Domain of Power-The Dreamer (Book 3)

Chapter 7: First Steps

                                                                                      "First Steps"

Everything seems new to him. His approach to learning is childlike. At times, I wonder if this is still the same student I tutored a year ago. I am reminded of how he was when he started under my tutelage at six years of age. Curious. Sensitive. Easily distracted. Lacking discipline.

Still, his vocabulary continues to amaze me, considering his "condition" as well as his knowledge of basic truths. He has a great range in Latin and is able to express his thoughts, albeit in a slower, deliberate manner. But without memories, it takes longer to make connections between concepts. This is even more apparent in his second language, Greek, which he struggles with the most. His reading and comprehension are those of a primary student. Not what I would expect of someone about to begin the School of Rhetoric.

I hoped that we could review his course material from the past year and get him prepared for a study in law and politics. However, I am afraid I have been forced to alter my teaching methods. To start over from the beginning. As his tutor, he would not be ready to attend the School of Rhetoric with his peers next month or this year, for that matter. The damage to his head is far too severe to ever be able to catch up. I am afraid he is not the same student he was a month ago. And over the past week, I watched his thirst for knowledge shrivel. It was only today that I saw a small ember of promise when he asked about the Pool of Aurora. Lore, I had almost forgotten.

May he rekindle on his own a thirst to read, write, and comprehend the knowledge of the scrolls. That I cannot teach him.

Your beloved tutor Anias,

Father rolled up the scroll of parchment and handed it to me.

His arms folded across his chest. "What do you have to say about that?"

My mouth went dry. "I think he said it all."

Father narrowed his eyes at me when Grandfather stepped in. Now I was outnumbered.

"I expected more from you, Troy. Perhaps it was wishful thinking on my part that you would be ready to start a new term at the Rhetoric School with your peers. That you would be able to keep in step with the other boys. And now I hear that you wish to discontinue your lessons."

"For a time," Grandfather chimed in. Father turned to him, stone-faced, before continuing. "I think you will regret this decision. Have you given this serious consideration?"

"Yes," I answered in a low voice. I knew this was the right decision, even if Father disagreed. "Anias admitted himself, I am too damaged. I could hardly keep up with his expectations. He should have known about my memory loss, yet he kept pushing me."

Father turned to my bed till we were facing one another. "I made him push you."

I bit my lip. So, my father was behind my tutor's madness! It explained why Anias was so strict with me, but why was Father pushing so hard for me to attend this school in such a short frame of time? It was unreasonable.

"Think of life as a test, Troy. Some tests you pass. Others you fail. If you choose to quit, you have already failed."

"I am not quitting," I countered. I glanced at my grandfather, who was silent up to this point. "I still want to learn, but at my pace."

Father sucked in a breath. He looked calm from the outside, but I could not tell if he was at peace with my decision to put a hold on my studies or if deep inside, he was boiling mad. It scared me that he was difficult to read at times.