Chapter 56, We Don't Have to do Math

Chapter 56, We Don't Have to do Math

...Show her what?

She hadnt even said her name yet. The only reason Kreig knew that this girl (who also happened to be the nice girl who guided him home) was his tutor was that she showed up at the right time, and, well, said so. She was real polite about it, too. And then she even went and said-, said that his paintings were

Well, she complimented him. On something that wasnt combat prowess. Didnt compliment him because he successfully dispatched an entire enemy battalion on his own. But because he painted good.

It felt good. With that in mind, he really couldnt figure out why she wanted him to To do a sketch? Or something?

He picked up the blank sheet of paper and a plain lead pencil. Draw something Something simple and quick. She was probably only asking as a formality, so he obviously wouldnt put much effort into it. An easy sketch of the first thing he could see. His eyes instinctually fell on his new tutor. Right. There she was.

He put his pencil to the paper and got to it.

Artistry (IV)

The tip of it flowed easily, outlining her face in simple detail. The way her nose shyly dipped upwards. The thin little layer of makeup and how it flaked at the edges. Her bright eyes and short, almost curly hair. Thin lips, faint smile. A simple portrait, lacking colour but making up for it with little details and sophisticated shading. As done as per his skill. Really, he had barely done anything himself. It was all just the skill doing everything.

With the picture drawn, he handed it over to her, hoping it wouldnt be graded. She looked at it for a few seconds, looked up at him with a look of utter disbelief, glanced back at it, and put it on the table.

Ill give you an A in art so dont you worry about that, she said, sliding it to the side. It was graded. Now if Kreig could only figure out what A meant in terms of grades

Seriously? Hey, thats great! Then we wont have to do all these previous chapters! she said, flipping back to reveal pages upon pages of information Kreig couldnt fathom in the least. But he couldnt bear telling her this, so he kept quiet. Alright! I think thats the last of it, so were pretty much gotta do everything from start to finish But thats fine! Im all up for a challenge! Probably! Actually, Im not, but if I dont even make an attempt I cant accept anything, so lets go!

Kreig appreciated her undue enthusiasm, but just by looking outside the window, he could tell that the sun had risen to stand fully above them. It was almost noon.

He slipped the list from his pocket. Lunch at 12. It was time.

Kreig rose from his seat. The tutor flinched harshly, dropping the textbook on math from her hands as her head whipped around to face Kreig. Uh, um. Everything cool, dude? We dont have to do math if you dont want to. Lots of people dont like math. Really, uh, if you dont wanna do math, we can do tons of other work! Heck, its our first day! We can just, I dunno, take it easy? The important thing is that you have fun. No, wait, the important thing is that you learn! Yeah, yeah, learning is important! And also fun. No need to look at me like that!

Kreig had no idea why her voice had risen in pitch. Very strange.

He turned around. Lunch.

-Huh? the tutor glanced at a clock hanging in the room, -oh! Oh, haha, of course! Thats-, thats what you were on about. Right. Lunch She slowly stood up, rising out of her seat.

Kreig led her back to the kitchen, not even glimpsing back at her to make sure she was there. He knew it because she had the faintest smell of dandelions about her. Not from a perfume, nothing obnoxious like that, just a pure scent of dandelions. As if she was the kind of woman to frolic in the flower most often considered to be a weed. Right off the bat, maybe because of this, maybe because of generally friendly nature, Kreig liked her.

Erica, on the other hand, had the very opposite feelings towards him.

Though it would soon mellow.