Chasing Dreams (Discontinued)

Chapter 202: Pledge

"Before we begin, explain to me why we're here." said Maija. "What am I teaching you?"

Ren stood still. He hoped Maija would've just given him the answer. He spent many days thinking over Maija's lessons. She focused on many subjects, linguistics, lore, culture, and to a lesser degree, politics.

Learning so much at once came with serious struggles. There were times where Ren didn't think he'd be able to do it. But he always did. Tagalog, Hindi, and Urdu came to Ren more naturally than Arabic. The other languages had a way of sliding off his tongue like he was spitting water. While Arabic was harsh, guttural, and intense. Pronouncing Arabic words felt like he was swallowing sand, and Maija always slapped him whenever he said phrases wrong.

"You're teaching me about the Fujiwara people." Ren answered confidently. The answer seemed obvious enough. If Maija wasn't teaching him that, then what was she doing?

Maija's face stiffened like lead. She slapped Ren across the face and then hit him again to even him out. "Wrong." Maija pulled back her hand and rubbed it softly. Ren's warrior skin was beginning to develop, and striking him one too many times was starting to take its toll. "Try again."

Ren didn't bother to rub his cheeks. He refused to acknowledge how much they burned. Instead, he looked at the ground to collect his thoughts.

"Come on Renji. The answer is right in front of you." Maija encouraged. "I want you to ask yourself what is your purpose? Why were you born into this world? And what will you do with the knowledge I'm going to provide you?"

Maija noticed Ren arch his brow. She picked up on small expressions Ren would make while tempted by certain moods.

Good, he's thinking. Maija smiled. I was worried he'd give up as soon as I slapped him.

"I was born into this world to save it." Ren concluded. "But in order to save the world I have to learn everything about it, and everyone within it. As a hero I can't prioritize the lives of one group over the lives of others."

Maija gave Ren a simple stare, unsatisfied with his answer. "Renji-"

"I wasn't finished." Ren said faintly. "But if I do want to save the world then I need to acknowledge all the people within it. I need to learn from mistakes of the past so I can come up with a better answer than they did. At the time they believed wiping the Fujiwara Clan out would bring peace. However, all it has done is create monsters in the form of Ikumi and Homura. I don't want to do that. The only way I can achieve peace is by uniting the rest of the world. I can't unite the world if one part of it is missing. So, with the knowledge you've given me, I will become the Fujiwaran King, and the Number One Hero. Only by doing that can I truly stand on the highest peak, and be the Greatest Hero of all time."

"Is that your answer?" Maija asked.

"Yes, it is." Ren smiled.

Maija gave him a long stare. But eventually, her face softened like snow. "Good."

Ren blinked in shock. "Was that correct?"

Maija stared at him again. She didn't blink or alter her gaze. She just watched like an owl piercing the night. "Renji, you should know by now my questions don't have a right or wrong answer. I just wanted to see you to defend your point."

Ren gave her a weird look. Did Maija trick me again? Sometimes Ren forgot how smart she was. She focused so much on brawling that it was easy to forget she had a working mind.

"I guess you can say this is my way of preparing you." Maija crossed her arms. "You'll be questioned when you become Rājā. People will want to know if they can put their faith in you. They will want to know if you'll ever fail them? The moment you betray their trust, and fail to meet their expectations, they will turn their backs on you, and find someone else to lead them if you aren't capable. Loyalty is hard to find especially within the Fujiwara Clan."