WHOS AFRAID OF LITTLE OLD ME, fourth wing

chapter three

CHAPTER THREE

Seren watched silently as Jack walked off into the crowd of celebrating cadets and riders that are gathered in the court yard.

Witch?

The rain eased into a drizzle and she glanced up to the sky before looking to Violet, who was now beside her and looking drowsy.

" I think you made an enemy there," the redhead says, casually shifting the lethal crossbow she wears strapped along her shoulder.

She glances at the two girls over the scroll with a shrewd look in her hazel eyes as she looks Seren up and down. "I'd watch your back with that one if I were you."

Seren doesn't speak, sheathing her dagger before taking Violets hand in her's and bringing them a few steps away, a sharp pain sliced through her ankle but she ignores it.  "what's wrong?" She scanned Violet up and down, noticing her legs trembling.

"My knee." Violet quietly answered before someone grips Seren's shoulder, causing her to tense as she was spun around to face them

"We made it!," she grins.

Realizing it was Rhiannon, Seren relaxed a little while returning a small smile.

"We made it," Violet repeats, forcing a smile of her own.

"I can't thank you enough," Rhiannon drawing Seren's attention. "There were at least three times I would have fallen off if you hadn't helped me. You were right—those soles were slick as shit. Have you seen the people around here? I swear I just saw a second-year with pink streaks in her hair, and one guy has dragon scales tattooed up his entire biceps."

"Conformity is for the infantry," Violet chimes and Rhiannon looped her arm through the Sorrengail's before reaching a hand out and doing the same to Seren, tugging them along toward the crowd.

Seren bit her lip in worry as she watches as Violet leans the entirety of her weight on the woman as she limped.

"Speaking of which," Rhiannon continues, glancing down. "We need to trade boots. There's a bench—"

A tall figure in a pristine black uniform steps out of the crowd, charging toward the trio, Seren pulled back and though Rhiannon manages to dodge, Violet stumbles smack into his chest.

"Ouch." She mumbled before looking up and seeing— "Violet?" He asked in shock, glancing behind the Sorrengail to see the Elysian girl.

"Dain." Seren muttered, squinting her eyes as she looked at him.

Violet tried to find her balance and failed, nearly stumbling as her knees wobbled.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he barks, the shock in his eyes transforming to something foreign, something deadly.

Both girls have to remind themselves that this isn't the same boy they once knew, he was a second-year rider now.

"Dain. It's good to see you." Violet greets before her knees give out entirely.

Seren is quick to jump to her side, helping her up along with Dain as he guides the group away from the crowd and into an alcove in the wall,
close to the first defensive turret of the citadel.