MORNING OF THE FOURTH DAY
MASTER SNOWDRIFT
The swirling winds of Kun-Lai's high peaks carried with them a driving rainstorm. For Master Wan Snowdrift of the Shado-Pan, this made his usual walk at first light a bedraggled one. His distinguished topknot bobbing a bit as he surveyed the grounds of the Monastery, he could make out the lanterns through the curtains of water.
As he stepped to the Bridge of Initiation over the monastery's lake, he sighted two boats gliding over the open water below. Over a mile above sea level, the Monastery's lake still did not freeze completely over…but the waters were still quite frigid. Everything had been prepared for this day…the day in which several Pandaren would join the distinguished ranks of the Shado-Pan.
And possibly one human as well.
Snowdrift paused before he took his first step. That thought did bother him somewhat. We are far from the most accepting bunch of people, he thought to himself, and Roronoa Zoro will be a challenge to our existing philosophy by merely taking the trial.
Had Zoro been Pandaren, there would have been no debate whatsoever. Snowdrift knew this quite well. But Zoro was not Pandaren…rather, their unexpected guest was human. Neither hozen nor jinyu had ever undertaken the trials of the Shado-Pan. Neither of those peoples were interested. The mogu held the Pandaren in contempt and Snowdrift truly couldn't conceive of one of them ever undergoing the trials either. The yaungol had never bothered sending anyone to Kun-Lai with peaceful intentions… And all of this meant that Zoro would be unique indeed.
Snowdrift stepped across the wooden planks of the Bridge of Initiation, having gathered his thoughts. Much to the Blackguard Master's annoyance, the bridge swayed slightly in the slight wind. Just imagine what it'll be like when the group of initiates steps here. Of course, some things cannot be changed. Other things simply do not change.
He walked across the next bridge from the island towards the bulk of the Monastery. Snowdrift had someone to wake up.
When Snowdrift arrived at Zoro's quarters, he rapped twice on the closed door. He likely closed it to prevent prying eyes from disturbing him too much. Snowdrift surmised. A sensible idea, to be certain. Wan couldn't make out if the human was sleeping or not…perhaps Zoro was a light sleeper. Snowdrift chuckled inwardly at the idea of a human snoring as loudly as a Pandaren, although he supposed that could be a possibility. The Blackguard Master thought that might be an interesting thing to witness, if nothing else.
The answer he received to those knocks on the door was not quite what Snowdrift had been expecting. The door slid open to reveal Zoro, who wore a simple blue and green robe and a pair of small boots. Based on the size of Zoro, whose head barely came to the level of Snowdrift's chest, the robe and boots were those of an initiate…or a child of the order who had not yet undertaken the trial. The human wore a greenish band tightened across their forehead. Snowdrift smiled very slightly. "I see you've prepared yourself." Yet Zoro had left his swords on the foot of the bed.
"I have." Zoro answered readily.
Snowdrift folded both arms over his chest. "You are not bringing your blades?"
Zoro's head shook no. "I have a feeling they aren't allowed."
"Not at this stage." Snowdrift smiled sadly. "I will arrange for their return to your capable hands should you survive. Of that, you may be certain."
Zoro smiled. "Lead the way, Snowdrift-sama."
The form of address was strange, but Snowdrift did just that. Zoro followed the Blackguard Master down the long halls of the dormitory…and into the rain outside. Neither spoke. There was little to say at this point. According to Taran Zhu, Roronoa Zoro knew what would be expected of him. He had to survive, to endure the rites, and then and only then would Zoro be allowed to learn further from the Shado-Pan. The weather slackened in its torrid pace, the rainclouds at last shifting high above. Light burst through the openings and struck the clouds and the highest mountains. The sight was dazzling as Snowdrift led Zoro around the lakeshore to the Monastery Gate. The Bridge of Initiation would be for later…not just now.
When they arrived at the gate, Snowdrift gestured to the two guards who flanked it on either side for them to open the great gates. The wood creaked and groaned as the gates swung outwards, and then Zoro let loose a gasp as his eyes looked out of the Gates and on the vastness of Pandaria. The distant Townlong Steppes were still wreathed by virga and light cloud…but they were still awe-inspiring to Snowdrift, even after his many, many years of service to the Shado-Pan.
"Impressive, is it not?" Snowdrift murmured as he led Zoro through the gate.
Zoro nodded mutely in agreement. "It is,indeed"
The words that came to Snowdrift's mouth were almost unbidden, yet the huge Pandaren uttered them regardless. "If you are to endure our trials, Roronoa Zoro…I suggest that you determine what is worth fighting for." Wan bowed his head, gathering his thoughts. "For now…you may rest at the small camp that the others have prepared until the call is made. At that point, you will be allowed back inside, and the Trial will begin." Snowdrift's eyes narrowed as he looked over the encampment. This was certainly a large group of prospects, wasn't it? There were more Pandaren than in the previous trial.
And one human as well. Zoro tightened the green bandana about his forehead. "Anything else?"
"Yes." Snowdrift smiled very slightly. "Whether you pass our trial or not…you should know that you have opened many eyes within this place." He reached into the pockets of his pants and pulled out a small ring. "Show that to the guards when the gates are opened to you once more. They will allow you to pass. And if you live…you may keep that."
The human shifted in their stance and nodded once more, tucking a hand to their chest. "Thanks, Snowdrift."
"Don't thank me just yet." Snowdrift turned back to the Monastery and walked back through the gates. "If you survive, thank me then."
The great gates of the Monastery closed as Snowdrift passed through, leaving Zoro on the other side.
RORONOA ZORO
The rain was gentler and had slacked off considerably since Zoro had left the dormitory block of the Monastery and followed after Snowdrift. Roronoa looked about the small encampment outside the Monastery gates, inspecting it with keen eyes. There were many younger looking Pandaren gathered here…as well as a few older ones. Likely parents or relatives who could accompany them from wherever they started their journey, Zoro thought. Given just how colossal this Pandaria appears to be, such a journey might be quite arduous depending on the terrain.
Zoro wondered if any had come from across the seas that had to surround a place like this. I'll find that out soon enough, I guess. For now, the human swordsman was content to sit down on a box outside of the camp's shelter. The robes Zoro wore wicked away the rainwater, allowing it to fall to the ground without clinging to his body. An unexpected bonus, to be certain. He locked eyes with one of the Pandaren, who froze for a moment…then nodded in recognition. Clearly his presence was not too much of a disturbance. These younger Pandaren had to focus, to prepare themselves. Zoro had mentally prepared himself, but the swordsman reflected that stretching would not be a bad idea, especially if the first parts of the trial proved particularly taxing.
Zoro had just stretched the calf and thigh muscles to ready them when another Pandaren locked eyes with him. "Something I can help you with?"
"By the White Tiger, you're skinny." The Pandaren, who had the frame of a young man, chuckled. "Get some soup in you!"
The swordsman's eyes narrowed for a moment and Zoro sighed. Perhaps he was not as thickly built as the Pandaren, but that didn't make him any less strong. Hunger was not a concern for the moment. "I appreciate the offer…but it isn't necessary."
"They fed you before kicking you out?" Another Pandaren appeared from the shadows very close to Zoro, and the swordsman suppressed the desire to flinch. Yet their voice was pleasant, oddly so. "How interesting."
"I do not hunger as you do." Zoro murmured in reply. "And if they should do something to upset our stomachs on the trial, what good will soup do?"
The Pandaren that had appeared close to him sat down on a nearby box. "Got a point there, greenhair, but it's obvious as day that you're no Pandaren. What's your name?"
Zoro's eyes narrowed once more. "Roronoa Zoro."
"Tai Chiang." The Pandaren bowed his head. "I did not mean any offense by my question, Zoro."
The swordsman smiled tightly, his lips forming a tight line. "If you had, we would not be speaking now…Tai Chiang."
There was another serious nod by Tai Chiang. "Not a bad idea, that. Mind if I join in?"
Zoro chuckled. "Suit yourself."
Tai inclined their head and then proceeded to stretch themselves. Zoro's eyes followed some of the motions, finding his eyes drawn to Tai Chiang's thick calves and forearms. The young Pandaren wasn't too much taller than Zoro, and a long black hair trailed behind their ears and down their neck. Simple robes similar to Zoro's cloaked Tai's torso, but Zoro made out the thick stomach shifting beneath them as Tai went through their motions. "Where are you from, Zoro?"
"Is there a reason you ask?" Zoro responded to Tai's question with one of his own.
Tai paused. "They say that if you should fail in the tests that they leave your hometown on your gravestone outside the Monastery. And they let your family know"
Well, at least Zoro had a better idea what the cost of failure was. "The Shado-Pan?" Zoro asked, and Tai nodded. "Interesting. Well, they'd have to put a place known as the Grand Line on my gravestone." His knuckles cracked. "I have no intention of failing."
Tai nodded grimly. "Neither do I. My great-grandmother served the Shado-Pan for five decades." Tai's eyes closed in contemplation and they paused in their motions. "My grandfather's younger brother died in the trial when it was his turn. None of my uncles or my parents attempted it when they were old enough."
"You're the first to attempt it since?" Zoro murmured. Tai nodded once more. "Ganbatte."
Tai's eyebrows furrowed with confusion. "What does that mean?"
"To my people, that means 'do your best'…or 'good luck'." Zoro flexed the muscles in the right arm, and Tai's eyes widened. "Tell you what…we make it through this, and I'll tell you all about the Grand Line."
Tai smiled. "It's a deal."
The Monastery gates groaned, shuddered, and shook as they opened outwards. An imperious looking Shado-Pan wearing long robes who Zoro did not recognize strode out, scrutinizing the prospects as they gathered into small groups. The rain was little more than mist at this point, but Zoro could see clearly the piercing eyes of the Shado-Pan as they looked over those who would dare to join the order. The ring gathered in a clenched fist, Zoro similarly found himself looking at the other prospects…his competition. Some wore fancy armor that clanked about and had to have gotten very cold in this rain, others wore simple homespun robes that had almost soaked through…and some, like Zoro, were fortunate enough to wear cloaks that resisted the water.
The Shado-Pan inspector cleared their throat and their deep voice addressed the prospects. "You have gathered here from across Pandaria on this day for one purpose: to prove yourself worthy of the honor of joining the ranks of the Shado-Pan." Bright orange-brown eyes narrowed. "To that end, you were issued rings, necklaces, or other symbols by those who thought you might undertake the trial. Form two lines…and then proceed through the gates to the Bridge of Initiation. Do not forget to show the guards the regalia of our order."
Zoro nodded tightly. The group of Pandaren plus Zoro shifted into lines in a haphazard fashion, but after piercing stares from the Shado-Pan dressed down those who had taken the front positions in place, the lines became less disorderly.
With a clap, the Shado-Pan took stance at the head of the two lines and marched back through the gates and onto the Monastert grounds. Zoro relaxed as best he could as the two lines followed after her, each prospect indicating whatever Shado-Pan regalia they had been issued to the guards, one after another. The guard that looked at Zoro froze when the swordsman held the ring that Master Snowdrift had given him, but nodded tightly and stated, "You may pass." Zoro released an unconscious breath and followed the Pandaren ahead of him.
The Trial of the Red Blossoms awaited.
Bit of a shorter chapter than usual, but still, I hope you enjoy reading it and if you have any questions, feel free to send me a PM!
