Chapter Text
My name is Jareth Maxus. I am twenty years old. My sister Mara is counting on me to survive.
These are things I chant to myself as I prepare to enter the riders quadrant of Basgiath war college.
It's conscription day or as I've been thinking of it as my execution date. The heat of mid July makes me feel hot and sweaty not to mention the dark grey vest and pants that grip my body like second skin. The line to sign my name for parapet is long and slow, lots of idle dreamers who think they'll make it in the riders quadrant I pity them.
Being a marked one not only earns you dirty looks and discrimination but it also gets you a one way ticket straight to parapet so it's not like I had a choice anyway. I readjust my pack and shift my weight from one leg to the other, gods this is boring I might just have to throw myself off the thousands of metres high bridge when I get there. I wish Mara were here she would have some words of encouragement or even a hand to hold, to bad she couldn't get leave to come and see me off although I'm used to not seeing her come to think of it I've only "seen" her three times since our parents execution.
The line seems smaller as I approach the table at the bottom of a towering spire, the one I have to climb to reach the death bridge known as parapet
But as I shuffle forward once more a hand grasps my shoulder and I spin with a lightning quickness and raise my fist to who I know realise to be my childhood best friend Syra Kaner we were fostered together after the execution she flashes me a wry smile and brings me in for a hug relief and happiness flood my head thank goodness I really needed to see a familiar face.
"Fancy seeing you here" I say sarcastically
"Haha very funny Jare" she remarks
She punches my shoulder playfully. Gods I've missed her. She's wearing a sleeveless black tunic with fitted brown pants and sports a tight bun with two loose curls framing her face, her rebellion relic proudly displayed on her right arm it swirls up to around her elbow which is short for most but she wears it with a confident like no other she has no shame nor should she.
We are soon called to write our names down and then it's just us and the tower standing before the parapet. We begin the climb up the spiralling stairs step by step getting closer to our destiny id be lying if I said I wasn't shitting myself. My balance is better than most and my bag is light so I shouldn't have any trouble but it's the concept of walking into a future I know isn't preparing us for what's really out there that scares me once I cross parapet there's no going back.
We reach the top of the staircase and I gasp before me stands my cousin Isla Serran (another marked one) "Jareth!" She exclaims with an excitement like no other "I completely forgot you would be conscripted this year, look we don't have a lot of time" she whispers in a hush voice as she whisks me off to the side "keep your eyes forward don't look down. And I have something for you" she pulls out a silver ring looped on a chord necklace "Mara left this for me to give to you when you enter the quadrant, it was your mothers ring" she pulls me in for a tight hug and then pushes me toward the table to sign my name in "good luck" she says as I take my first steps on the gods forsaken bridge.
I shove the necklace in my pocket and fling my arms out to the sides for extra balance. Don't look down don't look down don't look down the words repeat in my head as I step rhythmically towards the quadrant on the other side of the ravine. I look forward to see Syra halfway across the bridge already she must have started while I was talking to Isla. She's making good time and seems relatively calm right I need to focus on me and how I'm doing. I breathe deep and slow to calm my nerves and it seems to work until I feel the first drop of rain. Shit.
By the time I reach where Syra was it's pouring down rain this is the worst fucking time for this ever. The parapet is not only incredibly thin and high it's also a slip hazard now well it can't get any worse. I was wrong. I hear an ear piercing scream and flick my gaze up front to see Syra completely safe and still walking across. I dare to swivel my head backwards and see a pale girl with slicked back bun and pack the size of a small child crouched hands firmly placed on the parapet.
I don't dare to turn around yet can't take my gaze off this poor girl I have to do something otherwise she'll get launched by the next impatient candidate. "Ditch the pack and get up" I shout with a volume I'm not used to. She sits still. "Do it or you'll die!" I scream, finally she does as I say and wobbles to her feet.
Right I'm three quarters of the way there now I just need to get to the end my pace picks up and concern leaves my body. It's do or die and I refuse to die in such a pathetic way before I know it the end is in sight. The small opening in the nine foot tall wall is approaching fast and safety to an extent is in reach. I practically run the last few steps and leap onto the ground with a relief that fills me from my toes right to my head.
I made it.