. “You have received formal education?”
“Is that surprising?” Eiden raised an eyebrow feeling a little offended. "You think I'm that stupid?"
“Master!” Morvay called out from the railings of the giant library. “In Klein, education is optional. Education here is only offered to gifted children from a wealthy or high ranking family.”
“Oh. Oh wow.” Eiden now mirrored the face of what his clan members were giving him. “Back in my world or where I lived, education was made compulsory. Whether poor or rich, whether gifted or unwilling, everyone had to go. I was one of the few who benefitted from such a law.”
“Everyone can receive education?” Edmond mouthed the words out loud. It was a foreign concept to him. Edmond was only offered to go to knight school rather than the ones he saw wearing a much comfortable set of uniform, “I am assuming the education was subpar to accommodate.”
“ Oh fuck no, I wish . Everyone had the same level of suffering. It was compulsory up to a certain age,” Eiden could recall the late night cramming sessions of memorizing what seemed to be endless chemistry equations. “But some schools do only accept smart people and split the classes from best to worst.”
“The only thing that was subpar was the treatment of students to other students. Well at least, I can confidently say that I can do math very well.” Eiden gave a thumbs up to support his statement.
“Well, if the young master says so, then you wouldn’t mind helping Aster over there with his paperwork. It seems that he has a hard time in accomplishing the trivial task,” Kuya gave a benign smile.
‘Fuck you, Kuya.’ Aster tsked in his head. Well at least he is able to receive some help. Not to be rude or anything but he doesn’t know whether his master is as smart as he claimed to be. But help is help. If the master is smart enough to solve his paperwork then he doesn't need to spend extra for an accountant.
Aster begrudgingly gave Eiden his paperwork. The expectant gazes of other clan members didn’t even go unnoticed. Aster expected Eiden to have his face scrunched up in confusion like he had.
Instead, Aster could see Eiden’s brown eyes sharply focus. That was the first time Aster saw his master's eyes so intense with a cold calculating gaze. However the moment Eiden blinked, the cold calculating demeanor melted. Aster looked back at his master to see trying to stifle a laugh? Was he going insane?
Aster hesitated a bit before tentatively calling out his master.
“Aster.” Eiden responded while trying his best to not laugh. “I’m sorry but I didn’t expect you to make this mistake.”
Eh. Eh? Ehhhhhh. He solved it??
“So what is it?” Quincy asked as he flipped the page of Eiden’s neglected book for Topper to read.
“He forgot to calculate the GST.”
At the far end of the room, Garu asked Dante, “What’s GST?”
_____
This time the clan members were out and about the city. Doing some basic shopping, groceries or buying something they want. Edmond and Dante were looking for swords with Blade in tow. Kuya was looking for anything interesting in the flea market. Yakumo was accompanied by Garu to the wet market, making sure that Karu wouldn't bite the raw meat they bought. Olivine and Quincy looked for books for them to read, well more of Olivine and Topper. Aster and Morvay on the other hand were… somewhere.
Leaving Eiden all alone in the plaza. Just chilling at the water fountain. Well he might as well get some sightseeing done. Looking around him, there were a lot of maintenance guys. It seemed as though they were planning to install something in the plaza. A spherical glass tank? Must be a temporary thing as the tank was used as an excuse for more families to come to the city, using it as a makeshift aquarium as an attraction.
Speaking of attraction, Eiden’s seat on the water fountain was fairly new and pristine. It seemed as though they were planning to install the spherical tank onto the water fountain..? Was that safe? Eiden listened to bits and pieces of information about the fountain and tank from the maintenance guys. Man they really do love boasting about its size.
Taking into account the height and diameter of the tank and the width and length of the water fountain, Eiden can considerably say it won’t fit. And that he did. Unexpectedly, the maintenance guys actually listened to Eiden’s reasoning without brushing him off like a douche. He swore he would’ve cried there and then from their kindness in hearing them out.
_____
Dante twitched. He had not expected Eiden to receive education before. He expected his world and his own to be similar in that sense. Usually he would brush this aside but seeing Eiden looking serious for a split second when he was given Aster’s work, turned something on.
Usually that fool would, well, act like a fool but that split second of Eiden focusing. Well it made Dante crave more of that man. He wanted to know the extent of Eiden’s knowledge. O-only because he needed to maintain the high standard as a Sun Lord, of course! Nothing else! It’s not as if Dante was feeling a little bit hot and inferior in that split second.
“Tch,” Dante ignored Edmond’s questioning gaze. He shouldn’t have such high expectations for that fool anyways. But Dante always forgets that Eiden was a man who effortlessly subverts expectations. He quickened his pace not caring if Edmond and Blade would falter a little bit on their way back to the plaza.
The three had arrived earlier than their confirmed rendezvous but what they saw was completely… displaced.
_____
If any of the clan members were to describe the most unusual thing that could occur in the city’s plaza, it would take them more than a decade for them to guess Eiden teaching math to employed men and curious kids whose parents didn’t mind the extra education they are getting. Apparently in their hour of absence, the master was able to entertain himself by teaching fucking math to the public. In the middle of the plaza. In front of a construction spot, even!
To top it all off, the clan members could barely even follow through to what Eiden was teaching. Something about the area of a circle and volume of a sphere. It was laughable when the little kids were able to answer Eiden’s question correctly and received a head pat as a reward. Aster smirked to himself when he was able to understand what Eiden was talking about and Kuya was barely keeping the facade of understanding shapes. ‘Take that ya old fox.’
Blade somehow joined the crowd sitting on the floor and participating excitedly in Eiden’s makeshift class. Since he was an e-droid, Blade was able to understand the concepts much faster. Dante had to swallow his pride to attend the class but he didn’t sit down. Edmond was standing beside Dante struggling to keep up. Knight school did not have any math in their modules but they do have battle tactics.
Olivine and Quincy just looked on. While Yakumo was making sure he had everything he needed to cook for tonight's dinner. Karu was huffing but paid close attention and similar to Blade, Garu was eagerly asking questions to receive free head pats.
Just as Eiden was about to wrap up his hour-long lesson when something tapped on his shoulder. It was an older fellow dressed as a scholar. “Boy, if you are interested, you can teach at Klein National University. Here’s my card and information. I do hope you will hold a seminar there. Your teaching of Areas and Volume was simply easy to understand that even children can do it. Which is surprising as it is one of our hardest topics to revise to get into our university. It seems you are an one of a kind genius”
Flustered, Eiden frantically thanked the man. “Ah! Thank you for this opportunity, I’m not really that smart-”
“Nonsense! I’m sure you’d find great mathematical discoveries with that good head of yours!” The older gentleman laughed. He already liked this kid. Humble and respectful to their elders. “Do find me once you make up your mind! I would recommend that you hold a seminar catered to the public as well!”
“Ah! Right uhmmm thank you!” Eiden bowed at the retreating old man. He didn’t expect to be offered as a university lecturer. He turned around to see the shocked and awed faces of some of his clan members. “Uhh, yes?”
“Eiden, do you not know how prestigious Klein National University is???” Edmond grabbed hold of Eiden’s shoulders and shook him. “There’s only currently 1090 students enrolling with a staff of 25! Just by being a student there, you are already offered high ranking jobs and only the top 1% are offered to teach there! And that man just casually offered you to become a lecturer! Heck, even Dante didn’t get an offer!”
Yakumo hurriedly pulled Eiden away from Edmond’s shaking. His serpents were ready to attack Edmond if he tried to attempt it again. Eiden, an empath, sense Yakumo’s rising anger and gave a gentle pat on Yakumo's arm to let him know he was ok. Dante on the other hand was prepared to attack Edmond for that painfully true statement. First Grand Sorcerer now Scholar?? Dante was supposed to be the smart one here not him.
“Anyways what does he mean by Areas and Volume being such a difficult topic? Back in my world, it was the most basic and easiest to understand?” Eiden asked. Most if not all of his clan members gave him a blank or stone face.
“...”
“...”
“...”
“Have you guys heard of differentiation?”
Dante may or may not have broke the spherical glass tank that day.