Disclaimer: I don't own anything!

Author's Note: I have to take an online Algebra II class since my math grades this year were…less than favorable. Ugh. And I have to read two books—How to Read Literature Like a Professor and Lord of the Flies—for next year's AP English class and I have to read and annotate Oedipus Rex. Fun stuff for summer.

-/-/-/-

Arithmetic is where numbers fly like pigeons in and out of your head.

~Carl Sandburg, "Arithmetic"

-/-/-/-

"Hey, Aurion!"

Kratos managed to barely not flinch at the name. He's still not accustomed to people calling him that and, since the voice was clearly a student calling him, it only made him more nervous. None of the other students wanted much to do with him at all, ever.

When he turned towards the voice, he saw one of the larger boys in his class, Abernac. Kratos' list of things that he knew about the boy were as follows: He was huge, had some smarts in military strategy, but not much more than the average, he was failing arithmetic and his preferred weapon was an ax.

"Yes?"

Abernac narrowed his eyes at the much smaller boy. "You're good at math, right?"

Kratos blinked at him in surprise. That had not been where he thought the conversation was going to go. "Um, yes. I'm decent at it, at least."

"I need your help."

"With…math?"

"Yeah. I can't become a soldier if I don't."

Kratos looked at Abernac, really looked at him. He couldn't understand why anyone would want to become a soldier. He thought about it, really considering it. Abernac wasn't one of the boys who'd made fun of him in the physical exercises last year because he was the smallest. He hadn't stood up for him, but he hadn't participated either.

"If you really want, I could pay you." Abernac offered. "My father gives me an allowance every week. I'll give you fifteen gald off of it each week if you tutor me."

Fifteen gald. That was a lot to a thirteen year old with no other way of income. Kratos' father used to give him a monthly allowance of ten gald, but somewhere along the way, it had just stopped. Now, the only money Kratos got was during Celsius Week from the well-wishers that he didn't know.

"Yeah, sure. I'll help." Kratos racked his brain. Yuan usually didn't get into their room until well past dinner, but during the weekdays, he got in later than on the weekends. "How about Thursday night? That way, when I help you learn, you'll be all set for the weekly exam."

Abernac smiled in relief. "Yeah, sure. Thanks so much. You're alright, Aurion."

-/-/-/-

"You're tutoring someone in math?" Yuan repeated over his supper.

The food given to the half-elves were the leftovers of the leftovers and, if there were no more of those, they were given half a loaf of bread and a few slices of cheese. Kratos had gotten very good at smuggling food under his uniform back to the room for his best friend.

"Yes."

"And that someone is Abernac?"

"Yes."

Yuan looked at Kratos. "You are aware that you have to ask me for help half the time when you're doing your homework, right?"

Kratos flung a pillow at him. Yuan ducked, grinning broadly before going back to his meal.