Eleven pairs of eyes were now fixed on Gramm, filled with expectation.
They understood what they had to accomplish to take a step toward the intermediate rank, but that didn't make anything easier.
So when Gramm spoke, every mouth tightened.
"You will form pairs for this exercise. Sirius and Kritos, Lucy and Gracia, Fidri and Elizir, Iris and Ronel, Rana and Ana."
At those words, everyone complied, grouping into pairs. Even Rana, usually drowsy, made no fuss, seemingly resigned to having no say in the matter.
All except Ereis.
His gaze wandered in every direction, lost as to what he was supposed to do. Gramm did not seem to pay him any more attention. So he remained a spectator against his will, burdened with that unpleasant feeling of not belonging.
"Each pair will take a sheet."
Immediately, they all got to work, picking a sheet from the stack placed before Gramm.
A brief silence followed, then he added:
"Each pair will hold their sheet together, with both hands."
