Arn closed the door to the restroom and sighed deeply.  As a dwarf, every fiber of his being demanded that he go out there and face his fears.  Defeat is only acceptable in an honorable duel.  Though proud, dwarves not stupid.  Their race is not as numerous as humans or demi humans.  Even elves tend to populate faster than the under-ground dwelling humanoids.  Thus, the race tends to minimize anything that could be dangerous and harmful.  Hence their mistrust and limited contact with other races. 

His every fiber was on high alert since he had arrived at the Academy and now his room, the one place he had hoped would be a sanctuary or retreat, was ground zero.  A measly door separated the young cadet from not only a strange species but one that was so perfectly and beautifully represented in the lovely Archer, Karya. 

The cleric in training made doubly sure that the door was closed and the proceeded to take off his uniform.  Well muscled arms and legs were covered in almost fur like hair.  Though not dexterous as the elven people, it was still no problem for the strong leg muscles to balance him as he took of his pants and put his pajamas on.  He pulled the pajama shirt over his head and it fell on broad shoulders, a wide back and a barrel chest.  While it was true that his midsection was not chiseled, the abdominal muscles were as taunt as steel.  

Soon, he noticed the strewn about towels, puddles of water and trail of wet steps and remembered the woodland lady mentioning something about it. 

[color=007236]"Ehh, I hope it isn't too much of a mess, with the towels and all," she called as he trudged into the room at the back. "You see, I had a little trouble with the artificial lake in there." [/color]

He could not help but smirk slightly at the scene and her comment.  His race was very mechanically inclined and almost had a built in sense of how things worked.  The young dwarf wondered where the girl came from and how they lived that something as simple as a faucet seemed to have gotten the better of her. 

The young cadet caught himself smirking and immediately corrected himself.  He shook his head as if to re arrange his thoughts and set his military training correctly.  Before him was a mess that needed to be corrected.  This he knew.  So thankful for something to do, he proceeded to clean up.

Service duty was required of all cadets.  The dwarf soon finished drying up and even making a makeshift hanging place for the wet towels.  Having finished too quickly he proceeded to vent his anxiety and awkwardness about the place in making the rest room prim and pretty.  He refolded the towels to maximize the storage and make it more efficient. 

When he ran out of things to arrange or optimize, he sat down on the floor cross legged.  He dug into the med pack that he always carried with him and which had fit perfectly into the school provided satchel that went with his uniform.  He produced a small book titled [i][b]“Spreading Storalla’s Light: A call of faith.”[/b][/i]

It had been written by a High Priest of Storalla and all cleric initiates were required to read it.  It held not only instruction and introduction into the monastic structure of the clergy, but also it had many passages that the cleric could use for faith edification.

The book was well worn. It had actually belonged to Hardal.  There were very few copies but enough for the small unit of clerics from Iron Gate Fort.  The dwarves allowed religion and the worship of a god other than Ugrad only because the clerics were essential units.  However, very few joined their ranks due to the skill and temperance required to be a medic.  Also, there was an underlying belief that clerics were not true dwarves. 

The race delighted in the din and struggle of battle.  Indeed, the first “toys” a young dwarf plays with are hammer and shield.  Their whole society is geared towards the outfitting, training, and conducting of war.  Soft feelings such as mercy and blessings that are a core belief of clerics are taken with a tongue in cheek attitude. 

Still, to Arn, the words of the High Priest were a balm that help cure the wounds of his mind and which gave him purpose and direction.  As he read, his mind became at ease and he achieved an almost serene and detached mental state. 

This state allowed him to review and analyze the events of the evening from a calmer vantage point.  He closed his eyes as he meditated.  A calm that was not known to many dwarves surrounded him like a cloak.  In his mind’s eye he saw the feast hall, and the people who had sat at his table. 

Via this vision, he was able to pick out small details and impressions he had not allowed himself to pay attention to earlier.  Each and every one of his table mates had been interesting in their own way.  

Starting with the blonde mage who spoke to him first, Arn winced at his realization that he had been rude.  However, the bubbly and positive energy (or was it something else) that was radiating from the mage was a bit too much for his first experience.  Then there was his self-proclaimed cousin and his lovely entourage of ladies.  The young cadet made it a personal goal to visit more with Finn.  After all, the archer was the only lifeline to his uncle that he knew. 

Selena’s pink haired and foxy appearance was reason enough to make her stand out yet Arn had felt a sort of energy from her too he could not describe other than it reminded him of the times he had felt power pour into him while he was in prayer and divine training.  The was not much he could say about the regal looking white haired Valerie other than she looked very confident and that in itself is a mystery worth learning. 

Arn shifted his position and after a few shuffles, he decided to just place a fluffy towel under him and lean against a wall.  He took a deep breath and went back to his meditation arms left relaxed on his lap.  If anybody were to enter and see him in that state, he would look by all appearances as some tree loving individual that eats paleo natural foods and is concerned about peoples auras. 

He had not really experienced much of the two demon horned individuals and the red eyed blacked robed mage who seemed to have a sharp mind and sharp tongue.  The Tieflings, though he did not know they were called this, acted much different than their looks projected.  However, the dwarf was sure that he was not the only one who was instinctually averse to their looks.  His gut reaction made him feel ashamed.  After all, they seemed like nice individuals.

Last but definitely not least, was the blue haired lass whose eyes held back some sort of secret.  What it was the dwarf could not tell but her aura was deadly.  The way she had asserted herself when holding back Finn had a certain confidence that came from experience in dangerous situation.  At least, situations that could lead to violence. 

A sudden crash from the other side of the door startled the almost tranced cadet.  His little smirk returned.  Ah yes, how could one forget his very own roommate.  Ironically, now that she was hidden from his sight by the wooden door, was when he could truly appreciate her visage.  His mind conjured a tanned skinned beauty.  With barely contained tussle of hair that sported small flowers.  The small detail was not lost on Arn.  It added to her attractiveness.  

His home above ground sported greenery necessary for food of man and best only.  There was no flowers other than those that grew wild.  Trees were sacrificed for the need of wood and clear spaces that would prevent an army from getting too close to the Iron Gate Fort.  So to Arn, Karya was as exotic as they came.  She was delicate and long limbed as an elf but her golden-brown eyes sported none of the contempt and airs of superiority that often triggered the proud dwarves. 

The young cleric suddenly felt flushed by his private analyzing of his roommate.  Somehow, doing that with the person being just a room over felt like he was some sort of creep.  Instead of continuing with that mental path, he decided to study more of his book.  Eventually, a tired mind caused tired eyes to close.  

Thanks to his internal clock, the dwarf’s eyes flew open. Something in his gut told him it was nearing the dawn.  If he remembered correctly, combat class would be held at dawn.  He was not sure how far away the training grounds were, and he had to take into account the time to don his armor and how long it would take him to get to the fields encumbered and the disadvantage of his short stride. 

The young cadet got up with a grunt.  Sleeping sitting down on the hard floor of the restroom did not agree with him.  He approached the door and then stopped.  His mind reminded him that there lay a lovely lady on the other side.  He debated hotly in his head whether he should knock or just go in, or wait until she was awake.  The dread of being late to a formal and mandatory event finally won the argument.  He steeled himself and cautiously opened the door to whatever lay on the other side of the door.