Routine

Thirteen soon found himself settling into a routine in this new home.

He would wake just before dawn, clean himself, get changed, wake his roommate Nine, then do a small amount of revision with the learning diary and ink at his desk and his newly learnt words and letters.

Following that, he would report to Dormmaster Meggot, a strict old woman who would assign chores to the students in the early morning.

After completing their chores, Thirteen and Nine would meet up with Four who stayed in the same boys wing of the dorms, and then head to the Theory Hall where they'd group up with Ten and attend class.

Following Theory class, they would have lunch, then attend Cultivation hall. After which, they would head for Physical Training where Instructor Diores would test them on their every physical capability, and push their limits.

Soon after they would eat dinner and then have to complete homework in their dorms before bed. This usually included mental tasks, puzzles and quizzes assigned in Theory Hall, or simply word and writing exercises.

'Cheating or having Nine do my homework is pointless too. Another kid did just that and Instructor Pier somehow found out, caning him in front of the class. Poor guy got the worst tasks in physical education too and missed half his dinner.'

The days were long and exhausting, but for some reason, thirteen and the others always felt refreshed at the start of each day. On his fifth day there, Thirteen mustered the courage to ask the Dormmaster and she said it had something to do with the food, that the ingredients were special. Thirteen didn't know if she meant because it was meat, or something to do with cultivators, but he didn't dare push his luck with the impatient woman.

Thirteen still felt homesick. He still thought of Helga and his friends often, but it had been made clear to all of them that until they earned their true names, they weren't free to do as they pleased. He found that the longer they stayed here the more stifled he felt. 'Things feel like they're getting stricter by the day. Whenever we try to play during physical training, Instructor Diores punishes us. I wonder if my friends from Rehall are still having fun without me?'

Eventually, the seventh day of Thirteen's stay here had begun. Today was the day he, and all others, would be assigned a cultivation art. There was no theory hall today, instead they had an extra long Cultivation Hall period, followed by physical training as usual.

Thirteen woke up earlier than usual, finished his revision and was surprised to find that for once he didn't need to wake Nine who had already sat as his own desk while Thirteen worked.

When Nine was done with his own revision and the both of them had cleaned and dressed themselves, they left their dorm to find Ms. Meggot. After their chores, the two ran all the way to the Cultivation hall, forgetting even to look for Four and Ten who had in fact arrived before them.

It took awhile for the hall to quiet down once everyone was seated, but once it did, Nicholas ascended the stage with another man behind him. It was the thin but healthy man Thirteen had seen on his first day. Of course he had seen a few people like this now, especially among the servants, and even some of the instructors who spoke in the Theory Hall on occasion.

As Nicholas looked over the gathering of students, he gave a nod to the adult helpers by the side of the hall, and then began to speak.

"Today each of you will be given two cultivation manuals and resources. If you do not understand something written in the book do not attempt to practice it by picture alone and seek an instructor or one of the helpers.

Your cultivation arts will differ based on your strengths and weaknesses as observed over the last week. Do not share your arts. Do not practice someone else's cultivation art. Anyone caught doing either will lose their chance to cultivate forever.

…

Now then.

8-47. You will cultivate the fundamental body refinement manual, and the Thunderclap Body Art.

...

8-45. You will cultivate the fundamental qi refinement manual, and the Butterfly Sword.

…

8-13. You will cultivate the fundamental body refinement manual, and the Grand Life Tome.

…

8-10. You will cultivate the fundamental qi refinement manual, and the Spirit Palm.

8-09. You will cultivate the fundamental qi refinement manual, and the Heaven's Eye Script.

…

8-04. You will cultivate the fundamental body refinement manual, and the Unchained Warrior Art"

As Nicholas announced each persons new art, a helper would approach the student in question with two books and a square box large enough to place an outstretched hand on top.

When the assignment of arts and resources ended, Nicholas informed the students that they were to only cultivate the fundamental manual, the specific cultivation arts were only for study until they were capable of reading it without mistake. Some very scary threats were thrown in for good measure, and then Nicholas began to explain how to cultivate the fundamental methods and even read out the first chapters of the related manuals word for word as the students read along. As he did so, he would make his own comments and help ease the students into an understanding of the method.

By the time he had done this for the beginning chapters of both manuals, it was time for the lecture to end.

A late lunch was eaten before physical training, mostly light foods this time, before they left the building for the outside clearing. 'There are only three instructors today?' Thirteen noticed.

Normally the children would group around the instructor they were assigned during their first physical training class, but this time there was one less instructor and they were grouped together. In fact, upon closer look, Thirteen realized that one of those three he hadn't seen before.

When all the children had gathered together, it was Diores who spoke first.

"Today we will not practice physical education. This is the only day we will not, so don't get used to it. Today we will have you each begin your first meditation under the supervision of we three Instructors.

Now. Those who were assigned the Qi refinement manuals, your with Instructor Elena. Body refiners, you're with me. Lets go!"

As he finished shouting, Diores began walking away from the group, as did the other instructor, in a different direction.

Thirteen looked to his little clique of four "Meet up after and we'll get dinner together?"

"Of course" "Sure" "Yeah" Four, Ten, and Nine replied.

Thirteen gave a smile before rushing after Instructor Diores with Four. He knew better than to keep the Instructors waiting.

Soon, the instructors had each of the children in that same lotus position once more.

Instructor Diores told his group of body refiners to open the square box they were given earlier today.

Within this, Thirteen found a variety of beautiful looking objects. There were three flowers whose petals seemed to emanate a faint light. There was a small red gem, a bottle filled with spherical pills, and a small pouch.

"As you are now, none of you are able to sense the presence of qi in your surroundings, nor within yourself. Getting you to sense this will be the first step towards your cultivation. As you may have noticed earlier today, each of the three manuals on body, and qi started with the same basic breathing exercise. The only purpose of that exercise is to make the tiny amounts of qi in your body circulate strongly enough for you to sense it, it has no real use in cultivating beyond that.

I want you all to place that little box of goodies on the floor for now and forget it while you practice that breathing method. Close your eyes. Calm your minds and focus on your breathing. Do not try and think of nothing, just focus on your breath."

Towards the end of Instructor Diores command he spoke softer as if easing the children into a more relaxed state. Then he simply stood silently, without moving a muscle, leaving only the sound of breath and wind to be heard.

Thirteen found the rhythm of breath difficult to maintain at first, but the more he relaxed the more he settled into it. Gradually, Thirteen became unable to hear the wind, or feel the grass beneath his legs. Slowly, he began to feel numb.

'Oh no, did I fall asleep?' And with a worried thought, his eyes shot open and that state was gone. Making eye contact with the Instructor, Thirteen quickly closed his eyes again and focused on breathing once more.

What felt like a millenia had passed, when Thirteen heard the Instructors voice, lighter and calmer than he ever had before, calling out to them.

"Okay. That's enough."