As Claw Zamian entered the gate, they looked around in amazement. Just as they had seen from the outside, they could still see the dome shaped building.

But from up close, it appeared even more majestic and intimidating with the massive area it was crafted upon. The entire building was dark black, with walls so thick that David suspected even a cannon probably won't do much against it.

But quite strangely enough, there was not a single window or space for any type of ventilation other than two large wooden doors for entry and exit.

Master Zamian turned back to look at his new members. Then in his usual cheerful tone, he spoke.

"Alright, everyone. For now, I shall be going to join the other Masters for a meeting. In the meantime, one of the butlers shall be here soon enough and shall show you guys to your room. So don't roam around for now, you can do that later."

Then waving his hand in the air, he bid them good night.

"Tomorrow morning, we shall start our training sessions. Sleep early tonight because trust me, you shall be needing all the energy you can get from these few hours of sleep."

Saying that, he too joined the other Masters who were heading towards a particular three storeyed building, just beside the dome structured building.

David squinted his eyes at the signboard hanging from one of the walls of the building the Masters were heading to.

Masters' Quarters.

'Ahh so that's for them. I wonder if this massive, dome shaped building is for us to live in?'

He thought inwardly, as he waited with all the other claws on the large field.

Soon after, few individuals in servant cloaks appeared as they started leading away the claws from under the misty air.

One such man, with nicely trimmed hairs and a moustache that looked perfectly symmetrical on his equally symmetrical face, approached them.

"Hello, sirs and madams. I am one of the humble butlers around here. I go by the name Bernard and am assigned to the household managements of Claws Zamian, Arlott and Gabriel."

With a practiced bow, he gestured them. "Please, everyone, do follow me. Let me show you all to your assigned rooms."

Saying that, he led the members of the three mentioned claws with him.

En route, he spoke without turning back.

"Since we are already on our way, let's do a short tour of all the facilities we have to offer."

Leading them on the opposite path of the Masters' Quarters, Bernard started.

"This dome shaped building you see is our training ground. What makes it even crazier is the fact that the entire building has been enchanted. Tomorrow, you shall see glimpses of what I mean."

Then pointing to his right, he said.

"The thatched building right there is a stable for the only two horses our Isikolo has. It's damn expensive, so yeah would make our accountants cry blood if they die.

Next to that, there is a small barrack. Any type of minor adjustments or problems you might face with your weapons, that's the place for you to be.

There is also a proper barrack behind the Masters' Quarters, with fully trained Sihapis residing inside them.

Anyways..." He paused for a moment as the others took in the seven buildings in front of them, before continuing again.

"Those seven are where all the fourty claws shall be living. Every one of them has a healer's cabin and a common mess. Just an advice: try waking up by 6 o'clock, if you want your food to be hot."

His eyes darted left and right. Seeing nobody else in sight, he whispered making everyone stand on their tip toes to hear him.

"Atleast the hot food is edible...trust me, you don't want to have that cold, bland food."

Bernard straightened up as he winked subtly. Then coughing, he said. "Alright, now to your rooms."

The inside of the lodging was made in a simple design, no doubt focussing more on sustainance than elegance. The smell of the newly painted rooms mixed with the faint aroma of something being cooked wafted through the common room, reminding them of their growling hunger.

There were no staircases or any second floor for that matter. Instead spread out in a thin hallway were intersecting corridors, each leading to a vast room.

Bernard led Claw Gabriel and Claw Arlott to their rooms before showing Claw Zamian to their own room.

Standing at the entrance to the room, Bernard said cheekily. "So there you go, the room assigned for your claw. I would have reamined for a while but I have some work to do. So, goodbye for now. Adjust to your new surroundings."

As soon as Bernard was out of their sight, all of them spilled into the room like moths drawn to a fire.

Inside the long room, thirty one beds were neatly placed on either side of the room - fifteen on the left and sixteen on the right.

The three other girls suddenly dragged the nameless girl with them and grabbed the first four beds on the left side. This unspoken challenge of claiming those beds as their territories was left unchallenged by the rest of the members, all of whom were boys.

But amongst themselves, the boys fought for beds leaving David at the doorway with a perplexed face. It was beyond his understanding why were they even fighting for beds since all of them looked the same.

'Also, the windows are quite high up on the walls, so no extra benefit of getting a nice view of the outside from any of the beds...'

He waited for a few minutes, letting everyone else settle in.

Soon after, his eyes fell on the only bed that was unclaimed by any of them.

Sighing, he walked to the last bed at the farthest corner on the right side.

Sitting on his new bed, he felt the low quality mattresses under him. He predicated that sleeping on these beds for long hours would lead to sore muscles, which would be extremely uncomfortable for training in the daytime.

With a low yawn, he stepped down from his bed.

'Atleast we aren't sleeping on cold stone, so all good.'

On his way out of the room, he nudged the nameless girl who was listening to the other three girls with deep concentration.

"Come on, let's go and eat something."

She nodded and was about to follow him when suddenly one of the girls pulled her by her arms.

David raised an eyebrow at such an aggresive gesture.

Meanwhile the girl, pink haired and a naturally looking angry face, looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"And who are you that she shall follow you?"

"Just a fellow member from our clan and her friend." David shrugged nonchalantly, already predicting the pink haired girl's goal.

"Even so, we ask you to go alone. She shall be going on with us, when we are all hungry."

David glanced once at the nameless girl, who stood in confusion. For few seconds, he locked his eyes with the pink haired before eventually sighing.

"As you all wish."

Saying that, he approached the common room where a long table was spread out in the middle of the room.

His eyes appeared unfocussed as he approached the empty table.

'I could have brought her here with me and I know she would have surely come as well. But then again, she needs to spend an entire year with those three. I just don't want them to bully her in case she had rejected their offer.

Also, it's certainly a good thing if she gets new friends here. I would be quite happy with such an outcome.

But if my suspicions are indeed right and they end up using and bullying her instead....well...'

He tapped on the table with his fingers as he sighed.

"...Let's not finish that thought, I guess."

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