Chapter Text
The rain was coming down even harder now that I was near the top of the stairs. Of course it would. Letting out the smallest of sighs I heard a scream followed by another one of surprise. I couldn’t see what, or who, it was but I were sure it was another person falling off the parapet. The screams were always someone falling to their death.
Adjusting the straps of my rucksack I slowly made my way towards the thing that would either be the death of me or the start of three years of hell. There was more commotion that I couldn’t see, but what did I expect? I were probably the shortest person ever to go through Conscription Day. The Riders Quadrant for sure.
Being only 5 feet tall didn’t leave a lot of room to see much of anything that actually was happening on the parapet. Other’s around me are talking, making friends for however long they could without knowing what would happen to them. I wasn’t much for talking, let alone getting to know anyone. Why bother learning anyone’s name when they might not get across with me? It was pointless.
Much like this whole game of crossing this bullshit. I thought and could finally see the parapet along with the cadets who were taking down the names. The first one to catch my eyes was so tall. His glare was impressive. He was eyeing everyone up with a look of disdain in those onyx eyes. His tawny skin and dark hair were just as breathtaking as his eyes. Now that’s a man who I’d love to be under. The thought passes quickly before I could stop myself. He could fuck me into obli—. I stop mid thought when those same eyes locked with mine, glare even fiercer then before. I wasn’t expecting to have him look my way exactly in the middle of the salacious thought.
A prickling sensation makes me hair stand on edge, so I instantly threw my shields up. I couldn’t trust anyone here and it was stupid for me to believe that I could just exist for a minute without always having to be on guard. Of course I couldn’t, I was entering Basgiath and trying to be a Dragon Rider. There wasn’t going to be a just existing anymore. I had to make sure all of my secrets stayed secrets, otherwise everything would be ruined.
Those onyx eyes had beautiful gold flecks in them. The gorgeous man was still glaring daggers at me. Pushing forward I was right in front of the three riders standing there. I try my best to keep as much distance as possible from the man still staring me down. “Name?” The woman next to him asks looking directly at me.
“[Y/n] [Y/l/n]”, I said against the wind that was picking up, along with the rain. I watch the woman write it down. She nods when she finished and points up the steps are the parapet. “You know what to do, cross or die.”
I nod, stepping up the steps and began walking on the parapet. As I start I could hear the murmurs of the potential cadets. I even heard one ask loudly if I would fall before the halfway mark or after. Smirking, I wouldn’t let it tear me down. I’ll make it across, that much I was sure of.
Taking a deep breath I begin the journey through the enclosed part of the parapet into the open space. I didn’t need to keep my arms up to get across, but I kept them up to blend in. With sure steps I was making my way across, hoping that it wasn’t too fast that it seemed unnatural. I didn’t need people already looking at me with suspicion. I needed to fly under the radar for as long as possible. I was here for a reason and it needed to be completed.
The rain was still coming down creating slick spots on the stone under my feet. That didn’t stop me, already hitting the halfway mark. Just a little further and I would be free of this farce. I could hear footsteps behind me. When I hit the three quarters marker there was another scream from behind me followed by a thud a few seconds later. “Another one gone before they even had a chance.”
No one replies back, but I wasn’t expecting one. It was too risky for them to reply at the time. It was better they stayed as far away as possible until I made it to Threshing. Even then I don’t know if it would be them who showed up. But I knew what I needed to accomplish now; getting across this stupid parapet.
Finally making it to the end I took the steps to solid ground. There were more riders standing on this side with another paper. I gave them my name before walking off to stand somewhere that hopefully no one would bother me. Rounding a corner I thought would be empty I see two people talking, or maybe arguing? I wasn’t close enough to tell and I really didn’t want to find out. It’s none of my business anyway. The only thing that I notice before stepping back into the shadows is the woman has hair tipped in silver. Moving away from the two I finally find a spot to wait while the rest of the people attempt to cross. It was covered so at least the ground was dry. Sliding down I lean with my back against the stone structure. My hands went up to my hair making sure that it was still covering my ears. I had too much to focus on to keep a glamour up without a chance of losing focus. I double check the long sleeves of my shirt as well to make sure neither one had rolled past my wrists.
Occasionally I would hear screams and then more thuds. I really wonder how the cadets and riders here manage to handle listening to all this death? I knew Basgiath was designed to break them, mold them into the perfect riders, but this really was something they shouldn’t have to deal with. Death is final, even if I’ll probably never know what that would feel like.
Hours pass and I watch more and more people join the area. Finally, everyone that was able to cross did and we all filter into the courtyard. I watch people walk towards the dias at the front, which prompts me to move towards the group that was waiting. My eyes ended up finding the man I was before and followed where he was making his way to the dias. For some reason I couldn’t take my eyes off him, a strong need to know him was starting to consume me.
I moved towards a group of people and realize that the women in front of me was the same silver haired one I saw arguing with that man before. She was with two other women and all three seemed like they were already becoming fast friends.
“Three hundred and one of you have survived the parapet to become cadets today,” The man at the front of the dias says with one of the fakest smiles I’ve ever seen. He really loved moving his hands around too. “Good job. Sixty-seven did not.”
I watch the women in front of me whispering back and forth about the man in front just using this position as a stepping stone and wanting other people’s jobs. Then hear that someone named Melgren has a signet ability to see a battle’s outcome before it happens. I really need to learn their leadership to make sure I fit in better. If I didn’t have at least the basic knowledge I’m sure more people would figure something is wrong.
“As the Codex says, now you being the true crucible!” He shouts his voice carrying over the hundreds that are in the courtyard. “You will be tested by your superiors, hunted by your peers, and guided by your instincts. If you survive to Threshing, and if you are chosen, you will be riders. Then we’ll see how many of you make it to graduation.” My eyes wonder around looking at all of the people in front of me and how they react as he continues his well practiced speech. “Your instructors will teach you. It’s up to you on how well you learn.” He really did love gesturing with his hands while talking to us. How did he find so much energy to be that animated about something so depressing? “Discipline falls to your units, and your wingleader is the last word. If I have to get involved…” He paused while a slow, sinister smile spreads across his face. “You don’t want me involved. With that said, I’ll leave you to your wingleaders. My best advice? Don’t die.”
It took everything in me to not roll my eyes at his advice. Of course, we all came here planning to die you fool. I watched as he walked away and left what I assume are the wingleaders on the side of the dias. Now a brunette woman walked up with a sneer across her face. She had some interesting silver spikes on her shoulders that seemed fun. I wondered how she got those and just how useful they would be in combat. “I’m Nyra, the senior wingleader of the quadrant and the head of the First Wing, Section leaders and squad leaders take your positions now.”
Now people were moving, pushing and shoving whoever they need to get out of their way. Eventually 50 or so of them were in front in formation. I could hear the silver haired woman whisper to one of the others, “Sections and squads. Three squads in each section and three sections in each of the four wings.”
“First Squad! Claw Section! First Wing!” Nyra yells out. I watch a man raise his hand. He must be the squad leader for that squad. Nyra continues, “Cadets, when your name is called, take up formation behind your squad leader.” Another wingleader steps forward and begins called names one by one. People start filing into their proper squads. Finally, the First Section is finished and see another person step up with a list. I watch as two of the women in front of me are called to Second Squad, Flame Section, Second Wing. A few names later mine is called and head over to stand behind them again. Looks like I might actually end up knowing the people I’ve been behind this whole time.
Everyone is quiet while the rest of the sections and squads are called. I look back at the other wingleaders on the dias and notice the handsome man staring at the silver tipped woman in front of me. It does make me curious why he’s looking at her so hard. I slightly shake my head, now isn’t the time to get interested in things that don’t matter to me. I have more important things to focus on. But my eyes keep wandering towards him as I watch him say something the the Second Wing’s wingleader, then see every other wingleader join in on the heated discussion.
Eventually, the wingleaders turn around to face us and Nyra steps up again. “Dani Aeros, you and your squad will switch with Aura Beinhaven’s.” The man at the front of our squad nods and turns to us. “Follow me.” He says and then moves through formation, just expecting us to follow him.
A soft chuckle leaves my mouth when I realize we’re moving to Fourth Wing. I guess the stare down those two had really didn’t do us any favors. I glance back up at the handsome man and see the smuggest smirk across his face. Looks like he wanted to piss her off and, it’s working.
Now that assignments are done it looks like pretty eyes is walking to the front to speak. “You’re all cadets now. Take a look at your squad. These are the only people guaranteed by Codex to not kill you. But just because they can’t end your life doesn’t mean other’s won’t. You want a dragon? Earn one.” Cheers being from almost everyone around me. His voice rang clearer then the others who spoke before him. Was this man perfect? Thoughts danced through my mind, but I double checked that my shields were still up. Something else was up with this man and you didn’t know if he could read thoughts or not. It seems possible since he glared right at you earlier, but you couldn’t be certain yet.
He takes a moment to look directly at me. I cock an eyebrow at him, exactly like how he did the silver haired woman earlier. I shouldn’t do it, but fuck it. I want to mess with this man a little bit. He turns away quickly before I get a reaction. “And I bet you feel pretty badass right now, don’t you, first-years?”
More cheers as he continues his speech. What is with everyone and speeches today? “You feel invincible after the parapet, don’t you? You think you’re untouchable! You’re on your way to becoming the elite! The few! The chosen!”
The cheers get louder and louder as his shouting continues, but there’s a noise I’m familiar with behind it. The beating of wings. My breath catches and I watch the dragons get closer and closer. Just when I think they’re going to fly right past us they pitch and land on the outer semicircular wall. A few cadets scream like idiots. Guess they never pictured they would be in front of dragons.
The navy-blue dragon in front of us exhales through its wide nostrils. It’s glistening blue horns rise above its head in an elegant, lethal sweep, and its wings flare momentarily before tucking in, the tip of their top joint crowned by a single fierce talon. It was a beautiful dragon. “Stunning,” I say before I could control myself. I watch as their golden eyes flick to me for a moment before glaring at the other cadets around me.
“We’re going to have to bring the masons in again, “ Dain Aetos mutters. I roll my eyes this time. Why care about something so insignificant when there were dragons right in front of him? That was more important then some stupid stones.
When I turn my head I see a cadet bolt from Third Wing, screaming as he makes a run for the stone keep behind us. Fool. I think as a red dragon on the left opens its vast mouth. Fire erupts along its tongue, then shoots outwards in a macabre blaze towards the fleeing cadet. He’s a pile of ash before he can even make it to the shadow of the keep. I watch as more cadets flee and get turned to cinder. Most of the cadets are facing forward not watching to see the death, but I watch the last moments of each one that I could see. Everyone should have their death witnessed in some way, even if it was a foolish one.
The navy-blue dragon in front narrows their eyes scrutinizing all of us again. A small grin reaches my lips and I watch it lock eyes with me one more time.
“Anyone else feel like changing their mind?” The man shouts, scanning the remaining row of cadets with the same shrewd gaze of the navy-blue dragon behind him. I really need to learn his name so I can stop saying man. Maybe I could ask the woman in front of me, seems like they know each other already. “No? Excellent. Roughly half of you will be dead by this time next summer. A third of you again the year after that, and the same your last year. No one cares who your mommy or daddy is here. Even King Tauri’s second son died during his Threshing. So tell me again: Do you feel invincible now that you’ve made into the Riders Quadrant? Untouchable? Elite?”
No one cheers.
I feel another blast of heat his my face and I realize that its steam instead of fire. It was a strong enough force to even move the braid behind my back. “Because you’re not untouchable or special to them.” He points towards the navy dragon and learns forward slightly, like he’s letting us in on a secret. “To them, you’re just prey.”