Ruthless 🗡️/ Fourth Wing

Chapter~13

                               "If you are going to walk on thin ice you might as well dance"

We stood in a scattered line, each cadet separated by the required ten feet, waiting for Xaden's orders. The dragons, perched on ledges and high platforms, watched us with eerie stillness, their golden eyes flicking over us with unnerving scrutiny. Some were sleeping, others resting their massive bodies on the stone, but none of them seemed at ease. They knew what today was. And so did we.

Xaden moved to the front of the line, the rest of the instructors behind him. His face was hard as ever, his jaw set in a way that told us he wasn't about to coddle anyone.

"Cadets, listen carefully," Xaden said, his voice carrying over the still air. "Today, you walk through. Tomorrow, the dragons will choose. You will be tested. The dragons will observe, and they will weed out the weak. But understand this: Threshing is not a contest of strength alone. The dragons will pick who is worthy, who can lead, who can bond. It's about heart, spirit, and understanding your place in the world. They won't tolerate arrogance, fear, or hesitance. If you show weakness, you will be dismissed. No second chances."

I swallowed hard, fighting the dryness in my throat. We'd been preparing for this moment for years, but now that it was actually happening, I wasn't sure if I was ready. This wasn't just about surviving. This was about proving we were worthy to become something more—to become a rider.

"As you walk through, remember this," Xaden continued, looking each of us over. "Do not make eye contact with the dragons. Let them observe you, but do not challenge them. Your movements should be deliberate, confident, but not threatening. The dragons will test your resolve. Some will pass judgment quickly, others will linger. It is all part of the process."

The tension in the air thickened as Xaden gestured for us to move forward. One by one, the cadets began to step into the open space between the stone formations, the dragons circling above, their wings beating like the sound of thunder. The heat from their bodies was almost suffocating as they soared overhead.

I took a deep breath and moved with the others, forcing my legs to carry me forward. The path ahead was wide and empty, just a stretch of gravel that seemed to go on forever. The dragons were not in our way, but they were everywhere. Some were perched on massive stone ledges, their wings tucked in tight, watching us with calm, measured eyes. Others were flying overhead, their shadows sweeping over the ground, their presence heavy in the air.

The moment I stepped into the open, I felt their eyes on me. Every single one of those dragons seemed to lock their gaze on me, a thousand pairs of eyes piercing through the air, examining me, dissecting my every movement. It was enough to make my skin crawl.

"Do not falter," Xaden's voice came from behind me, low but commanding. "Walk. Do not stop, do not hesitate."

I nodded to myself, keeping my posture straight, my pace steady. The dragons were close, their bodies enormous, their presence dominating the space around us. Some of them stood perfectly still, watching us with what seemed like a quiet, calculating gaze, while others moved restlessly, shifting their weight from side to side. Their eyes gleamed in the sunlight, like fire caught in the dark.

As I walked past them, I could feel the air shimmer with the intensity of their gaze. It was as if they were looking directly into my soul, testing the very fiber of who I was.

As I walked deeper into the clearing, I saw them. Dragons—massive, ancient beasts with eyes glowing like molten gold. Some were perched on stone ledges, their great forms coiled and at rest, others circled overhead, their wings creating wind that ruffled my hair. But one dragon, sitting quietly on a high platform near the center of the clearing, caught my eye. It was the largest one, its scales a deep shade of obsidian, almost black, with streaks of blood-red across its wings. Its eyes—sharp and calculating—seemed to follow my every move, narrowing as I approached.

There was a weight in its gaze, a pressure I couldn't describe, like it was seeing straight through me. It wasn't like the others. It was different. The air around it seemed to shimmer with power.

I kept my gaze forward, trying to ignore the dragon. We'd been told not to make eye contact. But it was impossible to avoid. My feet slowed as I walked past, the enormous creature's eyes locking onto mine.

My heart skipped a beat. It was as if everything else disappeared. The cadets, the instructors, the entire world was muted as the dragon's gaze held me in place.

Xaden's voice cut through the tension, sharp and commanding. "Nora. Do not look at it. Look away, now."

But I couldn't move. There was something in that dragon's eyes, something that demanded a response. I could feel my body respond to the challenge, the pull of something inside me that refused to back down.

For a moment, I hesitated, unsure if I was about to make a mistake. But then, almost instinctively, I lifted my chin and met its gaze fully. It was as if the dragon had dared me, and I could not let that challenge go unanswered.

I held its gaze for a long moment. Its eyes seemed to burn into mine, as though it was testing me, trying to measure my worth. The air around me seemed to thicken, like the dragon's power was drawing everything in.

But then, with a slow, deliberate movement, I lowered my head in respect. I didn't break my gaze, but I bowed slightly, acknowledging the dragon's presence, its dominance.

For a heartbeat, the world stood still. There was no sound, no movement, just the two of us locked in that moment. And then, to my shock, the dragon's massive head nodded once, slowly.

I felt something shift in the air—something primal, something deep. It was as though the dragon was accepting my challenge, acknowledging my strength. It made no move to attack, no sign of anger. Just the quiet, calculating stare that seemed to say, You're worthy.

I looked away first. A mix of exhilaration and dread surged through me, the realization of what I had just done settling in. I had tested the dragon, tested its patience. But it hadn't destroyed me. It had accepted me.

I heard Xaden's voice again, quieter this time, but just as firm. "Nora... you know better than that."

I didn't respond. There was nothing to say. I had made my choice. I had shown the dragon my resolve. I had bowed my head, not in submission, but in acknowledgment of the trial it had set before me. And I wasn't going to back down.

As I walked past the dragon, my pulse was still racing. But the feeling wasn't fear. It was something else, something deeper. The dragon had seen me. Really seen me. And I had met its gaze.

I wasn't just a cadet anymore. I was a contender.

****Hello hellooo I hope you guys are doing good. I wanted to check in and see how you guys are liking the edited story. It is under alot of editing and I am loveing how the new story is shaping!! Please let me know how you guys are liking it so far

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