CHAPTER 917: LEARNING THE DANCE

"So, um, Anryth?" I asked, picking at my skirt. "I heard you tutored Selena when she was younger.

"Why, yes!" the old butler said, straightening with a smile. He’d just placed a thin, silver platter with a few thin slices of bread and a porcelain bowl of stew before me, my dinner for the day. "She was a most...irresponsible student. Very willful, especially as a child."

"Really? She was very spirited at the Divine Throne, too. But not so much anymore. She seems...tired."

"I think her rather abrupt departure from the southern continent had something to do with it," he admitted, scratching his cheek. "But why bring it up? Curious to hear stories of your mentor as a child?"

"No, it’s not that..." I hesitated, staring at the food. The aroma was alluring, but the butterflies in my stomach hid my appetite. "I just brought it up because, well, earlier today, she mentioned you might be willing to teach me how to dance."

"Dance? Truly?" he asked, clapping his hands, delighted. "I hadn’t taken you as one with the confidence and poise to attempt it, but if you’re willing, I would love to."

"Would you really teach me? There isn’t very much time before the banquet..."

"Hmm, that’s a good point." he rubbed his chin, looking me up and down, taking in my pleading gaze. He nodded slowly, lips tugging in a smile. "If you’re just looking to learn the basics, I’m certain I can accommodate you. But adjust your expectations. You won’t be impressing anyone. Dance has been an essential skill of any noble for millennia, and those you will encounter have refined their skills for decades at the very least."

After dinner finished, Anrynth led me to an unfamiliar corridor. It was more of a covered path, leading away from the main manor to a stand-alone structure accessed by a pair of grand double doors. Once through, he clapped once, and the lights sprang on, revealing a wide, spacious room with vaulted ceilings and a polished marble floor. It was three stories tall, with an indoor balcony and walkway at the second story circling the entire room, serving as a walkway and overlooking what I could only assume was the dance floor.

"Every noble house has such a gathering hall, and it is used for almost any gathering or celebration. Normally, in peaceful times, these are a monthly occurrence, held for servants and members of the house, close friends, and political allies. These small-scale gatherings have mostly ceased, but it only accentuates the importance of those that continue to be held."

"It’s beautiful and all, but...isn’t it a little late?" I asked, peering through the long, floor-to-ceiling windows at the gloom gathered in the gardens beyond. "We just had dinner..."

"I’d like to explain the fundamentals tonight, so that tomorrow might be dedicated to practicing. Think of dancing as a spell. Just because you know the runes doesn’t mean you can cast them. It takes practice and experience."

"Oh. You should have started with that," I said.

He smiled faintly, striding to the center of the hall and extending his hand to me. The Star Guard gathered around, Gith flying to the balcony above. I started as his feet left the ground, turning to stare at him with wide eyes.

"What?" He said, hiding a rare smile. "We’ve all been practicing arts. It’s no wonder I’ve finally got this one down."

"I just...that’s good," I said lamely, rubbing my horn in embarrassment. They followed me to Haven as often as not, and had gotten familiar with a few of the remnants. It was only natural they picked up a few tricks.

"We can all fly, by the way," Luxxa said, smiling as I stared at her.

"Really? But I haven’t...you never..."

"Fly? Luxxa said we can’t around you," Jenna said, giving the knight an accusing glare. "Apparently, it makes you nervous or something."

"It’s okay, I don’t mind."

"Really?" Luxxa asked, folding her arms, frowning at me. "You’re not just saying that, are you?"

I sighed, rubbing my horn. "Well...it does, a little, but with Korra and Gayron here, it’s probably best I get used to it. So...it would be helpful, actually. Just don’t try and get me to fly, too."

They saluted, breaking into broad grins. Anyrnth coughed lightly, giving me an amused look.

"If that’s cleared up, would you please listen up? There’s much I have to teach you."

The night wore on quickly, as first he lectured, then demonstrated. Luxxa, surprisingly, volunteered as an example, dancing with a grace and fluidity that drew even Anrynth’s praise. I remembered, faintly, that she had been a noble before joining the last Light Company. Did they like to dance in Brithlite, too?

By the time we returned to my chambers, my head swam with new knowledge. Dancing, it seemed, wasn’t as simple as I’d thought. Nor was there just one ’dance,’ apparently, which I’d technically known, but never really thought about. Each had its own steps, rhythm, performances, and social contexts.

The next day, I was eager to return to the dance hall, rushing my maids through my morning routine. I was slow and clumsy, always a beat behind Anrythn’s count, but step by step, I started to get the hang of it. It was a strange feeling, engaging and practicing something physical, for I’d never found any value in it before. I couldn’t wield a weapon, nor enhance my body through mana or breaking through, so even if I trained or practiced every day, anyone I met would be better than me by default. But dancing just kinda...clicked. I loved the twirls and rhythm, the way my dress rose around my waist, and the feeling of my hair trailing after me. Anrynth was kind but strict, lecturing me every misstep, criticizing every failure, but when he helped me practice, his hold on me was strong and encouraging.

As I grew more accustomed to the movements of the elvish formal dances, my mind began to wander, imagining Luke in his place. What would it feel like, being led around the floor by him? Would his hand on my waist be as firm as Anrythn’s? Would his steps be as sure? He’d grown up as a slave, and when our minds had entangled, I hadn’t even glimpsed a dance floor, but in my mind’s eye, he was graceful and confident, a lord leading his lady.

"Very good," Anrynth said, letting me go as I finished a graceful twirl. "I’ll admit, you’ve got some talent. You still trip over your feet from time to time, and you’re far from ready for any of the more advanced moves or dances, but you’ll survive the banquet tomorrow. Just be mindful of your tail, as it tends to rise when you spin. Striking your partner or another couple would be most awkward."

"I’ll be careful," I said, blushing as I gathered the appendage to my chest. "And...thank you."

He smiled, giving me a slight bow. "It was an honor, my Lady. I’d like to practice another few dances with you before letting you go, and after tomorrow, should you desire, I would love to instruct you further."

"I, um, might take you up on that. It’s...fun."

When he was finally satisfied, I left the hall with the Star Guard, humming one of the tunes he’d played through some sort of recording magic. I’d memorized the spell, of course, but found it an inferior version to Memory Projection. They were all unfamiliar to me, of course, but it wasn’t often I heard music, so they stuck in my mind.

After a quick lunch with Elise, sharing my experiencing dancing, I left the manor and walked around the courtyards, drawn to the shivers of mana emitting from the training fields. Korra and Gayron were sparring without arts, but she held up her hand, forestalling the demonkin as soon as she saw me.

"Guess who I was just talking to?" she asked, giving me a playful smile. Before I could, she answered for me. "Luke!"

"Oh, really?" I asked, not liking the edge to her voice.

"That’s right. I challenged him to a spar, of course."

"How did that go?" I asked, feigning interest.

She let out a huff. "Terrible. He had a sword, and all I can do is punch and kick stuff. Maybe, if we could use arts, I’d stand a chance, but he’s way too good otherwise."

"He’s been training with Fyren and a lot of the remnants," I explained.

"That explains it, I guess. Didn’t Fyren work with Soltair, too? His swordsmanship was the best among the other heroes, even without his power."

"Did you just want to tell me that?" I asked.

"Of course not. After he trounced me, we chatted for a second, and it seems like things haven’t been going very well."

"Things?" I asked, avoiding her gaze.

She nodded, folding her arms and staring at me. "Yeah, things. What’s with you two? It’s always been rocky, between him trying to kill us and then kidnapping you, but R’lissea said things were going well."

"You talked to her, too?" I squeaked, turning red.

"Yeah, obviously. It’s not like you’re going to tell me everything," she said. "So what’s up? He said you’ve been cold, and he’s worried he did something to upset you."

"No, that’s not it at all!" I protested. "I just, well..."

"Just what? I expect he did something to scare you, or reminded you too much of Soltair or Alex." She spat on the ground at the mention of the heroes. "So which was it?"

"None of those! He didn’t hurt or scare me," I said. Fingering my skirt, I looked up, blushing lightly. "Kinda the opposite."