Argentum {Silver}

There was a loud whistle that echoed through the hallways. Arya almost fell of the bed when she heard the sound. She had been mediating inside the room for quite some time because she didn't know whether she was allowed to be outside and the flamboyant noise had scared her the peaceful moment she was absorbed in.

Arya trotted on the cold floor before she opened the door to see Mililani standing there. Many of the other girls and boys had come out as well and it was apparent that most of them had been sleeping as their eyes were barley open and their hair seemed to be in different directions.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Princess Zelie and Prince Zander request your presence within the next half hour for breakfast. It will be taking place in the same room you had your dinner in." Her sharp gaze turned on everyone in the vicinity. "Lateness will not be tolerated."

There were grumbles as many of the girls and boys went back into their rooms getting prepared for breakfast. Since Arya had been up for a while now, she decided to take this time and explore the inside of the castle. She slipped on leather shoes and hung place Anaz on her waist. Yesterday she had felt incredibly bizarre without the sword so she made sure to take it this time.

She walked through the halls of the palace marveling over the paintings and the intricate designs of the hallways and the massive arches. Lost in her thoughts Arya didn't notice that she had bumped into someone until she heard the low 'ouch.'

Glancing upwards Arya was surprised to see that it was Silvia. However the latter looked extremely overjoyed.

"I was looking for you! Where were you the entire time?" she asked.

Arya shrugged her shoulder, "just walking around the palace."

Silvia grabbed her hand and tugged on it. "Come on, we have to hurry breakfast is about to begin."

Arya's eyes widened before she began rushing alongside Silvia. When they arrived in the room, Princess Zelie and Prince Zander had already been seated while the rest of the students seemed to be pooling into the room.

Lady Zelie raised her seafoam eyes to look across the room when they met Arya's Aztec ones. She motioned towards the seat next to her and Arya nodded.

"Listen, I have to go." She said to Silvia a bit apologetically.

Silvia merely smiled although it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I understand, I'll just look for Yasmin."

Arya bit back her tongue. She wanted to say something but didn't know what to say. Before she could open her mouth Silvia had turned her back leaving Arya alone. Isn't this what she wanted from the beginning? To be left alone? Then why did it pain her so much that Silvia wasn't around her anymore. Sure she had slowly been accustomed to her presence but it should have never affected her this much.

Arya shook her head before taking a seat beside Lady Zelie. It was right in the middle of the table while across from table Prince Zander was seated with Aaron by his side. When everyone took their seats and breakfast had begun, Princess Zelie stood up to talk to everyone.

"I hope lodging is satisfactory," she began after brushing her pale pink gown. "As you all know the Heres Gladii is set to begin tomorrow. We," she pointed to herself and Prince Zander, "want to clarify the schedule so everyone knows what is going on."

The table listened politely. "Tonight is going to be the aperiens pila which is the opening ball. Competitors from both academies will be paired up. You will descend a stairway where people will greet you before lining up with all the other competitors. This dance is an introduction for all the competitors and many royals from all over the place will be in attendance." Lady Zelie finished.

"Zander would you like to explain the rest?" She said as she gazed into Prince Zander's green eyes.

He stood up, his crown shining on top of his golden hair, "certainly dear sister."

Prince Zander's gazed moved down the table not laying on anyone in particular. He started speaking moments later, "The Heres Gladii officially starts after the opening ball. It will span over two weeks with various competitions happening on different days. Through the entire two weeks there will be matches that will be played tournament style. The day before the Heres Gladii is set to close; the final match will be played with the closing dance the evening after."

Prince Zander took a seat again indicating that he was finished speaking. The rest of the group started chatting amongst them notability discussing the dance and how the rest of the tournament would play out. Out of the corner of her eyes, Arya spotted Madame Annie coming through the door wearing a simple gown.

Lady Zelie met her gaze and the two of them shared a look.

Arya was about to ask Lady Zelie what she was doing here when Lady Zelie spoke. "Ah, Madame Annie has arrived. She will be taking you to the Palace ballroom and refining your dining skills as well as social adequate which you will most probably require for the ball tonight."

Madame Annie bowed to Princess Zelie and Prince Zander before her mouth puckered into a tight smile. "I want gentlemen on the left, ladies on the right."

There were loud sounds that were emitted as the girls and boys got up from their chairs to do what Madame Annie had told them to do. Arya waited a bit before joining Yasmin and Silvia.

"Here I was hoping we wouldn't have to see her for the entire tournament." Silvia grumbled.

Yasmin nodded. "I was hoping for the same."

"That is why Lady Zelie must have bought her to the tournament. There is no dancing or embroidery competition so Madame Annie must have come to teach us the social adequate as well as polish out dances." Arya imputed.

Lady Zelie always planned everything. There was almost nothing that she had not thought about beforehand. She was quite the tactician with every move having a purpose.

Madame Annie walked brusquely thought the halls without pausing to see if the students were following her. Arya had a faint idea that even the boys had learned what kind of a teacher Madame Annie was as all of them were in a perfect uniformed line. It was as if they were part of a marching band or even an army.

Madame Annie opened the door to the palace ballroom and Arya couldn't help but be taken back. The wooden floors were glistening and the massive curtains were showing an apt amount of sunlight. There was a pianoforte in the corner as well as other musicians that Madame Annie must have called for their practice.

"Everyone must line up." Madame Annie commanded.

The line of boys and girls stopped and they turned so that they were facing one another. Arya was facing the boy that had been talking to Jennica yesterday.

"Stop, stop," Madame Annie shouted as the partners began getting closer into the dancing position. "This is not how I will have you all line up."

"Who are the champions?" she asked.

Arya raised her hand proudly while Aaron did the same down the line.

"Good," Madame Annie said sharply. "Come to the front of the line."

Arya and Aaron did as she commanded, "Now loop your arm through Arya's."

Aaron did as he was told and a minute later their arms were linked. It was a very awkward moment and Arya did not like it one bit. Arya could spell the woody spice that was coming from Aaron and she quite liked the scent. He smelled like the outdoors as if he had been riding before breakfast. The pair of them stayed quite for the remained of the time.

Madame Annie paired of the rest of the students based on their heights and simply 'how good they looked together.' When she was done, she looked quite satisfied. In the end, there were approximately thirty pairs of students.

"Now, these are your partners for tonight and I will not tolerate if you wish to switch them or if you forget. There will be no excuses as this dance needs to be perfect."

She pointed towards a stairwell that descended from the balcony to the dance floor. "The pair of you will be announced and then you will be coming down those stairs with your dance partners. When everyone had come down, then you will have a customary dance before the floor is opened to the rest of the guest."

She signaled the musicians to begin playing and a soft instrumental started. "Gentleman place your hand on the ladies waist and then interlock your fingers with one another."

Arya and Aaron glanced at one another before doing what they were told. Aaron's fingers made its way to Arya's waist while she placed her fingers on his shoulder. Arya felt extremely uncomfortable and she was sure that Aaron felt the same way. They were too close together and Arya could feel the heat emitting from the both of them.

Their fingers interlocked and Arya could feel the hardness of his palm. Ever groove, cut and imperfection, Arya felt it all. She was sure that Aaron could feel it as well. It was a new feeling to Arya; begin this close to another human. It was as if they were sharing all their secrets simply by interlocking their hands.

Arya tried avoiding Aaron's gaze through the whole dance until Madame Annie came to stand before them.

"I will not have the champions dancing like this!"

Arya wasn't surprised at the tone of her voice but Aaron seemed to be quite taken back. Madame Annie despised her and Arya knew she would have pointed out their atrocious dancing one time or another. Well it wasn't quite as bad as it had been in the Narvian Academy but Arya knew that Madame Annie would not take any excuses.

"Gaze into each other's eyes. You are selling your love to the crowd, it is an art form not some baboons jumbling around!" She snapped her eyes ablaze with anger.

Arya did as she said and her Aztec eyes gazed into Aaron's clear blue ones. Up close Arya could seek specks of white in his eyes, which, along with the lighting of the room made them appear almost a light silver colour.

My God were they beautiful.

Arya was reminded of the snowy mountains of Evenna. She was sure that his eyes would fit right in with the silky snowflakes and gorgeous springs.

By looking into Aaron's eyes, Arya also could read what he was feeling. He was clam at the moment; focus on the task at hand as if dancing at this close proximity had no effect on him. Arya could feel him analyzing her, taking in every detail of her face and posture as well. He was trying to get a read on her. Arya thought in her mind. Her mouth almost curled into a smile. They were so similar yet so different, like two pieces cut from the same cloth but used for different purposes. Arya knew what the future held for them. One of them would rise while the other would fall. Arya would make sure that it was her.

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Arya walked around the marketplace exploring the city of Kathoria as well as seeing the diverse merchandise that was being sold. She had never seen a city quite like Kathoria. Ever stall she went to, she experience something new. There were products from almost all over the globe. Arya had tasted various meals and fruits and she had even gotten to purchase her Jasmine scented perfume.

It was nearing the evening; the ball would be taking place in a couple of hours. Arya had tried to stay inside the castle but the palace was extremely frantic with maids and butlers getting ready in preparing for the aperiens pila. Arya was sure to lose her mind so she had made her escape from the castle as soon as she could.

Arya heard five gongs indicating that it was five o'clock. She supposed she should head back to the castle in a little while in order to get ready for the event. As she passed by a stalk, she turned back to get a better look at it. It was the same women who had greeted Lady Zelie when they had arrived into Kathoria. Arya looked at the merchandise and was surprised to see an object that she hadn't seen in years.

It was made out of clay had had about twelve holes in in. Immediately nostalgia filled Arya as she remembered the last time she had heard anyone play it.

"Do you know what this is?" The lady asked.

Arya nodded. Her words were lodged in her throat. She knew if she were to speak her voice would croak. She simply picked up the ocarina and felt it beneath her fingers. It was cool and she could almost imagine hearing the sound of the wind instrument.

"This one is very popular in Evenna." The white haired women said. "They even have a specific festival for the instrument. It is very sacred and most children are taught how to play it at a very young age."

"I know," Arya said softly.

The women looked up at her strangely. It was as if she knew what the emotions Arya was feeling and so when she spoke the next words, she could not be any more grateful to her.

"Keep it," she insisted as Arya moved to put the object back into place.

Her hand hesitated but the lady pushed in pack into Arya's palm. "Maybe one day I'll be able to hear you play." She said with a soft smile.

Arya didn't ask her how she knew that she could play the ocarina. She simply took the gift she had been presented with and tucked it into her pouch insuring that it would remain safe. She began her journey back to the castle but before that, she stopped at the palace gardens. She had not gotten a chance to see the beautiful flowers that grew in there although Lady Zelie had mentioned how beautiful they were.

Arya asked the guards at the front of the gates to the direction of the garden and began her journey. She found a maze of hedges and she supposed the garden was hidden inside the maze. She followed the path that had been laid out until she reached the end.

The scene in front of her almost took her breathe away. There was a sparking fountain that held all different sizes and colours of fish. Lilies, roses, hibiscus, daffodils, iris, hydrangeas were all lined up together. They looked gorgeous and the flowers had been placed in a way that formed the royal Kalvarian coat of arms.

Further ahead, Arya could spot a bench and a golden net that surrounded it. Intertwined with the netting were beautiful vines of white flowers that Arya could not identify. She made her way to the edge and was surprised to see a stream that was running below the netting.

Arya felt and object poking her in the side so she opened her bag to take out the ocarina. Her fingers went over the holes and she imagined what it would be like to play it once again. After debating the choices for a while, Arya put the instruments to her lips and blew.

A horrible sound emitted but then it was like her fingers were being controlled by a puppeteer as they began moving on their own accord. She played a sad song, one the she remembered from years ago. It was slow and melodious and it felt as though the mountains were rumbling from the song.

Arya was vaguely aware of the birds that had perched on the bench with her but her main focus was on the music. The sadness filled her to the brim and Arya somehow felt compelled to cry at what she had lost. Memories that she had worked hard to tuck began escaping their locks. She led them flood through her and a breeze picked up her hair letting it flutter gently against her face. When Arya finished the song, she closed her eyes content with how the world had become. How she had become.

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I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! I didn't get a chance to proofread it so there might be mistakes. Anyways I'm sorry there was no chapter last week I was just swarmed with too many things. So what did you think of Aaron and Arya dancing together? ;) How about the instrument? The video shows the instrument and how it is played. Anyways, for this week  I wanted to know my readers a bit better so my question is what is your favourite colour? Mine personally is teal/turquoise. Comment below and please remember to vote as usual!