After grueling practice sessions with the formations, we headed back to the village for breakfast.
In the kitchen area, Nara, the head cook, was already bustling. Beside her, Seraph, her apprentice—Karely's daughter and also Nara's own daughter, Orin—were quickly chopping vegetables. The other kids, Kai (also Nara's son), Ren, Koda, and Kiari, who didn't have set jobs, helped with kitchen duties and cleaning, as tradition dictated. Children learned trades from a young age; the village didn't tolerate useless kids or those completely dependent on their parents. All children had to be strong for the good of the village. Kids under six weren't sent to the blacksmith's yet (that started at eight), and formal warrior training began at twelve.
