Maximus had been having a bad day. The elders had been scolding him for something he didn’t do, the other aspirants had been bullying him just like usual. It had been exhausting him for the past few days. And through all that exhaustion, only one person had made him able to handle it.

Just talking to the only friend he had in the boot camp had soothed him. Just sitting beside them, listening to them yap -- it was like they had temporarily healed what wounds he had.

Naturally, after completing his tasks for the day, they were who he wanted to seek out. He had been punished, given extra chores, for reasons he didn’t care to know. All he knew now was that he was tired, and that he needed a hug.

Sluggishly, he almost dragged his feet through the sand, moving to the large tent they used as a bunker. He found them, and immediately, felt a bit comforted. His arms wrapped around them and he let out a tired huff of a breath.