Grounded

5

Este's eyes water, and he quickly muffles a sneeze.

He glances around, and confirms that no one saw anything. The sister reading off a book about Venessa at the front hasn't stopped talking.

Este sighs.

When it came to education, Liyue and Sumeru had it good. Their academies were good, they had extensive libraries and most of the population minus orphans had gone through a mandatory education

It wasn't exactly the same in Mondstadt, the city of freedom where you can say no to school. No child or adult is obliged to learn. It was their choice in Mond.

As far as Este knows, in the whole of Mond, there is only one public library that is located in the headquarters of the knights. If there are other libraries, they belong in private homes of rich families.

The responsibility of educating a normal Mondstadt child fell on their parents and the church. The cathedral was reserved for community lessons every day at specific times during the morning to not disturb any of the church activities.

Parents brought their children to the sisters here to learn some general education. Parents were often busy, and couldn't teach their child anything while busy, so this was the arrangement the church had.

Of course they only taught the simple things. Absolute beginner level education only. How to read, how to write, some customs and a little history. The rest of the people's education once again was the parent's responsibility.

If a person of Monstandt wanted to become a learned person, there were only very few choices.

If they were rich? Hire a tutor or dozen from wherever. If you don't have the budget for that? Then the person who wanted education had to go to the other countries themselves.

A significant amount of people from Mond leave to Liyue, the closest to Mond, in their teens to pursue academic success.

Otherwise they had to rely on their parents to teach them everything. Trading, money, customs, etiquette, history and all that jazz.

Now Este's father is wealthy. He probably could hire a tutor or four for Este.

But the thing is, Mr. Krüger is a stingy person. A penny pincher. Extremely reserved with money or what not.

In his opinion, if Este can get his general education for free by going to the church lessons everyday, then Este will and they waste no money.

As for his mother, well, she isn't exactly a qualified teacher for the general topics. She can only teach him sewing and embroidery, and all her specialties as a tailor.

It's not that going to the church bothered Este, it just that it... felt so utterly frustrating!

He had all of Veera's education crammed in his head. Her education had been several levels higher than the Mondstadt level of learning his ABC's again.

But again, it was absolutely necessary. Not only for keeping up appearances mind you.

He knew math, he knew politics and history of his former world. What he didn't know was Mondstadt's or Liyue's written language! He can speak it because he learned as a baby, but writing is completely different.

It was so frustrating. Este wanted to tear his hair off. Veera had spent so much time gaining a degree, studying and doing her best and at last escaped school hell, and now he has to go back to school again just to learn how to write the local language?!

Frustrating, Este screams in his head.

And so later, as he paces around Venti's statue near Dawn Winey with Diluc, he decides to voice a little of his frustrations.

"I already know everything but how to write! Why do I have to go there, sit and listen for half an hour until we get to the writing exercises! I hate it there!" Este's brows are furrowed so far they might just look like a unibrow. He grinds his teeth together and pulls at his small ponytail.

Diluc giggles, actually giggles. Not even a laugh, a giggle! Este lets out another screech of frustration and stomps his feet.

"It's not funny!"

Diluc wheezes, "Yes it is!" he yells while cackles escape his mouth. Este resorts to glaring.

"I mean,  you're usually so mature! This is," Diluc pauses for breath, as he continues laughing. "This is such a childish complaint!"

"Well, excuuuse me! I can't tolerate everything, and remembering parts of a past life, usually, you know, makes you a more mature person!" Este screeches.

Diluc stops laughing, Este pauses.

"Wait what?"

Oh um... he was not supposed to blurt that out.

"Uhm..." Este turns his head away from Diluc's probing gaze. He presses his lips together.

"You were reborn?" Este glances back, just to come face to face with Diluc and his intense eyes. Este flinches at the passionate look, and tries not to fiddle with his hair.

"Hey, I'm a kid too! I just have some extra memories, that's it!"

Diluc seems to scan him over.

"Okay then."

Este blinks. Diluc blinks. Este gawks, and Diluc raises a brow at him.

"That's your reaction?" Este says, gaping at the thirteen-year-old.

"I mean, yeah, sure it gives you a few advantages like maturity or what not but just as you said, you're still a kid like me." The red-head shrugs at Este, and then glances at him with a smirk.

"What? Should I have yelled the secret out loud and gotten mad at you for hiding it?" Diluc pokes Este's cheek, and like that any of the gaping stopped and turned to indignation.

"No! That was just so calm! Who are you calling predictable!"

"Didn't say that, your own words."

Diluc pauses for just a second after saying that, and then proceeds to glance at Este's hip, where his vision dangles off his belt.

"Well, that explains that. I thought for sure you would get a pyro vision like me."

Este glances down also, and humms in response.

He mulls over his thoughts. The only true thing keeping him from actually trusting Diluc had been this secret, now that the barrier Este had built between them was gone, he was in a bit of an emotional turmoil.

Este had always referred to Diluc as an acquaintance, he never really accepted how close they were. With Kaeya, it was easier, because the blue head also had a secret, but Diluc didn't, and in some way the boy had already wormed his way into Este's wary heart.

Este and Diluc became friends a long time ago, he just hadn't admitted it to himself.