The Soul Reborn: From Silence to Sovereignty Chapter 59

Chapter 59: To Teach the World to Think

They were finally ready.

The five scholars stood with ink-stained hands, worn quills, and wrinkled robes. Their expressions ranged from nervous to hopeful, eyes bright with curiosity for the future ahead.

I stood at the front, back straight, hands resting on the chalk-dusted table. Noah sat quietly in the corner, saying nothing, yet the room changed the moment he entered. The air grew heavy, as if even gravity knew to stay in line.

A quick throat clear and a grin set the tone. “Alright, professors… This is your moment. I’ve spent this past week stuffing your heads full of knowledge. Now it’s your turn to prove you actually absorbed it. Ask me your hardest questions.”

I watched on as they exchanged glances.

“Oh, come on,” I teased. “This is the only time you’re allowed to challenge me without being thrown out the window.”

That got a few nervous chuckles. Finally, one stepped forward, being the youngest of them, Edmund Valecroft.

My eyes turned, giving him my full attention. “Yes, Professor Edmund?” I said, pointing towards him with my chalk. I made sure to put emphasis on "professor" because I wanted them to stop calling each other "masters." It was just wrong.

He swallowed hard. “I’ve been thinking about what you said about illness being caused by invisible organisms called germs. But how can we be sure they’re real if we can’t actually see them?”

I beamed; excited he actually put forth a well-thought-out question.

“That,” I said proudly, “is an excellent question, and the answer is evidence.”

I turned to the slate and quickly drew a stick figure coughing into their hand, then touching a doorknob. Another stick figure touched the same doorknob and later began showing the same symptoms.

“We know sickness spreads from person to person,” I said. “We can test it and observe the patterns. People who don’t wash their hands or care for the sick often fall ill themselves. That is not divine punishment. It is transmission. We may not be able to see bacteria or viruses with the naked eye, but their effects are clear. With the right tools, such as proper lenses or microscopes, we will eventually see them.”

All of that equipment will come in time, once they learn how to build it. My role is simply to describe how it works and what it does. They’re probably more qualified for that kind of work than I am. I also just don’t want to do it. Haven’t I already achieved enough pushing education beyond its means?

At least when it comes to this world that is still so far behind my old modern one.

They were all scribbling furiously at my words as if I were preaching gospel.

From the corner of the room, I caught Noah watching me. His lips were raised on both sides, smiling stupidly like a man so hopelessly in love. I gave him a wink and blew a kiss, doing what I do best: getting the desired reaction out of him.

Alaric Thornewell was up next, who used to study the divine but now leans more towards astrology. “You had mentioned tides being caused by the moon’s pull on Elarion, but why doesn’t the moon pull people the same way?”

“Another great question, and the answer is because mass matters. The moon pulls on everything, even you. But the pull is incredibly weak on small objects. Oceans are massive, so the moon’s gravity has a noticeable effect on them. You, on the other hand, aren’t a giant body of water.”

Noah snorted, getting everyone’s attention.

I turned to Noah with a grin. “Do you have anything to add?”

He held up his hands. “I’ll leave the teaching to you.”

After giving him a look, I turned back to carry on. “Next!”

Berthon, the history buff, was the next up with a question, though he had some hesitation before speaking. “If the heart pumps blood through the body, what does the liver do?”

“Ha!” I clapped once, delighted.

I started drawing a quick diagram of a human body on the slate, slightly lopsided, but close enough. I’m no artist.

“The liver does a lot. It cleans your blood, breaks down toxins, and stores energy as glycogen. Think of it like Coldmere’s sanitation department and a storage vault rolled into one. Without it, your blood would slowly poison you.”

He looked visibly shocked by my words. “But we were taught it was the seat of courage.”

My eyes went blank, not understanding the words that just came out of his mouth. Those damn church teachings that seemed to corrupt the mind with misinformation.

"The simplest example I can give is that it works like your body's janitor."

There’s a strange feeling that comes with teaching people old enough to be your father. Still, I hope they grow in the direction I’m guiding them and eventually blossom into truly enlightened men.

Livia whispered behind me, “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

“I’m trying to show off in front of my husband,” I whispered back. “Let me have this.”

Another hand went up.

“Yes.” I pointed at the man who went through Bor’s insane correctional program that worked wonders on this guy’s attitude. I’m still annoyed about his ridiculous accessories, though.

“If all knowledge is built by questioning, how do we keep people from questioning things like loyalty to the crown or respect for the archduke?”

Noah actually raised an eyebrow at that, and so did I. Does this guy want another session with Bors? I mused.

“Excellent political bait,” I said. “Education teaches people how to question, not just what to ask. Leaders should be questioned with facts and reason, not rumors or rebellion. A just ruler earns loyalty through clarity, not fear.”

I’m a little guilty of being a hypocrite to those words because I sure instilled fear in those damn nobles so they would back the fuck off. But in the future, as long as they don’t start anything with me, I will leave them alone.

I turned towards Noah and smiled. “I trust my husband’s rule enough to teach people how to think for themselves.”

Noah smiled softly, arms folded as he listened, looking unwilling to interrupt his wife’s thunder. He does like giving me the reins in these types of situations.

Cedric Marlowe, the oldest of the five, cleared his throat. “I don’t have a question, Archduchess, just a statement.”

“Oh?” I perked up, anticipating his words.

He rose slowly, placing one hand over his chest. “I’ve studied philosophy my entire life and thought I understood wisdom. But this week, I’ve come to see how misguided our academic understanding truly was. You’ve changed how I see the world. Thank you.”

My throat tightened unexpectedly, almost causing me to tear up at such honest praise.

“I’m not special,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “I just came from a place that valued learning. My level was pretty average, and I only look brilliant because so few people have had the same chance. But that’s what I’m trying to change.”

I stepped around the desk and gently placed a hand on my belly. “One day, my daughter will live in a world where knowledge is not a luxury. A world where no girl has to beg for the right to learn, and no boy is made to believe that curiosity is a sin.”

The room went quiet.

Noah rose from his chair and came to stand beside me, placing his hand over mine.

“She will,” he said softly, “because she’ll have you to teach her and a thousand others.”

I looked up at him, my heart brimming with emotion. Then I turned back to my startled, scribbling, wide-eyed professors and clapped my hands once to recapture their attention.

“Alright, let’s wrap this up before I get emotional and ruin my terrifying reputation. I want each of you to write down three things you still don’t understand from this week. We’ll use those as the focus for tomorrow’s review. You’re dismissed.”

As they gathered their notes and bowed once, I leaned my head on Noah’s shoulder and whispered, “Did I impress you?”

He kissed the top of my head. “You’re incredible.”

We walked out as I hung off his arm; he was just as immovable as always. He looked down at me with a smile.

As we made our way through the corridors, his arm around my waist, I leaned into him, melting against the one person who felt like home. We stayed silent, letting the moment linger.

The torchlight danced along the stone walls. Muffled sounds in the distance of workers echoed from outside, but here, in this hallway… it was just us. Well… and Livia, who was following at a distance.

“Noah,” I said softly, my fingers curling over his. “We might actually have to secede from the South.”

He glanced down, a slight furrow in his brow. “You think it’ll come to that?”

“I don’t want it to,” I murmured. “But look at what we’re building. The school reforms… People are beginning to see me as more than just a noble. You’ve already seen it; for some reason they’re comparing me to an actual saint. This probably won’t go over well with the South or the devoted of the world.”

I stopped in the middle of the hall, turning to face him fully.

“I’m putting too much of myself into this land… our land. I’ve put so much effort into this place to create real change. Everything I am is now tied to the North.”

Noah’s gaze didn’t waver. He just listened, patient as always.

“I don’t want that bastard prince to have a chance to take anything from our land.” I said with a cold voice. “If he really does become king… if the crown starts trying to claim credit or authority over the things we’ve built here, I will not allow it.”

Noah’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening. “You know I’ve been considering it too. But hearing your words now, I can’t ever let myself disappoint you.” He said with a smirk as I returned a smile. “I feel it’s inevitable at this point.”

“I don’t want war,” I said, my voice quieter now. “But I do want control over everything we’re building. I want our daughter to grow up free from court games and royal decrees, to live in a place where no crown can shape her future unless she chooses to let it.”

He reached up and brushed a lock of hair behind my ear, the motion tender.

“If that day comes,” he said, voice low and steady, “then we secede. For now, let’s keep building up the North, and when the time comes, we strike.”

I nodded, my heart thudding at how cool he looked right now. “I’ll write the declaration myself!”

“Then let the world remember who taught it how to think.” Noah’s gaze made me wish very much that we could have one of those hot and heavy nights. Damn it! But Lyra is worth it, at least for a little while.

We resumed our steps down the corridor, but my thoughts hadn’t quieted.

“By the way, Noah,” I added, glancing up at him. “What are we going to do about those damn nobles who hate me because of what I’m trying to do or possibly something I said?”

He gave me a sidelong glance. “What exactly are you talking about? The one where you called them out for being useless, or the one where you redefined them and forced people to think for themselves?”

I snorted. “Take your pick.”

He didn’t answer right away, which likely meant he was already thinking of ways to bring them to their knees. That’s what I chose to believe he was planning in that moment.

“I mean it… Honestly, I want to throw them to those bastards in the South. Let them live down there and miss out on everything we’re building. Why should we keep them around? They only use their titles as shields and swords. They don’t contribute anything real, and I would feel greatly annoyed if they prospered from my ideas with that kind of attitude.”

Noah still deep in thought, I took that as a cue to keep driving it home.

“They’ll only hold us back,” I said, pressing the point. “The commoners are beginning to believe in us, in me, in the school. They’re starting to see the North as more than just snow. So why let a few arrogant leeches slow down that progress just because they can trace their lineage back to some great-great-grandfather who once was worth the name?”

His lips twitched, and I saw that gleam he had in his eye when he was enjoying my monologues.

“Before you say anything,” I added quickly. “I’m not saying we punish anyone just for disagreeing, but the ones actively spreading venom through their words? Those who are trying to undermine everything I’ve said just because they’re scared of losing their little ego nests. They need to go; I won’t keep fools who refuse to evolve.”

After that I waited for Noah to speak… My peace of mind was a lot clearer after I got that off my chest.

“We’ll start keeping a closer eye on them,” he said. “Kellan and Bors can monitor their movements when they’re free. If any of them try to organize resistance or sabotage, we’ll deal with it directly. You’re right, we can’t let this rot take hold in the foundation my beautiful wife is trying to lay.”

I gave a satisfied nod. “Thank you.” My body couldn’t help but wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him deeply. “That’s your reward for seeing it my way.”

After some banter, we reached the balcony that overlooked the courtyard. The wind had picked up slightly, tugging at my loosely tied-up hair as I leaned against the stone railing. I rested my hands on the edge, watching the bustling workers below move timber and stone.

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

“There’s one more thing,” I said without looking at him.

“Oh?” he said, stepping beside me.

“It’s about the cost of this newly built school. Right now, it’s coming from the Archduchy. Which is fine, but it’s not sustainable for what I want to build. We need to shift that cost gradually to the ones who will be using it for their children’s benefit.”

Noah nodded sagely, listening quietly as I continued.

“I want to turn it into a tax… just a small amount, maybe a silver coin from each citizen every month. In return, education would be free for all children, not just nobles or privileged families, but for everyone.”

Noah kept nodding, every bit the obedient husband he was.

“That way,” I continued, “they’re not just sending their kids to school; they’re investing in their future. They’ll be paying for their children’s right to learn, and when you pay for something, even a little, you tend to value it more. It becomes theirs… not charity, which I’m sure many commoners would rather avoid.”

Noah hugged me suddenly. “You’re truly too good for this world.” I couldn’t help but turn a bit red at his words.

I ignored my current feelings and finished off my point. “It’ll make the school system self-sufficient. It’ll keep growing without draining us. We build the first, and they fund the next. One leads to ten, and that leads to even more in the future. A true system that will take over the world with my name stamped on it, hehe.”

His body rocked side to side in a rhythm. I joined him in the motion, smiling as he looked down at me with such a look that gave me goose bumps.

“I love that brain of yours, Sera; I’ll have the accountants draft a model. We’ll start out small, as you said. Enough to fund the basics, and once it gets implemented cleanly, we scale.”

A smile bloomed on my face as my handsome husband fully embraced all my thoughts as if they were his own.

“I knew you’d get it.”

He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me in close. “Of course I do. You’re not just building a school but a future that will change everything. I’d rather fund that than ten more castles.”

“Damn right you would; what would we even do with ten more castles?” I laughed as Noah joined in with me.

The wind brushed past us, carrying the scent of pine. In that moment, I felt it… real momentum. Not just talk or a dream. A foundation with support and a North that better be ready to be flipped on its head.