𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐄         ୨♡୧        𝒮𝒯𝑅𝐼𝒩𝒢
chapter03 ╱ ╱ 🖤🗝️ ༺ ˎˊ-

Aetos told us yesterday that we will be entitled to our own room after the Threshing, which is a bummer because until then we all sleep in the same place. Sleeping with the other cadets was not my taste. But I can get used to it, even as a first night it was not what I expected, I did not sleep well, some guys snored terribly.

My bunk, unfortunately, is next to Misha's, and as long as he's alive I won't be able to sleep well, the looks he gives me are frighteningly similar to those of the Duke. I hadn't noticed it yesterday, but they have the same greedy look. Full of desire. Not being able to kill him is frustrating.

I was happy to wear the black uniform, which was given to us yesterday after the Parapet, because it fits me divinely. The long look Misha gave me confirmed it. Black, besides being useful for masking blood, is my favorite color.. The four-pointed silver star stands out on my collarbone along with the Fourth Wing patch on my shoulder.

"If I kill one of my mates, will I end up in prison or burned?" I ask Liam before shoving the fork into my mouth. There weren't many people eating breakfast besides us. I have a feeling that meals will be the only time I'll share with Liam. Duiring class everyone will have to stay with their own squad.

"I haven't read the Codex, but I think so," he replied, looking around, no doubt looking for Misha. I snort loudly and shrug, "what if I poison him?" I try.

Liam chuckle, the most beautiful sound I'd ever heard. "Can you poison people?" he asked, glancing at his bowl.

"You'll find out," I replied vaguely, trying to hold back a laugh. I looked around, some cadets with the relic were sitting at the tables next to us, I had already seen them a few times outside of here, but I didn't know their names. A smile spread across my lips. For the first time in six years, I was relaxed.

"What are you thinking about?" Liam asked, putting his fork down on his plate. "Nothing in particular. I'm just happy to be here, with you and Xaden."

    Misha probably decided to test my patience, since we line us up in the courtyard, he's been by my side. He took advantage of Liam's absence to come back to the charge. I hate him.

Captain Fitzgibbons is reading the death roll, next to him are two men in cream-colored tunics, the scribes. I had never seen their tunics up close before, if I had a doubt before, now I am certain that if my life had gone differently I would never have become a scribe. That color would have killed me.

"We commend their souls to Malek," the man concluded, folding the parchment.

There was some confusion as the various squad leaders turned to face their cadets. "Hopefully you all ate breakfast, because you're not going to get another chance before lunch,"Ateos exclaimed coldly. Second- and third-years, I'm assuming you know where to go. First-years, at least one of you should have memorized your academic schedule when it was handed out yesterday."

To be honest, I tried to read it but nothing stuck with me.

"Stick together. I expect you all to be alive when we meet this afternoon in the sparring gym."

I can't wait. I read that there will only be two workouts a week, but there is a gym open to everyone. I know where I will spend my free time, if there is one.

"And if we're not?" Misha asks next to me.

I rolled my eyes at him, "I really hope you don't make it," I replied a little too loudly. The two girls in front of me turned with amused expressions. When she looked at my wrist her expression changed, I could see the fear on Violet Sorrengail's pale face.

"Sawyer?" Aetos asks the tall boy next to Violet. "I'll get them there," he replied with a nod. He was a repeater. He hadn't bonded with a dragon during the Threshing.

"Get going," Aetos exclaims. Our team breaks ranks, as other teams have done before.

"We have about twenty minutes to get to class," Sawyer tells us, "fourth floor, second room on the left in the academic wing. Get your shit and don't be late," he added walking towards the dormitories.

Misha stopped beside me, answering something the girl who is always by Sorrengail's side had said. I rolled my eyes as I passed him, is it that bad to hope for someone to die? Maybe, but I didn't care, his constant presence triggered these feelings in me, which were once directed towards the Duke.

Back at the dorm, I quickly grab my things noticing the girl who was standing next to Violet alone. "Hi! I'm Rhiannon," she exclaims, talking to me for the first time. I am always amazed when an unmarked person treat me kindly.

"Cassie," I answer almost speechless, maybe she hadn't noticed it yet, but I wouldn't have bet my life on it, the relic is the first thing everyone notices.

Rhiannon ducked under a bunk a few beds away from mine. What had happened to Violet? "Your friend is a bit jackass," she began, standing up. Her pigtails swayed with the movement. She's beautiful.

I frown and shake my head, "my friend?" I asked, not understanding who she was referring to. But then I realized as I noticed him entering the dorm, "oh, he's not my friend," I replied in disgust, glaring at the person coming in my direction.

Rhiannon's confused expression made me speak again, "it's just a dickhead that won't let go," I replied, making my way to the girl's side before Misha gathered his things. Rhiannon's mouth dropped open slightly as she glanced at him.

Together with her we headed to the first lesson of our first year. The history lesson was extremely boring, I didn't listen to anything, Rhiannon suggested that I sit with her and Violet. But Misha's presence behind us was always constant, even at Battle Brief.

When Professor Devra spoke I couldn't help but get angry. They were leaving out too much. I was a bundle of frustration and anger. The bullshit they were talking was making me furious. Violet had spoken several times during the lesson. She was very good, she surprised me several times. I glanced at Xaden when Violet spoke again.

His jaw was clenched, we were all thinking the same thing, it was frustrating sitting here unable to do anything.

When class ended Rhiannon and Violet stopped to look at me, were they waiting for me?

"She's Violet," Rhiannon exclaimed as I stood up with my backpack on my shoulders. Young Sorreingail smiled slightly, holding out her hand uncertainly, she was scared. I looked at her briefly, I can't. I can't. It wasn't fair. I shook my head and stepped back, "I can't, I'm sorry," I exclaimed before running out of the classroom.

A hand grabbed my shoulder, stopping me. I spun around ready to punch whoever was getting in my way, but when I meet Xaden's dark eyes I slowly lower my hand, "I was about to punch you," I exclaimed giving him a glare.

Xaden chuckled, for the first time since I'd arrived in Basgiath. "I would have known how to stop you."

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms over my chest, "I've improved my techniques," I replied with a challenging smirk, which I knew he would accept. He never backed down from a challenge.

Xaden smirked, accepting my challenge, "I saw you were talking to Sorrengail, what did you girls talked about?" he asked, lowering his voice so that only I could hear.

I turned slightly as the two walked out of the classroom past us. I raised an eyebrow, nodding towards the petite girl, "don't worry Xaden, I won't steal your target, I never could," I replied ironically, touching his shoulder in comfort.

The boy shook his head trying to hold back a laugh, "I'm serious."

I shook my head, becoming more serious, "she was just introducing herself.. . . But I couldn't do that, I was too angry to shake her hand," I replied sighing, It was the first time I felt negative emotions for little Sorrengail. It was a new emotion.

Xaden raised his eyebrows, "well, welcome to the club, it have taken you a few years," he replied while holding back a smile, "I'm sorry I didn't come looking for you sooner, but you know how it is."

I smiled slightly and nodded.

"I'm glad you're here, I feel like I'm back to normal," he admitted, I put a hand over my mouth trying to hold back my shocked expression, "wow, we should spend time apart more often if that makes you sweet."

Xaden gave me a friendly shoulder and led me toward the cafeteria. "You know I care about you, even if I don't show it," he retorted, looking down at his black boots. I smiled, placing a hand on his arm, "I love you too, Xaden. . . Do you want to have lunch with me and Liam, or are you too popular for us?"

"I usually eat with Garrick, we really want to invite you, but you know people would start thinking that we are plotting to destroy Basgiath," he exclaimed, raising his hands in surrender, he gave me a look in agreement, so I nodded, sighing, "Okay."

Xaden raised his eyebrows repeatedly at Liam before turning to join Garrick who nodded at me. I returned the greeting, rolling my eyes at my best friend's gesture, what an idiot.

"Are you guys with us in the gym later?" I ask Liam as I sit down across from him, I'd noticed that during Battle Brief he was talking to another marked guy I'd never seen before. Unlike me, he was making friends.

"Yes, today there are three teams for each wing."

I glanced over at the table where Sorrengail and Rhiannon were sitting. They were talking happily. I wonder what they were thinking.

"Cassie? Are you still on this planet?"

I nodded slowly turning to him, I sighed putting my fork down on my plate, "I don't know how to make friends, I literally ran away when I was introduced to Sorrengail," I replied placing my hands on my cheeks. I wasn't sure you could read the desperation on my face. "All the other members of my squad are looking at me like I might infect them, while . . . Well, Misha's looks at me like he's going to jump on me at any moment."

Liam smiled as he gently grabbed my wrists, "hey, look at me, half the people will be dead by winter, don't worry about them, I saw you sitting with that girl during Battle Brief, it's a start, as for Sorrengail, I'm sure she can understand the reluctance to know her, try giving her a chance she might not be like her mother."

I nodded slightly, even though I was not sure. "Since when did you become so wise?" I asked, frowning. Liam smiled, showing a dimple in his cheek. He's so fucking beautiful. I couldn't help but smile, we looked at each other for a few seconds, which seemed to last an eternity, I didn't want to look away. His eyes were so beautiful, it seemed like I was looking at the blue expanse of the Ocean Article.

"I always have been, but you didn't need my advices before."

I think I have a problem with bald men. For some reason I couldn't take my eyes off Professor Emettrio's pearly head. It reflected the gym light in an amazing way. What kind of problem do I have?

I tried to look away from his head looking around. I definitely made the right choice. The boys are shirtless, even Liam. He stands out from the rest of the boys on his team in height and beauty. I always found the Relic of the Rebellion fascinating on Xaden because it was different from the others, but on Liam it just seemed perfect. It wasn't the first time I saw him shirtless, but every time he left me breathless.

Feeling, probably and rightly, observed, he suddenly looks up, a smirk appears on his mouth when he catches me in the act, I hadn't had time to look away.

"He's so sexy," Rhiannon whispers beside me. When I turn trying to figure out who she was talking about, I notice that she was looking in the same direction as me, she was looking at Liam. "He can't take his eyes off you."

"From me?" I ask confused.

The girl nods, giving me a friendly shoulder bump, much more gentle than Xaden's. I feel my cheeks on fire, "he must be looking at someone else," I replied, trying to push the possibility that Liam was looking at me out of my mind.

"You!" exclaimed Professor Emettrio pointing at me, "and . . . you!" his fingers swings to a girl on the other side of the classroom, I didn't know her name but I had heard someone encouraging her, her name must be Soleil.

I took a step forward towards the black mat stained with dark blood. Three cadets had already been brought by the healers, after this fight they will be four. I looked at the girl who was timidly coming forward, she was thin, not like Sorrengail. She was lucky that I couldn't use blades, because otherwise I would have been able to finish the fight very quickly.

We circled for a few seconds before I lunged forward and punched her in the cheek. Soleil slid to the left dodging it, she was fast. I made a mental note as I dodged her kick. I was starting to lose my patience. I took advantage of her loss of balance by grabbing her foot and with a quick move I tackled her to the ground, "yield!" I exclaimed, starting to twist her foot in an unnatural motion.

Soleil grimaced, I knew I had her.

Unexpectedly she turned around and kicked me, which I dodged, little bitch. I kicked her in the ribs, knocking her out of breath. I waited a few seconds for her to recover, then when the right moment came I lunged, tackling her to the mat. I was straddling her, her arms pinned by my knees, my right elbow banging against her windpipe. She was turning a deep red.

"Yield."

"Enough!" Emettrio exclaimed.

I stood up smiling satisfied. It hadn't ended as I had imagined, but at least for a while Soleil would have trouble speaking, and walking. Emettrio looked at me with an expression of pleasant amazement.

When I returned to my seat my team was applauding me, Rhiannon and Violet had a fascinated expression,"you did a great!" Rhiannon exclaimed as I passed, "you knocked her down with incredible ease!"

I smiled embarrassed, I had always been intimidated by being the center of attention, even if sometimes I didn't mind. "The Duke wanted me to train rigorously over the years, and Xaden helped me improve my technique," I shrugged. I was probably one of the fittest in my year, even though Rhiannon had recently fought another guy and easily knocked him out.

If there was some cadet with intentions of killing me, maybe they would have given up. Here the hierarchy of  'the strongest kills the weakest to become stronger' applied. Although perhaps I would have liked to kill some dick who thought they were invincible.

Rhiannon was about to retort when Emettrio abruptly interrupted our exchange of words, calling Sorrengail to the mat. My mouth drops open slightly when she points to her rival. My good intentions of trying to accept Violet's presence went up in smoke when Imogen moved forward to step onto the carpet. Violet was dead.

Imogen, whose hair color had not changed since I had known her, would surely have used this opportunity to kill little Sorrengail. I would not have minded.

"Sorrengail," Imogen exclaimed, looking at the girl with an expression that would have intimidated anyone, "you really should dye your hair if you don't want everyone to know who your mother is.You're the only silver-haired freak in the quadrant." Said by someone with pink hair.

"Never said I cared if everyone knows who my mother is," the silver one replied, circling, "I am proud of her service to protect our kingdom, from enemies both without and within."

If before a small part of me was sorry for Violet's near end, I wasn't anymore. All those years of hating the Duke for what he did to me had added up to the pent-up anger I felt towards general Sorrengail. She was the only monster to blame. She sent me to that man. She made my life hell.

"You bitch!" my friend rants before throwing herself at the little Sorrengail, "your mother murdered my family."