Elijah and Visconti jogged around the camp, their pace steady as they moved through the sprawling grounds.
The camp was enormous, with pathways winding past small fountains scattered near the buildings. But the most striking feature was the massive fountain in the center of the camp, almost as wide as a river, with water cascading gracefully into its basin.
Elijah glanced at it as they passed by. "You know, that fountain looks way too fancy for a place where people are training to potentially die."
Visconti smirked. "Priorities, Elijah. They're trying to keep morale high. Nothing says 'don't think about dying' like overpriced landscaping."
As they rounded a corner, they spotted two familiar figures: Enu, the scout with a buzz cut who always seemed to radiate energy, and Hanz, the sword-wielding scout with sleek black hair and a perpetual air of indifference.
The two of them were strolling leisurely, as if the camp were a park and not a training ground.
Enu noticed them first, breaking into a grin and waving wildly. "Hey! Look who's pretending to be athletes!"
Visconti stopped jogging and put his hands on his hips. "Pretending? We're out here doing laps while you two are just... sightseeing."
Hanz raised an eyebrow, his tone deadpan. "Walking requires effort too, you know. Don't diminish our struggle."
Elijah chuckled. "Struggle? You're walking slower than the fountain over there flows."
Enu laughed, clapping Hanz on the shoulder. "Don't listen to them. We're strategically conserving energy. Unlike you two maniacs, we actually have brains."
Visconti rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure. Conservation. Is that what you call wandering around aimlessly?"
Enu grinned. "It's called tactical reconnaissance. You wouldn't understand—it's advanced scout stuff."
Elijah snorted. "Right, because casually strolling and debating what to eat for lunch is totally 'advanced.'"
Hanz crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "You mock, but when we outlive you on the battlefield, who'll be laughing then?"
Visconti tilted his head, smirking. "Probably not you. I've never seen you laugh, Hanz. Do you even know how?"
Enu gasped dramatically, pointing at Hanz. "He does, but only when he sees someone trip over their own feet. He's cruel like that."
Hanz shrugged. "It's not my fault slapstick humor is timeless."
Elijah grinned. "Okay, fair. But if we're talking comedy, nothing beats Enu's attempt at flirting with that corps officer last week."
Enu groaned, covering his face. "Don't remind me! She looked at me like I was a bug."
Visconti smirked. "She probably sensed the 'tactical reconnaissance' energy radiating off you."
"Alright, alright," Enu said, throwing up his hands. "You win this round. But next time, I'm joining your jog, and we'll see who the real athlete is."
"You're on," Elijah said, shaking his head with a laugh. "But don't cry when Visconti laps you."
"Laps?" Enu scoffed. "Please. I'll leave you both in the dust."
Enu squinted at Visconti and Elijah, tilting his head curiously. "Wait, where's Kieran? Did you guys leave him behind?"
Visconti smirked. "He's napping. Said something about 'recharging his spirit' or whatever nonsense he mumbled before passing out on the couch."
Elijah chuckled. "Yeah, right. More like recharging his appetite for lunch."
Enu rolled his eyes. "Typical Kieran. That guy's life revolves around food and sleep."
Visconti grinned. "Hey, walking is a legitimate activity. Speaking of which…" He glanced at them suspiciously. "Where's your girl teammate? What's her excuse for not being here?"
Enu sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Probably training. You know how she is—always trying to outdo everyone."
At that, Elijah's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait. Right now? She's training on our first free time in forever?"
Enu let out a dramatic groan, throwing his hands in the air. "Tell me about it. I saw her earlier at the training grounds, punching a bag like it owed her money."
Hanz chimed in, deadpan as always. "She's probably training to avoid dealing with Enu's 'tactical reconnaissance.'"
The group burst out laughing as Enu threw his hands up in mock offense. "Hey! My methods are genius. You'll all see one day!"
"But punching a bag?" Visconti repeated, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "So productive. That'll definitely help her in a real fight."
Elijah grinned. "Maybe she's practicing how to intimidate lunch thieves."
Enu snorted. "If she punches with the same energy she glares at me, then yeah, lunch thieves are doomed."
Visconti shook his head. "You've got guts talking about her like that, Enu. She's probably plotting your demise as we speak."
Elijah smirked. "Careful, she might hear you and make you her next punching bag."
Enu scoffed, crossing his arms. "Please. I'm untouchable. Besides, if she comes for me, I'll just... strategically retreat."
"Strategic retreat," Visconti echoed, grinning. "Is that scout talk for running away screaming?"
Elijah laughed. "Enu's got a whole playbook: Step one, provoke teammate. Step two, sprint faster than you've ever sprinted in your life."
Enu pretended to be offended, clutching his chest. "Wow. No faith in me, huh? I'll have you know I could totally take her—"
"Sure you could," Visconti interrupted, smirking. "But only if she's asleep."
They all burst out laughing, and Enu threw up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine! I'll stop badmouthing her. But only because I don't feel like dodging punches today."
Elijah grinned, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. "Smart move. You're learning, Enu. Slowly, but you're learning."
Visconti tapped his pocket, and a blue holographic keyboard materialized above his palm. It hummed softly as he typed out a quick message to Kieran.
Visconti: Lunch. Cafeteria. Now. And don't say you're "recharging your spirit."
Quickly, he typed out another message to Kieran: "Time for lunch. If you don't come, Elijah's eating your dessert."
Elijah peeked over Visconti's shoulder. "Hey, don't drag me into your schemes."
Visconti smirked. "I'm not dragging you. I'm motivating him."
A second later, Kieran's reply popped up: "Touch my dessert, and I'll fight you."
"Worked like a charm," Visconti muttered, grinning as they headed to the cafeteria.