I drifted into awareness slowly. My head was pounding, my throat felt dry, my chest hurt... everything hurt...

Crap, I wasn't breathing.

I felt something push down on my chest and heard a crack, which was followed by searing pain. "Damn, broke another rib." There was a deep boy's voice above me.

I coughed hard and felt something come out of my mouth. Eww, salt water. I coughed and spluttered and a pair of hands rolled me onto my side. After a little while I was able to get my breathing back under control. I felt myself being rolled onto my back and someone pressing around my chest. Ow. OW! Snap. Pop. Pop. OWOWOWOWOWOWOOWWWWW!

"There. All yours professor." That boy. He realigned my ribs. Ow. Thank you, I really appreciate it but right now, I hate you so much.

A woman's voice. "Oh healing power... First aid."

I felt something warm wash over me and I sighed in relief as the pain lessened and I was able to breathe a little better. My ribs ached a lot though. I blinked open my eyes and turned my head so I was not looking at the bright sky. Ow... light.

"Are you ok?" A young boy. Really young.

"I hope he's ok." A girl.

"He'll be fine. He just needs a moment to gather himself." The woman again.

I looked in the other direction and squinted at them. Damn, where were my glasses? Oh yeah, in my wing pack. Never mind, I wasn't that blind without them. I slowly managed to open my eyes and pushed myself up, someone helped me most of the way. Oh, I hurt so bad.

I looked at them properly. Lloyd, Genis, Colette and Raine were kneeling on the sand next to me. Ah, so I made it to Iselia. I bow my head in thanks and signed 'thank you', not yet trusting my voice. I don't know much sign language but I learned a bit both from my job as a childminder and because my dad is mostly deaf.

"Are you alright?" Raine asked. Huh. Her hair was actually silver. Shiny. In the game it looked greyish white and whenever people write fanfics about her, her hair is always gray. Here though, it is a metallic silver that is reflecting the light.

"Sore... tired..." I panted. I was breathing a little heavier than normal after not breathing because I nearly drowned.

"Good. I thought we might have been too late." Genis looked down at the ground. His hair was silver too. Sparkle sparkle.

Lloyd sneezed and I glanced at him. I then noticed that he was soaking wet and my equally waterlogged bag was resting at his feet. Did Lloyd...?

I bow my head slightly. "Fank oo..." Oh wow that didn't come out the way I wanted it to.

Raine smiled. "It is really Lloyd you have to thank. He was the one who saw you out there and swam out to get you."

I smile. I turn to Lloyd and smile up at him. "Fank oo... be dea' now... owe my life..." Nope, still can't talk.

Lloyd inclined his head towards me. His eyes were a cool slightly brown shade of red. "Dwarven vow number 2. Never abandon someone in need. I was happy to help. You don't owe me anything."

I coughed weakly. "Still, Fank you." I stare at him for a moment. I blink. He blinked back. "You ha... coo eyes. I nev met... 'n'one wiv... red eyes 'fore." Holy hell in a hand basket how long was it going to be before I could talk properly?

He blinked and suddenly that innocent, happy-go-lucky expression was gone from his face. His eyes turned dark and his brow furrowed. All emotion blanked from his face and his eyes seemed to be even redder. "Yeah. It's a family trait." He looked up at the sky.

I blink. "Ba' topic?"

"Yup."

"Shu'in' up." I turn my gaze to the other three and they seem very surprised by Lloyd's sudden attitude change. I was surprised too. It was even weirder when his face changed back just as quickly.

"That's ok. You didn't know. So what happened? Why were you in the water like that?"

I sighed and took a deep breath, trying to get me breathing under control. "Was on... transport ship... Pa'macas'a. I not posed a be... on it. We half way Isela... wev got bad. Came out nowhere. Storm hit. Ship went down. Don't member most o what happen."

Raine shuddered. "Yes, it was a rather bad storm. We felt it in Iselia. I can only imagine how bad it was at sea. Considering the state of the ship from what we can see I'm surprised you survived at all."

I nodded sadly. "Be my Exsphere. If I close to death... doubt any else vived." I turn my gaze out to see and see the beach we were on was covered in bits of debris. I had apparently floated on part of this. I close my eyes and reach out with my senses. The only mana signatures in the water were fish. I sighed and tried to stand and Lloyd helps me up. I end up leaning heavily on him. "Tank you. Seems I still nuisance. Sorry."

Lloyd smiled at me. "It's ok. No worries. Let's just get you back to the village."

I smile and nod. "Thank you." Finally, words coming out the way I want them to.

Genis picked up my bag and carried it for me. It ended up taking almost half an hour to take a five minute walk. When we got to the village I nearly collapsed so Lloyd picked me up bridal style and carried me across the village and into a building in the far corner.

I see we have gone into some kind of hospital room and Lloyd lays me down on one of the beds. Raine walked over to the other end of the room and wheeled over a standing screen and a trolley with a bunch of boxes and some towels on it. She ushered Genis and Colette away from the bed and pulled a fold out screen out. "Can you get dressed on your own?"

I nodded weakly. There was no way I was going to let someone dress me. I was twenty. I could damn well do it myself. Genis put my bag down on the table next to the bed and they all walk around the screen, except for Lloyd who walked through a door at the other end of the room. I guess it was some kind of bathroom.

I had been pleasantly surprised to find out they had bathrooms in Sylvarant. Sure, the toilet could use a little updating and it emptied into a septic tank that had to be emptied but at least they had proper bathrooms and not out houses.

I carefully peel off my wet clothes and open my bag. Since Raine had brought the men's clothes over there wouldn't be any underwear for me in there. I blush when I realise the only bra I had was a ruby red, sequin covered, half shirt piece of lingerie I had brought from earth. I bush heavily as I put it on as well as some black underpants. I blush harder when Lloyd comes out of the bathroom in a dry pair of clothes, his wet stuff in his arms.

He stopped and stared at me for a moment before averting his eyes and hurrying past the screen, almost as red as his shirt.

I quickly put some clothes on and after making sure that I was effectively covered and pick up a towel to start drying my hair. I called out. "Done."

"That took a while." Genis said as they all came around the screen.

I nod. "Had trouble with buttons. Fingers wouldn't move proper." I rub at my hair. Genis nodded and I looked over at Lloyd. "Lloyd? You K? You all red."

Lloyd coughed and turned away slightly. "Um. Yeah. I'm fine... um... sorry for... err..."

I laugh. "Is 'k. No harm done. Don't mind you seeing." I grin at him and he blushed harder which makes me laugh.

Colette smiled. "Well, as long as you are ok."

Raine nodded. "Yes, I hate seeing children get hurt."

I sighed and rolled my eyes. I was too tired, sore and ineloquent to carry on much of a conversation right now. "'M not child..." I muttered almost petulantly.

Raine smiled. "I see. Well, Mr...?"

I blink. "Drake. Drake Rise."

"Mr Rise-"

"Drake's fine." I interrupted.

Raine blinked and nodded. "Drake. I would like to keep you here at least for tonight for observation. I want to be sure you didn't get sick from the storm."

I sigh. "Kay kay... probly did. Get sick lots..."

Raine nodded. "Well, best to stay here then. I'm the only healer in the village. We have a doctor but he is out of town for a few weeks, there is trouble in the village just south of us."

I nod as if I know what she is talking about. I had finished drying my hair by this point. Ugh. And I would have to wash it soon. It was covered in sea water. Blegh.

Lloyd coughed slightly. "Um. I should probably get going. I just remember a thing I have to do for Dad." He turned and fled the room. Wow. Was he that embarrassed?

I turn back to the others and tilt my head.

Raine frowned. "I'm sorry. He's not normally like this. Lloyd is usually a very social person. I'm not sure what has gotten into him today. Anyway, you must be hungry. I'll get you something to eat and-"

"NO! No. I'll do it. Why don't you just... check to make sure he doesn't have any other injuries?" Genis interrupted looking rather frantic.

Raine looked like she was going to protest so I made a sound like a kicked puppy and whimpered, "I hurt."

Raine nodded and went into healer mode and started doing what I assumed was the magical version of a medical scan. Genis hurried into a room at the back of the building on the opposite side of the far wall to the bathroom. I could see some counters so I assumed this was the kitchen. Genis popped his head around the door. "Do you have any dietary requirements?"

"Can't eat fishes." I answer.

Genis nodded and ducked back into the kitchen.

As Raine was finishing the medical scan someone popped their head around the door. "Ah. Chosen, there you are. Lady Phaidra needs you at the temple. We have been waiting for hours now. Come along."

"Oh. Coming. It was nice to meet you Drake. See you around. Goodbye Professor." Colette turned and ran off.

I blinked. "Chosen? She the chosen?"

Raine nodded. "Yes."

I duck my head. "Oh. I sorry. I not mean ah get in way of de chosen's duties. Sounds like she posed to do some'in' important day."

Raine sighed. "It's fine. You don't need to worry. You couldn't help it. Besides which, they were just praying for the safety of the ship that was supposed to come in today. That won't happen now since it was the one you were on."

I blush as if it was somehow my fault. "Oh."

Raine sighed again and cast several 'first aid's at me. I sigh in relief as the aches and pains that had been plaguing me since I woke up slowly started to vanish. There was still plain and my chest hurt like hell but it was much better than before. "Thank you. Hurt lots. Better now."

Raine nodded. "Yes, I would guess so. Your ribs are fully healed now, though they will be tender for a while. The bruises and cuts should all be gone too. I would still recommend staying in bed for today and I do need to keep you under observation for the night. After that we can see. Did you have a plan once you got here?"

I shook my head. "No. Have Exsphere. Could lift things, or plough... could farm..."

Raine frowned and looked down at my Exsphere. I didn't have my gloves on now so it was visible. "You have an Exsphere? How did you get it?"

I looked over at the wall opposite me and leaned against the headboard. "Stole off Desian... Dead... he no use it."

I blink and feel tears fill my eyes. It was still hard to think about that. Raine nodded and laid a hand on my shoulder. "I understand. They won't be around for much longer. In two years Colette will receive the oracle and head out on the journey of world regeneration. You just rest up. I'll go and see what Genis is up to."

I nodded and lay down in the bed. Two years? I was expecting to have been shunted into the game at the beginning or sometime during the story line. Two years early? That would give me time to help Lloyd get stronger at any rate.

I was surprised how tired I felt considering I had been awake for all of an hour at best. I yawned and closed my eyes.

When I opened them again the room was getting dark and there was a light sheet covering me. I sit up slowly.

"Ah, you're awake." I looked to the side and I saw Lloyd sitting on a chair next to the bed. "I told the professor to go and eat. I'm Lloyd, remember? So... your name is Drake?" the way he was speaking to me reminded me of the way someone would talk to someone who has special educational needs. Like someone with Down syndrome or something.

I nodded. "Mmmhmm. Name is Draceena. Call me Drake. Means Dragon. Like dragons."

Lloyd nodded. "Any reason you're pretending to be a boy?"

I blush and duck my head. "Um... yeah... is a secret... not telling..." Especially not someone I just met, even if that person is the only reason I haven't committed suicide by now. "Feel safer when I'm tending to be a guy anyway."

Lloyd looked at me sadly. "You'll be safe here. No one in Iselia would hurt you. I promise."

I grinned, pulled Lloyd closer and kissed him on the cheek. Or I would have done if he hadn't turned his head at the last second. I blushed a deep red and pulled away. Holy shit. I just kissed Lloyd Irving. LLOYD FREAKING IRVING! Oh god... just kill me now before I die of embarrassment. I just kissed the only person who had kept me from killing myself and he doesn't have any idea who I am. Oh god...

Lloyd, somehow managing to keep his cool despite my unexpected and rather intrusive actions managed to clear his throat and carried on talking as if nothing had happened. "Do you have anywhere to stay?"

I shook my head. "No. Gonna stay at de inn till get work."

Lloyd nodded. "You could come and stay with me and my dad if you like."

I blink and look at Lloyd for a moment before I smiled. "Thank you. I preciate it."

Lloyd grinned and I grinned back. I guess staying in Iselia wouldn't be so bad.

Lloyd stayed with me for several hours that night. He gave me some food that Genis had prepared for me and he told me all about Iselia.

As it turned out, everything in the game was much bigger in real life. That made sense but I was surprised by how much the game missed out. There was, in fact, an inn, even though there wasn't one in the game. There was also a shopping district, a dock, a training ground and on the outskirts was a whole host of farmers' fields. The vineyard was also on the outskirts of the village rather than right in the middle of it. Why did they put the vineyard in the village instead of the inn in the game? It would have made sense to have the inn there since otherwise anyone staying in the village would have to find someone to let them stay the night with them.

After I had finished eating I checked through my bag and looked to see what was water damaged. A lot of it was in my wing pack so that was all fine. My first aid kit was in there thankfully. I had thought to put in it there before I left port.

I didn't have much else with me. Some spares of the outfit I had on, my pouch with my money in it, a map (which was totally ruined), my handkerchief (more paint on it than anything else), a canteen of water (Needed to be re-filled), some food (Way too far gone), some gels (Ruined), the mountain pass I stole is Asguard (Ruined), a coil of rope (Fine but when did that get in their?) And a pair of brown shoes (Ankle high instead of mid calf boots).

My swords were completely ruined. Metal and sea water was not a good combination.

Lloyd took all the stuff that was beyond repair and went to throw it out for me. When he came back I was already asleep.

When I woke in the morning Genis was there. "Ah... good morning Drake. Did you sleep well?"

I sat up straight and inclined my head towards him. "I did indeed, thank you. And yourself?"

Genis looked slightly taken aback and frowned. "Um... fine... so... are you hungry?"

I nodded slightly. "If it is not too much trouble... I would prepare something myself but it will likely take me a while to recover from the wreck, even with your mother's healing artes."

Genis laughed quite suddenly. "No... no... Raine isn't my mom, she's my sister."

I blushed lightly. "I see... my apologies... I had assumed she was your mother."

Genis shook his head. I could tell he was a bit weirded out by my actions. Just then Lloyd came into the building and walked over to us. "Hey, good morning Genis, Drake. How are you both?"

Genis looked sideways at me. "Um... I'm okay..."

I sighed and slid off the bed. I dropped to one knee in front of Lloyd and placed my right hand over my heart. "Lloyd... I humbly apologise for my actions and words last night. They were inappropriate and uncalled for. My actions were inexcusable and I beg of your forgiveness. I owe you my life and my actions last night were a poor way to express my gratitude."

That was not the way I usually talk but I usually got very posh and well spoken when I was nervous or around people I didn't know. Just like my speech became reminiscent of a toddler when I was ill, tired, hurting or any combination of the above.

Apparently 'near-death-by-drowning' has the same effect.

I glanced up at Lloyd without raising my head any more than necessary. He looked rather taken aback. Both he and Genis were freaked out by not only my sudden change in behaviour and speech patterns but also by what it was I was saying.

Lloyd sighed. "It's fine... I guess you weren't really yourself last night... you almost died..."

I nodded. "I was not in full control of my actions. The wreck had addled my senses." I had always wanted to say 'addled' in a sentence. "Had I been in control of myself I would not have done what I did."

Lloyd sighed and shook his head. "It's fine... I guess... just... don't do it again?"

I nodded. "I shall endeavour not to."

There was a brief silence before Genis said. "Endeavour means try."

Lloyd made a sound of understanding. "Right. Yeah... okay..." There was an awkward silence for a few moments before he asked. "How long are you going to stay down there?"

I grimaced as I tried to move my legs. "I'm... stuck... my left leg has seized up. I can't move it."

Lloyd let out a nervous laugh and helped me back onto the bed. Just then my stomach gave a loud growl. My face turned red. Honestly, I ate last night. Why was I hungry again? I normally went at least 24 hours between meals. Ever since I had come to Sylvarant I had been eating way more than usual. It was a real inconvenience.

Lloyd laughed and Genis grinned before heading into the kitchen without a word. Lloyd looked me over. "You kissed me last night."

I blushed bright red. Oh, god. I kissed Lloyd. "Um..." I squeaked. "Y-yeah... I... I'm sorry... I wasn't... um... I..." I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "I was aiming for your cheek but both me being in the state I was and you moving suddenly..."

Lloyd nodded. "Yeah... I get it... just so long as you don't do it again then I'm okay with it."

I sighed and smiled. "Thank you. It won't happen again." I would die of fangirlness if I did. Lloyd Irving is my favourite person ever of all time and beyond.

When Genis came back out with breakfast the three of us ate, joined a short while later by Raine, who properly introduced herself and Genis. Raine gave me another once over with her healing artes and cleared me for discharge. After I had thanked her for her help and apologized profusely for taking up her time I walked out of the building with Lloyd.

I shouldered my bag and grinned at him. Lloyd grinned back and rummaged in his own bag, pulling out a large piece of parchment which he handed to me. Apparently he had come with a new map of Sylvarant for me. Once I had put it in my bag he took me on a shopping spree. He bought me some clothes to replace what had been damaged by the sea and the storm. In the end I got an outfit that was the same colour scheme as my last one but with a slightly different design. I had to get new boots too. Lloyd also insisted I get some women's clothes. Just in case I needed them.

He insisted on paying for everything. I insisted on paying him back.

I won.

After shopping Lloyd led me through the forest to his house. As it turned out, Lloyd knew a lot about the forest. Including the perimeters of the territories of the two wolf packs, the Desian patrol paths and schedules, the different types of plants and what they can be used for and the best areas for hunting rabbits.

It was surprising how intelligent he was at times and how at others he could be as dumb as a brick.

We eventually made it to Lloyd's house and he showed me inside. "Hey dad, I'm home. I bought Drake." Lloyd turned to me, "Drake this is my dad, Dirk."

I nod at the dwarf. "Hello sir. It's nice to meet you. Lloyd spoke very highly of you."

Dirk grinned. "It's nice to meet ya, lass. Lloyd told me about ya last night when he came home. I'll keep yer secret for ya, no worries. I set up a room for ya upstairs. Ya feel free to stay as long as ya need."

I blink and smile. "Thank you. That is very kind of you." It was. I could tell he actually meant it. That was what made it so weird. No one had ever shown me that kind of kindness before...

"So what were ya plannin' as a career, lad?" Dirk asked with a wink.

I smirk. "I hadn't really thought about it. I have an Exsphere so I can do physical stuff now that I couldn't before. Since I'm stronger than your average human I can do things faster and without assistance. I don't really know what I want to do with my life."

"What about the docks?" Lloyd asked.

I grimace. "While that is a possibility I prefer not to. The smell of fish makes me want to be sick. I actually am sick if I eat seafood. I can work on a ship but I would prefer somewhere less... Oceanic."

Dirk nodded. "Aye, I can understand that. I don't do well on the sea myself. Have ya ever tried yer hand at the forge?"

I blink in surprise. "Um... No sir... I haven't."

Dirk smiled up at me. "Just call me Dirk. How about I show you some simple things on the forge and we can see if you have the knack for it."

I smile. "Thank you. I really appreciate it."

As we worked on the forge it became clear that I was better at the fine details and bits of jewellery but when it came to things like swords I just couldn't get it right. It made sense that I was good with jewellery, not because I was a girl but because I learned from my mum. She made and sold jewellery in her spare time.

By the end of the day I had made a few passable attempts at crafting a necklace. I would need a lot of practice before I was able to craft something worth selling but at least the bits I made it was obvious what it was.

Dirk congratulated me on my work and I blushed red. I just could not take a complement. Not that I deserved one. The work wasn't that good and I basically wasted his materials. No one would wear what I made...

Dirk cooked Dwarven pot luck surprise that night. I had to try very hard not to gag. I was the type of person that didn't mix things together on my plate. I ate everything separately. I didn't even use gravy. Luckily it didn't have any seafood in it.

Back on earth, the smell of sea food made me ill, I was sick if I ate any but it wasn't an allergy. Here it was. It had become a 'stops breathing' type of allergy. Much like Lloyd and tomatoes. I thought he just didn't like them but after Dirk asked me if there was anything I couldn't eat Lloyd had told me about his deathly allergy to tomatoes. Since Dirk was nodding I assumed this was true as opposed to Lloyd just being fussy.

Lloyd showed me up to my room after dinner. I was surprised how tired I was but I had been working in the forge for most of today and I did nearly drown the night before last so I suppose it made sense.

I put my bag down on the table. If I was going to be here for another two years then I would have to get used to it. I didn't want to stay with Lloyd for that whole time but I didn't want to buy a house. It would only get burned down soon anyway.

I sigh and pull out my wing pack. I was feeling a little homesick now so I decided to look at the pictures on my phone. I turned it on (luckily I had turned it off) and looked through the pictures. It was after I had opened the folder that I realised I didn't actually have any pictures on it. I mostly used it for calls, texts and music so there were no pictures.

I sighed and turned my phone back off before stuffing it inside my wing pack. I lay on the bed for a few moments, quietly singing 'Missing' by Evanescence. It seemed appropriate.

Someone knocked on the door and I stopped immediately. I hated people hearing me sing. "Drake?" It was Lloyd. "I forgot to tell you where the bathroom is."

I open the door and Lloyd grins sheepishly at me. "Um... The only other rooms up here are my room," he pointed at the room directly opposite mine, "Dad's room," He pointed to the room next to mine, diagonally from his, "And those cupboards." He pointed to three doors side by side opposite Dirk's room. "Downstairs is the main room, the door on the... Right when you are at the bottom of the stairs is the forge, the kitchen is on the left and the bathroom is the door on the left on the same wall as the stair case. On the right of the stairs on the same wall is the door to the cellar."

I nod. "Thanks."

Lloyd blushed. "Heh, I should have told you where everything was before taking you upstairs. Anyway, you should probably wash all that salt off your skin. It can't be good for you. There is a river that goes around the cottage. If you follow the stream behind the house it gets deeper and it's hidden from view of the house by trees and a wooden wall my dad put up. You can wash your clothes there too. It's not like you smell or anything. I was just saying the salt could damage your skin and it would be better to get the salt water from your clothes as soon as you can and... I was just..."

I smile. "Lloyd... You're rambling. It's ok. I know I smell. I need to bathe. Thanks for reminding me." I gather up my salty clothes (which I had not been wearing) and head out to where Lloyd told me the river was. The little stream got deeper behind the house and there was a little bridge that went over it. The stream turned into a river when it merged together and just as Lloyd said there was a bit hidden behind a wooden wall.

I took my time washing. I was so glad to get all that salt off of me. After I was clean, I washed my clothes. I did that twice to be on the safe side and hung them up on the line behind the house. There was nowhere else to put them.

After I went back in I bid goodnight to Lloyd and Dirk and went back upstairs. Sleep was hard to find that night. I was plagued by dreams of everything that had happened so far here. I also had nightmares about what was happening back home.

I woke several hours before dawn but didn't want to try and sleep anymore. I walked out of the house and sat on a tree stump outside the front door. I started playing with the mana in the air. It was calming and allowed me to clear my mind a little. Even if I worried about what was happening I could not do anything about it until Kratos releases Origin's seal. I could ask him to send me home then.

I gathered up some of the light mana in the air, there wasn't much since it was night time but there was some. I stared at my hand in shock as a small ball of light flickered into existence on my hand. It vanished as soon as I saw it but it was definitely there. I frowned and pulled more light mana. I grinned when the light came back. I experimented with it for a while. The more mana I pulled up the brighter the light. I played around with it for a few more minutes before letting the mana disperse back into the air.

I took a deep breath. I was much calmer now. I went back inside and picked up my swords. They were completely ruined but I could at least practice with them. I found a clearing not far from the house and started running through some basic exercises the guards at Luin had shown me.

After a little while I had built up a sweat and moved onto some more advanced techniques. I didn't use any artes for now. I could do that later.

I stayed out there until the sun rose and its weak rays of light poked through the tops of the trees. I breathed heavily and headed back to the house.

When I got there Dirk was awake and making breakfast. "Ah, there ya are lass. I saw yer swords were gone and was wonderin' where ya'd gone off to. Could ya go wake up Lloyd for me? He's gonna be late fer school if he doesn't wake up soon."

I nod and went upstairs to Lloyd's room. I found him spark out on his bed and chuckled. I crouched down next to him. I stare at him for a moment and jab him in the side. Nothing happened so a decided to try something. I channelled mana into my hand like I would with my sword when using an arte and focused on my fingers. I jabbed Lloyd again. "Wake up!" He jerked and woke with a start.

"Ah! Oh. Hey, Drake. Why are you in my room?" He tilted his head at me and blinked the sleep out of his eyes.

"You're gonna miss breakfast and be late for school. Your dad sent me to wake you up." I grinned at the excited puppy look Lloyd had when I mentioned breakfast which was then followed by a kicked puppy look when I mentioned school. I laugh. "Come on. Get dressed and come downstairs."

I walk out the room and hear Lloyd getting up and moving around. I went downstairs and smiled at Dirk. "He's getting ready."

Dirk blinked. "Already? That was fast." I smile and nod. "Well, help yerself." He sat down at the table and started on breakfast so I joined him. Lloyd came down moments later fully dressed and started on his own breakfast. When he finished he looked at his dad. "Ya got half an hour before ya have to leave. I was expectin ya to take longer to wake up."

Lloyd blinked in surprise. "Really? I'm early?"

Dirk nodded. "Aye. Ya can use this time to get started on that homework ya have to hand in today."

Lloyd groaned and went to a bag near the door and brought it over to the table. I laugh in my head and head out to the back of the house to get my clothes off the line. I take a quick dunk in the river to wash off the dried sweat from my work out this morning and put my usual outfit on. I felt much more comfortable in it. I went back inside and went up to my room. I put the clothes away in the draws and unpack some of the things from in my bag.

I may as well stay with Lloyd in school, I knew next to nothing about Sylvarant really.

When I was happy with what I had left in my bag I went downstairs and joined Lloyd at the table and peeked at his homework. I blanked when I realised that I couldn't read a thing. Up until then I had not actually had to read anything. I had no idea if those were letters or numbers.

I sighed when I realised I would have to go to school to learn this. I was not comfortable living in a world where I couldn't read or write the common language. I was lucky that the spoken language and number system were the same.

I sighed. "So, what are you working on?"

Lloyd looked up at me. "Maths."

I sighed. "Right... so those are numbers..." I muttered.

Lloyd tilted his head. "Can't you read them?"

I blushed bright red I had not meant for him to hear that. "Um... no... I can't read or write... I can do maths though. What have you got here?"

Lloyd grinned and pulled a separate piece of paper over and did some squiggles on it in lines. There was a gap between each one. "This is the alphabet and these are numbers from zero to ten."

I grinned and pulled the paper and his homework over and looked at each of the numbers. After comparing them I passed his homework over. "You have them all wrong." Lloyd groaned and I laughed lightly. "Don't worry. I'll help. Math is one of the few things I can do."

He and I worked on his homework for the rest of the time before we had to leave to get to school. Lloyd grinned at me as we left the house. "Thanks. You helped me understand this way better than the professor can and she's been my teacher for four years."

I smiled at him and blushed heavily. "You think in a similar way to me. It was easy enough to find out where you were going wrong." Adding random numbers into the equation from nowhere was a start.

When Lloyd grinned and packed his homework away I stared into space for a moment. I was really uncomfortable with the idea of being unable to read or write. Maybe it would be best if I went with Lloyd to school...

Ugh... education...