Ask Doreen to teach me

"Doreen, would you teach me?" I ask.

"It makes me happy to hear you ask." Doreen says.

"It does?" I ask.

"Yes, very. Walking around London with you is a wonderful way to spent time." That's right. She's teaching me about London.

The purpose of these lessons is to learn geography and develop a good sense of the area, to make it easier to run if needed.

"Man... You're lucky. I'd like to walk the streets of London with him, too." Nemo says.

"There's not a single thing to gain from walking around London with you." Van Helsing says.

"There's a lot to gain! I have an extensive list of sightseeing spots that are famous for their souvenirs!" Nemo says.

"So you gain souvenirs? Nemo, Van Helsing surely didn't mean it like that." Victoria says.

"Any thief will aim to learn every corner of their workplace, Caleb. Getting to know London will be beneficial for you." Lupin says.

"Yes, I feel that way, too. I really appreciate what Gray is doing." I say.

"It's easy to speak of it in words, but London is a very expansive city." Doreen says. "I'm only introducing you to a small portion of London but I'll be glad if that information is useful to you. Mr. Caleb, why don't we change things up a bit from our usual lessons?"

"All right, I'm ready." I say.

After breakfast, Doreen and I walk the streets of London again.

Or, that's what I expected.

For some reason, he takes me back to the Tower Bridge, where we have already been.

"Doreen? Why did we come back here?" I ask.

"Ahah, I thought I would show something that I didn't tell you about last time." Doreen says. "In addition to the road we walk on, there is an access way above the Tower Bridge."

"An access way?"

"As they say, seeing is believing. It's probably faster for me to simply show you than try to explain. This way, please."

I follow her lead. Soon there is a staircase in one section of the bridge, and it seems we can climb up it. "Wow. I didn't know there was a place like this."

"Isn't the architecture unique?" We climb a short flight of stairs, and suddenly there is light.

I slowly open my eyes into the glare and see a sight of London that I'm not used to spread out before us. "What a view!"

"Isn't this a nice view? There aren't too many places in London where you can enjoy a view like this."

"Yes, it's beautiful."

"Dreams, desires, steam, machines, people. London is overflowing with a variety of different things." Doreen says. "I would like to talk with you today about this city's history, which is comparable to Babylon, a prosperous ancient city."

"Will knowing the history of London help me with self-defence?"

"Yes, certainly. A deeper understanding of matters is connected to everything, from your thought processes to your actions." Doreen says. "Understanding London on a deeper level will cement your safety within this city."

"All right. Tell me about it, Gray."

Doreen nods, then begins to talk. "London's beginning lies far back in history, and has its origins as a settlement of the Roman Empire, long ago. Since then, London has continued to prosper as the centre of Britain's history. Much like all other cities, London's development followed a natural path in step with advancement of civilisation. But thirteen years ago due to the influence of a single woman, Septima Pretorius, London deviated from the natural course of history and the world."

Septima Pretorius. My other mother.

I continue to listen as Doreen talks. Listening to her, I feel as if her words are spreading the history of London out before my very eyes.

She continues to speak about how London developed.