Worlds of Waves and Shadows

Twenty Two

Kaenisa groaned, turning on her side as she reached out to eradicate the loud beeping of her alarm.

Propping herself up on her elbows, she squinted at the flashing numbers hovering above a sleek black oval on her nightstand.

5:00 am.

She turned her gaze to the glass wall through the archway of her room.

The view was majestic as always, but it was the silence of the dawn that made it all the more breathtaking.

As if she was the only one to witness The City, in all its glory, vulnerable and astute.

She took in the scene before her, absorbing it thoroughly before finally mustering up enough courage to get her ass off the mattress and haul it to the bathroom.

Still groggy, she gripped the marble rim of the basin and splashed her face with cold water. It woke her up almost instantly, like always. She had at least an hour before training.

With Zaic.

Kaenisa sighed, undressing before she pressed the red-rimmed button on the touchpad of the shower, watching as a jet of hot water began to run.

"Mmmh...." She hummed, enjoying the warmth flowing over her skin.

Kaenisa enjoyed her shower for a good fifteen minutes before stepping out, eyes darting to the basin countertop. Or rather, to the folded piece of clothing lying on the marble.

Wrapped in the towel, she let her fingers roam over the fabric. It seemed like latex, but without the rubbery feel.

It had been the first thing to grace Kaenisa's eyes when she had opened the closet, after learning that the closet prioritized your clothes according to your schedule.

Kaenisa had almost decided not to wear it because now that she had stepped into the navy and gold bodysuit, it did indeed, hug her like a second layer of skin.

Standing in front of the wall mirror, she examined herself. The midnight fabric travelled down her torso, stopping just above her ankles, hugging her every curve. Especially tight around her not-so-small-chest.

It seemed....almost like a uniform. The emblem resembling The Palace on the sleeve of her left arm confirmed it.

She glanced at the flashing numbers at the corner of the mirror.

5:30 am.

Kaenisa grabbed the brush from it's stand on the counter, combing through the tangle of darkness that she called hair, before pulling it up into a ponytail that sat high atop her head.

The task took precisely seven minutes and the death of her arms to complete. Having nearly waist-length hair did not make life any easier.

Lastly, Kaenisa popped in the lenses Zaic had given them before walking out the door.

She was the first to step out into the corridor, Sarina being the second, running her fingers through her platinum locks, trying desperately to tame them.

The blue-eyed girl's outfit was the same as hers. She noticed the emblem on Sarina's wrist-length sleeve as well, wondering if Rolan would have it too.

"Oh My God. Kaenisa!" She shrieked, "You look like a total badass."

"Thanks." She replied, forcing an awkward chuckle.

Before the girl could say anything more, a door whooshed open and out stumbled a green-eyed guy, clad in a navy and gold body-con T-shirt and matching slacks, rich brown hair tumbling down his forehead, looking like they hadn't been combed in days.