Morning came with the same bell that had dragged Noah from sleep for the past three weeks, but today felt different. Energy buzzed through the barracks, recruits moving faster, talking louder, the competition announcement still fresh enough to fuel excitement.
Noah dressed and headed to breakfast with Nami, the two of them moving through their morning routine with the comfortable silence of people who'd been doing this together long enough that conversation wasn't necessary.
The dining hall was louder than usual, groups clustered by color discussing strategy, making plans, sizing up the competition. Noah collected his porridge and found Pip already seated at their usual table, the smaller recruit practically vibrating with nervous energy.
"Three days," Pip said as soon as they sat down. "Three days until the competition starts and we still don't know what the first challenge is. How are we supposed to prepare when we don't know what we're preparing for?"
