The Children Yearn for the Woods
(and that title is REALLY bad considering Kell's last name)
"At the end of the day, the principles of life in the Shroud are simple as they are universal, no matter where you are. They are all founded on respect. Every rule that you learn about how to treat the woods is respect for the land. Even the rule about poaching is respect for all creatures as using all of it is the best way to thank the creature whose life you took. This doesn't just apply to life in Gridania, but life everywhere."
Kellach had never imagined this is how he would spend the rest of his days. He taps the cane onto the wooden floor to signal the end of the class and punctuates this ending as the children start running around.
"Remember, next week is the presentation in front of the Fane, so make sure you know your lessons! If everyone does well, I'll tell you another story of my adventuring days! Have a good week, little ones!"
To think the Fane would welcome him as a Hearer in training and even allow him to teach children. He can barely cast Cure, Stone and Aero, and yet he's teaching children not about weapons, but about a society he didn't even grow up in.
Once the children left, he sat at the stump and pulled out his Book of Rites alongside a scroll mentioning a study of the Elementals. That alone was the reason why he was given this chance. Well, that and being married to one of the most preeminent healers of the Fane. That helped getting him in the door.
The similarities between his people's life and Gridanian teachings did the rest. Kellach once thought the scholarly one was his brother, yet he's the one in school while Einrich is... somewhere.
"While the dance ritual to summon the Elements did not succeed in helping me hear the Elements, there might be something else in this that mirrors the understanding of Hearing as a discipline. I've often thought that it was because I wasn't open to listening that my hearing was incomplete, but at the same time, it seems all hearing is incomplete in some way. Our mediators could call upon the elements to clarify or dispense judgement, while in Gridania, if the Elementals show up, something bad has happened, so passive hearing is a must."
Kellach sighed, packed up his stuff, and returned to the Fane. Eamont didn't seem like he'd need his help at the healing hut, and he'd rather not use Pom Cure or mimicry to help out as he needs to practice his conjury.
Flipping his cane like he would his fauchard, he mimicked a few thrusts here and there just to clarify his mind, not noticing a child had stayed behind and was watching.
"Teacher Woods, you can use a spear?" asked the little one, studying how Kellach's movements were far different from the typical Wood Wailer.
"Eh, not really. If you want to learn the spear, the Lancers' Guild is where you should learn it. This is just something I picked up in Kugane and Doma." No sense in lying to the child. Kell did have a short stint in the Lancers' Guild but once he learned the basics, he was too busy with adventuring to finish his training.
"Oh... It's just that my sister and I are in the Lancers' Guild and she wants to spar with me, but I'm no good with a spear... I practice really hard but I can't even do the basic True Thrust!" That happens - not everyone meshes well with every style and every weapon.
"You've probably heard the guild leader's lesson on confidence and courage? Because that's the thing with True Thrust - if you're not confident, the thrust will come out wrong."
That was one of the moves he'd learned from the guild, so demonstrating it, even with the stick he used as a conjurer's cane, was easy enough. Was it picture perfect? No, but none but the guildmaster could call him out on it.
"Wow! Is there anything you don't know, teacher!?" The child clearly had respect for the teacher.
"Practically everything about magic barring blue magic, advanced theories on martial arts, engineering, difficult carpentry, alchemy, advanced leatherworking, most of the history of Eorzea and the rest of the world, among other things." Kellach said, establishing the facts. "Thing is, there's always something to learn, so don't worry too much about not being able to be a good sparring partner for your sister. For all you know, that'll end up helping you out even if it ends up convincing you that the spear is not for you. There are so many ways to protect yourself and the ones you love out there after all. Now, you should go back home."
The child nodded and left. Kellach sighed - he didn't want to guide his student towards any sort of path because that simply wasn't his job. His job was to make sure he would learn his adopted city's social mores.
The less he placed himself in a position to wield weapons, the more he could concentrate on learning conjury and beating this mental block.
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