As they had ambled back to their barracks after leaving the bustling mess hall, the incandescent flames from the fire torches flickered in the gentle night breeze, casting wavering shadows onto the cobblestone path. The distant twinkling of the stars, strewn like scattered diamonds against the velvet canvas of the sky, accompanied them on their journey. A soothing tranquillity descended upon the compound as the day came to an end.

"I’m going to stay outside for a while longer. I’m not tired yet,” declared Adara, her eyes fixated on the sky above. Storm quickly replied, “I’m not tired either. I’ll stay out with you.” Kenji chimed in, offering his company for the evening stroll.

Astrid, on the other hand, nodded towards them, her gaze softening, “Enjoy it then. Don’t stay out too long. I’m not sure if there’s a curfew around here but we have to be up early tomorrow.” Her words, half-tinted with concern and half with exhaustion, lingered in the air. Kenna, too, succumbed to her fatigue. “Yeah. I’m exhausted. As soon as I hit my bunker, I have a feeling I’ll be fast asleep,” she murmured. Their weariness was mirrored in Keanu’s ensuing yawn and in Atlas’s tired nod.

With the group splitting off, Adara, Storm, and Kenji retraced their earlier path, the night echoing with the hushed whispers of the nocturnal world. Their footfalls led them back to the resting area, where they discovered an unexpectedly lively scene. The expansive land was dotted with scattered groups, warming themselves against the flickering fires, their conversations slicing through the tranquillity of the night.

"You three over there! Come and sit with us,” a voice called out, breaking the spell of the night.

Nonchalantly, Storm angled himself toward the source of the beckoning voice, shrugging as he conveyed his intentions aloud, "It wouldn't hurt to forge a few additional friendships." Adara and Kenji fell into stride behind him, their feet following the contours of the beaten path, each footfall echoing with their anticipation.

Their path ended upon the sight of a boy and a girl, each illuminated by the warm glow of the campfire. The girl, in an action as swift as it was friendly, pulled Adara down to sit by her side. Storm and Kenji chose to perch on Adara’s other side.

The pair who had invited them greeted them with easy smiles, introducing themselves as Reign and Phoenix. Once introductions were made, Reign's curiosity gave voice to the question that hung in the air, "Did you arrive just today?"  

Kenji nodded in affirmation and replied, "We did." Phoenix, apparently astute and observant, remarked about the peculiar attention they received in the mess hall, guessing that it must have been uncomfortable. Adara responded with a soft sigh, saying, “It was. We're still in the dark about the reasons behind their scrutinising gaze.”

"Word reached us about a group's premature arrival, two days earlier than anticipated. Given that we hadn’t seen you before, everyone assumed it was you,” Reign's explanation came with a nonchalant shrug. 

Feeling comfortable in their newfound company, Storm reciprocated the curiosity, inquiring about the duration of Phoenix and Reign's stay. With an air of self-importance, Phoenix shared, "We were the earliest ones to depart the North-East Village. Roughly counting, we've been stationed here a little over two months."

Astounded by their lengthy tenure, Kenji redirected the conversation toward their activities during this time. His eyes drifted over the sprawling landscape, taking in the tranquil training field bathed in silver moonlight. It was an eerie contrast to the lively clusters around them, who were engaged in animated conversations, their laughter interspersing the night air.

Reign addressed Kenji's curiosity with a candid admission, "Our days were largely spent building stamina, a sort of pre-training to avoid the harshness of the actual regimen. We've also explored this place, from corner to corner."

Their relaxed disposition and physical appearances suggested that they had made good use of their time here. Kenji noted Phoenix's well-proportioned features, her curly dark brown hair, tanned skin, and dark eyes glowing under the firelight. Reign, on the other hand, was quite broad, with shoulder-length wavy hair, golden brown skin, and intriguing grey eyes.

Eyes twinkling with excitement, Phoenix proposed a tantalising offer. "How about we show you more facets of the capital than you've seen so far?" Adara, seizing the opportunity, suggested that they meet after their measurements were taken the next morning—an idea that Reign readily agreed to.

Storm interjected with a mention of their additional comrades, admitting uncertainty about their plans for the morrow. Phoenix shrugged it off, saying, “If they're at loose ends, they're welcome to join us.”

The existence of a curfew, a thought inspired by Astrid's earlier mention, came to Kenji's mind, leading him to pose the question to their new friends. Reign confirmed the curfew's existence, but clarified, “It only kicks in once training begins. Still, we generally retire early to ensure we don't miss breakfast.”

Following the enlightening conversation, an amicable silence descended upon them. Eyes flickered towards the heavens, drinking in the ethereal beauty of the twinkling stars against the backdrop of a radiant full moon. However, as the night grew deeper, exhaustion began to make its presence known. Reign's stifled yawn signalled that it was time to part ways, a suggestion that Kenji seconded.

As they rose, the distinct heights of Phoenix and Reign became evident. Phoenix towered slightly over Kenji, while Reign fell short of the cousins by a couple of centimetres. With a playful squint, Phoenix studied the cousins before confessing, “Until this moment, I never realised how much you two resemble each other.”

Adara responded with a smirking rebuttal, explaining their conscious decision of differing hairstyles for easy identification. Reign, ever the mischief-maker, chimed in, "If I had a twin, I'd have made it impossible to distinguish between us. Would've been a fun game, messing with people's heads."

Grinning at the thought, Storm confessed, "Oh, we did that plenty. But here, it's just simpler this way."

The journey back to the barracks was filled with discussions comparing the North-East and South-West Villages. They listened intently as Phoenix and Reign revealed their observations of the capital's upper crust, promising to show them a hidden spot from where they could perfectly observe the rich. The trio, intrigued by the prospect, agreed simultaneously, their voices echoing in the quiet night.

Reign merely shook his head in amusement as they reached their destination, their shared laughter a beautiful endnote to an enriching night. The group dispersed, each entering their respective buildings with a heightened sense of anticipation for the following day's adventures.

© Crimson B