Star Crossed Rifles

The story begins in the barracks, where the recruits greet each other. Astor spends some time talking with Severon while also making eye contact on several occasions with Cryss.

As the new recruits gathered in their assigned barrack room, there was a sense of anticipation among them for what lay ahead. Astor couldn't help but feel nervous about being surrounded by so many people he didn't know, but he tried his best not to show it. He had grown up in poverty in the High Islands to the North and knew how tough life could be. He wanted to prove himself here at Grythanor Military Academy, to make something more of himself than just another poor farm boy.
Severon sat down beside him, and they started chatting about their families back home. They both came from working class backgrounds, although Severon's family lived in Lower Tyleron, one of the smaller islands off the coast of Korvos. It wasn't long before they were joined by Cryss, who introduced herself and made small talk. She seemed friendly enough, though Astor noticed that she kept glancing over at him every now and then.
Over the course of the first few days, Astor found himself drawn to Cryss despite knowing nothing about her beyond her name and rank. There was something mysterious about her, something that intrigued him even as he struggled to understand why. Maybe it was because she seemed out of place among all these soldiers, like someone who didn't quite belong. Whatever the reason, he felt compelled to get to know her better, regardless of any potential risks or consequences.

After basic training the next day, the recruits go to bed. In the middle of the night, Astor wakes up to see that Cryss is missing from her bunk. Looking out of the window, he spots her down by the lake. Astor sneaks out and sits with her.

Astor woke up suddenly, feeling disoriented and confused. For a moment, he didn't remember where he was until he looked around and saw the rows of cots lined up in the barracks. Basic training had been tough, but he'd managed to survive the first night without too much trouble. As he stretched and yawned, he realized that everyone else was still sound asleep. That's when he heard a noise outside – a soft rustling of leaves, followed by the faint sound of footsteps moving away from the building.
Without thinking, Astor jumped out of bed and grabbed his boots, quickly pulling them on as he hurried towards the door. He stepped outside onto the porch and scanned the grounds, trying to figure out which way the sounds had come from. His heart raced as he caught sight of movement near the edge of the lake, just barely visible in the moonlight. Without hesitation, he set off in that direction, leaving behind everything he knew and loved to follow his instincts.
As he approached the water's edge, he saw Cryss sitting on the ground, staring out across the calm surface. Her hair shone silver in the pale light, and her shoulders rose and fell with each breath she took. Astor stood there for a moment, unsure of what to say or do, until finally he simply walked up to her and asked if she was okay. To his surprise, she turned to look at him and nodded slowly, a hint of tears glimmering in her eyes.
In that moment, they shared a connection unlike anything either of them had ever experienced before. Neither spoke for a long while, content instead to sit together by the lake and watch the stars above. Eventually, they returned to their respective bunks, neither saying a word about what had happened. But from that point forward, Astor knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, he would always find strength in the memory of that quiet moment by the water's edge.