Chapter 3: Eleven Years Old
I had overheard rumors about myself from others. After beating G-da last year, I had become overconfident and even cockier, but I still won. I had become first in my Martial Arts class and still was.
Perhaps some rumors got to Leilani and Toran. Some news of me had to have gotten to them.
This year I was working on my etiquette. It was harder than it sounded, a lot harder.
Today I was to serve the royal family. This was bad. Just to let you know, I'm not the most graceful person in the universe.
The chef gave me several plates of food to deliver. "Balance is everything," they told me. I balanced one platter on the top of my right arm. My muscles had grown a lot since I had joined, so it was hard to balance it on my arm. I was like an acrobat. I must've looked really stupid because my chin was holding onto a plate.
I walked out and headed towards the dining table. I was almost there when I tripped over my own feet. I landed with a big thud on the carpet. Soltato, which is an Izaian pasta, covered my whole body. I felt like an abomination. The whole royal family had seen me. My teacher walked over to me and picked me up.
"Go wash that solato off of you and try again," he said. He was old and wise. It was easy for him to say. This was the ninth time that happened. The royal family was probably really irritated at me.
I walked back to the showers, showered, and came back refreshed. I knew that this time I would do it. I walked back inside the sidoko to the royal hitaku to pick up the plates of pasta again.
Once again, the chef cautiously handed me several plates of solato. I balanced the plates on my arms, straightened my posture and headed out the door to the dining hall carefully so as to not trip again.
I had gotten past the place I fell once. The servants had cleaned it up as well as all the other accidental spills. I had gotten closer and closer with each fall, but never quite made it somehow.
I passed the fourth spill, which was being cleaned up. The servants looked at me like they would try to kill me, but they also had a look that made me feel a bit sorry for them.
At last I reached the table. I served the food without making eye contact and walked away as quickly as I possibly could.
Then I had to serve desert. Good thing there was only a large platter to carry. Unfortunately it had to be a VERY large platter. The platter held several plates with jujitsta, an Izaian cake. It was dark red, topped with handako berries. It looked delicious. My mouth was watering. I was so hungry. I think I accidentally let some drool fall on the platter unconsciously.
I set the platter down on the table and served the food to King Yuu, then to Queen Yuu. I got a bit jittery when I served the jujitsta to her. Then I served the food to two little boys, then to Princess Lei, who was a year younger than I. She looked at me and I almost collapsed right then and there. I think I was hungrier than scared at the moment, because my stomach growled loudly at this point.
I looked at my stomach then a small cheesy smile crept across my face. I think that at this point my hunger was so bad I just about grabbed a plate of food and ate it, but I kept myself from doing anything else stupid. I sneaked away from the table.
Once I reached the royal hitaku I got to eat all the food I wanted. Then I got homesick. I wanted to see Toran and Leiani. Then I knew that this entire time here would be a waste. I'd just have to wait it out. So I was patient a little longer.
I had overheard rumors about myself from others. After beating G-da last year, I had become overconfident and even cockier, but I still won. I had become first in my Martial Arts class and still was.
Perhaps some rumors got to Leilani and Toran. Some news of me had to have gotten to them.
This year I was working on my etiquette. It was harder than it sounded, a lot harder.
Today I was to serve the royal family. This was bad. Just to let you know, I'm not the most graceful person in the universe.
The chef gave me several plates of food to deliver. "Balance is everything," they told me. I balanced one platter on the top of my right arm. My muscles had grown a lot since I had joined, so it was hard to balance it on my arm. I was like an acrobat. I must've looked really stupid because my chin was holding onto a plate.
I walked out and headed towards the dining table. I was almost there when I tripped over my own feet. I landed with a big thud on the carpet. Soltato, which is an Izaian pasta, covered my whole body. I felt like an abomination. The whole royal family had seen me. My teacher walked over to me and picked me up.
"Go wash that solato off of you and try again," he said. He was old and wise. It was easy for him to say. This was the ninth time that happened. The royal family was probably really irritated at me.
I walked back to the showers, showered, and came back refreshed. I knew that this time I would do it. I walked back inside the sidoko to the royal hitaku to pick up the plates of pasta again.
Once again, the chef cautiously handed me several plates of solato. I balanced the plates on my arms, straightened my posture and headed out the door to the dining hall carefully so as to not trip again.
I had gotten past the place I fell once. The servants had cleaned it up as well as all the other accidental spills. I had gotten closer and closer with each fall, but never quite made it somehow.
I passed the fourth spill, which was being cleaned up. The servants looked at me like they would try to kill me, but they also had a look that made me feel a bit sorry for them.
At last I reached the table. I served the food without making eye contact and walked away as quickly as I possibly could.
Then I had to serve desert. Good thing there was only a large platter to carry. Unfortunately it had to be a VERY large platter. The platter held several plates with jujitsta, an Izaian cake. It was dark red, topped with handako berries. It looked delicious. My mouth was watering. I was so hungry. I think I accidentally let some drool fall on the platter unconsciously.
I set the platter down on the table and served the food to King Yuu, then to Queen Yuu. I got a bit jittery when I served the jujitsta to her. Then I served the food to two little boys, then to Princess Lei, who was a year younger than I. She looked at me and I almost collapsed right then and there. I think I was hungrier than scared at the moment, because my stomach growled loudly at this point.
I looked at my stomach then a small cheesy smile crept across my face. I think that at this point my hunger was so bad I just about grabbed a plate of food and ate it, but I kept myself from doing anything else stupid. I sneaked away from the table.
Once I reached the royal hitaku I got to eat all the food I wanted. Then I got homesick. I wanted to see Toran and Leiani. Then I knew that this entire time here would be a waste. I'd just have to wait it out. So I was patient a little longer.