By the age of twelve, Tafari's world had expanded far beyond the palace walls. Noble tutors arrived daily, each bringing specialized knowledge—mathematics, geography, history, languages, and the subtle arts of diplomacy. The boy who had once observed quietly from a corner now actively participated, his small frame belying the sharpness of his mind.
"Prince Tafari," Abba Tekle said one morning, "today we will study the treaties of European powers and their implications for Ethiopia. Knowledge of foreign courts is essential for a ruler."
Tafari's eyes lit with anticipation. He had studied Italy, Britain, and France in his past life as Dawit Mekonnen, and now, in this young body, he could apply that knowledge. He began mapping trade routes, naval capacities, and the ambitions of foreign powers. Each fact, each detail, became a thread in a web of strategy that only he could see in its entirety.
Later, as the court gathered for a meeting with envoys from neighboring regions, Tafari observed the interactions with precision. One envoy, a young man from Eritrea, spoke nervously about loyalty and protection. Tafari noticed the subtle tremor in his hands, the slight hesitation before each word. Fear masks ambition. Ambition masks weakness. He gestured subtly to his first follower, who recorded every observation.
Ras Makonnen, noticing the boy's attention to detail, said with a smile, "It seems our young prince has taken a keen interest in these matters. Perhaps he sees more than we do."
Tafari's mind raced. Though he could not yet speak freely in such meetings, he had begun influencing outcomes in indirect ways. By arranging his small followers to observe and relay subtle cues, he ensured that decisions aligned more closely with foresight and strategy, all while keeping the adults unaware of his manipulation.
One afternoon, Tafari received a small bundle of letters, carried by a courier from foreign merchants. They spoke of trade, taxation, and political unrest. While his tutors debated the meanings, Tafari quickly analyzed them, connecting the dots between local unrest and the ambitions of foreign powers. He pointed to specific provinces on a map, signaling which areas required immediate attention. His first follower translated his gestures into notes, which Ras Makonnen used to guide decisions.
"Remarkable," said one senior advisor quietly. "The boy's insights… they are uncanny."
Tafari's historian's mind cataloged it all: the flow of information, the perception of influence, the loyalty of those who followed his guidance. Power is not only in command, but in knowledge, timing, and subtle action.
As weeks passed, Tafari's education grew more sophisticated. Tutors introduced him to the study of economics and the movement of goods through trade routes. He learned how taxation affected loyalty, how scarcity bred unrest, and how strategic investments could stabilize provinces.
One evening, Tafari and his first follower pored over maps of the northern highlands. "If the roads are improved here," Tafari gestured silently, "troops can move faster, supplies will reach provinces efficiently, and loyalty will strengthen."
The boy nodded, understanding without words. Tafari smiled faintly. The first of many networks. Knowledge shared, influence multiplied.
At school, Tafari also began learning languages in earnest. He mastered Italian, French, and even basic Arabic, knowing that communication across borders was essential. With his first follower acting as a secretary, Tafari drafted letters he could not yet sign with authority, anticipating the responses of envoys, predicting potential conflicts, and preparing strategies to strengthen alliances.
But boyhood was not without its challenges. Some nobles whispered doubts about his intelligence, fearing the boy's uncanny perception. Others attempted to test his patience, presenting him with false reports or conflicting information. Tafari, however, remained calm. He had learned to observe, analyze, and respond subtly, turning even deception into lessons for himself and his followers.
One day, a visiting scholar from Europe arrived, bringing books and maps detailing modern military tactics. Tafari's eyes shone with interest as he pored over diagrams of fortifications, cavalry movements, and supply logistics. He discussed each with his first follower, translating them into simpler concepts that could be applied to Ethiopia's unique geography.
Every lesson, every book, every map is preparation, he thought. Ethiopia cannot afford ignorance. Not again.
By the end of the year, Tafari had matured into a young scholar and strategist. His influence, though still subtle, extended beyond the nursery and palace chambers. Provincial nobles and visiting envoys began unconsciously following the threads he laid through his followers and observations. His first follower had become indispensable, acting as a bridge between Tafari and the wider court.
That night, as Tafari lay in bed, he gazed at the stars above the highlands. He reflected on all he had learned: diplomacy, strategy, foreign powers, loyalty, and subtle influence. His historian's mind cataloged everything, creating mental archives of people, places, and events.
I am young in body, but my mind spans centuries, he thought. Every lesson, every observation, every follower is preparation for the Ethiopia that must rise. I will not allow history to repeat its mistakes.
In the quiet of the palace, surrounded by the faint scent of candle wax and the distant echoes of soldiers, the boy who carried the soul of an old man smiled faintly. His first follower slept beside him, unaware that the partnership they had forged would one day form the foundation of a network capable of guiding a nation.
And so, Tafari entered adolescence not merely as a prince, but as a young diplomat, scholar, and strategist. Every day, every lesson, every observation brought him closer to the moment when Ethiopia would no longer stumble blindly through history—but would rise under the guidance of the boy who had lived lifetimes before.