Fourth Wing

Chapter 6

The day has come. The day for surviving the obstacles of death. The Gauntlet.

I read the journal of my brother Throughout the whole night, where he mostly gave advices and explained rules and stuffs.

Basically I slept late yesterday and right i feel really tired. Too tired to go Through the obstacle of death but typical Basgiath you know.

I wear my suit filled with dragon scales and strap all my dagger on different parts of the suit customized perfectly for me.

Im a bit nervous not gonna lie. Nevermind, really nervous indeed. I head towards the training area where every cadetes were ordered to assemble in the morning.

The place is crowded with cadetes everywhere. Some 2nd and 3rd years were present too and 3 or 4 instructors.

my eyes immediately notices Xaden Rhiorson, looking absolutely gorgeous as ever in that black suit. Suddenly I get reminded by that night's memories.

How he pulled me to him with his shadows and how that exact same shadows saved my life at the Parapet. I still cant understand why he would do such a thing.

that beautiful pair of emerald eyes stare back at me holding an intense eye contact. I abruptly look away and I could catch him grinning from the corner of my eyes. Damn it.

The instructor asks all of us in a loud tone to head towards the gauntlet arena. My heart beat suddenly rises. We head towards the arena and I can see all the deadly obstacles waiting for me.

The ending of the Gauntlet is the toughest. It basically gives you an idea of how to mount a dragon. You have to make a big jump and make it on top of a hill. Comparing my tiny height, I highly doubt I'll be making that jump.

I try not sweat about it much and give my full attention towards the cadets who are going through the gauntlet right now.

I watch how some of them fall to their death in a gruesome way and barely few passing the gauntlet. I feel sorry for all those who has lost their lives trying to survive a literal obstacle. It's totally not really  a dream death-place. But I highly doubt there is a dreamy place for death.

My heart skips a beat while I watch Rhiannon crossing the gauntlet. I closed my eyes a few times I thought she was gonna fall. But the brave and determined girl she is, she became successful enough to cross it.

My heart quickly relieves when she got to the other side. Right now she is the last person I want to lose.
My turn is just 2 persons away and now my heart beat is rapidly rising. There is no way I'm making that jump at the end. I'm too tiny.

Just as I was panicking and thinking of death my turn comes up and I move forward ready to begin the obstacle of death. I look at my right and see Xaden looking at me with an unreadable expression.

And then he gives me a smile making my stomach do flips. I take another look at the Gauntlet and begin my steps. Xaden's face is honestly the last face I would want to see before dying.