Flaming Hearts - Fourth Wing

Chapter 3

After Formation and the display with the dragons, they were led towards the cafeteria, where they are all given a Lunch Pack of sorts. After, they are led toward the barracks, where they are going to sleep until they are bonded. Or at least, that's what Ace was told.

She was sitting on her bed, bottom bunk, a girl with the name Luca in the Bed above her. Ace asked her, which Bed she wanted, politely, but only got a rude "top bunk, thanks" as an answer. Violet and Rhiannon are sharing the bunk next to hers.

They talked for another couple of minutes, before laying in their respective bed, trying to get some sleep.

They all got a quick breakfast the next morning, Violet amazed by the amount of food Ace could eat. "How can you eat this much?"

Rhi just rolled her eyes. "That's Ace for you, you give her food, she's happy." But Ace just smiled happily, munching away. "You should see my little brother if you think I eat a lot. He has a massive black hole in his stomach, I'm sure." Violet looked at her with huge eyes, which made both Ace and Rhi burst out laughing.

And now they were standing in the courtyard in formation, while the names of the fallen one are being read. Ace still doesn't really understand their rituals, reading the names, burning the belongings. Why would you burn everything they own? You're destroying memories, and heirlooms even. Rhi tried explaining that to her a couple times already, but alas, it falls on deaf ears. People celebrate the death where she's from. Throw a party, reminisce in memories with the dead loved one. Get a drink of sake, or five.

Rhiannon also tried explaining the different gods the people pray too, but Ace didn't really care about that, either. She's never been religious, she's a pirate, they don't prey. At least, not in that way. She has called out to a god before, though that has always been in a bedroom setting.

Ace sees the Scribe closing the scroll and straightens her back. "We commend their souls to Malek." Ace scoffs tonelessly. No god is getting her soul.

There is no formal conclusion to the formation. Silence is broken as the scribes leave and the squad leaders turn to address their respective squads.

"Hopefully you all ate breakfast, because you're not going to get another chance before lunch. Second- and third-years, I'm assuming you know where to go."

There is a mutter of agreement from she senior cadets ahead of us. The first years are in the last three rows of the rectangle that makes up Second Squad. Ace, Violet and Rhiannon at the very back.

"First-years, at least one of you should have memorized your academic schedule when it was handed our yesterday. Stick together. I expect you all to be alive when we meet this afternoon in the sparring gym."

"And if we're not?" asked a boy in front of the girls, directly in front of Ace.

"Then I won't have to be concerned with learning you name, as it will read off tomorrow morning." Aetos answered with a shrug.

"Sawyer?" Aetos looked at the first year, standing in front of Rhiannon.

"I'll get them there."

Sawyer is a tall, straw-berry blond young men, with a few freckles on his face. Not as many freckles as Ace though, they are all over her face and body.

"Get going." Aetos orders. The second- and third-years stated walking, breaking the formation around the same time the other squads do, transforming the courtyard into a mess of charring cadets.

"We have about twenty minutes to get to class, fourth floor, second room on the left in the academic wing. Get your shit and don't be late." Sawyer spoke, and immediately started heading towards the dormitories. Ace and the others following behind.