North America / Kingdom of Yorkania (Crownlands of Manhattan): December 23rd, 1517.
It was a beautiful day for the world. The birds were chirping their songs as mankind went about their daily routines with smiles on their faces at beauty of the city, but also sad looks on their faces at the horror of it whether it be financially, emotionally or physically, yet if you were to look closely at a kingdom. To be more specific, Inside of a huge training courtyard, you can see boys, girls, young nobles, commoners and soldiers standing in long rows with nervous looks on there faces.
The atmosphere extremely tense.
(Charles Habsburg's POV)
"This is what she calls education" Thought charles while looking at the dozens of children and young adults standing in perfect lines across the courtyard.
Some were noble.
Some were common.
Some had swords.
Some had books.
Some had no idea why they were even alive this morning.
At the very front stood morgan le fay de' queen in a luxurious black and gold gown with her giant white sister lock hair resting over her shoulder like a royal snake that had decided to behave for the day.
Beside her stood merlin with his arms behind his back.
On her other side stood galahad de' bronx in black armor with a face as calm as polished stone.
"This kingdom is stranger than I expected" Thought charles while glancing down at a little girl holding a wooden sword backwards.
Morgan stared at the entire group for a long moment and said calmly "Today you will learn the beginning of Inner Force."
The courtyard was silent.
A young noble boy raised his hand.
Morgan looked down at him.
He lowered it immediately.
"Good. Fear has taught you manners faster than your parents have, moving on." Said morgan calmly.
Merlin adjusted his throat loudly and stepped forward while saying calmly "Inner force is not magic. It is body discipline. Breath, posture, tendon, muscle, nerve, blood and will moving together."
A commoner boy blinked in confusion.
"What dose that mean." Asked a noble girl with braided brown hair in confusion.
"It means breathe properly or embarrass your ancestors, young girl." Said morgan calmly.
The courtyard went silent.
Charles glanced at her.
Morgan did not glance back.
Merlin sighed and said calmly "Your majesty, perhaps a little less threat in the first lesson."
"If children are frightened by breathing, then death will find them by lunch, it is that simple, either the lot of you from experience or learn from death, not that any of you will be alive to say that you have." Said morgan calmly.
Galahad closed his eyes.
Charles could not tell if he was praying or trying not to smile.
Morgan walked slowly in front of the lines.
*Tak* *Tak* *Tak*
"Yorkania has produced two diseases for centuries. Educated fools and uneducated fighters. That ends with my reign." Said morgan calmly as she looked at every single one of them.
The children were silent.
"From this day forward, boys and girls will learn breath, numbers, arms, law, letters, posture, history, pain tolerance and governance. If you are too stupid for books, the sword will humble you. If you are too weak for the sword, books will shame you. If both fail, you may always become a court painter and disappoint me professionally." Said morgan calmly.
A few children had horrified looks.
Merlin's mouth twitched.
A fat nobleman near the back stepped forward and said with a nervous smile on his face "Your majesty, surely my daughter need not participate in the martial portion. She is delicate and will be married soo…"
"Return to the background where you belong my lord." Said morgan calmly with a wave of her right hand.
The nobleman stopped.
Morgan stared at him and asked calmly "What is your name."
"Baron worth, your majesty." Said the man with a bow.
"Baron worth. Very unfortunate. I see that your family name defined what you are, worthless." Said morgan calmly.
The courtyard became silent.
The nobleman paled.
Morgan looked at the girl behind him and asked calmly "Daughter. Step forward."
The girl stiffened, but stepped forward.
She looked about thirteen years old, with a serious face and nervous eyes.
"What do you want." Asked morgan calmly.
The girl swallowed and said softly "I want to learn numbers your majesty."
"Why." Asked morgan calmly.
The girl glanced at her father and said with a trembling voice "Because my father says ledgers are for men and yet he cannot count without drinking first."
The courtyard went silent.
Bagdemagus, who had somehow appeared seated underneath a tree with a cup of tea, suddenly burst into laughter.
"GYAHAHAHAHA. HOO…SHE COOKED YOU BOY." Said bagdemagus loudly while slapping his knee.
Baron worth's face turned red.
Morgan nodded once and said calmly "Excellent. She has eyes. Put her in the first mathematics row and give her a wooden sword. Her father is to watch silently and learn shame from a distance."
"Y…yes your majesty." Said a teacher quickly.
Baron worth opened his mouth.
Galahad stepped forward one step.
Baron worth closed his mouth.
"Improvement now return to the back as your family name entails, worthless." Said morgan calmly.
Charles watched her for a moment.
She was not only teaching children.
She was teaching the parents.
Morgan looked at merlin and said calmly "Continue before this kingdom loses more brain cells in my presence."
Merlin nodded and said calmly "Beginner level begins with breath. Feet apart. Spine straight. Shoulders not raised like frightened chickens. Inhale through the nose. Hold. Exhale slowly."
The children copied.
Badly.
A boy fainted.
*THUMP*
Morgan glanced down at the body.
The courtyard was absolutely silent.
"He has failed breathing. Impressive." Said morgan calmly while rolling her eyes slightly.
A few children looked terrified.
Merlin rubbed his forehead.
"He locked his knees your majesty." Said merlin calmly.
The courtyard was silent.
"Then unlock them before he dies from incompetence and makes me have write another decree." Said morgan calmly with a sigh.
Two servants dragged the boy up.
Charles looked at morgan and said nonchalantly "You intend to build a generation like this."
Morgan glanced at him finally and said calmly "I intend to build a kingdom that can survive men like you, charles."
The courtyard went silent.
Charles stared at her.
Morgan stared at him.
"Ambitious." Said charles nonchalantly.
"Necessary." Said morgan calmly.
Galahad looked between us with unreadable eyes.
Merlin smiled faintly.
Suddenly a guard ran into the courtyard at full speed.
"YOUR MAJESTY." Said the guard loudly, breathing hard.
Morgan's eyes moved to him.
The courtyard froze.
"Speak before your lungs give up and embarrass the army." Said morgan calmly.
The guard dropped to one knee and said loudly "Northern grain road has been struck. Three wagons missing. Two escort men dead. One village stripped of horses and tools."
The courtyard became silent.
Morgan's face did not change.
But the air did.
Charles slowly turned his eyes toward her.
Morgan stared at the guard and asked calmly "Who did it."
The guard swallowed and said "No banners your majesty. Survivors claim bandits."
"Bandits." Said morgan calmly.
The word sounded like a blade being cleaned.
Galahad's hand moved to the hilt of his sword.
Merlin's smile disappeared.
Bagdemagus slowly set his tea cup down.
Morgan looked at the children and said calmly "Lesson finished."
The courtyard was silent.
"Your first lesson in governance. Food is the spine of a kingdom. When someone touches it, they are touching the throat." Said morgan calmly.
The children stared.
Morgan turned to charles with cold eyes and said calmly "Come charles. Let us see who believes my roads are softer than my court."
…
THE END…