Two weeks passed just like that.
Ezra finished his morning training early, his breathing steady as he wiped the sweat from his neck with a cloth. After that, he went to eat, then returned to his room to clean up.
Now, he stood in front of the mirror.
The reflection staring back at him wore the Ashenlocke military cap, the symbol placed neatly at the front. His coat rested properly on his shoulders; his gloves fitted tightly around his fingers.
He adjusted the cap slightly.
Let's go.
He turned and left the room.
Outside, doors were opening one after another. Candidates stepped out, some quiet, some stretching their arms, others already walking ahead without looking back. Their footsteps overlapped in the hallway as they all moved toward the same direction.
The arena.
The air along the path felt different.
It wasn't because of fear nor was it because of worry.
It was something sharper.
Expectation.
That something interesting was about to happen, and everyone could feel it.
