He clicked through the menus: 7th Grade -> Spotlight -> Module 8 -> Exercise 4 . There it was. A complex paragraph about "The Environmental Impact of Urbanisation." Artyom didn’t know what "urbanisation" meant, and at this hour, he didn’t care. He scribbled the translated sentences into his notebook, carefully mimicking the handwriting of someone who was tired but brilliant.
"The rapid expansion of cities has led to significant habitat loss," he read, stumbling over "significant" like it was a physical hurdle.
"Artyom," she said, her voice dropping an octave. "Your essay on urbanisation was... impeccable. Such nuanced use of the present perfect continuous. Stand up and read the third sentence for the class."
The next morning, the classroom was tense. Elena Pavlovna paced between the desks like a leopard.
The class erupted in giggles. Elena Pavlovna didn't laugh. She walked to his desk and tapped the notebook. "GDZ is a good map, Artyom, but it doesn't teach you how to walk. If you use the keys to the house without ever learning how to build the walls, you’ll eventually find yourself standing in the rain."
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