The night and thus my training is far from over yet. That is a realization that dawns upon me pretty soon. If anything the polka dancing Agnieszka suggested is even worse than the rest. Not only do I have to mind my own steps and my own posture. No, I have to pay close attention to Agnieszka as well.

Polkas and the dances that go with them are supposed to be fun. Right now I feel like I'm being put through the wringer by a drill sergeant again though. She seems to miss nothing. Even the smallest mistake catches her eye. Oh, gods and goddesses, if this keeps going much longer it will be the death of me!

Muscles I didn't know I had just the other day ache now, as she corrects my general posture as well. Oh, gods and goddesses, how they ache!

Still, I can't just give up. I promised I would give it my all. I can't go back on that now. And hopefully it will help make sure I don't make a fool of myself at the actual dance. Thus it isn't all good, but I'm willing to bear with it.

Maybe it will even get better after a while? Supposedly hard training is like that some times. I have some doubts in that regard, but I can hope, or can't I? There is the distinct possibility that my trainers will just increase the difficulty after all. Well, I guess I'll find out soon enough.

Well past midnight, after a second break during which I actually have to drink the other stamina potion, the training regime changes once more. Curiously enough, it is almost like a game.

Rafal throws colorful lights at me which I have to dodge, while Agnieszka takes a longer break. She is quite resolute, but she really isn't as young as me anymore. She needs a little more time to catch her breath. A stamina potion, even a pretty damn good one, can only do so much in the end.

Dodging those colorful, glowing, dancing lights is actually pretty hard, as the bard can control their movement somehow with his lute. Some he sends circling while others come rushing at me.

And while it might look like a fun game at a first glance, it really isn't, as I quickly find out when I fail to dodge for the first time. As the light makes contact it dissolves into bright flash accompanied by a dissonant cacophony of notes that send me to the ground with my hands clutching my ears.

“Oh gods and goddesses! What is that for?”

Rafal stops playing for a moment to explain.

“It is one of my spells. It is called Dissonant Distraction, although if more power is put into it, it can become a dissonant destruction as well. I won't do that to you though, so don't worry.”

By this point Agnieszka has recovered enough to add her own explanation as well.

“The midsummer night dance is by far the most exciting. There is a lot more than just dancing to it.”

She points out towards the center of the fairground.

“There actually won't be a big fire. Instead we will have many smaller around the edge of the clearing. Instead there will be a big bull enclosure at the center, where those daring enough can play tag with an Auroch bull caught for the occasion.”

I pale a little at the suggestion. It isn't the first time I hear about it though. Someone has already mentioned jumping the bull sometime recently after all. Oh my!

Although Agnieszka seems to notice my reaction she continues unabated.

“Some dance around it, while others distract it with sweet wine.”

She chuckles briefly.

“Curiously enough, the beasts usually quickly learn to appreciate the wine. Seems like there are things we all have in common. Anyway, most dancers just play tag with it. Some actually jump it though.”

“They … jump it?”

It sounds impossible. Aurochs supposedly are big, much bigger than the domesticated cows we have around here and some of them can already get scary big. How would one jump over a beast a like that? I can't help it. It really does sound impossible.

Before I can inquire any further Rafal speaks up again, accompanied by a curious melody he plays on his instrument. Again colorful lights form. This time around they don't take the shape of simple spheres though. Instead one morphs into a massive bull. While the other takes a humanoid shape.

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The difference in size does not exactly inspire much confidence in me. Thankfully the bard's voice has a soothing effect.

“We call it jumping the bull, but it is in fact a little more complicated than that. It takes both courage, some acrobatics and fine timing to get right. Overall, it isn't an easy feature.”

As he explains the two illusionary figures move along in a matching, dangerous dance of sorts.

“First, contrary to what your instincts might tell you, you have to charge straight at the bull for a successful jump. You really need to build as much momentum as possible. The faster you run at the bull while it charges at you in turn, the better.”

I swallow hard, but let him continue without interrupting him, mesmerized by the illusory display guided by the tune he is playing.

“Then, when it lowers its head, just when you are about to be trampled, you need to jump as hard as you can while grabbing its horns.”

I'm getting a little faint at this point, but I can't look away from the display.

“The bull will do the rest. When you grab the horns it will usually throw back its head, adding even more momentum. It will send you flying higher and further than you could manage on your own.”

Then Agnieszka decided to pipe in again while the bard focuses on the tune her is playing and the illusion it creates.

“By this point you should already focus on your landing. If you were fast enough and if the bull threw you properly, you should land well behind it, out of the reach of its hind legs just in case it should decide to buck and kick.”

I can only nod as the illusion displays what she describes.

“If you can, you should try to stand the landing. If you break into a run right away again, that is alright as well. If you can't keep your balance, try to roll forward. You really have to get up pretty much right away again. You don't want to lie on the ground with an angry bull around. Getting trampled is no fun in the best of cases, and well, I think I don't have to describe the worst case. Right?”

By this point my throat has gone a little dry, so I drink a sip of wine, before I finally speak up.

“Do I … do I really have to do that?”

My companions shrug and the older woman answers.

“You don't have to. You probably should though. Remember, you really don't want to bore the Spring Prince. Even worse, since he is your date, of sorts, for this dance, you don't want to annoy the Summer Queen either since it is supposed to be her great day. She will already be irked as is when he shows up. You really should try to appease her, since he most certainly will not waste any thoughts on things like that.”

Rafal nods in agreement.

“Yes, the fair folk can be selfish brats like that. Only ever interested in their own fun, not caring for the consequences their fun has for others.”

He shakes his head, as his current tune comes to an end and the two illusions dissipate.

“So, you don't have to, but it might be for the better. Especially since you might have to compete with some others for the prince's attention.”

I groan.

“He makes me promise him a dance and then I have to compete for his attention?”

Agnieszka sighs and nods.

“Yes, sadly. It might not be easy either. You heard that Danuta is looking to get a new dress, right?”

I groan again. At the same time I pale.

“How am I supposed to compete with Danuta? Especially if she really gets a fairy gossamer dress! One made by the best seamstress to be found in this part of the world! One she might just ask me to enchant for her!”

Rafal pats my back while Agnieszka laughs out loud.

After emptying my cup I drop back into the grass to seek some solace among the stars above. They are really extraordinarily pretty this late at night.

Rafal is the first to speak up again.

“That is why we would like to prepare you for the jump. We are pretty certain that Danuta won't do something like that. Her … uh … build, it is a little too unbalanced for acrobatics like that. Probably.”

Then Agnieszka decided to add another little tidbit.

“You might have another ace up your sleeve. You looked through the clothes your grandmother left you, didn't you?”

I nod and she continues.

“Then you probably found that special dress as well, didn't you? No one said that Danuta has to be the only witch wearing an enchanted fairy gossamer dress after all.”

Gods and goddesses! Of course she has to bring up that dress. I turn to face her without getting up.

“You know, wearing that dress might take more courage than running straight at a wild charging bull with murder on its mind.”

My two mentors burst out laughing again.

“Don't you worry. We will build that courage of yours, among other things. No, how about we get back to training? We haven't come out here to nap under the stars after all.”

With a groan I get back up and we resume my training regime. It doesn't take long for my dress to be soaked in sweat and covered in grass stains again, at least briefly.