The sound of blades slicing through the air echoes across the training grounds.

The midday sun pours down sharply onto the courtyard, and yellow dust rises from the feet of the two men. In the center of the grounds, a man with orange hair damp with sweat propped his greatsword at an angle. Opposite him stood a young man with a blue ponytail swaying in the wind, his gloved fists loosely clenched.

🧡 Inhwi | "Your posture is crumbling."

Before he could even finish, the Greatsword 'Hwanggak' lunged in a straight line. Taeyu parried the blade with his left hand clad in 'Cheong-ak,' grinning as he was pushed back half a step.

💙 Taeyu | "Aren't you going a bit too hard on me, Hyung?"

Inhwi didn't answer. He simply swung the tip of his sword back around.

From the shade of a zelkova tree at the edge of the grounds, two others were watching the scene.

💜 Cheona | "...At it again."

Cheona crossed his arms and wrinkled his nose. His long purple hair hung loosely over his shoulders, and his orange eyes indifferently scanned the two sparring.

💛 Baekseom | "They're quite diligent, both of them."

Baekseom leaned his back against the tree, slowly narrowing his eyes. His grapefruit-crimson pupils shifted away from the duel toward the unfamiliar face standing right next to him—the new recruit assigned to Unit 1.

The gaze peering through his light blonde hair was that of someone who had found something interesting. He didn't rush. He didn't move a single step closer, yet his mere presence seemed to close the distance.

💛 Baekseom | "So."

He pulled his back away from the tree, tilting his head ever so slightly.

💛 Baekseom | "What is your name?"

A dusty wind swept across the training grounds. The metallic clashing of the duel faded into the background, leaving only Baekseom's crimson eyes lingering quietly, waiting for an answer.