The next day, I made sure to go to the training room and get myself accustomed to it. I decided to start with level 1 and work my way up to the other levels. If I wanted to blend in this world, I had to start from the beginning, that also included history. I had already gotten an idea of almost the entire history syllabuses of Aetheris, though not fully, I was now aware of the basics.
The history text books went like this; It is said that Aetheris is a land mass surrounded by the ocean waters, blessed with minerals, fertile lands and nice weather, that people used to die of hunger and famine and rebels attacked people to get the little they had, the photographs were also included in the book's description making one feel heartache.
Suddenly, luck struck the continent when a mineral called Aetherium appeared, this mineral was a blessing because when it was unveiled, a transparent force now called the Veil which acted as a shield from what was termed as atmospheric partials that were causing the land to become barren showed up, covering Aetheris like an umbrella from disaster that had persistently frustrated the operation of the continent.
It was then that a few people around the continent chose to take matters in their own hands, they came together, mobilized and named themselves Aetheris Federation for change. They sacrificed their lives to fight the rebels and used the Autherium to benefit the continent. It took over 100 years to achieve their goal, with the veil in place, the journey of prosperity for Aetheris begun and was unstoppable. This has always been maintained by the federation to this day.
Looking at the map, it was very well clearly Africa but it seemed bigger than I remembered on the former world maps in my time.
My tutor Madam Amanda had arrived at a half past twelve and we were currently seated in the study room which the original Zahara usually used. It was well equipped with all the necessary requirements and textbooks that one needed. My 'mother' had also ordered for me brand new more broad history books which I was very grateful for.
Madam Amada quizzed me with a few questions which I smoothly answered. I praised myself for having foresight and reading earlier on. If she had asked me these questions unprepared, I would have lost the face to talk to Zahara's parents.
"Just as I imagined, madam Zahara is well versed with the history of Aetheris, you will surely be excellent when school resumes," Madam Amanda praised.
"Your mother informed me that your results will come out next week?" Madam Amanda added.
"Ah,...yes!" I quickly replied. I wasn't the original Zahara so I didn't know when those results would be out. I was trying to understand this place so all my time had been spent getting snippets of any information I could get leading me to forgot about school.
"Then when the time reaches, I will give you a more detailed schedule to handle the resumption of your studies and my tutoring time," She added as she packed up her books "Until then, let us be meeting from 3:00pm to 6:00pm every day? If the time isn't Okay with you, please tell me so we can make adjustments early on,"
"The time is okay with me, " I replied.
"Alright, I will send you the syllabus notes I personally made for you to review," Amanda said.
"Thank you very much madam Amanda for accepting to teach me," I replied with a polite smile, the internet books might not be so detailed as madam Amanda's, this was luck that hit me for having good and caring parents. Through my research, I found that madam Amanda was one of the best lecturers at the best University in Region C, her teaching me was all due to my parents connections.
"It's alright, you are a good student, most teachers would be happy to teach you. Maybe one day you will fully become one of my main students," Amanda replied as she stepped out of the house, her Zephyra already waiting.
Reaching this point, I bid her goodbye as her Zephyra took off before I returned back inside the house. During these past few days, I had gotten information on a lot of things about this continent and Zahara's daily life, so I was at least somewhat content. Blending in wouldn't be a problem.
No sooner had I sunk into the couch than a low 'Zmm, Zmm' echoed through the room. My terminal was flashing.
Looking at the caller ID, it was 'my cousin'- Amani whom I had been hesitant to call.
"Hello?" I said.
"Why aren't you switching on your video? Are you hiding something?" Amani's voice was sharp and playful.
I quickly activated the video feed. The screen resolved into the image of Amani, who was in the middle of what appeared to be a grand fashion crisis, surrounded by a whirlwind of dresses.
"There you are. Aunt Ngoni told me that you wanted to hung out and you would call me at any time, I was eagerly awaiting your call but I was bound to be disappointed. Are you hiding from me?" Amani complained, her face probing.
"Something came up, that's why I didn't reach out," I vaguely replied.
Amani snorted" Something always comes up with you. If you aren't going to some laboratory then you are at some library, don't you get tired of studying? " she said.
"My parents arranged for me a tutor so my attention couldn't be diverted," I said.
"That happened? Auntie and Uncle usually don't interfere in your education as you are always the top scorer, did you suddenly fail a class?" Amani asked with gossip filled eyes.
"No. I am just changing my major." I said.
With that, she seemed to have lost interest in the topic as she change into the fifth dress still unsatisfied with the results.
"Tell me, which dress suits me?" She said.
"They are all nice," I genuinely replied.
"Why did I even have to ask you? You don't care for fashion apart from those boring ceremonial outfits you always ware," She replied. I just shrugged it off. I guess Zahara and me had something in common when it came to that.
"By the way, I am coming to pick you up for the party tonight. I am also coming with a few friends from my school," She said.
"Now!" I was surprised at the turn of events. We had just been talking about outfits "I didn't have any plans for a party though?"
Amani looked at me weird for a few seconds and my heart escalated. Had I made any other slip as to 'Zahara's' character?
"What?" I masked my unease.
"How can you forget Jabali's birthday party? I thought you liked him?" Amani teased as she finally picked what I assumed was her final dress.
Having been reminded of that nut job from school, it further solidified my desire not to attend.
"Well I..."
"Keep all your excuses. I already told mum that you are going with me . That's why she allowed me to even go in the first place," She said" Do you really want me not to attend?"
Seeing her blatant attempt at blackmail, I weighed my options. My goal was to familiarize myself with this world, to live Zahara's life. The party couldn't be any more suitable.
"Alright," I agreed with the arrangements.
"Your the best! I will be right there," she said before hanging up the call.
I decided to get ready for the party. I have been on edge ever since I arrived in this place, might as well let lose and experience my first social gathering in Aetheris.