Chapter 4: The Academy Orientation
The tolling of a bell heralded a new day in the Academy. The first bell was used to rouse the trainees from their slumber. The second bell rang 30 minutes later for breakfast. Uzman did not know the meaning of the bells and thus changed into his official school outfit and moved outside. Luckily, there were other students outside, so he just followed them blindly. Most of the students were dressed in school uniform but there were others who were in casual clothes.
“Hi,” said a voice behind him. Uzman turned to see who was being addressed only to find a pair of green eyes looking directly at him. “I am Tameria, from Amoria.”
“I am Uzman,” he stammered.
“You must be a late arrival since I have not seen you around,” she smiled engagingly revealing a set of pearly white teeth.
Uzman did not know how to respond and thus kept quiet. The girl did not seem to mind his silence and continue trying to draw him into a conversation.
“I have been looking forward to training here. I arrived one week early and know my way around the Academy. I can be your guide if interested.”
Uzman was surprised by how forward Tameria was. He mumbled a hurried thank you as they entered the dining area.
After breakfast, all the students congregated in a central hall to await orientation. Suddenly an old man appeared from thin air on the dais in front of the hall. At the same time, 3 men and 2 women entered through a side entrance.
“Good morning everyone, I am Master Furraj, the Headmaster of this institution and one of the instructors who will help to guide you on the path of cultivation,” the man on the dais said.
“With me is Master Jalid who is in charge of physical conditioning, Master Razin in charge of Magical studies, Mistress Tasufin in charge of healing and potion making, and Madame Zubiya who will guide you in herbology and bestiary. All of you have been given blessings by the gods to help safeguard the people of Tanga and should endeavor to be worthy of your gifts. I now call upon Master Razin to highlight how the year will run.”
Uzman recognized Master Razin as the old man who had been present for his testing.
“We train you to be warriors who can use their blessings to safeguard those weaker than them. To facilitate your training, you will be divided into five cohorts which will live in five different halls. The assignment of sleeping quarters has been done based on your potential. After 3 months of training, you will be required to honor at least 3 challenges per week to hone your fighting skills. The number of accumulated points can be used to purchase items and resources for your cultivation. They will also be used to reassign living quarters at the end of every month.
"You should all remember that the Academy is considered to be independent and all students are considered to be equal irrespective of social rank or wealth. You will find your schedules in your rooms. Your room assignments and student tokens are in your current rooms. Therefore, you will go to your rooms, pick your tokens and belongings, and immediately move to the assigned areas.”
All of the trainees moved quickly to their temporary quarters curious about their assignations. Uzman had been assigned to the first cohort based on his high potential for cultivation. He picked up all his belongings and moved out to find the new rooms. The students were guided by a second-year trainee, wearing green robes, to a gated area where the rooms were located. Uzman was surprised to see a large expanse where 16 houses were located in a semi-circle around a big training arena. To the side, there was a kitchen, an infirmary, and a store.
The students found Master Jones waiting for them. “I am the guide for the first cohort. Know that you have been selected since it is assumed that you have the highest aptitude for cultivation. If you have any challenges you seek me out and then we can resolve them. We are here to prepare you to survive and safeguard our world. This means that there will be no coddling. Find your rooms and settle in. Your classes start tomorrow.”
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“Are you following me?" A lilting voice asked.
Uzman turned to find Lady Tameria standing beside him. He smiled. “I am lucky to find you here. I am lost like a fish out of the sea while you seem at home. Besides, who wouldn’t want to follow you?” Uzman retorted feeling relaxed around her at last. Suddenly a snide voice cut into their conversation.
“I see Lady Tameria has not stopped her habit of collecting strays and undesirables to her retinue. You dishonor your peers by associating with those beneath you.”
"Go away Prazard, no one wants to talk to you.” Lady Tameria responded.
Uzman could feel his blood heating in anger. He took a step forward and felt a cool hand latch onto his arm restraining him. In front of them stood three young men and two ladies. All of them were slightly shorter than Uzman. The one called Prazard had brown eyes and dark hair like most people native to Silicia. To his left side stood a hulking man, broad at the chest and with bulging muscles. His neck was almost nonexistent ending in a small head. The two girls snickered at the exchange and stood behind the three boys. Uzman was certain that he had, at last, come into conflict with the nobility.
“We do not desire your company,” Uzman said through his teeth trying to calm himself.
“No one spoke to you. You are to be seen and not heard. Know you place peasant, or it will be demonstrated to you,” Prazard smirked.
Uzman shrugged his arm free of Tameria and took a step forward. He knew in a rational part of his mind that it was foolhardy to confront the nobles. However, his anger and rage at the nobility coupled with the losses at Kolcita clouded his thinking. He wanted to lash out and he had been presented with a good target for his rage.
“Is there a problem cousin?” A voice asked to his left.
“Ah! Now all the undesirables gang together; barbarians and commoners.” One of the girls behind Prazard snorted.
Before Uzman could respond, Master Jones shouted authoritatively making his voice boom out throughout the enclosure. “Break it up. No fighting or challenges until three months are over. However, I would advise everyone to mind their place in society.”
Uzman stepped back fuming. He knew that Master Jones did not approve of him and would sooner or later land him in trouble. Taking a deep breath he turned to see that they had been joined by two girls and the boy who had spoken.
“Thank you for standing with us. I am Uzman and this is Lady Tameria of Amoria.”
“Well met Uzman. I am Jurdur bin Muzna of the Bear clan. With me are Kenzo and Fatima. Forgive my impertinence, but where do you come from since you can be mistaken for any of my cousins?"
Uzman looked at the three Northerners and realized that all of them were tall. Jurdur stood more than six feet and was brawny. He was a perfect specimen for a clan named after the bear. The girls were also tall, just shy of 6 feet. Both Jurdur and Kenzo had blue eyes and different shades of blond hair. Fatima had green eyes and brown hair. His own eye color, hair, and musculature made him appear to be related to the Northerners.
“Ha-ha! I have been mistaken for a Northerner before. I am from the South, in Silicia near the Umbura Mountains.”
Before Uzman could say more lady Tameria butted in.“I thought Northerners do not train at the Academy?" She inquired.
"We are here as part of a non-aggression treaty with the Silicians and Zeta. Demon incursions are becoming more prevalent and the clans have agreed to work with the Duchies for now,” Kenzo answered.
Uzman looked around to find most of the other members of the cohort looking at them. It was obvious that almost all of them were nobles.
“It seems we have become the favorite circus at the midsummer fair,” he whispered.
“Don’t mind them, the Nobles from Zeta and Silicia think too highly of themselves.” Lady Tameria said as she started pointing them out covertly.
They were all sons and daughters of nobles and formed cliques based on their homeland. Uzman realized that he was the only commoner in the first cohort.
Even though the cohorts were assigned based on potential, it seemed the rooms had to reflect the standing of the students in the community. The first three rooms were assigned to the scions of the Great Duchies. Ishraq was assigned the first house, then Prazard and Lady Tameria. Ishraq was the second son of the Archduke of Zeta while Prazard was the third son of Silicia. Tameria was the heir apparent of Amoria. The next 8 houses were assigned based on the rank of the student. The 12th house was occupied by Divash, a son of a former commoner who was raised to minor nobility after achieving the elemental mastery rank in cultivation. Kenzo, Fatima, and Judur occupied the next three with Uzman taking the 16th house.
On entering the small house, Uzman was surprised to find that it had a big sitting room, a bedroom, and an adjoining bathroom. Based on his background, the place may as well have been a castle. There were formations for hot water, and bathing; a big closet for personal amenities, and a rack presumably for weapons. Uzman had never in his life expected to live in such largesse. He put his traveling pack on the bed and decided to explore the Academy area. By the end of the day, Uzman was well acquainted with all the main areas within the Academy such as the different class halls and training pavilions they would be using.