For a moment, there was silence. Then, stunned murmurs rippled through the crowd like an uneasy tide. The trainees exchanged wide-eyed glances, their expressions a mix of disbelief and awe.
"Wait… the new kids?" someone whispered.
A wave of incredulous chatter followed.
"Seriously? Them?"
"What's the meaning of this? Is this a joke?"
"I thought they were just newbies. How could they be in the team?"
Colin stood quietly amidst the noise, her gaze fixed firmly on the ground. Her hand was clutched tightly around Eratz's as she tried to ignore the whispers. Beside her, Milo shifted nervously, his eyes darting around the room like a cornered animal.
The murmurs grew louder, the confusion palpable. Some of the newest recruits exchanged clueless looks, trying to piece together who Colin and Milo were and why they'd been chosen.
