Flaming Hearts - Fourth Wing

Chapter 12

The squad was standing in front of the bowl-shaped forested valley, southeast of Basgiath War College.

Ridoc is heaving up the contents of his stomach, Rhiannon rubbing his back lightly. She's wearing a sword strapped to her back. Ace has a Bo-Staff strapped diagonally across her back. She got some weirded-out looks from the other cadets, but she doesn't worry. A Bo-Staff covered in Armament Haki is stronger than any sword. But they don't know that.

Professor Kaori's voice echoes around the cadets, shutting them up. "Rember to listen here." He taps his chest. "If a dragon has already selected you, they'll be calling. So, pay attention to not just your surroundings, but your feelings too, and go with them." He grimaces. "If your feelings tell you to go in the other direction, listen to that, too."

"Which one are you going for?" Rhiannon asks Violet and Ace quietly.

Ace shrugs. "I'm going with the flow." Rhiannon snorts and looks at Ace with a smile.

"Of course you are. And you, Vi?" Violet shrugs as well.

"I don't know." Rhiannon looks at Violet with concern.

"You memorized the cards, right? So, you know what's out there?" Violet nods.

"Yes. I just don't feel connected to any of them. Dain tried talking me into a brown."

"Dain lost his vote when he tried talking you into leaving." Rhiannon counters, and Ace hums in agreement. "Fuck his opinion."

Violet laughs quietly. "You really don't like him, do you?" Ace just shakes her head.

"What about you?" Violet addresses Rhiannon, who grins.

"I'm thinking about that green, the one closest to me when they got all close and personal with you." She replies.

"Well, it didn't eat you, so that's a promising start." Violet smiles. Rhiannon links Violet's arm to her left and Ace's to her right. "I think so, too."

"If you go in groups, you're more likely to be incinerated than bonded, the scribes have run statistic on that. You're better off on your own." Professor Kaori goes on.

"And what if we're not chosen by dinner?" A cadet asks from the front.

"If you're not chosen by nightfall, there's problem." Professor Kaori responds. "You'll be brought out by a professor or senior leadership, so you don't give up and think we've forgotten about you." He checks his pocket watch. "Remember to spread out and use every foot of this valley to your advantage. It's nine, which means they should be flying in any minute now. The only other words I have for you are 'good luck'."

Then he leaves, marching up the hill to the right of the mass of first-year students and disappearing into the trees.

Ridoc, Sawyer, Violet, Rhiannon and Ace for a big group hug, sharing words of encouragement with each other. "Be careful" says Rhiannon.

"Don't die." Ridoc orders.

"Be brave." Ace grins.

They all separate, each heading into another direction.

xx

Ace feels a pull, leading her south. She follows the feeling, coming across two red dragons. She bows her head, walking past them quietly. Her Observation Haki covering a wide area around her. She feels about twelve human auras close to her, who seem to be following her. To test that theory, she climbs a tree in the clearing she's walking into, crouching on a branch, waiting.

"Where did she go? She was here just a second ago!"

Ace quietly gets the Bo-Staff of her back, covering it with Armament Haki, turning it from its wooden tone to the colour black. She drops down when all of them passed.