As Jack and Shen neared the dorms, Jack spoke, “Of all the peasant girls you could have chosen to pursue you had to choose Alice.”

“How do you even know Alice anyway?” Shen asked suspiciously.

“Not to worry, we don’t have that kind of relationship. And I advise that you try not too either. She has had a hard life. No need to make it more complicated by throwing a noble, much less a Stone, into the mix.”

“But you’re a part of her life.”

“Like I said, we don’t have that kind of relationship. And as I also said, you shouldn’t get involved with her.” For once Jack sounded serious.

Shen stopped walking and looked at his friend. “Why, what exactly happened?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Jack, please. Though I am interested in her, I have no interest in hurting her. She’s different than the others. I’m not sure how much, but if I’m going into this I rather not go in blind. You’re my best friend please.”

Jack sighed, “Fine. But I’ll only tell you for her sake. I don’t want you saying something stupid that’ll set her off. You don’t repeat what I’m about to say to anyone, alright?”

“I promise.”

“I have your word. Well, I guess it started a few years ago. Alice had barely entered womanhood. A sleazy baron was visiting. Alice caught his eye one night as she was heading home from the market. He followed her home and tried to force his way in, making up some absurd reason for his ‘legal right’ of entry. Long story short Emelia stabbed an eye out of the man and smashed his balls with an iron pan.”

“Emelia?” Shen couldn’t picture a woman with such a kind smile doing something like that. But then he remembered Alice kicking him in the balls, and the picture no longer seemed so farfetched.

“The baron wanted revenge on them and so he sent his men to attack Alice’s family before anyone could call the town guards. By the time the guards had come, Alice’s father was severely injured. The baron lied and told the guards that Emelia had attacked him without just cause. And who were the guards to believe, a baron or some random peasant woman? The situation was looking pretty bad, Emelia and her husband were going to go to prison and Alice and Lily were going to be thrown into the streets, where the baron then could take advantage of them.”

“What a bastard,” Shen clenched his fist. A baron like that was a true stain to the nobility.

“That’s the world we live in Shen. Anyway, right before the town could pass a verdict, another and more powerful noble family stepped in. They had heard of the baron’s disgusting hobby of playing with little girls. And so, with their wit and a bit of gold they were able to get Alice and her family out of harm’s way. They were freed from all charges. However, the damage had been done. Alice’s father was now a cripple and could no longer work. Emelia had to take care of the children and earn a wage.”

He continued, “Alice remembers everything that transpired the night the baron came, but despite that and the other hardships her family has endured she has worked hard. She studied hours on end and finally scored high enough to pass the entrance exams of the academy. Though it’s hard to pay for tuition they somehow make ends meet. Which is why you are going to pay her double for her tutoring. Got it?”

“…Yeah, of course.” Shen couldn’t believe the story he had just heard, how could such a thing happen, where was the justice for Alice and her family. And here she was still working hard. “Alice, sounds like an incredible woman.”

“She is and you don’t deserve her.”

Shen laughed sadly, “Maybe you’re right. But now at least I can understand why she was distrustful of me when we met.”

“She is distrustful of all nobles; her entire family is.”

They had arrived at the dorms.

“Hey, in the end what happened to the baron. Please tell me he was at least fined if not had his title and lands taken away?”

Jack smiled, “No, nothing of the sort. In fact, no one knows what happened to the baron. One night he simply disappeared within his own castle and was never seen again.”

The next day Shen met up with Alice and they began their tutoring session. Shen was on his best behavior and tried to be as polite as he could, having found a new admiration for the young peasant girl. Alice at first was hesitant teaching Shen but she soon found him to be a great student, diligently listening to her every word and asking the right questions at the right pauses of her explanations. At the end of the session he paid her twice the agreed upon amount, to her surprise. She didn’t wish to accept but he insisted, saying it was for the great job she had done. After that day, they’d meet each day and Alice would teach him about the histories of Asteri and the Gemini empires. At the end of each session Shen would pay twice the amount. Always claiming that it was because of her superb tutoring, which Shen eventually genuinely meant. With each session Shen would share a bit about himself and ask her a bit of her own life. Though at first, she was silent she began to open up little by little. The two found themselves warming up to each other, though not in the romantic sense, but as friends. Alice began telling Shen of her other friends who didn’t attend the noble school and who were busy doing other things ranging from working at a stall to hunting in the nearby lands. She told him of her family and her own hobby and love of reading. The more Shen heard the more he found himself liking Alice. She was different than anyone he had ever met and he loved it. Without realizing it he began to sincerely care for her, yet she hadn’t shown any inclination of the same. Not once through all their sessions did she laugh or smile.

“A hundred years ago the Asteri and Gemini empires signed a peace treaty at the hill of-

“The Broken Sword.” Shen answered reflexively.

Alice raised an eyebrow, “Sometimes I wonder if you really are as clueless on history as you say.”

“I’m well versed in military history, just not the rest of it.”

Alice placed her book down and looked at him, “From the little I’ve come to know about you, you seem like a hard-working person. And yet, from what you’ve told me you are failing your history class and your other classes too. Why?”

Shen couldn’t face her inquisitive gaze and looked away, “I used to work really hard for academics and stuff. But as it happens with life, I grew up and I learned a valuable lesson.”

“And what lesson was that?”

Shen leaned back in his chair, “When I was a kid I wanted to change the world, Alice. I really did.”

“But?”

“…But I learned that none of it matters, this world won’t change.”

Alice glared at him, “What kind of failure mentality is that?”

“I swear all you nobles.” She muttered, “If I was in your shoes, if I had the opportunities you had…”

Dammit. He had angered her. He hated it when she was angry. She’d stop talking about anything but the lesson at hand. Like his old tutors. Alice would stay angry for days at a time. Shen almost gave up hope when he remembered his gift.

“Alice, I almost forgot.”

“What? If it doesn’t have to do with the hundred-year-old peace treaty then I don’t want to know.” Alice said with a taut voice.

Shen opened up his backpack and pulled out a blue covered book, titled, “Biological Studies of Permaculture.” He slid it over to Alice, “I just got it back from the Librarian, she had it cleaned and restored. I have no use for it, but maybe you do.”

“This… You were the one who paid the book fee.” Alice spoke with realization.

“It was the least I could do after bloodying it in the first place,” he admitted.

Alice looked up at Shen and for the first time smiled. “Thank you.”

It was as if a sun had broken through her solemn demeanor. Her oak eyes danced with delight and her smile was brighter than even a charged quartz gem. It was as if he was seeing Emelia smile and laugh at once, it was stunning. He found himself mesmerized for but a spell of a moment.