Joram reflected that the room provided to them had been rather nice. It did have three rooms, two for servants and one for him, with a good sized communal space and an awesome bathroom that reminded him of Japanese hot springs you’d constantly see in anime or manga.
Which, incidentally, had gotten his blood pumping due to the many- inappropriate!- associations formed with them due to pop-culture.
It’d taken a bit of meditation to remove those thoughts from his head, especially with all the teasing Avi had given him since he’d discovered the root cause of his… youthful vitality.
He wondered, as he picked at breakfast with the Trio, what other effects would pop up as he grew. Normally those with draconic or phoenix heritage would start showing said heritage later in puberty. Often showing an increased affinity for whichever Elemental Law came with that heritage. Like, phoenixes would be very good at creating and manipulating fire and any elemental variation to that.
They’d also take on some of the personality traits their heritage was known for. Take dragons. They were very often known for their tendency to hoard loot, or their pride, or their amazing tempers, or their… ability/want/desire to mate with just about any other species out there.
Which, understandably, made him more than a bit nervous.
He’d already been inclined to hoard loot. Because, really, who didn’t ever dream of having a huge pile of treasure that they could play with? That said, there was also the fact that he’d had a strong… vitality back on Earth. Now, he knew that most of that was biology, but biology also affected one’s mind. He also knew that he was in a new body, one that he had no benchmarks for before gaining his new heritages.
Heck, if what he’d read was at all accurate, even phoenixes were known to have a strong vitality. They weren’t just gifted when it came to the Law of Fire, but also naturally gifted when it came to the Law of Life. And from what he understood regarding the various Laws, part of what made up a Law was the conceptual side.
For example, people associated a quick temper with Fire, adaptability with Water, flightiness with Air, or great fertility with Life.
So, in a nutshell, he was figuratively- and likely, literally- screwed.
Based on his Elemental Affinities he’d received from assimilating the blood, scale, and feather of the Heavenly Lightning Jade Dragon and a phoenix who could hold its own against that peak existence, he now had affinities for Fire, Lightning, Jade, and Life. He wasn’t entirely sure if there wasn’t something else in there, as research on those beings was understandably scarce. But he was reasonably sure about those four.
Now that he thought about it more, the Adamantium Body Technique gave a person an affinity for Fire, Lightning, and Metal. Which, really, just laid the foundation for what he’d gained from the dragon and phoenix. Did that mean he’d have an even greater affinity for those elements…?
Joram noticed everyone getting up, so he did the same, following them out into the early dawn streets. He continued to ponder as he followed along behind Wentian.
He’d learned that there were an almost innumerable number of Laws out there, and that Mentalists- what the Academy called psions- usually had an affinity for the Law of Mind, along with a Law that corresponded to what they were good at. Which meant that he probably also had an affinity for the Law of Creation given that, not only was he a Metacreationist (Shaper), but Altaea had told him at one point that he was shockingly good at it.
If one considered that there were many associated Laws connected to Creation, that opened up the possibility that he’d have an easier time learning many other Laws. Because if you had a natural affinity for, say, a Peak Law like Life, then as research found, that person would have an easier time learning lower Laws related to it, or rather, lower Laws that led to the understanding of the higher Law.
If he were to follow the chain of understanding laid out by scholars over the millennia, then you’d get to Life from understanding the following Laws, from Basic to High. Air, Earth, Fire, Water, Wood, and Light. Now, there were others in there, but those were the very basics of what led to Life.
Thinking about it, he had an Affinity for at least one Peak Law. Life. If he was right about the Law of Creation, that made two. Then, if Mentalists really did have a greater chance of having an affinity for the Law of Mind, then that could give him a third Peak Law…. And thinking about it more, that was probably the Law that he was more naturally attuned to being a Psionic Being.
Joram snapped out of his musings as his group stopped on the docks in front of what an earthling would call a cruise ship. Now, it was made of white painted wood, but the size compared. There weren’t even any masts to be seen.
“Please line up here,” a person in the same uniform as the attendants, interviewers, and assessors said as he motioned to a long set of stairs leaving up to the ship. “Please have your student identification card ready for when you reach the head of the line. Once aboard, please follow the instructions of the staff,” she finished, sounding remarkably like a flight-attendant. Which, really, came down to sounding both friendly and professional if you thought about it.
He looked at the Trio and noticed their lack of enthusiasm compared to those around him. The other students were murmuring excitedly to one another, commenting about how amazing the ship was, speculating at what it would look like inside, what entertainment could be found, and what the food would be like.
Compared to the other students, the Trio looked bore. They’d likely taken a ship like this to get from their homeland to his, and given the distances involved they’d probably spent months aboard.
As for him, to say that he wasn’t interested wouldn’t have been strictly true. He’d never been on a cruise ship before, only a ferry once. He was curious about its construction though, so if he got the chance he’d try to give it a good [Delve] to see what it was all about. He was especially interested in the propulsion system given its lack of sails. Which, really, made sense.
A ship that large would have required titanic sails and masts to catch enough wind to move the thing. Even then, it would need strong winds to get it moving, let alone getting it up to speed.
He passed his student card to a staff member once he got to the front of the line, then was surprised when Bai Lian produced a similar card and handed it over, followed by Wentian and Mo Yu. Their cards had the same design as his, except the metal that bordered their cards was a burnished copper instead of white. They hadn’t had any such thing in their storage rings, which meant they must have received their own cards at some point. Likely while waiting for him.
He gave a “thank you” to the staff member when they handed back his card, then started up the long flight of stairs behind the other students.
Soon enough, he was inside, appreciating the décor. It wasn’t over the top like the Heaven’s Bounty Auction House that was practically plated in gold. No, this was more tasteful along the lines of “rich, but not obscenely so”.
The walls were a nice white with a warm tone to them, with carved trim along the ceiling and deck. The deck itself was made from a dark wood that reminded him of mahogany due to its fine grains and warm colouring. There were paintings on the walls, spread out, giving him a sense of space rather than making the hallway feel cramped by trying to fit in as much as you could.
There were even small recesses at regular intervals that contained stands that either held a small piece or art or a vase of flowers. Most of the art consisted of sculptures made of stone, but there were also many other mediums represented, from wood to ceramics to metal.
He stopped again, this time to listen to another staff member explain the basic layout of the ship.
They’d entered the ship at its midway point, leaving them able to get to anywhere they’d like with relative ease.
The cabins were located on the mid-decks of the ship while the other facilities they’d be using were on the upper decks. The ship was equipped with several conference-style rooms that could accommodate a thousand people each, ballrooms, dining rooms, and even sparring rooms. Above deck, you could find various activities to pass the time, from using the swimming pool to shuffleboard to outside bars and cafés that surrounded a small stage where various forms of entertainment could be performed.
“If you wish to reserve your cabin assignments, please proceed to the reception desks to your right. If you’d like to explore before doing so, please feel free,” a man said, pointing one way then the other, wrapping up his explanation.
Joram noticed that another group was forming up near the entryway already and supposed that the man would have to give his spiel a few more times.
“Let’s get our rooms sorted out first,” Joram said, getting nods from the Trio.
With how efficient their system was, the line Joram found himself in was quickly processed.
“You’re saying that my student card is my key?” He asked, more impressed that surprised. Though, there certainly was surprise in there.
“Yes,” the receptionist replied with a professional smile. “The student card provided by the Academy is multi-purpose device. As you know, they serve as identification. But they are also designed to be accept other enchantments that will act as a key or a pass for various areas and arrays. This also makes it easier to both keep track of who has access to an area, but also our ability to revoke that access should it be needed. As a side benefit,” she said, leaning forward a bit to whisper conspiratorially, “we don’t have to worry about anyone losing a room key, or having to track them down to get it back.”
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Joram laughed at that, appreciating the practicality behind the design and through process behind the student cards.
“Thanks, I appreciate your help,” he said, giving her his second-best smile, leaving her a bit flustered as he went to explore a bit as the Trio followed, looking amused.
From the explanation they’d received, it would take about a day to sail to the Academy so they would have some time to relax and enjoy the scenery. He was also impressed that it would only take them a day to get there, as there was a good eight-hundred kilometres separating the Academy from the mainland. Which also got his blood boiling to get a look at the propulsion system the ship used.
Once above decks, he turned to the Trio and spoke.
“Well, I’m not sure what any of you want to do, but I’m going to go study the ship.”
The three practitioners exchanged looks, then shrugs.
“I’ll head to the sparring rooms,” Wentian said to no one’s surprise.
“I’d like to see if they have a library,” Bai Lian said, a bit shy.
“I wouldn’t mind taking in the scenery,” Mo Yu said as she retrieved a wide-rimmed sun hat and put it on.
“Sounds good,” he said, nodding. “Do you want to meet up for or wait for dinner?”
“Dinner.”
“Lunch.”
“Dinner.”
He was a bit startled that Bai Lian had opted for dinner. He was under the impression that she was loyal to the point of being over-protective of him. Or maybe it was just her determination to make amends that gave off a zealous vibe. Either way, he supposed that her bibliophilic nature won out.
No, it was Mo Yu who’d suggested lunch. Which threw him off more than a bit. As far as he could tell, she didn’t have the best impression of him. So, why she’d choose to spend more time with him was a bit of a mystery to him. Sure, she’d made that weird vow and all, but without rummaging about in her mind, he didn’t really know what she’d intended with it.
Wentian just shrugged and wandered off, leaving Joram to exchange questioning looks with the two women.
“I can do lunch too,” Bai Lian said with a shrug. “It’s always nice to experience new cuisine.”
Mo Yu nodded along with that with a bit more enthusiasm than he expected.
“No worries. Then let’s meet up here at lunch and choose a place to eat,” he said, getting agreement from the pair before turning around and making his way down into the bowels of the ship.
* * * * *
Mo Yu looked around as the young master hurried off, followed by Bai Lian. The deck was large and spacious, providing ample space for people to wander about or mingle, but was currently practically deserted. There were people slowly trickling up, though, so she supposed it wouldn’t take long before crowds started to form.
She turned her head to the left as she considered the best spot. The ship was currently pointed west, inland. Which meant that if she didn’t want the sun to be in her eyes, she’d have to start by facing the morning sun.
Which left her with about half of her current options.
Since she’d just had breakfast, she wasn’t particularly drawn to the cafés. Which meant either the open-air lounges or poolside seating. She looked around a bit more until she noticed some change rooms off to the side of the pool, which decided her.
She’d purchased a selection of outfits on her shopping trip with Bai Lian and was surprisingly eager to try some of them out. She’d spent most of her life in Sky Lotus Sect, wearing the same attire as the rest of the Sect. It had been nice to finally wear a different outfit after she’d been promoted to the inner sect, then again when she’d worked her way to being a Core Disciple.
Aside from small variations a disciple was allowed to indulge in, the uniforms were effectively the same. Being allowed to choose what she could wear day to day was almost daunting considering the choices one could make. But she was more than happy to make them!
So, she made her way into a changing room, a relatively small stall designed for one person at a time that nevertheless had a mirror to allow a person to check their attire. It was a nice touch, in her opinion. Especially because she was so inexperienced.
She had picked up two bathing suits while shopping, assured by the attendant helping her that they were in fashion and very flattering. The first, and the one she found least revealing, was a one-piece. She’d tried on other designs that revealed a scandalous amount of skin, the top dipping down low enough that she feared she would fall out of it if she bent over while the bottom part had such a high cut to it that it went up to her waist.
No, those had been summarily discarded. She’d instead gone for one that had a more square-cut bottom to it, almost looking like skin-tight shorts, albeit ones that just covered her buttocks. The top part was cut just a few inches below her collar bones, allowing for an appropriate amount of modesty, while straps went over her shoulders to blend into the back, leaving her shoulders exposed. It also left her back open down to her mid-back, but she didn’t mind that so much because it would allow her to feel the wind.
The second bathing suit was a two-piece affair. She had outright refused to try on any of the ones that covered even less than her undergarments would. Instead, she’d gone for something she found both cute and modest, considering that it was still a two-piece.
The top had ribbons to support her chest that you would tie behind your neck. The chest strap was similarly designed, though with thicker material for comfort. The chest had individual cups for support, but also had a cute band of cloth that draped over the breasts and hung down to just bellow them. It did show more cleavage than her one-piece did, but also only revealed about as much as most woman did in their everyday attire.
The bottom had the same theme, allowing her modesty while still feeling like she was still wearing what they called a “bikini” bottom, something dangerously more revealing than most undergarments she’d seen until recently.
Mo Yu held up both swimsuits, comparing them in the mirror, imagining which would look best. She was about to go with the two-piece when a thought occurred to her. Did she really want to attract that much attention on her first day? Or, rather, the young master’s first day?
She wasn’t sure how much the culture changed here compared to her homeland, but she suspected that basic human nature was relatively universal. She’d had to endure countless confessions and declarations of love- or what she’d have called “lust”- over the years, not to mention one idiot or another declaring that she was his “woman”. She’d also witnessed the infighting resulting from those many declarations and didn’t want that for Joram.
So, she went with the one-piece, once again admiring both the materials it was made with as well as the colours. It was a deep violet that she thought went well with her eyes, with a pale ivory or cream coloured trim.
She then retrieved the “wrap” that went with it, a long piece of cloth cut just so, so that when wrapped around the waist it would fall to just above her ankles like a skirt, though one what was a bit longer on one side than the other. She especially like the small tassels on its edge. She then slid into a pair of sandals the attendant had called “flip-flops” and was done.
Once she was ready, she slipped the sun hat onto her head again and stepped out of the changing room and blinked. She hadn’t thought that she’d taken very long in changing, but maybe she’d been wrong.
The deck was now filled with students, both old and young. She looked around, seeing gatherings of people ranging from pairs to ones containing a score of people. The lounging area was the most populated, followed by the cafés then the poolside where many people had already changed and were enjoying themselves in the water or in the sun.
She made her way over to the pool and chose a reclined chair with an umbrella beside it. It was a good spot as it was both currently facing the sun, something most people had avoided, and had no one close to it. Once the umbrella was sorted, she sat down and closed her eyes.
Mo Yu had thought about buying some of those “sunglasses” that had been on display, but hadn’t bothered because bright light didn’t really bother people who cultivated the Law of Lightning.
It wasn’t long after she reclined that she felt a slight shudder run through the ship, indicating that they were about to leave port. She smiled, her eyes still closed, as she recalled the soothing motion of the ship she’d taken with the task force to get here. She really didn’t understand why some of them had claimed that it was absolute torture to be on a ship at sea.
The motion was smooth and rhythmic. As she’d meditated on that first ship, she’d found that it had been alarmingly easy to fall asleep if she didn’t pay enough attention; the motion was so calming.
As she lay there, she listened to the goings-on around her, interested in hearing any news, or just plain knowing what people talked about here. Even though she’d stayed in Joram’s Small World and interacted with its residents, she hadn’t really spoken casually with any of them. It was either shopping or buying meals.
What she heard wasn’t very surprising. Most were speculating about their studies or what life would be like at the Academy. A few spoke about the latest trends in fashion or cuisine, while others spoke about their family businesses and things related to that.
Then the inevitable happened.
“Excuse me, miss? My name is Garros Arabanise, and his is Salion, Isamar, and Rodellin. Do you mind if we join you?” She heard a young man nicely ask from her left.
She opened one eye to see who was addressing her and beheld a group of four youth, barely considered young men. Their leader looked to be in his mid to late teens, tall and slender. His long and flowing green hair was swept back by a band, his hair falling to his bare shoulders. He was wearing a pair of swim trunks that hung from his hips and went just past mid-thigh.
His friends were similarly attired, though their swim trunks varied in design. She looked at their eyes and found that heat she was so familiar with and heaved an inward sigh.
“Yes,” she said, then closed her eye again.
The answer seemed to confuse them, or at least give them pause, for it took a moment for the young man to respond.
“’Yes’, we can join you? Or ‘yes’ you mind?” Garros asked. Even though his tone was polite, she detected a thread of annoyance in it.
Did another silk-pants show up? She thought, resigned to being pestered yet again, now falling back into her old habits. She defaulted to “polite, yet cool” in these situations.
“Though you are allowed to sit anywhere you please, I do not wish for company,” she said, not bothering to open her eyes or even turn her head towards them.
She could feel his Qi swirl at her response, likely due to lack of training and discipline on his part. With that sense of his Qi also came a sense of annoyance.
“Then we’ll take our seats,” Garros said, still polite.
She felt the air movement as Garros waved to his friends after he finished speaking, then heard chairs being moved and placed nearby. They were closer than the other chairs had been, but not quite close enough that someone would automatically think that they were together.
They were soon talking about this and that, but she noticed that the conversation was centred around their clans- houses-, the businesses they owned, and their influence in this circle or that.
“Hey, we’re going to order some drinks. Would you like one?” Garros suddenly asked from her side.
“No, thank you,” she replied, not turning her head to speak.
She again felt Garros wave to one of his friends, sending him off to get their order, their conversation starting up again right away.
A few minutes later, she sensed the boy return, a server following behind. It only took a few seconds for what sounded like a small table to be set up and the tray deposited on it.
“Ah, Salion, you got too many drinks,” Garros said with a laugh. “Miss? We would hate to see this drink go to waste, so would you be kind enough to take it off our hands?” He asked, smooth as could be.
She didn’t know where this little whelp who’d only just stepped into the Qi Gathering realm got his courage, but she really wished he’d leave her alone.
Keeping her thoughts off her face, and out of her tone, she again declined as politely as she could.
“I appreciate the kindness, but no thank you.”
She again felt his Qi stir, once again allowing her to sense his emotions; this time heavily tainted by frustration.
“Ah, no worries, no worries,” he said, managing to keep his tone polite. “Ah, we didn’t get your name, miss. Would you please grace us with it?” He asked after a short pause, as though he’d just realized that he didn’t know her name.
Does this guy just not get it? She thought, then something else occurred to her. If I give him my real name, it might increase his interest in me as a “foreign beauty” or something ridiculous like that. Hmmm…. Molly? Morgana? Monica? Mona?... Ah, Moyra!
“You may call me Moyra,” she said, still not opening her eyes or turning their way.
She could feel the ship now coming about to face east, the sun slowly sliding behind her umbrella.
“Ah, what a lovely name,” Garros remarked to the agreement of his cohorts. “So, Miss Moyra, what fields of study are you interested in?”