"Maybe, I've never tried! You should give it a shot and see what happens."
Maea laughed along with him, marveling at how good it felt. When had she done that last? It felt like a long time, and it dawned on her just how tense she had become. Not only this Deepfrost, but... probably ever since her father died. That was almost two years ago. Things at home were alright, but there was always work to be done and no time for laughter or games, no one to sing or tell stories, and learning? Oh Caido, what she wouldn't give to have the chance to spend her life in pursuit of knowledge. His description of his early life, the potentials hidden away in the most innocent of places... it was as fascinating as it was alien to her ears.
"There are no real schools here" she said, still smiling but sobering somewhat as the topic became more serious. "Some learn to read from their parents, others have their children learn from the elders who can't really work anymore... But there are many who can't read or figure at all. Music is a luxury, something to do in your spare time - as if there was such a thing!"
Work never ended on a farm, and with the responsibility of providing food for the whole community the farmers and hunters carried a heavy load on their shoulders. Everyone did what they could of course, but there were always those who could not pull their weight, or who had other tasks just as important. It was a fragile system, easily broken and under severe strain with the influx of more people who did not always contribute in a tangible way...
"Learning would be wonderful, but you can't really eat books. So far, that has always been the priority. Farm to eat, eat to work, work to live."
Gods, how dull it sounded, even to her ears. How empty.
"Jigano... What does this place look like, in your eyes? From the outside?"
Maea laughed along with him, marveling at how good it felt. When had she done that last? It felt like a long time, and it dawned on her just how tense she had become. Not only this Deepfrost, but... probably ever since her father died. That was almost two years ago. Things at home were alright, but there was always work to be done and no time for laughter or games, no one to sing or tell stories, and learning? Oh Caido, what she wouldn't give to have the chance to spend her life in pursuit of knowledge. His description of his early life, the potentials hidden away in the most innocent of places... it was as fascinating as it was alien to her ears.
"There are no real schools here" she said, still smiling but sobering somewhat as the topic became more serious. "Some learn to read from their parents, others have their children learn from the elders who can't really work anymore... But there are many who can't read or figure at all. Music is a luxury, something to do in your spare time - as if there was such a thing!"
Work never ended on a farm, and with the responsibility of providing food for the whole community the farmers and hunters carried a heavy load on their shoulders. Everyone did what they could of course, but there were always those who could not pull their weight, or who had other tasks just as important. It was a fragile system, easily broken and under severe strain with the influx of more people who did not always contribute in a tangible way...
"Learning would be wonderful, but you can't really eat books. So far, that has always been the priority. Farm to eat, eat to work, work to live."
Gods, how dull it sounded, even to her ears. How empty.
"Jigano... What does this place look like, in your eyes? From the outside?"
