The silence sharpened.
Green-uniformed students sat perfectly straight, trays untouched, eyes cold. Nightthorn Order.
Red-uniformed students leaned back, laughing softly, nudging each other. Chaos.
Daniel whispered: "Green Circle—top ranks, closest to administration."
Bella frowned. "They feel… wrong."
A green girl stood. Smooth, calm."New students. You sit in neutral space."
Red boy across the room laughed gently."Want loyalty? Sit with us."
I looked at my friends. Bella gripped sleeves. Mila fearful. Daniel calculating. Adrian whispered: "Green doesn't feel nice."
The red leader smiled warmly.I swallowed.I stepped forward.We chose red.
Lyra, the red girl, smiled."Welcome to the Crimson Oaths. Loyalty comes first here."
Green leader: Nightthorn Order. "Thorns hurt. Betrayal doesn't go unpunished."
Barf handed us red uniforms."Wear them. Classes start in fifteen minutes. Eat fast."
Food was… good. Warm, real.We relaxed.We were Crimson now.