Ares sorts out the teaching as well as the first Patrician, and then also his intentions of creating more units as part of the Phoenix Guard.

The evening meal had come, and Ares had quite a bit of time playing with the various children as he thought about what he wished to do for the next few weeks. He had a few loose ends he had to deal with, or rather just some knots that he had tie up.

Again there was dancing, music, and much closeness of his people. He was glad to see that everyone was enjoying himself and that’s when he saw Emerli, Emerli of all people, joining them at the table. She sat between Lana and Ares, of course, but Ares welcomed her eagerly.

“How have you been?” He asked her, smiling wide.

Emerli looked aside and just nodded her head. Many were still not entirely welcoming of a witch, but considering who Ares was and what exactly he had revealed himself to be, they had become far more accepting of others, or at least that’s what Ares had hoped would happen.

The thought of so many oxfolk joining and ruining such a balance did weigh on his mind, but he quickly tossed the thought away. He cleared his throat and sat up once he was halfway through his meal.

“Sorry to bother you all, but I will continue to impose such.” He laughed before then starting to walk through the path in the middle where they had been dancing. “I told you that I had much to speak to you about in the evening, and so I hope you will be willing to listen.” He made sure his voice carried far. “I wish to state that I will be composing a new guard, similar to that of the Marching Blades and Roaring Tridents, though they will be specifically be for protecting the royal family, not myself, but of my children and … my partner.” He said awkwardly, before he cleared his throat. He looked back to Rori, who nodded at him.

He sighed. “Wife. My wife. My wives, perhaps. I have spoken a little with the Consul, though I am still uncertain what would be fair in that matter, so I ask for some time in that regard.” He bowed his head. “Still. I do want to create guard, known as the Phoenix Guard. I will first ask those within the Marching Blades and Roaring Tridents, whom hold the same rank as one another, and will hold the same rank as the Phoenix Guard, though their duties may be different. Then I will ask those of the soldiers that are in our army already, and if the numbers have yet to fill, I shall personal train whoever else wishes to join. In fact, I will personally train all three of such groupings.” He glanced around and then nodded his head. “Still, I will have to speak with a few that I have in mind.”

He then went to grab a bowl to sip some more and drank an entire cup, sighing out before then returning back to the middle. “Secondly, I have realised that the role I had for a dear friend was taken by the formation of such a thing. I would not dishonour him in such a way, so I ask of him to accept another post.” Ares turned to look at Torak. “I shall form the first Patrician, though I suppose you are the third of your kind. A Patrician is someone that will be tasked with teaching the royal family, the children, and will be a man or woman…” He thought of Levi. “Uh, or thing? They shall be a being of impeccable character and will be what people will aspire to be in many capacities.” He glanced at Torak. “I hope he will give me an answer in private, but we will continue to perhaps a far more important matter at hand.” He cleared his throat and then looked out to his people once more.

“I will personally begin to teach you in the ways of maths and such. I will teach you basic maths, and then will go on to teach…” Ares then realised. “Or rather, we should also learn language. How to read and write, among many other things. We shall do these two things, for they are most valuable in everyday life, both for the people around us as well as to defend ourselves with. An educated populace is perhaps the only way forward into the future. Education will be compulsory, as well as military service, and learning a great many skills. We will train for such a thing from youth and this will continue until we are elderly, for we should never stop learning. Now there are times where one will learn less, and there are times when one will learn more, and there may times when one cannot learn at all, all of these are fine. I ask you to improve yourself, for yourself, for your people, for everyone.” Ares said as he looked around.

“From now on I will teach the children, along with many others to make sure they understand maths, and then the teachers will teach their tribe whenever it pleases the tribe most.” Ares rubbed his forehead. “Though that being said, when I say tribe, I merely mean the community you live with. You are all Riveans, and you are Riveans first.” He bowed his head.

“I will need some time to think about how I should implement such a thing… however, please, be merry and eat.” He bowed his head once again and then left, going off to eat his own food. He was glad that everyone here was so merry generally, otherwise it would have been difficult.

Ares kept an eye on his food. He would have to be careful to not become too authoritative, there was a great danger in such things and it would not do for him to lead his people in such a backwards manner. He was hoping the roads he paved would be improved for the later generations. As far as he was away, when he died he would revive, but he wasn’t sure how that would look. Would he be himself? Would he be Ares? Would he remember? He hoped that if he did die, he would come back much later in case he came back as an enemy to his own people, and worst of all, if he would go against his children.

He looked over to his three children. He would need to teach them well, and Torak as well, if there was any hope of a bright future. He sighed and then rubbed his head. Emerli placed a hand on his knee and he looked up at her with a raised brow.

She cocked her head to one side, a look of confusion in her eyes. When he saw into her innocent, curious, and worried eyes, he just smiled.

“Everything is fine.” Ares said as he then reached up to pet her head. He was glad he had so many people around him that cared for him. What an interesting life he was leading.