The rooms were dark, candle lights only around every few meters. The bunk beds made, usually for soldiers, were only a third full, some already broken from the size of some of the people in the room with Eadward.

It was a weird place, one that made him uneasy. There were no windows to look out of, only markings on the walls where someone had scratched at the stone out of boredom. Some old and rusted weapons were littered around the room, but no one touched them out of fear of infection. For the beds that were functional still, many weren't even occupied as most of the "warriors" were huddled together, getting to know one another.

Even for Eadward, he was in one of these groups. Edelin was next to him, her face showing boredom with the recent conversation. Not everyone had introduced themselves, but most were obviously one of the two types: brute and strong or a proficient and hardy weapon handler.

"I feel most of the people in here are those with rocks for brains," Edelin said under her breath. It was only loud enough for Eadward to hear.

While Eadward didn't respond, he silently agreed, mainly from how some of those in their group acted out the stereotype of a muscle with no mind. Their loud voices boomed in the room and only seemed to radiate more rambunctious activity from others, almost seeming as this was some sort of getaway and not the prelude to their death. And out of the four groups, theirs seemed the largest. A count of fifteen people meant they made nearly a third of the population brought to the barracks.

The sudden sound of a bell calmed the rowdiness in the room, Edelin and Eadward looking for the source of the noise. A single large bell shook violently near the only exit. The next noise following was a voice that resonated in everyone's heads.

"It's been a long journey for you all. Follow the soldiers to the mess hall where you may eat. As you will need strength before we begin your training."

Edelin turned her head to Eadward with eyebrows upturned. "You heard that too, yes?"

Eadward nodded his head and turned to look at others doing the same as them. "Seems it's a message for all of us."

The group left in a filed line and were directed down another corridor that soon began to grow as more corridors connected to it. Faces that could vaguely be remembered from yesterday showed within vision, until one from childhood memory and every day life showed itself.

"Ladrel!"

The woman looked in the direction of the voice and started moving in its direction. Most of those around her didn't mind as they also grouped together with friends from their villages and towns. As those two found one another, so did Edelin and Owun, soon joining the first two. If there was one thing anyone in this large group knew, it would be to stick to those they knew well already.

"So a meal before they start 'training' us for our death?" Edelin questioned as the four walked together into a large mess hall.

The ceiling was higher, along with vents to let out the smoke coming from one side of the room. No chefs were present, but the fires still were; save that they were dying out. Fresh, hot food was already sat at each table, each plate exactly the same as the one next to it. Even large mugs were already filled and sat next to each plate, but contents were hard to view in the dim lighting.

"It better not be something that will come up if I'm punched in the gut..." Ladrel commented as she followed her friend and the flow of people.

The four found a spot to sit, gaining other people on either side of their small group. Like before, most people sat with those they knew and left no gaps for loners. At this point, no one wanted to be left out, not with the amount of dread in the air.

All of them had begun to dig into their food, half a chicken each that was hot, but not hot enough to burn their flesh. Potatoes cut into fourths were braised next to the chicken. A small mushroom stew was also present, being in a small wooden bowl on top of the full wooden plate. A single sip from the iron cast cups signified they were given water, helping to ease any thirstiness caused by the salty preserving of the dish.

For most, this was a meal larger than what they expected at home. All took it graciously, savoring every last bite they could of the meal.

"I don't know the last time I had this much chicken to myself..." Owun spoke, more to himself than anyone else.

"You got chicken? We only raised ours for eggs. We didn't have the luxury of butchering ours for a meal." Eadward commented.

"Hunting is one way to get meat, but even then, it is difficult," Ladrel spoke. "Only way we could catch food was having our own hidden hunting grounds in the forest east of our village. And only via trapping."

"I thought you were good with archery though? I've seen you practice numerous times in the fields." Edelin added.

Ladrel nodded her head in agreement with Edelin's statement. "Yes, but I'm nowhere as good as my father or any of the other elves in the village."

They continued on the conversation with their different techniques and what was the winning dish in their homes, most not noticing how one group to their side had started to listen in. It wasn't an exciting conversation, but the mention of elves had gathered their attention. Their interest only grew when seeing Ladrel's and Owun's ears as well.

"Excuse me," one man spoke as he tapped Eadward to get the group's attention. "But are you guys actually elves?"

Ladrel and Owun looked at the man and the rest of the people in his group. Their eyes were wide, some seeming to sparkle with curiosity and others obviously wanting a closer look. These gazes were familiar, ones usually outsiders of their village would give when visiting and seeing someone with partial elven blood there.

"Yes?" Owun spoke. "We wouldn't make prosthetics to look like another race."

"That's so cool!" A younger woman spoke, her voice higher pitched. "How magical are you guys? How light are you on your feet?"

"I go through the snow." Was Owun's only reply.

His friends laughed while those fascinated only looked in confusion. They had grown with belief that even those who were human and elf were elegant, graceful, and light. Never a brute like a human could be.

The woman blinked a few times before glancing at Owun's face more intently and observing his large build. "You have elf ears, yet you seem so much more like a strong man."

"Because I'm a strong elf. Not all of us are dainty like most humans want to believe. Plus, my mother is only a half-elf, so I'm more human than anything." Owun leaned back in his chair, trying to stretch his back.

The man who had initiated the conversation then looked over at Ladrel once his interest towards Owun was lost. "How about you? Are you an actual elf?"

"Half," was all Ladrel said as she went to sip on her soup. Once she finished and chewed the chunks of mushrooms, she continued on. "Mom was human, my dad is the elf."

"Is your dad from a far away place?" The small woman asked.

"No, he just was from one of the few elf settlements near where our village is at. There's nothing fancy about elves if you're trying to see if the romanticized version from humans is true."

Ladrel was becoming annoyed. She didn't want to entertain them with all the information about elves. Her home village was one of the few that interacted with elves, so she knew this type of thing would happen. Just now, she realized how annoying it could be.

"Is there anything..."

Ladrel cut the woman off. "Look, if you're so interested in learning, then go and get legitimate documented books about elves. I'm not your book to keep turning pages in."

She shot the woman a glance, eyes cold and hinting at small threat. It was enough to make the women interrogating her stop and turn back to her own group of people. A small "sorry" was heard, but Ladrel didn't give any more attention to the situation.

"That was harsh..." Edelin spoke.

"I don't care. If they're interested in learning about another race, they should educate themselves instead of pestering those of us part of it." Ladrel then took her last bits of potato and shoved them in her mouth.

Silence went over the group then, irritation stemming from Ladrel and Owun as Edelin and Eadward kept close eye on the two. It wasn't something to see from the two, indicating that this new world they were being thrown into would only change them even more.

The best way to get through it would be together.