***Grey's POV***
I started to wake up, tightening my hold to Blainiana as my eyes adjusted. I looked outside the window, it was not nearly dawn yet. I started to feel her stir awake, she rubbed her cheek against my chest. I smiled to her and shushed her a bit, "It's okay princess, it's not dawn, go back to sleep," I said to her softly, trying to soothe her to sleep.

She looked a bit uneasy about something, probably a weird dream she had. I put more of the blanket over her body and held her close. I buried my face into her neck again, placing soft, gentle kisses. I feel her body relaxed from my hold as her breathing evened out. I then feel her face blush up in my chest, how cute.

I slowly stopped kissing her neck and rested my chin on top of her head, holding her waist. 'I don't want to rush things now...we are so close into getting our certification that we can be assassins...but until the time comes, I won't let anybody claim her,' I looked down at her. She had a peaceful expression as she smiled in her sleep, cuddled up to me. I smiled, 'Even if it is over my dead body....'

***Timeskip to Dawn***

***Blainiana's POV***

I started to wake up, rubbing my eyes a bit as I felt this oven warm embrace. I hummed at the feeling and looked up to Grey, looking at me with his infamous smirk. Blushing, I asked him, "We're you watching me sleep since before dawn?"

He chuckles softly and shakes his head, "No, I just woke up a few minutes before you," he runs a hand through my hair, keeping it out of my face. "I really miss your gorgeous long hair..." he sighed.

I rolled my eyes and chuckled, "So you're saying that I look hideous now that I had cut my hair and look like a boy?" I joked.

"Well, if you are trying to look like a boy..." Grey holds my chin up to his direction, "then you are the prettiest boy I have ever seen..."

Blushing more than I already was, I deeply took a breath, "Funny, your brother said the same thing to me in the hall,"

He looked down at me, "What? I thought he was trying to intimidate you?"

"If you mean flirtation, then yeah, he tried to 'intimidate' me," I sighed, sitting up, "It was so weird, I don't really take him for the boy liking type, but our generation is changing so I'm not surprised," I shrugged. "Anyways, ready for the final test?"

He shrugged, "I've been trained my whole life on this test, I hope I am ready for this test," he looks over to me, "Mine is right before yours," 

I nod in reply, soaking my hands in water as I run my hands through my hair. "I only wish you the best of luck, you have more experience than me, so, that should give you a good chance," I said nonchalantly. 

"Oh please, from what I saw in the past couple of months takes a person years to have that skill mastered," He chuckled, arranging his shirt, "I would say there are things to brush up upon with strategies and what not, but," he turned to me, "everything else is fine, just be sharp," 

"I will," I stated, lacing my boots and adjusting the folds and padding, "I am going to change and critique on most of my structure and stances, but other than that, I will be trying to focus and meditate until the test," 

He rose an eyebrow, "Meditating? So you are praying to the mother Mary?"

I chuckle, "Please, we are going to be assassins, I don't think mother Mary is going to be accepting any of my prayers for this test." 

He chuckles back, "Ah, you're right,"

I smile a bit, "I usually meditate before a test or something important is going to happen. It keeps me calm and level in a way; to think things through when they are the most difficult and frustrating." I look outside, seeing the sunrise fulling from the hill, "My mother would always say, 'It's better to have your head leveled than your head off your shoulders', "I said, chuckling at the memory. 

He smiled, "You are like your mother, a strong heart with dark humor,"

"We have our moments, how about you and your mother?" I asked. 

"Oh, she passed few years after she had me," He said, sighing. "She had gotten sick and there wasn't a cure, but we were there when she was at her last breath. I made sure as a kid, she was never alone until she took her final breath," he smiled. "I had her moments with her when I was little, so it was not that traumatizing, but it was saddening," 

"I'm sorry Grey, my condolences," I said softly, saddened by the story. 

"Now don't start crying," he chuckled softly, walking to me as he lifted my face from my chin, "and don't be sad. I'm fine, you're fine, and we are going to do great on our tests," He gave a soft smile, his hands going down my shoulders as he rubbed them. He warmed me up and puts his hands on my cheeks and warmed them up as well. 

"T-thanks," I managed to say, moving his hands down, "I-I don't want to distract you from your test, it's best we continue getting ready for the day," I admitted. I turned away and got on my cardigan, refocusing on my task ahead. "Let's go get breakfast before our tests, we will gain our energy and be ready for the test," I continued, hearing him shuffling around before I turned around. 

He had finished getting dressed and nodded, keeping his behavior appropriate and serious, "Okay, let's get going,". He responded, opening the door for me as we headed down the hall. 

We both arrived at the dining hall, the table filled with dishes and sides for one's desired breakfast. However, we were not alone; there were other young assassins like us at the table, quietly eating with a few murmurs at the table. 

I didn't make any eye contact with the individuals and sat down, Grey following me after. I have gotten a plate and had put eggs, bacon and a biscuit for myself. I glanced at others plates. Some had finished however, there were ones where they had an immense amount of food that I couldn't even finish in one meal. 

'Whatever you need to obtain in order to get your strength' I thought to myself. 

I started eating as I glanced at Grey's plate, he had a reasonable amount of food, almost the same as mine, on his plate. I sipped the water from my gauntlet, sighing a bit to myself as I tried to focus. My head was going all over the place, random thoughts erupting my conscious. The fact that there were these assassins, these people who have been practicing the skills needed for this test for years, I am going to go against. 

I then felt a soft hand on mine, grazing under the table on the side. I started to take deep breathes, closing my eyes as I relaxed with his warm, comforting touch. It was Grey's hand I felt, I glanced to him a bit. He was casually eating his breakfast, finishing up. I continued eating my food, almost done with my plate as I took the last drink of my water. 

Getting up from my chair, I got out of the dining hall, heading to the horse stall. I needed to clear my head and calm down. I crossed my legs, standing up straight as I meditated. Focusing on the sounds; the rustle of the hay, the whistle of the wind, the hoofs of the horses walking around their stalls. My mind was at peace and leveled, I was back to my center. 

Slowly opening my eyes, I found a horse was in front of me, almost startling me. I chuckled, petting their head as I looked around. There were their reigns in the stall as well as some of the gear with it. I smiled and looked at the horse, "Want to go on a ride?" I asked them. 

They neighed back and started trotting a bit in excitement. I got up and got their equipment, requiring it to them with the saddle as well. I opened the stall door and led them out into the wide field. I hoist myself up on the saddle and got the reigns, preparing myself to ride. 

***Grey's POV***

It is about fifteen minutes before my test begins, I was already at the entrance along with some other assassins I had recognized there. I had felt something poking on my sword belt. Looking through, there was a folded paper attached from the inside. I pull it out and unfolded it, was a letter:

"Dear Grey,

I know you will succeed your test today, so, don't stress. Have your head on straight and focus on what you have been waiting for in your lifetime,

My regards, 

Blaine"

I smile to myself and folded back to the pocket in my cardigan, the bell rang for the test to begin.