The group returned to Garrett and Rashad in the gray robes that they had set aside for them in their rooms. You could see many of them tugging at their robes, trying to get used to wearing them. Marcus walks up to the group, feeling confident in his robe. They all appear anxious to begin their training. Garrett stands before the group, but Rashad doesn't appear to be with him anymore.

"Welcome back team, I'll be starting the training today. Rashad had something else to attend to, but he will join us later.", Garrett said. "From now on, you will refer to me as Apprentice."

"Apprentice.", Kaleena one of the recruits said timidly. "Are these colored bands on our robes mean that we are part of a house already?"

"Good question. Yes, you all have been selected to by the masters to be in their respective houses. You are still trainees, with me for now, but will further train in your respective houses when the time is right.", Garrett answered. "Madeleine and Marcus will be in Omnia, as we try to grow our house again. Luther and Tracy have been selected for the Crimson house. Kaleena and Bryan will be in the Rune house."

Just then Madeleine looked at the band on her left arm and saw the blue band that she had ignored before. She looked over at Luther and Tracy and saw the red that she had so desperately wanted for so long. She began to become visibly angry, to the point the group slowly began to step away from her.

"This must be a mistake!", Madeleine exclaimed. "I spoke with Sylvia, why wouldn't she select me!?"

"The Masters select each recruit based on their performance in the trials. It is an honor to be here period." Garrett responded firmly.

Madeleine stormed off from the group, clearly frustrated with the news she's heard. Marcus understands her frustration and sympathizes with her a bit but doesn't quite understand the reaction. For him he feels blessed to have the opportunity to become a Blade. Marcus wanted to take this opportunity to comfort his potential housemate, so he pursued Madeleine to try to get her to rejoin the group.

"I know how much you wanted to be a part of the Crimson house.", Marcus said approaching carefully.

"You don't know anything about me.", Madeleine responded tersely.

"We've been through some things together, I feel like I understand how much you respect Sylvia.", Marcus said.

"Oh really? The only reason I wanted to become a Blade was to be Crimson, and fight by her side.", she said with tears running down her face.

This was the first time Marcus experienced a vulnerable Madeleine. He wasn't quite sure how to approach her. She still was giving off a vibe of disinterest, yet she still engaged him. Marcus decided then that he had to figure out a way to get through to her.

"From everything that I've seen here, you still have an opportunity to have her as a mentor, whether she leads you directly or not.", Marcus reasoned.

"It's not the same and you know it.", Madeleine replied.

"We're all here working together, and who knows, at some point maybe you'll get to be Crimson someday.", he replied. "Just don't give up."

"I'm going to continue to fight to prove that I'm the best. I'll make her notice me.", Madeleine said as she got up and ran back towards the group."

Marcus wasn't quite sure how to handle that. Does she genuinely believe that she will stay? Did he have something to do with her new decision? Many questions ran through his mind as he also moved to rejoin the group.

"Now that everyone is ready, maybe we can begin?", Garrett taunted.

"I apologize Apprentice, I believe I'm ready.", Madeleine responded with a bit of sarcasm.

"Ha, good let's go, we're going to be running laps around the compound to make sure you're fit. Stamina can make the difference between survival and death.

The group takes of around the compound. Doing lap after lap, around the houses, the waterfalls, and beautiful trees of the compound. Just as the team started to drag, and walk around, Rashad appeared and stopped them next to a pair of waterfalls.

"Today we will start mental and focus training. This is something you'll train in for your entire life as a Blade.", Rashad said.

"Today we'll be training in the waterfall.", Garrett adds with a smile.

Garrett continued to explain to the group, that they would be testing their minds and focus under the waterfall. That they would sit under the falls on their knees and test their ability to remain calm. That focus would be one of the most important things that they would need going forward. Garrett walked into the waterfall first to show the group what he expected them to do. Rashad also took got on his knees outside of the waterfall, and laid his sword in front of him, as if he planned to observe.

The group splits into two groups and each enter the waterfall. The power of the crashing water seems to shock them, and they become visibly shaken. Marcus looks around to see Madeleine and Luther in his group in the falls. Luther quickly becomes accustomed to the power crashing down all around him, and he's the first to kneel in the falls. His strength seems to give him an advantage in this exercise. Madeleine kneels but struggles to stay upright. Marcus is the last to kneel but quickly gains control under the falls.

"The key to success is closing your eyes and focusing on the task at hand.", Garrett screams over the falls.

"Get comfortable because you'll all be here, until I say you can leave, or you just can't take it anymore.", Rashad yells into both falls.

Hours pass, and many of the other recruits jump out of the falls, as the water and power continued to oppress. Garrett, Luther, Madeline, and Marcus were the last ones in the waterfall. The other recruits stood by in awe as they watch the four of them under the crashing water. Garrett stands up and exits the waterfall to check on the others, only to notice that some of the recruits were still under, something he didn't quite expect. Garrett yells at the group to come out, and Luther immediately steps out of the waterfall, while Marcus and Madeleine continued to stay as if they had something to prove.

Garrett begins to walk over to the two still in the waterfall, and Rashad stops him. Rashad tells Garrett that he's curious what would happen next. After another fifteen minutes he calls out to them and tells them there is nothing left to prove. Marcus, who had completely blocked everything out, finally responded to Rashad's booming voice cutting through the water. He stepped out of the water and noticed that no one was still under but Madeleine. Marcus offered her a hand and pulled her from the waterfall. The smile on her face seemed to indicate that she was very proud of outlasting all the others.

Rashad gave both a firm handshake, and hug. He was proud of their determination in this moment. The other recruits led by Luther run over to congratulate and cheer for the two of them. Madeleine seems happy with her performance and the respect of those around her. Marcus seems more at ease from the respect he's seemingly earned from Rashad and Garrett. Rashad tells the group that it's time for lunch and dismisses the group.

The recruits all walk back to the Omnia house to have lunch. The group appears to be lively and in good spirits. Madeleine especially seems to have calmed down from her typically aggressive state and is laughing and joking with the rest of the group. Marcus is trailing the group a bit, focused on what he has just experienced.

"Are you always this serious?", asked Luther.

"That was really intense, right?", Marcus replied.

"Didn't seem that crazy at first, but really wore me down. Especially after the long run beforehand.", Luther said.

The two continued to chat about the events of the day, until they returned to the Omnia house. The group all decided to change clothes, and Luther and Marcus promised to have lunch together and continue to get to know each other. The chose a table away from the others and continued their conversation.

"What do you think of being selected by the Crimson house?", Marcus inquired.

"I really didn't care which house selected me.", Luther replied. "My father always told me that I had to use my size for good, and I'm here because I think being a Blade represents that good."

"Now you just have to deal with Madeleine hating your guts for getting what she wanted.", Marcus said.

"Yeah, the biggest problem is getting Tracy to understand that, she's a bit aggressive as well.", Luther said as kindly as possible.

They continue to get to know each other, before finishing lunch and going their own separate ways. Marcus decides that he will try to learn more about Madeleine as he had just done with Luther. Madeleine is cleaning up after her lunch as well, and Marcus spots her heading to a common area. The group has been dismissed for the day, so this is the best time for him to interact with Madeleine before training resumes tomorrow.

Marcus approached Madeleine as she sat in a chair in one of the common areas. Marcus greeted Madeleine and sat in a chair across from her. He could tell that she was slightly annoyed, as he sat down, but he wasn't deterred.

"Here for another pep talk?", she barked.

"My last one seemed to work.", he replied.

"You're a little proud about something you had nothing to do with.", she said.

"I don't get what your problem is, I'm here for the same goal as you.", Marcus said with a firm tone.

"Problem? I'm focused on being the best here! Just like today, and just like tomorrow. I want to be the best.", she said fiercely. "My goal is to make everyone here know that I'm the best! To make Sylvia notice me."

"Fair enough, so what do we do in the mean time? We're part of the same house. Can we get along?", Marcus said.

"We'll get along just fine as long as you stay out of my way.", she snapped.

Madeleine concluded the conversation by getting up and walking away. Marcus looks at her as she walks away, still feeling like there is more to her. His frustration is starting to lead him to a point where is starting to not care. He goes to his room to get some rest for training set to resume tomorrow.