The refeitory was in a state Golden had never seen before, not noisy, not quiet. It was that specific sound of hundreds of people pretending to eat while actually doing only one thing.
Gossiping.
"...they say the deadliest one now is the Fat Knight..."
"Was that really his name?"
"Yeah! Apparently he used to be one of Eldrath's cooks."
"Holy shit. While the other test was mostly theory, this one looks like we're actually going to have to fight. Just my luck after I already failed once..."
Golden wasn't listening to anything else.
He sighed, picked up his tray, and started to get up.
"How many?"
Someone had walked up beside him without warning, placing another plate of food in front of him, a messy-haired boy wearing the expression of someone who had planned this moment far too carefully.
Golden didn't look up and kept eating. "How many what?"
"Hahaha." The boy grinned. "You fell for my trick. Now that you're eating it, you owe me one. You started eating before asking."
