Fourth Wing/X.R./ The forgotten one

Practice Makes Perfect

"Well, that's..." Rhiannon's words drift off as I look up. My neck craning just to see the top. In front of us there's a menacing obstacle course that's carved into the front of the ridge line so steep, it might as well be a cliff. The zigzagging death trap of a trail rises above us, climbing in five distinct switchbacks of 180-degree turns, each increasing in difficulty on the way to the top of the bluff that decides the citadel from the flight field and the Vale. 

"Amazing." Aurelie sighs. 

Everyone— being me, Vi, Rhi, and Rory— turn towards her. 

"You think that hellscape looks amazing?" Rhi asks. 

"I've been waiting years for this!" Aurelie grins, her normally serious black eyes dancing with excitement. I shoot Rory a 'what the fuck' look before looking back at Aurelie. "My dad— he was a rider until he retired last year— used to set up obstacle courses like this all the time so we could practice, and chase, my brother, said it's the best part of being here before Threshing. It's a real adrenaline rush." At least her father and brother aren't dead. I push away the rancid thought into my box and exhale quietly. 

"He's with the Southern Wing, right?" Violet asks. 

"Yep. Pretty much desk duty for all the action they see near the Krovlan border." she shrugs and points about two-thirds up the course. "He said to watch out for those giant posts jutting from the side of the cliff. They spin, and you can get crushed between them if you're not fast enough."

"Oh, good, I was wondering when it might get difficult," Rhi mutters. 

"Thanks, Aurelie." Vi says and I nod my head as a way to say thank you. I turn my attention back to the course and start thinking my way through the problem. This is just another obstacle— remove it. 

"Come on, Venny. Hit harder." I grunt with exhaustion. My body is all sweaty and I'm feeling lightheaded as if I'd never drank water in my entire life. 

"I'm tired." I reply but continue striking just as hard. 

"I'm tired, too. But I'm still here. Training you. Helping you. What is tiredness?" 

"An obstacle." I answer with defiance. 

"What do Sorrengails do when they meet an obstacle?"  I don't remember him being this cold towards me.

"They remove it." I hit harder. 

"Good. Now get out your knife..." 

"Mai?" Rory lays her hand gently on my shoulder. 

"Yes?" I reply, blinking back the foggy dream from two weeks ago. 

"You...okay? You were staring pretty hard there, I thought you turned into stone." She jokes but I can see the worry etched along her brows as she flattens her lips. 

"I'm fine." I answer strongly. I know she knows I haven't been sleeping well. The last thing I need is for her to worry about my sleeping schedule. "What's happened?" 

"Well, Vi just got into a fight with Luca and Tynan." My eyes blow wide. "Not that kind, they were just throwing around insults like children." 

"They are children." I snort.

"Exactly." She says rolling her eyes playfully while smirking. 

"Stairs are there for reaching the flight field on the top of the ridgeline after Presentation." Professor Emetterio says, then lifts his hands towards the course and flicks his wrist, pointing at various obstacles.