Serafina’s Proverbs
POPULARITY POLL: 6TH - SERAFINA NÁV
“SCHEAT, WHAT’S A PROVERB?”
I’d been reading a picture book in the library when I’d come across a word I didn’t know.
Scheat had an immediate answer for me. “It’s a saying that’s been around for a long time. Kind of like the wise words of many people put together.”
“Huh?”
Scheat could see from my puzzled expression that I still didn’t understand, so he kept explaining.
“Take ‘giving wings to a tiger’ for example. It means that even though you’re already the strongest, you acquire something that makes you even more invincible. So picture Vice-Commander Sirius with a mithril sword facing me while I’m barehanded.”
“Oh, Scheat! That’s so easy to understand!” I clapped my hands in delight.
Scheat looked somewhat pleased with the praise as he continued with his explanation. “Another example would be ‘love is blind.’ In other words, this is the reason that the vice-commander gushes over your short legs and lauds the poems you write as the best in the world. Vice-Commander Sirius loves you so much that he thinks everything you do is great.”
“…I don’t really get this one.”
How could Scheat be so skillful at explaining some things and so bad at others?
He made it sound like my poems aren’t very good, but Father, Sirius, and Canopus are always praising them, so that can’t be the case, right?
I was still pondering this as Miaplacidus chimed in after listening in on our conversation from the side.
“Proverbs aren’t always true, though. Like ‘you can’t judge a book by its cover.’ That one means that you can’t tell what a person is like or what they’re capable of from their appearance, but with Vice-Commander Sirius, he’s just as fierce, merciless, and ridiculously strong as he looks.”
“He’s also kind and a big worrywart!” I said, adding my own traits to the list describing Sirius.
Scheat said nothing in response while Miaplacidus amended his statement.
“…I stand corrected. The proverb is indeed accurate. You really can’t judge a book by its cover.”
This proverb stuff is more complicated than I thought, I mused.
Scheat provided yet another example. “‘He who chases two rabbits catches neither,’ is another one that’s easy to understand. I tried to work out both my biceps and quadriceps at the same time, but in the end, I didn’t put on the muscle I hoped to. I should’ve just focused on one area.”
“Ah…”
I didn’t know much about muscles, but they were teaching me a lot about proverbs, so it felt like I was finally starting to get the hang of it.
“Scheat, Miaplacidus… I think I understand now! For example…”
I thought for a moment until I stumbled across the perfect proverb in my mind.
“‘Napping with Sirius means something is really pleasant,” I announced proudly, only to be met with frowns from the two knights.
“…I don’t know about that. I’d turn that opportunity down even if I was offered a large sum of money.”
“I’m sure that even if I slept next to the vice-commander, I’d feel like I was being watched the whole time and wouldn’t get any sleep. I’d be lying flat as a board, unable to move a muscle.”
Hmm, this is difficult. Okay, how about I make a proverb about Scheat since he’s right there?
“What do you think of ‘Scheat’s muscles’?” I asked. “It means something obtained through hard work.”
Once again Miaplacidus chimed in with a correction. “I’d interpret that proverb as ‘that’s all one has,’ or ‘everyone has at least one good quality.’”
Scheat shot Miaplacidus a seething glare.
Oops, I probably need to make a proverb that’s a little more fun. With that in mind, I tried another one.
“How about ‘Miaplacidus’s wife’? It means having a wonderful dream.”
Miaplacidus seemed to like that proverb and nodded vigorously, but Scheat just sneered.
“No, no. That means ‘waiting for something that won’t show up,’ or maybe even, ‘someone who lives in a fantasy world.’”
Miaplacidus lurched forward and grabbed Scheat by the collar, so I hurriedly said the next proverb that popped into my mind.
“‘Scheat and Miaplacidus’!” I yelled out. “That means two people who are the best of friends!! Also, two people I enjoy spending time with!”
The two of them widened their eyes in surprise and then looked away, embarrassed.
After adjusting Scheat’s collar, Miaplacidus said something that sounded more like an afterthought. “You had something on your shirt, Scheat. I wanted to tidy it up for you since we get along so well.”
Scheat smiled at him in response, “I see. Thanks for always being such a good friend to me.”
Then, both of them looked apologetic.
“Sorry, Princess. We were just bantering with each other like usual.”
“It’s just as you said. There’s no bad blood between us, but we do tend to be rough with our behavior. Still, it wasn’t right of us to act like that in front of you.”
They looked so adorable in that dejected state that I immediately thought up another proverb.
“‘Scheplacidus!’ That means two people who are so close that it’s like they’re one and the same!”
I tried combining their names, but judging by their sour expressions, my attempt wasn’t well received.
“No way! I refuse to be compared to someone who’s always daydreaming about a nonexistent wife!”
“And I certainly don’t want to be lumped together with Scheat! He’s more concerned about building muscle than interacting with other people! At least my future partner is human!”
Oh dear. They just buried the hatchet, and now we’re right back to where we started. They were just supposed to be teaching me about proverbs. How did it all come to this?
Noticing my gloomy expression, Scheat and Miaplacidus exchanged concerned glances.
“…The reason we can squabble like this is because we’re on such good terms.”
“He’s right. After all, the two of us have been in the same brigades for as long as we’ve been knights.”
Seeing them, another proverb floated into my mind, but I clasped both hands to my mouth to keep it in. I’d learned my lesson and didn’t want history to repeat itself. Thinking it might be best if I didn’t say anything at all, I bowed my head to Scheat to express my thanks for his lesson on proverbs.
But Scheat seemed to misunderstand my intent. “Oh? Are we moving on to gestures now?” he asked, his eyes sparkling.
I shook my hands wildly, trying to say, That’s not it! But Scheat, who was looking pleased as he crossed his arms, said something completely out of left field.
“Ha ha ha! Your bee impression is spot-on! Let me guess, ‘busy as a bee’? You’re talking about someone who’s very active, right?”
It’s a good thing I wasn’t talking because I had nothing to say to that.
He couldn’t be more off the mark. I mean, it’s not like I’m trying to play a gesture game in the first place!
But Scheat and Miaplacidus seemed to be on board with the idea and enthusiastically exchanged gestures back and forth after that. I learned an important lesson that day: Be careful who you ask for answers when you’re dealing with things you don’t understand.