Tributes

Chapter Fifty-nine

Tyreol ducked into the classroom as the children ran out as the lunchtime bell rang, excited to be finished for the day. Most bowed to him politely before disappearing, trained by their parents to respect the Lord of the Castle. Some were too young to know, but Tyreol didn't care if a pup forgot to bow. They'd learn like everyone else, and he'd much rather pups enjoy being young than fear him.

The children in the castle were a mixture of immortal, human and otherwise. Kayden and his assistants taught everyone equally until they were 12, then they separated the children into ability groups and likely futures. When they reached 16, the teenagers went to learn a trade and stopped attending school.

The under-12s room was small and joined to an otherwise closed courtyard to let the children play outside during breaks. The magic had created high, vaulted ceilings with windows that matched the height. There was a wooden panel along the walls that was at Kayden's hip height, below the walls, which returned to the castle's signature grey stone. Several tapestries covered the walls, and there was a fireplace smoking in the corner. It was well-loved and well-maintained, with the memory of centuries of young learners deeply ingrained in the very fabric of the room.

Silas wasn't in it, but he was near. Leila was currently playing with some toddlers who would be staying until their guardians were free to collect them, while Kayden sat at a desk checking over students' work.

"Master?" Kayden stood and bowed. "Welcome to the schoolhouse. Silas is outside playing with some of the boys."

Tyreol checked out the window and smiled, confirming his servant's words. It was cold out, but Silas wasn't wearing his coat again. He and two or three of the servant boys were kicking a ball around. 

"How did today go?"

"I believe the boy enjoyed himself. He fit in well and caused no issues. I can see some future problems with bullies, but Silas stood his ground well," Kayden smiled warmly, "If you continue to allow Silas to come here, I'll keep an eye on any troublemakers"

"Bullies?"

"Older boys who know what being your tribute means and decided to tease Silas about it, or rather think they do," Kayden wore a look of bemusement at the idea they understood. It was far more likely that their parents had told them what they thought of the people in that situation. "It's nothing which can't be dealt with."

Tyreol rumbled protectively. There was little he could do with bullies unless they took things too far. Some adversity was good; children needed to learn how to stand up for themselves in a safe environment. Vice visa, bullies needed to learn that picking on the wrong person had consequences. If he was going to send the boys to the school, he had to accept that interpersonal relationships were a side effect, good and bad. He was a God. He couldn't get involved with childish things unless they became less childish.

Silas spotted him in the window and waved with a big grin. Tyreol lifted his hand back. The boy jogged over to his new friends and chatted to them for a moment longer, saying goodbye if Tyreol read the threads correctly. Tyreol trusted Kayden; if he thought there was nothing to worry about, it was so.

"With your consent, I'll continue to let him come. Hopefully it will help with his arguments with Abel to let him have others to talk to his age." Abel would throw a tantrum about this. Abel's unhappiness followed him all day. Abel couldn't come to this school, not with his lack of magical control. It was wrong to restrict Silas for his twin's constraints. Silas needed to socialise. Abel needed to as well, but that could come once his magic was in control.

Paul had a different issue to overcome when it came to mixing with people.

"The extra stimulation can't hurt. I would recommend letting Paul and Anna try a few days too. Anna is young enough to get a year of school. She could walk the boys back to the rooms to keep them out of mischief," Kayden said, not mentioning Abel for the same reason Tyreol wasn't.