Free End Online: Volume 6 by D. Wolfin Page A

level. However, it also cannot be translated back into our
language directly. Can anyone tell me why?”
    One of the students at the
back of the class, a pretty girl with glossy black hair and appears to be fresh
out of high school, raises her hand and answers, “Miss Sylvester, is it because
their method of communication was too different from ours?”
    The girl’s answer appears
to be the general consensus, but I had a different thought as to why. As I
raise my own hand and am about to speak, Jude ignores me and starts talking
herself. Ironically, the conclusion I had come to was indeed the correct one.
    “That is incorrect.” Jude
glares at me as if to say don’t speak in her class and just listen. “There are
already tens of languages with different dialects within our world, yet they
can all be directly translated even if they are structured a little
differently. The reason the forgotten languages cannot be translated is because
they had words for things and techniques that we have never encountered before.
How can you translate a concept that does not exist in our current language?
    “To be able to understand
it, you must understand what it is that the word or symbol is used for. Even if
you cannot transcribe the name into our current language, as least we can
comprehend it.
    “Translation follows
comprehension. Forget about translating each and every symbol or word as you
go. Read and understand the sentence in the language that it is written in.
Once you know what is being expressed, you can begin translating it into
English or any other modern language. This is the basis of Philology and
Semiotics.”
    Several more questions are
asked by the students and Jude quickly and concisely answers each and every
one. I have to admire her efficiency as a teacher, but I still cannot bring
myself to like her.
    The entire morning is
spent discussing theory and philosophy of the study. There is no bell for
lunch, but Jude packs her belongings up at half past twelve and bids the
students farewell. Some of the other students seem tired and weary from trying
to understand the intent behind her explanations, but I am wide awake and
feeling enlightened.
    Just as everyone starts to
leave the classroom, Verity arrives at the door with a smile that entrances
both male and female students alike. Only briefly greeting the other students,
she quickly moves over to me, calling me “darling” before pushing me out
of the room. Everyone stares in disbelief, especially Aunt Jude.
    Classes for all three of
us are finished for the day, so we have no plans to stay at school any longer.
CaptainGordon, Mason, Matrix and Fen are waiting for us after all. As Verity
and I are heading toward the front gate where Markus is waiting, I can’t help
but recall my thoughts from this morning.
    “Oh, Verity, I almost
forgot. Why not just ask Markus to be your fake boyfriend? Surely he suits you
better than I do. Could it be that you-”
    Before I can finish
speaking, Verity hits me on top of my head from behind. She didn’t hit me hard
enough to actually hurt, but I wasn’t expecting it so I flinch in surprise.
    “You have no tact, do you?
Hmph, encouraging that idiot will only cause more problems. Besides, aren’t you
happy to have me as a fake girlfriend?”
    She tenderly rubs the top
of my head where she hit me, and I forget to reply in the moment of bliss.
Before I realize it, we are already outside the university and Markus is
helping me into the car. Verity waves goodbye before heading off to where
another car is waiting to pick her up.
    After Markus follows me
into the limousine, he gives me a reproachful stare.
    “W-what?” I ask him warily
despite already knowing it is about Verity.
    “I told you that she was
mine and you still went after her. What a horrible friend.”
    “I didn’t do anything and
you know it! She just went and did that on her own…”
    “But you didn’t refute it,
did you? Happily playing along despite knowing