8:00 AM
The 77th of Spring, 1551
Damon and Isaac entered the class room just as the school’s bells rang. They sat separately. Damon was seated in the middle of the room and Isaac was assigned to a seat in the very back. The teacher had a particular disdain for the mouthy boy. A few of the girls gave Isaac blushed smiles as he walked towards his seat.
Ms. Rudney was a middle-aged Barcan social scientist with a love of politics and an impropriety as a teacher. She taught her students the history of the world and the ins and outs of Duna Republic society. At least her version of it. She viewed the world through the lens of power. Where power sprouted, evil was surely the root. Where weakness permeated, guilt was absolved. Linda Rudney was either stupid, manipulative, or both. Isaac was sure she was both.
“Now that everyone has been seated, let's freshen up on what we’ve gone over this week. What are each of the continent's authorities? How have they shaped our societies? And what does this mean in the D.R. Republic’s society? Can anyone answer the first question?” Ms. Rudney queried as her black eyes scanned the class.
Isaac immediately shot his hand up as he rested his feet on his desk and teetered his chair back and forth. It made a slight squeaking noise that made people feel like their brain was itchy. Ms. Rudney refused to look his way.
“Anybody at all? No need to be shy.”
Isaac’s squeaking intensified. Nobody turned. They all knew who it was. Some of the students’ faces contorted as they suppressed the urge to giggle or smile.
“Ren, would you please tell us the answer?”
Ren Dola was a Durgen boy. Like Mox Delia, he had blonde curly hair and blue eyes.
“Authority is the technique used to manipulate the mana coursing through our veins. The people of Yomanen have the authority to manipulate space. They can teleport themselves or others to locations that they have marked with touch. Durge’s authority allows them to project their mana out as a bond.”
Ren reached his hand out and an eight-legged serpentine lizard crawled into existence out of the cuff of his shirt. Its crimson scales shifted as it climbed up his arm and coiled itself around his neck.
“All bonds are different and are subject to change as a Durgen matures. Barca has the ability to manipulate Hesper trees. Dunabad has the ability to channel mana throughout their body in the form of 6 elements; fire, lighting, wind, stone, water, and life. Most only have an affinity for one element, but it is said that members of Duna royalty can use 4 or more.”
“Good job Ren. Yoki, tell me how authorities shape the societies of our world, please.” Ms. Rudney commanded before Isaac had a chance to raise his hand again, but it was already halfway up. Isaac’s mouth curled up into a slight smirk as he lowered his arm and sat upright.
Yoki Habana was the only Yoma in the class. She had dark skin that was almost the color of midnight and white dreaded hair that she kept tied up in a ponytail. The Yoma have eyes that can see in the dark but are quite sensitive to light so they keep on tinted eyewear in the daylight. Yoki’s glasses were black, angular and shaped around her face attractively.
“A person’s authority grows with them. It strengthens and sometimes evolves into a deviance with enough use. Children are born with a natural talent for their parent’s use of authority. Authority inheritance rewards parents that have the same ability by giving their child a stronger potential than a child inheriting two or more different authorities. This caused every continent to specialize in one ability and deviances that weren’t rooted in the mainstream authorities eventually died out.” Yoki answered.
“Great, thank you, Yoki. Now, what does this mean for us here in the D.R? Jerome could you tell me what this means in our mixed soci-”
“The Dunabad empire was an unknown entity until 1023.” Interrupted Isaac. He stood up out of his seat and pierced Ms. Rudney with his gaze.
“I didn’t call on you, Isaac. Sit-”
Isaac raised the volume of his voice and continued over Ms. Rudney. “By invading from unexplored waters, they attempted to conquer all habitable land in Endymion. This started the Century War. When defeat seemed inevitable, the Barcans developed a deviance that allowed them to refine hesper wood and create a new technology that allowed for explosive force whenever the wood was injected by a user's mana. Hesper tech came in the form of guns, and guns could be used by anyone; all it takes is some bullets and mana. This technology rapidly shifted the tide of war. After nearly a century of losing, the Ternate Alliance fought the Dunabad Empire right to their own shores. The empire abandoned its civilians and fled to the Eilodon Isle’s where none have ever returned from. For nearly two hundred years we Duna slaved away to our new masters. After the Century War, I can’t say we didn’t deserve it. The Barcans used life element Dunas to grow hesper wood faster than rats breed and hesper tech conquered the world. In 1291 Barcan, Durgen, Yoma, and Duna alike fought against the Ternate Alliance to gain independence on the Duna mainland as EQUALS. That’s how the D.R. was born.”
“That’s quite enough! Anymore and I-”
Isaac interrupted yet again and pressed on with his rant. He had suffered Ms. Rudney’s lessons on society all year. And all year she had failed to say anything that seemed even remotely smart to Isaac. And now that the school year was drawing to a close, Isaac wanted a showdown. “They created the democratic government and free market system that we benefit from today. Everyone now has the right to pursue whatever they wish to pursue, and can own whatever they can afford. Until around 1474 we enjoyed clean streets, low crime, and prosperity for all. After four political parties became two, our economy magically destabilized and society has been in a slow century long decay until today. I can fill you all in on the possible conspiracies that caused these things to happen, but I’d be only pointing out coincidence. Linda Rudney only wants you to question things when it benefits her ideas, class. The idea that everyone is at a disadvantage in society unless they are a Barcan or a life element Duna is the dumbest thing that I have ever heard, and I’ve heard some things dumb fucking things. If you truly think the root of our problems are racial, you’ve been duped.”
It was clear now that Isaac wanted a full on debate. After a rant like that Ms. Rudney would have to humor the precocious half breed or lose credibility to her class. Damon sighed, packed his bag, and left the class.
“You would discount the years of suffering that your Duna forefathers bore? More than twenty percent of Duna live below the poverty line. How about you tell me how fifty percent of this country’s wealth is held in the hands of rich Barcan families?” Ms. Rudney probed as she stared daggers into Isaac.
“I would say that the bulk of our suffering mostly ended over two hundred years ago, and though we haven’t necessarily had things easy, we Duna actively create much of our own problems. Don’t tell me how to feel about my own history. There are no current laws targeting any specific race negatively. So, the inequalities now are a measure of difference in history, culture, and actions. Each and every one of us bears our own individual responsibility in all three of those. Now, as for Barcans and wealth. Barcans have that money because they innovate on hesper tech and sell to consumers. Anyone with enough grit and a good idea can accomplish the same. Look at Lena Argit, she’s a Durgen and she owns like thirty restaurants in this city alone. She’s far better off than all the Barcans at Combine Academy. We’re all south of the river here, Linda. Answer me this, how would you fix the problems in our society?” Isaac retorted.
The class shifted uncomfortably throughout the exchange as heads turned back and forth between the front and back of the room.
“We need to raise taxes and publicly redistribute wealth.” The teacher said resolutely with a straight face.
“I hope you're not talking about communal ownership of everything. There are enough Durgens dead in the ground because of that brilliant idea. Let’s say we come up with a system of redistribution that won’t cause a famine. Who do you think is gonna redistribute this wealth? This Justice Party you keep voting for? Look outside, our taxes are higher than they’ve ever been and EVERYONE is worse off.” Argued Isaac. He kept his cool and spoke with the charisma of a career politician.
“Oh, so should we just vote for the Traditionalist party? They just line their pockets with old Barcan money and defund all the programs we use to help the poor! I didn’t realize I was teaching a spoiled crossbred fascist. What? Do you hate poor people? Is that it?” Ms. Rudney was nearly screaming now.
“Of course you’d resort to personal attacks and baseless insinuations once you feel as though you’ve been cornered. I don’t support either party, Linda. My thoughts are my own. You’ve gotten all your ideas from the Justice Party. The teachers you had in college support the Justice party. Your favorite radio stations support the Justice party. This crumbling city has voted in Justice party mayors for the last hundred years. Your very job is funded by the Justice party! The Justice party owns every inch of this city yet you’d believe them when they say all our problems come from the Traditionalists.”
Isaac scanned the eyes in the room as he prepared his punch line.
“If you want to really know how our society works, go to the library and read the history books that people like Linda Rudney don’t make you read. This incompetent dried up sow’s shallow ill-thought-out ideas will rot your brain and encourage weakness.”
Linda Rudney slammed her hand on the desk and pointed to the door.
“GET THE HELL OUT OF MY CLASSROOM YOU NO GOOD MONGREL INGRATE.” Ms. Rudney roared. Her face was a seething red. It was clear to all that Isaac had done what he did best.
“You can try to fail me, but I’ve passed all the district tests. You’ll only be lowering my grade averages and those are already shit.” Isaac teased as he grabbed his bag and strolled to the door. He held the handle and turned his head to look at Yoki the Yoma.
“Those shades look great on you, Yoki.” he winked.
Yoki shifted in her seat and let a shy smile creep up on her face. Her skin color was dark enough that it was impossible to tell if she was blushing, but Isaac knew he hit his mark. The boy opened the door and left the class.
Damon leaned his back against a wall facing the door as he listened to the muffled noises coming from the disruptions of Combine Academy’s social progress class. He spent nearly every waking day with Isaac Atrisse and the one thing he did not have much care for was Isaac’s political rantings. It's not like Damon really disagreed with Isaac, he just didn’t care. Not like Isaac cared. Isaac liked the game of words. He liked to outwit, outsmart, and out insult the people he found disagreement in. It was his nature. He didn’t like landing the first blow. Whether that blow was a punch or an insult didn’t matter to the slanted eyed Duna. Isaac liked to coax out a person’s indecency so he could step down into the muck and beat them at their own game. Damon wasn’t like that. He was stoic like his father. He kept most of his negativity to himself and only moved in opposition when he must. A person either hurts others or helps them. To a Ryker, there are no excuses and games of words matter little.
“Those shades look great on you, Yoki.” Isaac said from the other side of the door.
The door opened and Isaac walked out with his big dumb grin.
“Mark my words Isaac Atrisse! You’re gonna turn out to be nothing. You’re gonna be just another street rat wasting away in the dark!” Groaned the voice of Ms. Rudney from the other room as the door closed.
Damon rolled his eyes as Isaac pivoted around and opened the door to stick head through.
“You’re a single, childless, middle-aged, public school teacher whose only purpose in life is regurgitating political jargon to minors. Your words are about as useful as a tit without a nipple!” Isaac whipped. He slammed the door shut and the classroom burst into giggling murmur.
“It’s not even ten minutes past eight and you’ve already gotten yourself kicked out of a class.” Damon sighed, as he cast a judgemental look at his friend.
“Well, I haven’t dropped out to become the drug lord that I know I could be so lets count our blessings. Plus, I didn’t do last night's homework.” Said Isaac. He waved for Damon to follow as he turned right down the hallway.
“You never do any homework.” Damon said as he followed after the boy.
“Give me one job that will make me put out extra work at home after I spend like seven hours there. Homework is for people who can’t remember the things they read. Where are the test only classes?” Isaac quipped as the two walked through the halls.
“You have all these brains, Isaac. You only get by doing the bare minimum here. Why even come?” Damon asked.
“Girls. Also, I can’t just leave you to deal with Glen alone. Why did you leave? You didn’t have to.” Isaac questioned back.
“Your rant killed the class for me. At least for today. Plus, I can’t just let my best friend ditch class all by his lonesome. We better prepare our asses. Mom is gonna kill us when the school calls.” Damon shuddered.
“The look on Linda Rudney’s wrinkly face as I pulled my pants down and shit on her self righteous beliefs was worth it.” Isaac grinned.
Damon chuckled before taking a jab at Isaac. “Yoki Habana, huh?”
“Yoma barely ever leave their homeland. She’s unique. I like unique.” Isaac shrugged.
The two walked around, laughed, played, and conversed until their next classes started.
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