---

The Prince soon entered the room, and opened up the windows to let some fresh air in. Kai's braid whipped back and forth in an upright position as he worked his way back out of the "nest" he'd made and hopped off the bed.

"I won't be here often, Kai, so treat it as yours. But leave my wardrobe alone."

@ERode"Okay. But why won't you be here?" asked the bluette as he tilted his head to one side. But before the prince answered, a raised voice echoed down the hallway.

“Anybody else wanna head to supper with Zen and I?” Signar said, loud enough he clearly intended to invite the entire group.

@Zombehs@pkken"YES ME!" Kai let his hunger--he had never been able to catch any fish while waiting on the bridge after all--overcome his curiosity about Rossweine's statement. The third seat fairly bounded out of the room, but looked back at the prince as he froze in mid-stride. "C'mon, Raw Swine! Food!" He took another few strides, out of sight around the doorframe--and then poked his head back around it, once more looking expectantly at the Prince. At the slightest hint of movement from the noble, the bluette was off for good.

But as he headed towards Signar and Zenshin, he noticed Julian and Nathaniel facing off just inside their own room's doorway. Nathaniel was closer to the back, but Kai felt as if he stood out more between the two--because he was clearly angry, even though he wasn't yelling or making aggressive movements--no. Actually making noise, making yourself appear bigger, that was for when you didn't want to fight. Nathaniel's ire was quiet--a challenge. The staredown between two wolves. Whoever faced away first admitted their submission.

The blue haired boy looked back at Signar and Zenshin, as it seemed they were already on their way to try and find something to eat. Neither they, nor Dot or Liese had made any attempt to interfere in what was going on between Julian and the second seat--so should he also leave it be? But...he was supposed to be the third seat, too, right? That meant he was higher than Julian, but not higher than Nathaniel...Did that mean he was supposed to take a side? Or maybe...

@Feyblue@webboysurfHe crouched down near the wall opposite Julian and Nathaniel's room, and pulled at his hair with one hand while rocking back and forth on his feet. For now he was just...watching. Although, the way he had squatted down like that, almost seemed like he could spring back up at any time...

Then his stomach growled. Quite loudly.

---

"... Why would I do that? That's stupid. I'm supposed to spar you again now that you know exactly how I fight, when I don't know the first thing about you or what you can do? Not to mention, if you win, you get to make yourself look good. If I beat the same person twice, I get... what, exactly?"

Nathaniel's hands clenched into fists at his sides as he stared down the smaller boy. From a rational angle, Julian was right: There was nothing for him to gain. In fact, a duel of this caliber would typically exist in an environment where other means of mediation were available. Nathaniel had opted for a duel when there was no other means of recourse. They were peers, after all, and a simple standing as "Vice Captain" didn't mean much of anything. The only thing on the line was honor, and only one side had any stake in such a concept. After all, Julian had only things to lose. Nathaniel had already lost.

And if those were the only words, Nathaniel might have been able to forget. He knew moving on was a better option, that he would have chances to prove what he was capable of. But there was something that boiled inside of Nathaniel as he tightened the muscles in his jaw. Julian had practically forgotten the duel, and thought of Nathaniel as a "sucker." Years of study, a life dedicated to being here... and some Baker boy who didn't even know how to hold a half-way decent sword stance looked down on him. Nathaniel couldn't help but let a seething pain ooze from his wounded pride. He was made to look like a fool for doing the right thing and seeking an honest fight, and now was denied recourse. If he had dishonored Julian, Nathaniel would have accepted the duel. Even if he lost, it was the noble thing to do.

Nathaniel slowly walked past his roommate, moving towards the door. He unclenched his fists and loosened the muscles around his jaw. Malice still swirled in Nathaniel's head, dissipating as he remembered he had a whole squad mere feet away that he was responsible for serving. He turned his gaze briefly towards Julian, his mind resolute. His tone was softer, but there was a confidence and matter-of-fact quality in the delivery of his words. "You will duel me one of these days, Julian Baker. Not for the noble ideal of honor, or because it's the just thing to do: you've already proven to me that those are not qualities you possess. I think you will duel me when you are ready to learn if you ever deserved to be here."

He quickly finished crossing the room, opening the door swiftly and looking out into the common area. His eyes locked on to Kai, and it was clear that the others must have heard the challenge. Nathaniel took a deep breath, letting a soft smile grace his lips again. Sure, he had sparse accommodations, was ranked second on his squad, and was rooming with a dishonorable rat. And while most would view their situation as a punishment, Nathaniel instead saw opportunity. He was being issued a challenge all his own. As his father once said, being a knight isn’t just about overcoming obstacles: you have to carry yourself through those obstacles with dignity and honor. And once Nathaniel took that moment to compose himself and ignore the fact that he had lacked that dignity and honor just moments before, his eyes were filled with the same joy and determination he had when his name was called in the ceremony. He took a few steps towards Kaiser, giving the boy a nod. ”Kaiser, we should catch up with the others to make sure we reserve a fine spot in the mess hall for our squadron. What do you say?” His last words were more of a statement than a question, as Nathaniel turned to follow Signar and Zenshin.

@Zeroth@Zombehs@pkken

If Kai would not wait for an answer, Rossweine did not find it necessary to provide one. Instead, he simply tilted his head in the energetic youth’s direction, and that was all the movement needed to send him off. Outside, the others were making their way off to the mess hall as well, no doubt for the inaugural first dinner with this new generation of knights. Signar made the offer, and Kai looked to be doing his best to…tactfully draw Nathaniel’s attention away from Julian. And considering Liese’s own intentions, it went without saying that the Brendorn child was doing their best to acquire Dot’s friendship.

He closed the door shut. Locked it. And then laid down upon the bed that would be his for a good fraction of his life.

The bedding was hard, sturdy, the sort that felt good to rest one’s back against but not good if one slept in any other manner. The ceiling lacked any adornments that made looking up at it bearable. There was no space for books or paintings, hardly any space if one wished to dance. One would be hard-pressed to fit any instruments in here, and one would be even more hard-pressed to fit any meaningful accoutrements to live self-sufficiently. But it was an adequate place nonetheless. He closed his eyes, feeling for the lake within him, its surface as still as a mirror, its waters fed by the spring beneath. This was a special exhaustion, having to think so much of others, having to consider all the pieces that had to be put in place before he could fade off into becoming a figurehead.

It must be done, however. He remembered Manegold’s directives even now. Keep an eye on the two Aura users for signs of tangible improvement. Keep an eye on the Absolute so they remained loyal to the Royals. Keep an eye on the Light to discern where their allegiances stood. And, above all, do nothing that would besmirch the efforts of his elders through association.

Another breeze drew into the room, curling back his tawny hair. He had his ten seconds to rest. If these years were the only years in which he needed to put in effort, then so be it.

Rossweine rose from his bed, smoothed out the wrinkles in his clothing, and swung the door open once more, ever the perfected ideal of a prince. His gaze settled on Signar once more.

“It’ll be rare enough, once training begins, that we will all choose to dine at the same time. Let’s wait for them,” a glance towards the ensorcelled door, “to join us, and we can exit as one.”

Of all the things in the world, securing a specific table was low on Rossweine’s list of priorities.

"But if you would like to go ahead, Nathaniel, then do as thou wilt."

---

Julian had expected... well, to be honest, she wasn't sure what sort of answer she had anticipated. Regardless, she'd made her position quite clear and had rejected his challenge in no uncertain terms, so while things would probably be rough between them for a while, maybe she had hoped that he'd at least think twice before pushing his luck? No, of course not. Obviously, he'd be mad -- maybe he'd grow angry and yell at her, or perhaps he'd even strike her for her insolence. This might have been an environment where they were both "equal" in a sense as fellow cadets, but even in this place, he was a noble and one of her commanding officers, and she was just another individual under his command. She hadn't the presence of mind to choose her words carefully, and so she'd no doubt have to face the consequences of her disrespect. Even so, she wasn't going to back down, even if he actually did decide to take a swing at her. She'd used every ounce of her cunning and given the utmost effort to take back her life. She couldn't afford to stumble now at the very second step.

...And yet, of all the various outcomes she had expected, his silence came as a complete surprise to her. He just... stared at her, and said nothing. His eyes were filled with the kind of hatred and contempt she'd long since grown accustomed to seeing -- as if he was looking at something beyond worthless -- but he didn't spit at her or throw a punch or deride her any further. He just stared in silence, then turned to leave the room. Yet, as he stepped past her, looming all-too-close due to the room's cramped nature...

"You will duel me one of these days, Julian Baker. Not for the noble ideal of honor, or because it's the just thing to do: you've already proven to me that those are not qualities you possess. I think you will duel me when you are ready to learn if you ever deserved to be here."

In a way, those quiet words hurt more than the punch she'd been expecting -- not because they were right, but because they weren't wrong either. She understood that he'd been wronged, and knew that her own actions were far from those of the storybook heroes she had idolized throughout her childhood. But if she could recognize her own dishonorable conduct and the unfair nature of Nathaniel's own situation, yet refused to rectify either, she supposed it was really no different than not caring in the first place. Even so... what was she supposed to do? If she failed here, where else could she even go to try again? This might have been a matter of pride for him, but it was a matter of life and death for her!

But even if she'd wanted to say as much, there was no way she could. After all, even if she did get cast aside and lose everything again, was there even anybody who'd take her side? It was unfair, unreasonable, unbearable -- but that was just the way things were, and this whole situation was her own fault to begin with. Even if she was hated, did she even have the right to be angry? Regardless of what she said or did, and regardless of what happened to her, the "justice" and "honor" of the nobility would never be on her side. But even so, she couldn't bring herself to let go of such things either. That was precisely why she couldn't deny his words.

What is there to learn? I already know better than anyone what I deserve. I already...

While the others gathered in the common room, Julian simply stayed put. She didn't hang her head, or gnash her teeth, or clench her fists in rage. But even so... she felt like it would be a mistake to let anyone see her face right now. She wasn't sure what kind of expression she was making, and that kind of scared her. It wouldn't do to show her squadmates an unsightly face, so for the time being... even if she was still unbearably hungry, she'd already waited this long. She could wait just a little longer, until she could find a way to smile again.

---

Nathaniel was the first to exit the room. As his muscles relaxed and his expression became visibly less angry, one might think the situation had been resolved. But to Kai, it seemed clear that Julian had been marked--Nathaniel would be on the blonde's scent now. This wasn't a territory conflict. The second seat would hunt Julian over long distances, trailing just behind, the inevitable specter of death until the prey collapsed from its own exhaustion. What that meant in the context of "the society," as Gramps called it, Kai didn't know. He watched in order to learn.

The other Aurist's eyes locked onto Kai, and he smiled. The bluette met his gaze, evenly, but did not bow his head down to protect his throat, nor lift his chin up to expose it. Slowly, the wildling stood. Nathaniel took a few steps forward, and did nod.

”Kaiser, we should catch up with the others to make sure we reserve a fine spot in the mess hall for our squadron. What do you say?”

@webboysurf"Okay!" The thought of food momentarily shook Kai from his uneasy reverie, and his eyes brightened. Then the prince exited their shared abode.

“It’ll be rare enough, once training begins, that we will all choose to dine at the same time. Let’s wait for them,” their captain looked at Liese and Dot's door, and for the first time Kai noticed the...difference in it and the other doors on the floor. Something about it made him bristle, just looking at it. Was that Magic? How was it different from what Gramps told him about his own Aura?

"But if you would like to go ahead, Nathaniel, then do as thou wilt."

The others seemed to have their minds made up, and would soon gather in the common room. But, despite how hungry he was, something else made Kai hang back. He leaned a little bit toward the other doorway, looking in at Julian--who had yet to move. There was no hanging of the head, no gnashing of teeth, or clenching fists. Kai found it much harder to read the blonde now than the bundle of energy back out on the field.

Fear? Fear could paralyze prey, to some extent...but more often than not, cornered, they lashed out with all their strength. But Nathaniel knew where Julian was--wouldn't the better response be flight? Especially now that the predator had left the area. Then again, Julian would always have to come back to the room eventually...Kai sniffed the air, and inclined his head slightly toward the shorter knight.

He didn't understand, and curiosity drew him closer. Tentatively, he stepped over the threshold. He silenced his footfall, putting his weight on the edge of his step before his heel and toe, and half-crouched until he was right behind the other student...

@FeyblueHe reached out like the Prince and Nathaniel had to him, before, and grabbed Julian's shoulder.

"...Nathaniel was the better fighter. But you were the one fighting to win." he said, before he took his hand away. Why had he said it? He had been thinking it, before, but now he confused himself. "The only reason to be a Knight is to fight, and the only reason to fight is to win." Despite his confusion, the bluette found himself smiling, though he still didn't nod his head. Nor did the smile bare any teeth. But then he stepped away from Julian and watched for the blonde's reaction...

The blonde didn't utter anymore words until he finished dressing back up, fixing the cuffs of his tunic as the final step, a habit that he picked up shortly after he found out that he preferred to wear boy's clothes rather than frilly dresses and gowns. When Dot addressed him again, Liese's blue eyes turned away for a moment, simultaneously gazing downward and sideways, a slight rosy tint coloring his cheeks. In hindsight, perhaps a simple statement would be enough to convince Dot that they were both female, after all the dark-haired girl herself was in a similar position in this regard. However, Liese figured that both the message itself and how it was conveyed mattered. He felt a deep sense of camaraderie with his roommate and revealing his body through physical evidence achieved more than mere words could.

"That's true, but I needed to show you that you aren't alone." Liese's voice still kept that higher pitch, and within the quiet confines of their room, Dot could perhaps notice that his speech flowed more naturally now, like he didn't have to exert some kind of conscious effort to style his tone in a certain way, minor it might be. It could be surmised that this was Liese's "real" voice, the voice that a person had when bereft of any kind of manipulation. "I... never expected to find a kindred spirit here, but I'm glad I did. Without belittling your own hardships, I just wish to say that I know how it feels to have things taken from you due to circumstances outside of your control." After all, what were the odds that Dot's exile was a voluntary one?

The blonde curled a soft, relaxed smile at Dot's reassurance, sure he expected the girl would do that nonetheless, but hearing it himself wasn't unwelcomed, "My gratitude, in the end, we're fellow knights-in-training and mutual trust amongst ourselves are crucial to our success." His pitch returned to the one from before his naked reveal, but there was a more casual air to it now. "Now then, let's see about sustenance, shall we?" With that rhetorical question, Liese unlocked the door and stepped out of the room to meet the rest of the squad.

Just in time as the squad was gathering too, corralled by their leader's invitation to dine. It looked like everyone was here, well except for the commoner blonde, but Liese figured Julian would join them sooner or later. "We too wish to dine, together, as a squad." After the talk with Dot, the taller blonde didn't feel all on edge anymore. All things considered, there was just one person here that he hated, but as said before, even Liese was open to the idea of change if the indolent prince proved that he deserved his birthright privileges.

---

And that settled that.

Dot could count on one hand the number of deeply personal conversations she’d had in her life with anyone, and on two hands she could have counted all the conversations period. That said, despite the surprise and slight awkwardness, she felt things had gone…fairly well, actually. It had seemed like a cathartic moment for Liese, and although Dot didn’t really know what it felt like to make friends, she had the distinct feeling that she had, in fact, made one. That they were a child of nobility was admittedly not what she had expected, but Liese was right about one thing—in a way their circumstances were similar, and that was at least a small comfort.

Nearly the whole squad had gathered in the common room, and Dot felt a sudden familiar pit in her gut at the idea that they were all waiting on them. There was a lingering tension in the air, but Liese didn’t notice it or, probably, wasn’t bothered. Dot only hoped it wasn’t because of them.

“Ah…uhm…what he said.”

Dining together sounded nice, really. All of her squad mates seemed like interesting people, and she was eager to get acquainted with all of them—or, well, most of them. The prince still stood among them, ghostly as he was, and whatever discomfort or embarrassment she still felt was snuffed out immediately. She averted her eyes, to the ground, the other members of the squad, the doors out, anywhere but at him.

“Ready to go when you all are.”

---

A deep breath. A sense of tightness -- of weight -- built within her chest, and with it came an old, familiar ache. Pulsing deep within, spreading outward -- a chill that wasn't cold and a heat that brought no warmth. Something unseen was pressing down upon her lungs, forcing out the air again and again, making her body feel unbearably heavy even as her head felt so light it seemed as though it would fly off.

Another deep breath. It was alright. His words might have stung, but it wasn't as though she'd lost everything -- or even lost anything yet. She just needed to stay calm, and smile, and do her best in the days ahead. The Prince had complimented her, right? Well, it wasn't exactly a compliment, but he'd seemed supportive enough when Nathaniel was trying to goad her into a fight just a moment prior, so she could probably go without forcing the issue. And her squadmates seemed nice enough, too, her roommate notwithstanding! Signar had been a little rude about her size, but she hadn't forgotten the way he had tried his best to reassure her. Right... He'd already noticed her panicking before, and had gone out of his way to comfort her. If she kept this up, he'd think she was pathetic, right? A boy might let his feelings show so easily, but Julian Baker wasn't supposed to be a boy -- "he" was supposed to be a man among men!

That was why she couldn't afford to show an unsightly face now. It was fine. Everything was fine. Her disguise, her future, rested on being accepted as one of them -- and that would never happen if she let herself get rattled so easily. So, she just needed to breathe. Breathe.

The phantom pain in her chest disappeared as quickly as it had come, and slowly, she drew out her lips into a smile. The hand she'd clenched over her heart loosened its grip, and slowly, calmly, lowered to her side. One more deep breath, and then she started to turn around. Her face looked perfectly normal -- she was sure of it. She'd just go on and get some lunch like nothing out of the ordinary had happened--

...

Why was there a hand on her shoulder?!

She twitched with a slight start, and spun about, already reaching down to her belt on instinct with her dominant left hand to draw a weapon that wasn't even there, even as she reached up with her right to shake off the assailant's grip -- Only to stop when she came face to face with the enigmatic blue-haired boy, who gave some sort of cryptic comment before quickly stepping back and letting her go. She took a step back, too, on instinct, and stared him down with the momentary look of someone sizing up an enemy before a fight, before suddenly remembering that she needed to smile, and snapping her face back into its usual grin in a heartbeat.

"Ehehehe~," She chuckled nervously, raising the hand that had gone to her belt in search of a knife on instinct to scratch her cheek absentmindedly, and hopefully cover up her rather embarrassing reaction. "I appreciate the sentiment, but... I think there's more to being a knight than just fighting, you know?"

Stuff like dreams, and honor, and protecting the innocent... Not just blindly fighting whatever enemy stood before you, and seeking victory without knowing the cause. A knight was supposed to be more... hero-like!

...Of course, all these thoughts ran through her head without the slightest sense of irony, but she did realize a moment later that he'd probably been trying to console her. But, well, there was no reason for that, because Julian Baker definitely wouldn't be hurt by mere words! Definitely not.

...A loud rumble broke the awkward silence between them, and she averted her gaze, rubbing her stomach. Right. Food. That thing she hadn't been able to have for the last several days. Probably should get on that.

"Right, well, uh... I dunno about you, but I'm half-starved, so how about we go along with this whole lunch idea and get some grub, yeah?"

She gave another chuckle and another awkward grin, then hastily shuffled past Kai and out into the common room where the others were gathering. It wasn't that she hadn't appreciated his gesture, it was just... something about him felt strange. The way he'd managed to sneak up on her without making even the slightest sound, or the way those wild red-bronze eyes of his had been sizing her up just now. His hair, bearing, and manner all felt just the slightest bit uncanny, and she couldn't help but wonder just how much he'd seen through...

((Due to IRL circumstances, Izurich is dropping from the RP. Since it's still early on, I'll be retconning scenes involving Liese and the enchanted door of Dot's room, and slotting in a new character to replace them.))

---

---

The rest of the evening had passed largely uneventfully. Despite tensions between certain members of the group, most had been too occupied settling into their new quarters and feeding themselves to pick any more fights with one another, and even after returning to the dorm room, at least one of the contentious persons in question -- a small blonde who definitely wasn't just trying to avoid having to talk to her roommate at all -- had turned in early, so not much had happened.

Their squad's final member had arrived late in the evening -- a last minute addition to the roster, though whether this Elon fellow had been hand-picked based on his family's connections or his own talents with magic, who could say? Regardless, as fellow foreigners, it seemed he had been placed alongside Dot for the time being.

At any rate, most of their fellow trainees had seemed of like mind to the Baker boy -- turning in early in preparation for the start of their training on the morrow. A few stayed out a while later, mingling in the common room of the barracks, but for the most part, the night was quiet, save the distant rumbling of the falls.

...Then came the morning.

---

Julian awoke in darkness, and for a moment, her heart sank. She'd been having a dream of some kind, and given the ache in her chest and her racing heart, it probably hadn't been anything good, though the details escaped her. That wasn't all, either -- not being able to see anything, hardly able to move without scraping against the wall of her cubby-like bed... it took her a moment to remember where she was before her momentary panic subsided, and she thanked her Stars that she hadn't screamed. This was seriously going to take some getting used to, and the last thing she wanted was her roommate knowing how afraid she was of this dark, cramped space.

Even so, she couldn't exactly get out of bed just yet. Moving quietly, she tried her best not to make any sound, so as not to arouse Nathaniel's suspicion as she blindly fumbled about with her hands in the impenetrable gloom, doing her best to re-tighten the bindings around her chest, then slipped out of her tunic and into the cadet uniform she'd snuck into her bunk the night before. She couldn't afford to change her clothes anywhere she might be seen, after all -- so this was her only chance to get herself dressed without blowing her cover.

Thankfully, she'd woken up early -- even moreso than she needed to. Upon opening the latch of the shutter covering her bunk and hopping down onto the cold wooden floor below, she peered out the window into the courtyard to see... pitch blackness. The moon's light could hardly reach between the walls, and the sun hadn't yet begun to crest the horizon. Even so, Julian found herself wide awake, and didn't feel any particular inclination to stuff herself back into her narrow bunk to get any more rest. So, she just headed out into the common room and tossed herself down on a large sofa.

Maybe in another hour or so they'd be called to assemble, and then she'd have her first real taste of knight training. Would they be fighting with swords again, she wondered? Or maybe they'd practice with bows? Spears? The idea of learning how to fight seemed exciting regardless of the weaponry involved, and, though she still couldn't quite shake Nathaniel's contemptuous words from the prior afternoon, she awaited whatever surprises the day would bring with unshaken resolve and anticipation...

---

To Dot's surprise, she had slept quite soundly through the night. The narrow, shelf-like bunks had made her afraid that she might feel confined, trapped as she had in Alexandria, but that was not the case. Even before she’d fallen asleep, she felt no sense of isolation, no panic at the closeness of the walls or the fear that her door might just be locked from the outside. Instead she felt calm. Her dreams were still and quiet.

She had not heard her roommate arrive, but she did hear them wake in the morning. It was much easier to get herself up than she had expected it to be. Back home there’d been no reason to rise early unless she knew Adean was coming to visit; otherwise, there was no one to care if she spent the whole day dreaming—not that she made a habit of doing so.

Shimmying about in the dark, Dot managed to slip into her uniform before she left her bunk. Waiting there, already prepared himself, was a short boy with a rather gloomy demeanor. He had a book in his hands, and it seemed to her as if he was waiting for something. Or someone. Dot blanched—oh no, was it her? Was she holding them up? Oh gods, what if she was late to her first day of training? No, surely that wasn’t the case. Someone would have come, said something, probably dragged her out of the bunk. Besides, panic was likely not the best way to introduce herself.

How did people introduce themselves? She hadn’t worried about it so much yesterday, what with everything happening in such a flurry, but now she was alone. With a person. A person she didn’t know.

Guess she was winging it.

“H-hello,” she said softly, climbing down to the floor. The wood was cold, she took a seat and started tying on her boots. “I’m Dot. It’s short for, uh…Donathon. My full name is Donathon. I mean I have a last name, too, but you don’t have to call me that. Hi. What’s your name?”

---

“Oh, Valefor, right! Uh…definitely. With the…and your…uh, voice. Yeah, for sure. Valefor. Sorry, good morning.”

Dot finished lacing up her boots and stood. She bounced on the balls of her feet, trying to get a feel for flexibility. She stretched her arms and brought her knees up to her chest one at a time, and blessedly didn’t hear any stitches in the uniform stressing. This was a good sign, hopefully she’d be able to move naturally in this thing, but if it couldn’t hold up to an aerial or two, she’d be in trouble.

“I’ve never had a roommate before, actually. So if I’m doing something wrong or, I dunno, if you need anything, you can tell me. Like you said, we’re sharing the place, so, might as well make it work for both of us, right?” She gave Elon a smile, then turned for the door. “Guess we’ll be starting our first day soon. I’m kinda nervous, how about you?”

---

"What a pain." The softly muttered phrase hardly boded well for the beginning of Signar's day, but he was careful enough not to rouse his roommate. Rising early and making the best of what sleep he could manage was something he had long since grown used to, but usually he had at least enough space not to feel cramped! Feeling more than a bit stiff, he sat up slowly and twisted in place to try and work a kink out of his back. A few other things popped and cracked, but the main annoyance proved to be rather stubborn. With an annoyed grunt, Signar resigned himself to quietly slip out of bed and see if some stretches wouldn't help to limber him up in preparation for the day's training.

"Mornin' Julian." He greeted the blonde after he closed the door behind him as quietly as he could. Even with the blonde laid out on the sofa, Signar's vantage point allowed him a full view of the common room once he stepped into it. He had the top of the uniform slung over his shoulder, but a sleeveless tunic kept him from being simply barechested outside his shared room. "Elon. Donathan." The other two recruits greeted in the same quiet voice as he nodded towards them. Reaching up and scratching the back of his neck, Signar rolled his head around as he started to walk around the common room. There was enough room for him to actually swing his arms around a bit without smacking into anything, and he did just that as he grabbed a shoulder and started to roll the arm.

"So, how'd you all end up sleeping? Seems like we're all up a bit earlier than needed," he asked after he made his way towards the window and cracked it open for some fresh air.

---

Dot blinked. Winging it had apparently been the wrong choice. It would have been hard to say that Elon’s response was ‘angry’; the boy seemed utterly bereft of any and all emotion, and anyway, Dot wasn’t exactly an expert on social cues. But she wasn’t so removed that she couldn’t pick up on the fact that she’d just been called a coward. Or well, actually she’d been called the other thing, but as far as Elon knew, he’d called her a coward.

Rude.

It was deflating, honestly. She took a moment to examine him more closely, and felt safe in assuming he was nobility of some kind—plenty of their squad was in one way or another. Her experiences with them so far had been mixed—some hadn’t been so bad, others had been exactly what she’d expected. She worried Elon would be falling into the latter category.

“Right…uh…sorry. I didn’t mean to—yeah.” Dot cleared her throat, and as Elon approached, evidently ready to leave himself, she got out of his way, and followed him into the common room.

It seemed they were early, but not quite the earliest, as the Baker boy, Julian, was already seated and waiting there, and the mountainous Signar as well. Dot gave them both a small nod and a wave, and took a seat herself.

“Can't complain," she answered to Signar. “Just a bit...excited for today, I guess."

The sun had yet to rise. The moons have already fallen.

It was pitch-black, an inky, consuming darkness, one that teased at the imagination, one that questioned the nature of reality and perception. There were stories, after all. Of staring at one’s reflection in darkness, and of watching that reflection distort into the visage of an individual past or future. Of revenants and blood-drinkers, lurking in woods as silent as predators, seeking a warm pulse, a frightened heart. Of Fendel’s phantom itself, a curse upon the light that could only exist in that hour before daybreak, struggling in vain to exact vengeance before light defined shadow once more.

But for Rossweine, the pitch black was the depths of a lake. It was oblivion and unbecoming, where even a prince could melt into the aether, dissolved into nothingness. Below his feet, dew-drenched grass snaked around his toes. Between his fingers, the burdens of two wooden buckets cut past the flesh and weighed on the bones. And held in his eyes was the very substance of reality and imagination, where even when wide-open, he could see the wireframe of his visualizations, imposed upon the blackness of reality. The wind brought with it the smell of spring and pine. The water sloshed back and forth, scents and soap agitated. Now, and only now, a courtyard could become refuge.

His toe touched the trunk of a tree. He raised first bucket. Closed his eyes.

Scented water drowned him; clear water cleansed him.

The lake remained still in the night and the cold. The lake was the reflection of the self.

…

It was little matter, retracing his steps to the front of the barracks. He had wrung the water out of his silk nightclothes, and it was dry when he stepped into the commons room, the redness of his skin fading away at the small flames that lit up the area. He smoothed his damp hair back against his skull. Ever pristine, ever majestic, despite, or perhaps because of, his simple garb. Pine undertones colored the scent of snow, and he scanned the other early-risers. Signar, Julian, Dot, and another only vaguely familiar, bearing the complexion of the people of Valefor.

He let out a breath. It was too early, Rossweine decided, to necessitate any performance. Signar and Julian would be better at ease with simpler language, and Dot’s behavior during the dinner last night left enough indications that the Light-Blessed held some sort of grudge, some disdain, against himself. As for the newest amongst them…

It was too early to care. Daylight and activity would better reveal character. Nathaniel would be up soon enough as well. Perhaps Kai and Zenshin as well, going by the air of nerves and excitement that had driven the others out of bed.

“Good morning, Signar, Julian, Dot, Elon. I will be breaking my fast now.” For all their efforts last night, being the last squad to be called up summarily meant being the last squad to get a table, and thus being the last squad to get food. “Join me, if you care to.”

It was early, but there would be food regardless. Early as the others had risen, the staff rose earlier still. That was the case, is the case, and will always be the case.

---

Nathaniel flinched awake as he heard shuffling coming from the bunk above his. He rested his head back down on his pillow, letting loose the white knuckle tension in the fists balled at his sides. It seemed Julian was awake, but Nathaniel had no intention of interacting with his roommate this early. So Nathaniel simply stared at the ceiling of his bunk, waiting for the door to his room to open and shut. The second Julian left the room, Nathaniel opened his bunk and rolled out of bed. He gazed out of his window, the world still dark. No matter. He preferred to do his morning stretch as the sun rose... but given the sounds he was hearing of the others waking up, it seems that such a luxury was not to be afforded.

Nathaniel took a deep breath as he stretched his hands up over his head, before exhaling as he folded over to touch his toes. He took a deep breath, stepped back into a plank, and then lowered his body to the ground. He lifted his torso up, exhaled, and continued walking through his sun salutation as he released the stress and anger running through his body. The last thing he needed was to cramp up on the first day, or to lose his cool again. Nathaniel didn't lack total self-awareness. He saw the way Kai and Rossweine looked at him the afternoon before, and it was clear his fellow cadets were on the side of the cowardly fraud. The quest for honor would have to be placed on hold for the moment: after all, today was going to be a busy day as it was.

Nathaniel Lothwren hadn't been able to keep a clever enough eye on all the sparring matches on the first day. He had vague memories and impressions of his fellow squad-mates, but Julian had demonstrated that a single duel between two random opponents did little to demonstrate skill or ability. Today was going to be crucial for Nathaniel, for it was the first day of proper training. This meant that he could start building profiles of his squadron, and understand who would need more help and guidance. A lot of eyes were going to be on them, and the last thing Squadron 13 needed was for some of their cadets to fall behind. So, after his morning stretch, Nathaniel quickly threw on his uniform and opened up the door to his room as he finished buttoning up his uniform. He had caught the Captain's summons, but lingered in the common room to quickly knock on the doors of Zenshin and Kaiser. "The squadron is heading to the mess hall. Meet us there when you are ready."

---

Among the fluffy nest of blankets and pillows, Kai lay sprawled out on his back. A thin line of drool made its way down his chin as he grinned in his sleep, and one twitching hand scratched his bare belly. Clad in only his boxers, the youth had apparently slept quite well despite it being his first night in an unfamiliar place--then again, this bed was even more comfortable than the one Gramps gave him, and even that had been something he never could have imagined...before.

The bluette's brow furrowed as he shifted in his sleep. One of his legs began to kick the air, as if he were trying to...run from something. A cold draft suddenly whipped one of his pillows away as the air around his body rippled, like heat waves coming off a road in midsummer. One hand clenched the sheets in a white-knuckled grip--the other stiffened into a claw. A shiver passed through his frame. His lips curled, revealing clenched teeth. A snarl ripped itself out of his throat from the depths of his being--

And he scared himself awake. In a flurry of motion he hopped from his back to all fours somehow, then his body froze in place while his head swept the room. Confusion painted over his features for a moment--then his braid started to whip back and forth.

"First day! First day!" he chanted as he darted around the room, throwing his belongings this way and that until he had managed to work his way back into clothing. He practically fell over himself as he headed for the door while still putting on his shoes and strapping his sword to his belt. Just as he reached out, there was a knock--

"The squadron is heading to the mess hall. Meet us there when you--"

Of the many ways Nathaniel might have expected to start his morning, being bowled over by an explosion of blue hair and boundless energy probably wasn't one of them. Kai took a tumble as well, but somehow ricocheted off the wall and circled back on all fours.

"Mornin' Nate--uh, Nate, sir!" The wildling straightened up and snapped another imitated salute. "It's the first day!" And then he was off again. Down in the common room, the others could hear what sounded like a stampede crashing down the stairwell before Kai literally somersaulted into their midst. He stuck the landing, arms outstretched.

"Mornin' everyone!" he chirped. Then, he sniffed the air, and his head snapped in the direction of both Rossweine and the mess hall. His body turned in the same direction a beat afterward as he pointed. "Food's thataway!" And off he went again.

There was so much to do today! They were going to start their training to be knights, Heroes! And he'd have to make sure to do extra training too, just like Gramps told him! And he should write Gramps a letter, too! He wondered if he'd get to know the others better at practice--he hoped they didn't have to sit in desks and write on paper all day long...

With all this on his mind, he managed to make himself forget about that dream...