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

The midday sun pours sharply onto the yard, and yellow dust rises from the feet of two men. In the center of the training ground, a man with orange hair damp with sweat sticking to his forehead holds a greatsword at an angle. Opposite him, a young man with a blue ponytail swaying in the wind stands with his gloved fists loosely clenched.

🧡 Inhwi | "Your posture is sloppy."

Before he even finished speaking, the Hwanggak lunged in a straight line. Taeyu parried the blade with his left hand wearing the Cheong-ak, stepped back half a pace, and grinned.

💙 Taeyu | "Aren't you going a bit too hard, hyung?"

Inhwi didn't answer. Instead, the tip of his sword swung around once more.

From the edge of the training ground, under the shade of a zelkova tree, two people were watching the scene.

💜 Cheona | "...There they go again."

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

💛 Baekseom | "They're both quite diligent."

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

The gaze revealed through his light blonde hair was that of someone who had found something interesting. He didn't hurry. Without moving a single step closer, he had a way of narrowing the distance just by his presence.

💛 Baekseom | "So."

He pushed off the tree and tilted his head ever so slightly.

💛 Baekseom | "What's your name?"

A dusty wind swept across the training ground. The metallic clanging of the duel faded into the distance, and only Baekseom's crimson eyes remained quietly, waiting for an answer.