By the time they all split up, it was dark outside, and when she got back to her cousins' house, everyone was already in bed but Cylea, who had been waiting for her while reading a book in the guest bedroom.
"Hey," Theora whispered. "Sorry I'm so late."
"Don't be sorry, you were working," Cylea frowned, putting her book aside. "How was it?"
"Draining. I'm not in a hurry to do it again tomorrow. I'm glad it’s only a two-day thing."
"At least you were with your roommates?"
"Mostly just Lylesia and some of my brigade, actually. They split up the brigades across the Military Hall, so I barely saw the others. Didn't even see the twins."
While she got undressed and cleaned up, Theora told her cousin about her day. She let Cylea wash and comb her hair before slipping into her nightgown. Sh
