The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 197: Then, where did you learn, Little Tiger?

I got excited for no reason.

But I guess I shouldn’t have had my hopes up too much when he mentioned Education in this world.

The education over here is somewhat similar to the one in my world because there is someone who teaches the tribesmen from when they are young and then there are also subjects they learn when they cross a particular age.

They learn about fruits, about other tribesmen, and about their own bodies. Someone like Noah has already received advanced education where he learns about how his rut activates and about a female, how to take care of them when they conceive, and what not to let them do.

So basically, it ’is’ education, but not the kind I was looking forward to.

Still, it was a great improvement.

"Fenric," I called and he tilted his head over.

"Yes, Arinya?"

"How old are you?" He stopped, tilting even more as he stared at me in confusion. The term was foreign to him, I suppose. But I don’t believe they don’t calculate their years since they were born.

I turned to Noah.

"How old are you?"

"21." He said and I inched closer again.

Oh my, he’s about the same age as I was before I entered this world.

"Do they teach you guys numbers and how to count as well?" I asked and his nose shot up in the air, pride radiating around him.

"Of course." He said and I nodded. Yeah, it was something to be proud of but...

"To what number?" I asked and he paused, darting his eyes away.

"Ahem, why do you ask when you don’t even know them?" He was avoiding my eyes and I laughed.

"I see. You hate math, huh?" I laughed some more.

Here, counting and numbers may be considered advanced even if it’s not in my world. And it’s math, regardless. There are a lot of people who hate math, myself included. So while I may know all the numbers as it is child’s play back in my world, I do not know all the equilibrium, quadratic equations, and I never got to the end of finding ’x’. Literally.

So, I get where he’s coming from.

"Why do you think Ari doesn’t know?" Damar asked, his eyes looking arrogantly at Noah’s. "Ari probably knows it more than you do. She knows everything."

Ahem, I wouldn’t say I know everything but he does her my value.

Noah looked at me and then laughed.

"And what could they have thought you in that tribe of yours?" He asked and I pouted.

Yeah, that tribe was worthless no doubt.

"I didn’t learn from that worthless tribe." She said, flipping her hair back. Even if they had the privilege to learn, they probably would’ve cast Arinya out for one reason or another, making her stay illiterate.

The thought of it pisses me off.

"Then, where did you learn, Little Tiger?" He dropped his chin on the back of his palm, his elbow resting on his knee. "I really want to know."

"Well, you can’t know," I said. "It is true that I’m very knowledgeable as Damar said, but I don’t know everything. An example is how I did not even know what was going on with my body until you told me."

"Hm, fair."

"In any case, I can reach you the rest of the numbers if you still doubt me," I said and he flinched, his eyes darting again.

"Instead of teaching me, just tell me. I think that’s enough for me to believe." He said but then shook his head, sighing. "No, no, you don’t have to tell me either. With that confidence, and how you already know so much without me dropping the facts, I’m sure you’re telling the truth."

I smiled, watching them silently growl at each other but then I paused.

"Noah," I called, the smile falling from my lips, replaced with a serious gaze. "I... Did not force you into this, did I?"

They all flinched, frozen in place as I asked this.

Noah looked at me, his lips twisted but not in disdain or contempt. He looked like he was trying to figure me out.

"You enjoyed your freedom and no responsibilities up until now, did I... Forcefully take that away from you?" As soon as those words left my lips, his fingers flicked my forehead and sent my head back in shock.

Fenric and Damar gasped, aiming for Noah’s neck because he had just hurt me, and Noah did not resist.

He still did not say anything, and I looked at the dark sky, my head resting back. Suddenly, I stifled a laugh.

I dropped my head, laughing so hard that they grew worried. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Yeah, you’re right. I’m overthinking it." I said, but Fenric and Dark exchanged glances, wondering if a conversation had been held that they did not hear.

"There is no way you’d still be here if you hated this situation, right? And your eyes don’t hold a grudge. Rather, they hold a light, like you’ve found something you didn’t know you were looking for." I explained and he smiled.

"You’ve got a great talent for reading others." He said. "I’m glad I helped you open your eyes."

"Yeah, I’m glad too."

I would’ve worried about this for a long time, wondering if Noah had a good heart, and that was what led him to be in this situation with him. He smelled my scent, but that’s not enough justification to tie him to me.

But if he says he doesn’t hate it, and in fact enjoys it, I don’t see why I need to beat myself up for it.

I clasped my hands together, smiling from ear to ear.

"Alright, family," I called, beaming. "Let’s get along well. And you know what helps with getting along? Sharing a delicious cooked meal. So, bring out the rice."

But they did not move.

Fenric and Damar looked worried and I remembered I’ve been having a bad meal time for days now.

"Oh, right. I can’t eat." I said, my ears slumping sadly.

"What do you mean you can’t eat?" Noah asked and I touched my belly.

"Well, I’ve been having morning sickness so I throw up everything that’s not a fruit," I said softly.

"Hm, then there’s no problem. That was ’before’ the cubs in your belly stabilized, you know." He said and I raised my head. "Right now, you should have no problem taking in anything. Trust me on that."

My eyes gleamed.

"Really?"