Still Learning To Live As A Cultivator

Chapter One Hundred and Ten - He has an unexpected reunion

Groups of exploring and wandering visiting students would naturally cross paths with the Institute's students.  Most of these meetings were peaceful for the most part; the students of the Ascending Mountain Institute had been warned to not provoke and not rise to provocation.  Not that most of the visiting students sought to instigate irritation and force tempers, but there would always be those that had no eloquence or those who could not help want to test others amongst students from all places of learning.  There was a spat of visits to the Healing Halls despite the efforts of Teachers and most students.

There were not just chance meetings either, but happened also the occasional reunion.

Tor washed his hands of dirt and strands of straw, laughing along with the others as two of his friends chased each other after one splashed the other with the soiled water.  He and these young men and women had taken on the chore of mucking out the stalls in the stables of the outer alchemy school for points. A number of beast companions hovered close by; the shadow macaw belonging to the pranked victim was flying along side it's master pecking at the clothes of the prankster they chased.

The stables located on the outskirts of his former school were easily the most sizeable following the two beast taming schools' own. Geographically, the outer alchemist school was located closest to Julip Town, which was also why the one of the main griffin nests were also here. Most expeditions would begin here, Teachers and students from all schools gathering here first, borrowing mounts or claiming their own faithful steeds before heading on their way. Thus the greatest number of Institute owned beasts resided here. Also, of all of the schools' students, it could be claimed that those studying alchemy travelled the most about the Institute, most likely delivering pills and potions to the locations most in need or for purposes of personal trade.

The towering heights in which the mage and scholars schools were located favoured griffin nests for purposes of internal travel, while the martial arts students all preferred to rely on the lightfoot skills (or were forced to practice using them) so while smaller beasts might be found dotted around the schools thanks to their masters' presences, these schools had little or no need for actual stables. At most, a Teacher might build their prize steed a place close to their personal residences for the beast to rest within.

Tor often found himself volunteering for tasks involving the outer alchemist school stables, though he didn't think it was so much about nostalgia.  In fact, apart from hanging about these same stables during the time he'd attended this section of the Institute, he couldn't think of many good days during his past as an alchemist student and any good memories were tainted with the guilt and shame of his actions during those times.  One face always came to mind in particular, one face beaten black and blue to the point that the owner's hair had turned partially white from deviation.  Tor sighed inwardly; perhaps he was a masochist to keep reminding himself of that time, perhaps coming here was his personal penance.  That one victim had forgiven him, but he hadn't forgiven himself. 

An excited bark roused him from his dark mood and a grin lifted his lips as he turned to find his best friend, who'd attracted the attention of a group of unfamiliar girls. 

"Aiya! So cute!" One cooed as she attempted to coax the blue-furred hound over to them.  "It's a cooshee, right?"

"I never realised thought that cooshee were so fluffy!"

Tor rolled his eyes heavenward as he realised that Xiào Xiào had puffed out its fur until it resembled a giant puffball with four legs, two ears and a smaller puffball attached to its rear.  Even the ends of its hind feathers had fluffed up like a certain wild herb's seed heads.  Cooshee's tended to do this when nervous, cold or when courting potential mates, but Xiào Xiào also did this to look cute and gain extra treats.  As a beast companion to a tamer, it was a bit of a softie.