Ordo Noctis

Chapter 3

I awoke at precisely 5:00a.m. to the buzzing alarm on my phone. I looked to my left and saw that Mars was just waking to his own alarm. Good. At least he's not already up, acting all cocky about being early.

I turned off the alarm and got up, making my bed nicely before going to the bathroom and locking the door before Mars could claim it. There, I took a shower and brushed my teeth, changing into Ordo Noctis's standard uniform: black suit and black tie, with our badges hanging around our necks in case we needed them. I applied some smoky eyeshadow to my eyes and a layer of dark lipstick, then brushed my copper-colored hair and braided it into an elaborate style that would stay out of my eyes. There. Now I was ready to face the day.

I left the bathroom and grabbed my training bag, already packed since I always kept it ready to go. Then I checked my phone - it was 5:24. Mars was also ready, with perfectly styled hair and a clean suit. I rolled my eyes at his rigid posture. "You don't have to be so perfect, you know."

He turned around and glanced at me, then did a double take, looking me up and down. He opened his mouth to say something, then changed his mind and just smirked. "You think I'm perfect?"

"I - no, that's not what I - I just meant you're trying too hard," I finished, embarrassed.

"I don't have to try. I guess I'm just... perfect by nature."

I scowled, and he laughed. "Hey, your words, not mine. Now, shall we proceed to breakfast?" He crossed the room and opened the door for me, grinning amusedly.

I glared at him and slung my bag over my shoulder, walking out of our room without looking at him, my head held high. I was determined to beat him today. First impressions are everything.

✩✧🟃🟀🟃✧✩

After breakfast in the cafeteria, we went to the training wing and found our way to our first session, Workout. (Base consisted of four wings: entertainment, sleeping quarters, offices, and training.)

"Welcome, welcome, Star and Mars! So glad to see you, and together at last!" My Workout trainer, Mr. Prong, greeted us with his usual bouncy personality.

"Wait, you know Mars?" I asked, just as Mars said, "Wait, you know Star?"

Mr. Prong laughed, shaking his head. "You two are so similar. Of course I know you both - I'm the only Workout trainer in Ordo Noctis. Wait - right? The Shadow hasn't hired another to replace me, has he?" He chuckled at his own joke. "No, no, I'm quite familiar with the both of you. My two favorite students!" He smiled and gestured to the gym, which served as our classroom. "Come, come! I'm so excited to train the two of you together!"

I was incredulous. Mr. Prong had known Mars existed this whole time, and hadn't told me?! I supposed he had been under strict orders not to mention us to each other. Were we the only two people unaware of each other's existence? And, up until today, Mr. Prong had said that I was his favorite student! Stupid Mars, messing everything up. I stalked into the gym, eager to begin training. It was time to put Mars in his place.

"Now," Mr. Prong began. "Let's do our usual warm-up. Push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, lunges. Fifty of each. Then wall sit and plank, two minutes each." He blew his whistle, and we dropped to the floor.

"...forty-nine, fifty," I counted, standing up. I could see that Mars was still on the ground. Ha! He was still doing push-ups.

"Star, what are you doing up? Next is sit-ups! You can do it!" Mr. Prong said.

Oh, no. I looked over at Mars. He was doing sit-ups, not push-ups. "...thirteen, fourteen..." he grunted.

I groaned and dropped to the floor again.

By the end of the warm-up, I was panting, winded from the effort of beating Mars. But I had beaten him. By thirty-two seconds!

He didn't even look fazed, though. I shook it off. I had beaten him. That was all that mattered. I wanted to rub it in his snobby, fifteen year-old face, but I didn't have any time.

"Excellent work, both of you!" Mr. Prong said. "You both manage to impress me every time."

"But... I beat him," I reminded the trainer.

Mr. Prong just laughed. "Now, now. This isn't a competition."

I crossed my arms. "Whatever."

"Okay, today we're going to be working on bench presses," Mr. Prong continued. "I'd like you to change into your gym clothes so that you're more comfortable for this exercise."

I smirked at Mars. "Looks like you have to take off your precious, perfectly pressed suit."

He raised his eyebrows, amused. "Yeah. Excited?"

My eyes widened. "That's not what I meant! I just -"

"Okay, you two, no more banter," Mr. Prong said, coming back over. "Go change."

We went separate ways to go to the locker rooms, and I pulled out shorts and a T-shirt from my bag. After slipping them on and folding my suit nicely, I went back to the gym. Mars and Mr. Prong were already waiting. I noticed his suit stuffed haphazardly into his bag and snorted. No wonder he had to have it ironed.

Then I saw Mars himself, and had to contain my gasp. He was wearing a tight shirt that showed off all of his muscles. I was right when I had guessed that he was strong - he was ripped. I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. The only reason I was thinking about his muscles was because I wanted to beat him. And I would.

Mr. Prong led us over to the bench presses, and we positioned ourselves. He knew our weights by memory, so he loaded the correct amount to each of our bars. 135 pounds for me, and 290 for Mars. I wasn't insulted that he got more than me. Guys' upper body strength was better than girls,' plus he was older and weighed more. Compared to our abilities, we were technically lifting the same amount of weight. It just depended on who could finish more.

"Your goal for today is ten lifts," Mr. Prong said. He blew his whistle, and I began lifting.

I glanced over and saw Mars struggling to lift his bar. I scoffed. "I'd thought you'd at least be able to finish one. Or is your pride hurt from when I beat you the first time?"

Mars sighed. "You know what? I haven't done anything to you. I don't deserve to be your punching bag! So... I'm done trying to go easy on you. I was trying to make you feel better for not having as much training as me, but you obviously have too much pride and aren't able to be humble." He finished his ten about twice as fast as me.

The whole time, I was too shocked to respond. I had no idea what to feel or say.

I finished Workout in a daze, changing back into my uniform and making my way to First Aid a few steps behind Mars.

On the way, I had a minute to think.

I had never felt this humiliated before. I used to think it was because I didn't need to be humbled - I was perfect and didn't need to change. But now I thought that maybe it was because everybody was too afraid to approach me. I was, after all, Han's favorite. Or, I guess, one of his favorites. Honestly, he probably liked Mars more.

What was the point of this? Mars was obviously better, both physically and mentally. Why was I even trying? I should just go tell Han to put us back in separate training and forget about Mars. He could get all the important missions; he was more qualified. Maybe I could just be treated as a normal operative, unimportant.

He was special, and I was not.