Tutoring (Shannon)

It came as a surprise.

Despite claims of being a very "high-tech" high school, Jin could see the library was rather the anti-thesis of that theme. It looked just plain and old like many of the libraries around. Perhaps this was due to some designing issue or some issue with school funds. Jin waited as the area started to become more occupied with students who had finally left their classes as the final bell of the day rang. Many of which came here for diligent study. He made sure to keep at least one seat saved for the female student from the previous classes.

From the corner of his eye, he could see a familiar figure coming towards the table he was occupying for just them. Jin silently gestured her to take the seat beside him to begin this tutoring session.

"Ah, you're just in time. So exactly what kind of help did you need in the subject again?"

Shannon had never been to the library before. She didn’t have the need to. She couldn’t read. Well, not in the conventional sense. For her, it was more of an analysis of strokes and patterns. She inferred meaning based off of those types of formatting. Even if she didn’t understand, she could just repeat them back, without knowing the meaning. Japanese was just the easiest for her, since she had been programmed to understand it before coming here. Sitting in one area was Jin-sensei who asked what she needed help with. She would take out the homework, pretending she could read the thing, “I don’t understand how their culture and accomplishments came about. I understand they probably stayed near the water so they had a source of nutrition, but that’s it. Past that, I do not understand why they did anything.”

After hearing her question about their culture and accomplishments, Jin knew where to start. Though this time he didn't have the luxury to use a white board marker and the board, he had to use just his voice. With his throat clearing itself, the teacher starts his lecture.

"Besides the river, they had something what the Mesopotamia didn't have. Metal deposits. This in itself could already open up various paths for them. Unlike the Mesopotamia country, they did not have to waste their times in wars to get such access. Since they already have this resource at home, they could already make tools for trade and protection. This led to a great trade by sea with an already lush agriculture by the Nile River irrigation. And it was from trade that they learned new ideas, like the Sumerian cuneiform that I've mentioned in class."

He paused then to wait for her to digest this flow of information. But he continued nevertheless.

"You must also know that culture is made from the need to adapt to their own experiences. The almost same reason why they had the need to create religion to explain how nature is the way it is. And if you continue to read on in the text, you could tell. The creation of the concept of 'maat' and the pharoah arises from religious belief, which also brings the fact that both culture and religion go hand in hand."

Hearing the history of Egypt was, to her at least, more confusing than an average student just taking notes. She couldn’t read, basically repeated information back without knowing what it meant, and she couldn’t add new information to her data storage easily. She would have to input it manually. The lack of ability to read made that very hard though. He said one thing that fascinated her though. Religion. It wasn’t part of her data. It wasn’t even a concept she was familiar with, “What was the religion of the Egyptians?” If it was part of culture, and her job was to be a spy and blend in, this technically counted at research for her primary goal. That she could use.

((I do know their religion. No need for a super long lecture.lol))

Jin raised a surprised eyebrow at her question. Usually it is common knowledge, through popular media, that the ancient Egyptians are polytheistic. Though then again... that does depend from country to country, doesn't it? He spoke once more to give more knowledge into her brain as such was his role as an educator.

"Polytheism," he began as his back leaned fully into his chair more, "The Egyptians believed in many different deities. Each one has their own story and their own role as a custodian in the world. Of course, they pray and try to appease these beings for their favor and blessings. Of course, there was one time when it turned to henotheism under a certain pharoah, but I believe that's around the New Kingdom of Egypt."

Taking out a book, he laid it out on the table before turning a few pages to the subject. Jin finally stopped at the image of a humanoid man with a bird's head in place of a human's. The figure was half-naked with white cloth around his waist stretching down to his knees as he held a rod.

"This is Ra. The Egyptian God of the Sun," Jin continued, "He is a major God in ancient Egyptian religion."

“Ra was a bird?” She would look at Jin-sensei and tilt her head, “Humans worshipped a bird and other gods?” For some reason, this didn’t surprise her. No one had ousted her as a robot, after all. There was one thing she didn’t understand still, “What would they pray for? Why would they pray to something they couldn’t see? I mean, you said the river always flooded over. Couldn’t they figure out it was a nature and not a god?” Shannon couldn’t fathom the concept of worshiping gods, not because she didn’t believe in them, but because there was no program instructing her to. The closets thing she had to god worship was following the orders of her creator. But that was science, not the magic of a god she prayed to.

"Somewhat. He is associated with a falcon or hawk at times. There's many other concepts humans would believe in," Jin answered didactically to correct her a bit. Though he paused for a moment in actual surprise at the next innocent question. It caught him off guard. He couldn't believe he would have to answer a question of something that should be common knowledge so far. But then again, the finer details are rarely known. Regardless, he continued with caution.

"People want many things," the teacher carefully began again, "You must first remember, technology and scientific thought wasn't as developed back then for many reasons. Most of them centering on trying to survive through their already limited life spans. And besides, human nature is also very complicated, Shannon."

How were humans complicated? She was made to be an artificial human, and she had been programmed and designed well enough that no one had figured her out yet. They couldn’t have been that complicated, or she wouldn’t exist. It was an impossibility that she couldn’t rationalize, “Humans are simple creatures. Every one of their actions can be explained through biological processes. They are the easiest things in this world to analyze.” And since she was based on one, that must make her simple too. No. There was one thing about her that humans could never have. Shannon didn’t have to fear death. She wouldn’t pass on due to old age and could always be fixed when she broke. Maybe that’s why she couldn’t understand the human desire to survive and hope in any sort of higher power. It was just too irrational for her, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t speak that way.” Her face, which had turned into anger without her even realizing it, changed back into its average straight-laced blankness. She closed the book so she wouldn’t have to look at it anymore, “Perhaps it would be best to ask about what the New Kingdom was, instead.” In reality, she just wanted to change the subject. She couldn’t believe she had such an outburst. If this were a mission, she could blow her cover that way.

Humans are simple creatures? The words that are exiting her mouth made this tutoring session even stranger than it should be interesting. It was like as if she were some humanoid creature that seemed so knowledgeable on the topic of man. As if she were demeaning their whole existence. Jin couldn't blame her if that was the case, but she seemed so young and it was unlikely she knew much about the world anyway. He kept his silence, quite unsure how to approach the topic. Though she did apologize for her outburst, which eased the tension to be more bearable.

"It's fine," the teacher with a small smile, "Are you calm now?"

The subject was to change to the New Kingdom. As prompted, Jin swept through a few pages until the title marked the topic itself.

"The New Kingdom came about when the Old Kingdom's stability disintegrated with the temporary climate changes shrinking the annual Nile flood. Of course, this caused starvation and eventually civil unrest since it is the Pharoah's role to "call" upon the Nile flood. So this discredited the pharoahs and the regional governors seized and held onto the power..."

“Yes, I am fine. Thank you, Jin-sensei.” Her outburst had been uncalled for. It was this kind of thing she was supposed to avoid at all cost. Blowing her cover was the number one offense she could commit as a spy. He moved on as she requested, which settled her down a bit. This behavior was not like her in the least. Maybe she was experiencing a type of bug in her system. She would need to get that checked at some point. He was talking, but she was just barely hearing his words by this point. This lesson was pointless if she couldn’t remember the information, “Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to help me, Jin-sensei. I must be going now though.” With that, she stood up, bowed, "I'll try and get better at history so you don't have to put up with me all the time." And, with that, she took her leave.

[EXIT]

As his lips stopped moving to end the lecture, Shannon now started to pack up her things to finally leave the room. Jin glanced at the clock on the wall, it had already been almost a complete hour with his lecture. It was about time to go. Back to the apartment to start getting ready for the next class sessions tomorrow. A good review of the knowledge he had already accumulated in his high school years.

"Of course. Any time, Shannon. I don't mind answering questions if you have any. It gives me something to do after all," Jin chuckled softly, "Well then. I shall see you later."

With the words exchanged, the two had left the library area to their next destination. As the Chinese teacher left the campus, he looked back at the expanse of its walls and the height of its architecture. Something told him his stay here may get a little bit interesting. He would just have to wait and abide his time for it. Finally turning around, Jin walked off with one hand in a pocket and the other holding his suitcase.

[EXIT]

OOC: Phil, S. Link go or no? I'm Hermit and she's Chariot.