The next morning arrived with the kind of crisp clarity that made the eastern territories tolerable despite everything trying to kill you. Noah was already awake when the first recruits started filtering into the training hall, their footsteps echoing against polished floors that still smelled faintly of cleaning solution from the night before.
By the time official training started at 0600, all forty faction members had gathered. Some looked alert and ready. Others clutched coffee like it was the only thing keeping them upright. Kelvin fell solidly into the second category, his cybernetic arms holding a mug that was probably his third of the morning.
"Alright," Noah said, his voice cutting through the murmured conversations. "Same as yesterday. Find your meditation positions. We're starting with breath work, then moving into core sensing. Those of you who've already manifested chi, you're working on duration and control today."
