Chapter 18: The Moonlight Pavilion
The meeting to hash out details about the training dungeon took less than 30 minutes. The students were to brave the dungeon in the order of their ranking. Uzman was to enter first followed by Ishraq who still retained the first warrior position in the Academy. The challenges inside would involve fighting various types of beasts that would come in singles, pairs, or waves. There would also be challenges to test speed, strength, and intelligence. The students were given one day to prepare psychologically for the dungeon run.
“What are you planning to do for the rest of the day?” Jurdur asked Uzman.
“I want to go and meditate. I am trying to figure out how to project a shield like my last opponent."
Jurdur laughed heartily “Damn, it was awesome.”
“But not as awesome as seeing you thrown on your ass,” Kenzo Interjected smiling broadly. “No, today we are taking you out dancing at the moonlight pavilion. Your training can wait,” she stated with finality.
“What happens at the moonlight pavilion?” Uzman inquired.
“You must be the only student who does not frequent it. Your single-minded pursuit of the martial path is worrying. The moonlight pavilion is an enclosure where students go to socialize, dance, and wind down.” Lady Tameria answered.
“Do you even have casual wear? Formal clothes? I only see you in training Gis. Never mind, we are going shopping in an hour.” Lady Tameria stated flatly in a tone brooking no protest.
Uzman looked at Jurdur for support but the big man only shrugged his shoulders. “When they get like this, it is best to nod and follow along. It is not like you do not need clothes. You can always throw them away later.” Jurdur joked with a wink.
Uzman accompanied the two girls to Academy Town to purchase clothes. He wore a gloomy expression. Even Jurdur, his friend, had deserted him to his fate. The girls discussed different fabrics and colors and how they would fit him without deigning to ask for his opinion. It was as if he did not exist even though he was the central focus of the expedition.
The bustle of the town assaulted his sensitive ears. For a person who had trained himself to spot any untoward sound, the cacophony of voices and smells disoriented him. Uzman felt more at home in the forest where all sounds could be categorized easily. Here, he was a fish out of the water; completely out of his element.
Uzman was led to an outfitter from Amoria who had set up shop at the Academy Town. They talked ‘shop’ with Lady Tameria as he was prodded, measured, turned around, and displayed like a mannequin. Finally, Uzman, and his entourage, selected green pants, a white silk shirt, and a black long coat that was ready. They also commissioned three more sets of formal and casual wear to be collected by the end of the week.
Uzman did not have many close friends growing up in Kolcita. However, the nature of village life was that all boys of his age were considered to be acquaintances rather than friends. From a young age, he had been comfortable on his own preferring the company of older adults due to their engaging stories. He was not socially awkward, it was just that he did not see the need to engage in activities that did not bring him satisfaction.
He mulled over his budding friendship with lady Tameria and the northerners as they walked back to the Academy. His relationship with Kenzo was more defined; they were northerners who had to stick together. His relationship with lady Tameria gave him pause. She was the heir apparent of the Great House of Amoria, while he was a commoner or a clansman. He knew that all the noble houses sought talented cultivators to boost their martial strength. After his ascension to the second rank, the nobles from Zeta had started being more friendly while those from Silicia ceased being antagonistic.
“A copper for your thoughts?” A voice intruded into his inner monologue. “Ah, I was just contemplating the many mysteries of the martial path.” Uzman hedged.
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“You are sure it has nothing to do with us dragging you to purchase clothes?” Lady Tameria teased. “No, I am glad you did. I value your friendship and would not want to look out of place. In any case, it will be good to socialize with other students in a less formal setting.”
In the evening, Uzman dressed in his new clothes and accompanied his friends to the moonlight pavilion. Lady Tameria was dressed in an exquisite navy blue gown with high-cut leather boots. Kenzo was donning a flowing green gown with an ornate heart-shaped headgear in the style of the north. Jurdur seemed unfazed wearing black leather britches, and a brown tunic. They made a dashing group as they walked sedately towards the pavilion to introduce Uzman to the evening delights of the Academy.
The moonlight pavilion was a spacious open enclosure that was decorated with various carvings of heroes and goddesses. On one end was a raised platform where a band played a haunting tune. There were dozens of leather-backed chairs arranged in smaller enclosed spaces to provide groups of students some seating privacy. Below the platform, a number of students were swaying to the music.
Uzman selected a small enclosure at random and sat down with Kenzo and Jurdur while Lady Tameria went to make an order for drinks and refreshments. The background noise was filtered through the lens of the hauntingly beautiful music reducing its jarring nature. As they waited for Lady Tameria, the three friends looked around the hall and noticed a number of first-year students either sitting in their enclosed booths or gracing the dancing floor. This experience was new to Uzman and was intrigued to see boys and girls dancing together with abandon. In the village, only girls and boys who had been promised to each other were allowed to dance in such proximity. The social rules in this place were more relaxed to allow for intermingling.
Lady Tameria came back accompanied by a servant girl bearing a tray with drinks and cookies. Lady Tameria had selected ale for Jurdur and sweet wine for Kenzo, Uzman, and herself.
“I figured the ale may be too strong for you and took the liberty of ordering you a glass of wine from my home. It is not very strong but can still have a kick if drank in large quantities. Do not let the sweet taste fool you.” Tameria stated.
Suddenly the tempo of the music picked up and the students started clapping in rhythm with the new upbeat tune. As Uzman watched, the students made two lines with girls on one side and boys on the other. A boy would enter the circle and then would randomly select a girl and the two would whirl around in a tango. The song was bawdry and told of a cheating wife where the revenge for the man was to seduce the wife’s sister.
The students gyrated against each other as the ale and wine kicked in and they grew more boisterous. Jurdur, Kenzo, and lady Tameria had at a point joined the dancing students leaving Uzman alone to enjoy the view.
The minutes of blissful solitude ended abruptly as Lady Tameria and Kenzo came back and dragged Uzman into the dancing floor. He joined in the dancing and realized that dancing was just a different application of forms while allowing improvisation. He danced with Kenzo and then with Lady Tameria trying to maintain a chaste distance. However, he lost himself in the rhythm of the music and became more engaged in the music.
The tempo changed again transitioning into a slow ballad when he was dancing with Lady Tameria. Before Uzman could sit down, she pulled him into a light embrace and positioned his hands on her waist while her hands snaked onto his shoulders. Uzman swayed awkwardly trying to mimic her moves.
“Don’t fight it, just let the music guide you.” Lady Tameria whispered silkily her lips dangerously close to his ears. Uzman felt his face heating from the close embrace. His blood thudded in his chest. He stared everywhere trying to avoid her eyes in embarrassment.
“Ah, I think we should sit down.” He stammered. “You have never danced with a girl before, have you?” Lady Tameria asked arching an eyebrow while her lips curled in an amused smile. “We do not bite. You may even learn to enjoy our company under the proper circumstances.”
She guided him past the many dancing couples to a pair of empty seats while continuing to hold his arm.
“It is just that I am not comfortable in a group of people,” Uzman lied trying to change the subject.
Uzman and Lady Tameria sat in companionable silence for a few minutes before Jurdur, Kenzo, and Fatima arrived.
“It is getting late and we need enough rest to face tomorrow’s trials,” Uzman suggested. The group headed back to their rooms separating once they reached the fourth cohort's residence as it was closer to the moonlight pavilion. When Uzman arrived in his room, he was too exhausted from the day’s activities to do anything more than sleep soundly for the rest of the night.
On the day of the dungeon run, Uzman woke at the first bell and started meditating. He followed his normal approach of trying to force his Chi to condense into crystals. Until now, he had not managed to condense the first crystal. Master Khalid had informed him that once he managed to condense the first crystal, he would be considered a Rank 2 middle-level cultivator. After failing to condense his Chi for the umpteenth time, Uzman started to attempt to create a shield from his Chi. He started with air, water, fire, and earth with no notable success. Uzman could move his Chi to the surface but not congeal it into a shield.