Chapter 188: Basic Training Graduation Ball
3:23 p.m.
At the female dormitory.
"1, 2, step… 1, 2, step… 1, 2, step…" Uliah counted.
She was currently teaching Vivian to dance with her taking the male role.
"1, 2, step… 1, 2, step… 1, 2, step… and end."
Uliah took a step back and they both bowed.
Vivian let go of Uliah's hand and wiped the sweat on her forehead.
She had no experience whatsoever in dancing, even back in her original world. She also had no intention of dancing with anyone at the Graduation Ball. But just in case she would be forced to dance because of a high-ranking officer or whatsoever would order her to do, she wanted to learn so she had Uliah teach her and she had been teaching her since yesterday.
"You've improved, Sister Platoon Leader."
"At least I managed not to step on your feet anymore."
Uliah let out a wry smile and scratched the side of her face.
"Yeah, thank the God of Light…"
Vivian also had no experience wearing high-heels back in her original world. And although she started wearing boots with 2-inch heels back in Luxen City, wearing 3 inches was a totally different experience.
"So again?" asked Uliah.
"I think that's enough. I'm going to practice walking."
"Okay."
Vivian turned away and started walking around inside the room with her 3-inch heels.
The pair she was wearing right now wasn't the one she was going to use for the ball. This was only an extra in case they got destroyed due to her strength.
She wiped the sweat from her forehead again.
Damn…
I'm really sweating…
I need a towel…
As made her way to her bunk bed, she glanced at Kara and the others who were being assisted by tailors and beauticians.
The Temple of Priests, or the administrators of the Training Camp to specific, sent out tailors and beauticians inside each room of the recruits to sew, cut hair, trim and paint their nails and etc. for the Graduation Ball tonight. None of the recruits had to pay for the services because it's already part of the Training Camp's budget.
When Vivian finally reached her bunk bed, she grabbed a towel to wipe her sweat.
On top of her bed were boxes and inside them was for her attire tonight.
After wiping her sweat, she looked at Samantha whose hair was being trimmed by a beautician, causing her to touch her own hair and examine it.
Should I also get my hair done…?
She turned away and looked at Sally and Diane who were having their nails done, causing her to look at her nails and also her skin.
My nails are a bit long…
And my skin, it's already deathly pale that my veins are now visible…
She let out a sigh.
I wish I could at least have eaten someone before the ball…
But why…?
Why didn't it work…?
I ate that family and it still only lasted me for 3 days before my blood started becoming blue once again…
Nothing really goes my way…
"This here. I want it like this and it should go all the way up here," Kara's voice echoed inside the room, causing Vivian to turn to her.
Kara was wearing a pink dress and having 2 tailors make some final adjustments.
Vivian's lips curled up into a small smile.
Pink hair and pink dress…
Well…
Vivian put down the towel and resumed walking around.
***
6:42 p.m.
Vivian, Kara, Uliah, Samantha, Sally and Diane stepped out of the female dormitory.
The Priestesses from the other platoons were also there waiting for their turn to board the carriages.
Vivian was wearing a dark blue dress and silver-colored high-heels. Her hair was tied up, her face and skin were painted with makeup, her nails painted in red, and she had a silver-colored necklace, ring and earrings with red gemstones.
Ugh…
I feel naked going out without my Earring of Spirit…
As for the rest of her companions, they too were all dolled-up. However, only Vivian and Uliah didn't carry any purses.
Kara was wearing a pink dress.
Uliah was wearing a yellow dress.
Samantha was wearing a white dress.
And both Sally and Diane were wearing a red dress.
They waited in line to board the carriages.
Vivian looked at her dress and let out a sigh internally.
So that's what purses are for…
As a man in her original world, when attending parties, she would only have her phone, keys and wallet inside her pockets. Bringing extra things was out of the question. However, in this case, it was more than that. Given that this was her first time wearing a dress, she was genuinely surprised to find out her dress had no pockets. And even if she were to add a pocket, it would only ruin the overall look of the dress.
Kara and the others offered to lend Vivian a purse but decided not to accept it. Instead, she asked Kara to keep her things for her inside her purse.
Vivian glanced at Kara, Samantha and Diane.
Can they still breathe…?
Their dress required a corset, while hers, Uliah and Sally's dress didn't.
On top of that, out of all of them, Vivian had the most revealing or raunchiest dress because it revealed a large portion of her legs, almost similar to the little black dress but still more conservative. Nevertheless, it still caught her female companions off guard because they were expecting Uliah to wear the most revealing or raunchiest because of her boyish demeanor.
Meanwhile, Kara had the most extravagant dress, almost like a princess and almost like for kids that it was just too much.
It was actually Samantha and Sally who had the best dress with Diane behind and then Uliah.
It was finally their turn to board the carriages.
Vivian, Kara, Uliah and Samantha shared a carriage. Meanwhile, Sally and Diane shared a carriage with 2 other Priestesses from another platoon.
***
7:01 p.m.
Vivian and the rest arrived at the venue where the Graduation Ball would be held and entered a grand and luxurious hall.
In the corner were the tables, chefs and wait staff, and also a band from the Temple of Bards playing a song. And in the middle was a space for people who wanted to dance.
Vivian and company made their way to their table. Each platoon had its own tables. And although there was no separation between the men and women, most of the recruits simply stuck with their own gender. And Vivian and her group were no different.
Uliah gestured towards a waiter and he promptly went over to her.
"What can I get you, Honored Priestess Crusader?"
Uliah and the others gave their orders.
When they were done giving out their orders, the waiter bowed and left.
Sally turned to the other table where their male classmates sat.
"Where are the rest?"
"Some went out, others haven't arrived yet," said Zean who was sitting a at table next to them along with Crew, Earl and Turd.
"You look very beautiful, by the way, Sister Sally," Zean said and smiled.
"Thank you, Brother Squad Leader. You look very handsome yourself," Sally said and smiled.
Zean was wearing what looked like a tuxedo with a touch of medieval aesthetics, almost similar to the Victorian era.
"Looks like no one wants to dance," Uliah joined in.
"That's because it's still too early. Once there are enough people and they ingested enough alcohol, that's when they would have enough courage," said Turd.
Uliah scoffed.
"Nonsense! People need alcohol to have courage? I'll dance myself."
Chud.
Kara grabbed Uliah's arm.
"Sister Squad Leader, please don't embarrass our platoon."
"Haven't you seen my moves during my practices with Sister Vivian?"
"In the name of the God of Light, please don't… I beg you…"
The waiter who took Uliah and her companion's order finally arrived.
Everyone except for Vivian ordered a light meal.
As for Vivian, she ordered 3 large steaks, 2 bowls of salad and a bottle of wine. Everyone, including the men, looked at what she ordered but didn't dare to comment.
***
7:35 p.m.
The tables inside the hall were now filled and a beautiful and elegant woman in her late 20s wearing a dress that befits an Aristocratic Noble walked to the middle of the hall. Behind her was one of the wait staff who was carrying an empty wine glass and a fork on top of a gold tray.
The wait staff presented the glass and fork and the woman picked them up.
Ting.
Ting.
Ting.
She made a tingling sound with the glass and fork, causing everyone inside the hall to stop what they were doing and turn to her.
The woman returned the glass and fork on top of the tray.
"Crusaders of the 8-23rd Company, welcome to your Graduation Ball and congratulations for completing your Basic Training. I hope everyone here is having a lovely evening.
"For those who don't know me, I am Sister High Lieutenant Merridelle, one of the instructors of Platoon 1. But for tonight, you may address me as Sister Merridle and I will be your host for this evening.
"Later in the evening, we would be handing out awards for the best couple, best suit, best dress, best dancer and other titles.
"So please enjoy the ball, good luck to everyone, congratulations once again for completing your Basic Training and may the God of Light watch over you."
"May the God of Light watch over you as well, Sister Merridelle," the recruits said.
When Merridelle left, the band resumed playing music and many of the recruits immediately talked to each other in hush tones with excitement. Some were predicting who would win awards while others were formulating a strategy on how to win an award.
Jeston got up from his seat all of a sudden and there were beads of sweat on his forehead.
"You okay? What's wrong with you?" asked Roderick.
"Do you need to go business No.2?" asked Xander.
Jeston ignored them and pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his sweat. But even after wiping his sweat, his face didn't stop sweating. Even his body was covered in sweat but it wasn't obvious because of the layers of clothing he was wearing.
And it wasn't because it was hot. Despite the many people inside the hall, the temperature was actually quite cold due to the Magic Panel that some women were groaning that they should've worn more clothing.
Vivian was one of them.
Jeston stepped out of his chair and went over to the next table.
He lowered his upper body, making his body look like an inverted L, and then extended his hand.
"S-S-S-S-S-S-Sister K-K-K-K-Kara! W-W-W-Would you p-p-please let me d-dance with you?!"
Everyone in Platoon 3 stared in shock.
As for Kara herself, she was leaning away from him on her seat, her body close to touching Uliah who was beside her.
Uliah shoved her forward.
"Hey, don't be rude."
Kara closed her eyes to recollect herself. When she opened them, she got up and lowered her head.
"I'm sorry, Brother Jeston. I'm afraid I can't accept your invitation. And it's not that I don't like you or anything. I just don't have any intention of dancing with anyone tonight."
Jeston bit his tongue before finally answering.
"I… I undestand…"
He raised his torso and slowly went back to his seat.
He received a few pats and words of encouragement from his male classmates but they all fell on deaf ears.
"You can't blame her. She already has someone in her heart. But at least you were man enough to try. That's all that matters," said Earl.
"Yeah, you're a real man, man," said Xander.
"Brother Jeston," a female voice suddenly called.
Everyone turned to who spoke.
It was Sally who already stood up from her seat and was looking at him.
"You wouldn't mind dancing with me, right?"
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