Cordelia Tavis's gaze traveled around the hundreds of riders and cadets that stood across the courtyard, waiting for the last of the candidates to cross the parapet. The presence of her new companion lingered annoyingly beside her as her eyes searched for a specific boy amongst the crowd. "Looking for another one of your friends?" Ridoc questioned the girl, a hand on his hip and his eyes also moving towards the crowd. His height helped search where Cordelia's lacked, but the boy didn't even know who he was looking for.

He just wanted Cordelia to like him.

"It's none your business, Gamlyn." Cordelia shot back at the boy, her arms crossing over her chest.

Ridoc chuckled. He loved the way she fought back at him for every word that came out of his mouth. He loved a challenge, and Cordelia was certainly a fucking challenge. "How are you so popular, and we haven't even been inside the rider's quadrant yet?" His eyes immediately snapped down to the rebellion relic covering her hand, the rest covered by the sleeve of her shirt. "Right. Marked ones stick together."

"Fuck off." Cordelia scoffed. That struck a nerve. If people talked shit about her, she could honestly not give less of a shit. But do not talk about her people.

The girl's other hand moved to cover the tattoo, her eyes finally dropping from the crowd. Ridoc could tell that he finally broke through her wall, but not in a good way. Not in the way he wanted. "Fuck, Cordelia, that's not what I-" Ridoc's words froze as her eyes snapped up to meet his, anger in her gaze. "I don't give a shit if you have the relic or not." Her eyebrow cocked at his words, not believing him. "I think it's kind of cool."

"Don't let anyone hear you say that, Gamlyn." Her eyes rolled before they returned back to the crowd.

Where the hell was Bodhi?

Had he somehow died over the week since Garrick's last letter? No. Bodhi was good at everything. There was no way this boy could have managed to die while they were on their two week break from classes.

Ridoc frowned as he watched the girl. Was she looking for someone, or was she really that desperate to get away from him? The boy didn't believe that. At this point, Cordelia could have easily lost Ridoc, but she chose to stand with him. "Just tell me, who are you-"

"Has it been a year already, Little Tavis?"

Ridoc's hair flopped as his head moved up, watching the rider approach him and his new friend. This was who she was waiting for. Fuck. This man was gorgeous. His tawny brown skin glimmered in the mist as his arms wrapped around the girl, picking her up, enveloping her in a hug. "Thank fucking god, you made it. Never doubted you for a second, though. If anyone can do this, it's you, Little Tavis." He spoke, his nose burying itself into her neck. "I was told not to let anyone see us together today, but fuck that. I needed to see you."

This was the boyfriend. This is who she had been looking for.

Ridoc knew it was too good to be true. Cordelia was too good to be true.

Her hard exterior brought Ridoc in, him seeing it as almost a game to crack through it. But he was going to. If this devastatingly handsome man would put her the fuck down.

He heard a laugh escape Cordelia's lips, and he groaned, remembering he hadn't even been able to make her laugh yet. The boy placed Cordelia back on the ground, his arms lingering on her waist as he gazed down at her. "Hi, Bodhi. I missed you." The girl spoke softly, so softly Ridoc could barely hear.

Bodhi. What a fucking stupid name.

"I missed you, too." A smile cracked Bodhi's lips before his eyes finally snapped to the guest observing their conversation. "Made a new friend, did you? God, you have changed over the year."

Cordelia slowly turned, her cold expression back before her gaze even met Ridoc's. "I wouldn't say fr-"

"She would say new best friend." Ridoc cut her off, extending his hand to the boy. "She loves me already." His eyebrows wiggled at the girl, who rolled her eyes. He wished he started taking count at how many times the girl rolled her eyes at him. Fuck, it turned him on.

Bodhi chuckled, taking Ridoc's hand, his rebellion relic coming into full view, on full display as he was just wearing a short sleeve t-shirt. "Bodhi Durran." The boy's smile grew as he introduced himself, his arm moving from where it shook Ridoc's hand to lounging over Cordelia's shoulders. "Second year rider and Fourth Wing's Tail Section Executive Officer."

This man just kept pissing off Ridoc more. He was perfect. First, he was one of the most attractive men Ridoc had ever met, then he and Cordelia had the shared experience of being separatist kids, and now he's one of the highest ranks for his year.

"You're executive officer?" The girl gasped, her gaze landing on the boy next to her.

Bodhi raised an eyebrow. "Garrick didn't tell you?"

"Garrick has barely said a thing about you, except for the fact that you're alive." Cordelia groaned, her fingers moving to meet his that landed at the base of her shoulder.

Bodhi softly stiffened his body, as if he had suddenly remembered something. "Yeah, about that." His voice quieted as he leaned towards her ear. "Can we talk somewhere after the introduction?" Cordelia nodded, her eyebrows creasing slightly. His voice had grown serious at his question, and this confused Cordelia. What was this about?

The energy of the courtyard lifted as the three riders who had been at the entrance of the parapet, including Xaden Riorson and Garrick Tavis, returned to the courtyard, meaning the final candidates, now cadets, had crossed the parapet, or fell while trying. "I've got to head to my section. I'll see you after?" Bodhi spoke, his eyes staying on his cousin and Cordelia's brother before he hurried away from the pair.

Cordelia turned, her attention going to the dais ahead of the courtyard that now stood ten people, some being commanders and some being riders. Xaden is up there, of course, as he is Fourth Wing's Wingleader this year, the highest rank a rider can achieve in their third year.

"Are you as terrified as I am?" Ridoc whispered breathily, leaning down to Cordelia's ear.

Her gaze stayed on the dais. "No, shut the fuck up so we don't miss anything, Gamlyn." The boy's eyes widened as he straightened his spine back up, his eyes moving to the people in power that stood in front of him.

"Three hundred and one of you have survived the parapet to become cadets today." Commandant Panchek spoke, moving in front of the other nine bodies that stood up on the dais with him. His white smile dazzled in the mist. "Good job. Sixty-seven did not." Cordelia crossed her arms over her chest.

That was fucking twenty percent of the people who had gotten past the entry exams, and now they were dead. Unnecessary. Cordelia never understood why Navarre was so eager to kill so much of their younger population trying to be riders instead of just putting them into the infantry quadrant when they failed. Navarre was already losing too many people, and has a history of doing so. They should not just be letting their younger population fall to their death off of a fucking parapet.

"As the Codex says, now you begin the true crucible!" Panchek continued, his eyes gleaming as they scanned the rows of riders and cadets that stood below him. "You will be tested by your superiors, hunted by your peers, and guided by your instincts."

Cordelia's glance moved to Ridoc and found he had been watching her. "Yes?" She cocked an eyebrow.

"Hunted by your peers, huh?" Ridoc chuckled, his grip moving to the straps of his rucksack. "If it's you hunting me, I would definitely be into that." The girl groaned, her eyes rolling. At this point, Ridoc was just saying stupid stuff to make her roll her eyes. Fuck, he loved it when she did that.

"If you survive to Threshing," Cordelia's ears perked as Commandant Panchek mentioned the day the dragons pick their new riders, "and if you are chosen, you will be riders. Then we'll see how many of you make it to graduation." A smirk crossed Cordelia's lips. There was no way she wouldn't be graduating. She could not die now. "Your instructors will teach you." Panchek motioned to the line of adults standing at the entrance of the academic wing.

Ridoc laughed, sinking into his hip. "Lame." He groaned. "Where are the fucking dragons?"

"It's up to you how well you learn." Panchek's focus returned to the new recruits. "Discipline falls to your units, and your wingleader is the last word." Cordelia noticed Xaden, who was staring right at her and Ridoc. She could barely read his expression, but as he wiggled his eyebrows, she knew he had been up to no good. "If I have to get involved...." Panchek chuckled, his smile slowly fading. "You don't want me involved. With that said, I leave you to your wingleaders." He began walking off, but stopped and turned back to the cadets. "My best advice? Don't die."

The Commandant sauntered off the stage, leaving just the riders behind him. One of the riders stepped forward, a brunette. She smirked at the crowd below her. "I'm Nyra, the senior wingleader of the First Wing." She spoke, her hands on the hips of her riding leathers. "Section leaders and squad leaders, take your positions now." Immediately after she spokes, tens of riders hustled their way to the front of the crowd, standing before the cadets.

Ridoc bumped into her shoulder, causing her to look up. "What the fuck does that mean?" He asked the girl.

"Figure it out yourself. I'm not a cheat sheet."

"No, but your boyfriend is."

"Why, you little-"

Cordelia got cut off by Nyra beginning to announce the cadets who would be in each squad. There were four wings at Basgiath. There were three sections in each of the four wings, and then the sections were broken up into three even smaller squads, meaning you got pretty close with your squadmates. They would be the people Cordelia would be spending most of her time with at Basgiath.

As Cordelia's name got called as a member of Second Squad, Flame Section, First Wing, her back straightened as she sauntered forward, moving to stand behind her squad leader. He had been referred to as Dain Aetos, son of Colonel Aetos who had been an active member of ending the Tyrrendor Rebellion or whatever they were calling it those days. Fuck. Why did she have to have him as her squad leader?

Garrick had spoken about Dain in his letters over the past year. He had described Dain as a "Cuck-Ass Bitch" who just sucked up to all of the teachers. Apparently Dain lived, ate, and breathed the Codex, so Cordelia was not going to be able to get away with anything.

The girl let out a gasp as arms wrapped around her, lifting her into the air. "We made it into the same squad, Deli. Look at us!"

Fuck. She could not get away from this man.

"Put me the fuck down, Gamlyn, before I slit your throat."

Ridoc let out a scoff, setting Cordelia back onto the ground, his eyes glancing around at his squad mates. "Good lineup, I think." He smirked, his arms crossing over his chest. She shoved her elbow into his side, causing him to let out a choke, finally shutting up.

They listened as all of the squads were announced, and as their attention was turned to the dais, Cordelia noticed Xaden's piercing gaze was burning into one of the girls in her section. Her eyes widened at the sigh of her hair. This girl had a long braid that ran down her back, and towards the ends, it faded into a pale silver color. Cordelia had not been listening when that girl's name had been called, but what was Xaden's fascination with her.

She watched as Xaden whispered something in his fellow wingleader's ear, which started almost an argument between the rest of them. "What do you think they're talking about?" One of the other girls in the squad questioned.

"Quiet." Dain snapped, his gaze never leaving the wingleaders.

"Guess we got the fun squad leader." Cordelia grumbled under her breath, causing Ridoc to choke back a laugh.

As the wingleaders turned back to the crowd, Xaden looked incredibly proud of himself. Whatever he had wanted, he got.

"Dain Aetos, you and your squad will switch with Aura Beinhaven's." Nyra spoke sharply.

Cordelia noticed a slight stiffen of his back before Dain nodded. "Follow me." He ordered his squad, leading them from First Wing.

As the walked, Cordelia felt eyes on her hand from the other cadets watching them. A sigh left her lips as they approached Fourth Wing. Thank god. They were now in Xaden's wing. Whatever the girl with the silver braid did to piss off Xaden must have been pretty bad. Making us switch wings just so she could be under her control was a bit much, but it was Xaden, so Cordelia was barely surprised. She glanced over at the girl, and she looked terrified.

This poor girl. She was barely 5'2", and definitely one of the skinniest cadets in the whole line of. If she even made it past The Threshing, Xaden would destroy her.

"You're all cadets now." Xaden's voice boomed over the courtyard. "Take a look at your squad." Cordelia's gaze, begrudgingly moved to Ridoc, who was staring down at her with his signature goofy grin. "These are the only people guaranteed by the Codex not to kill you."

"Damn." Cordelia flared her eyes at the boy.

"But just because they can't end your life doesn't mean others won't." Xaden continued, his gaze fixed on the silver haired girl. "You want a dragon? Earn one." A cheer rang through the crowd, Ridoc one of the loudest, his hands cuffed around his mouth. "And I bet you feel pretty badass right now, don't you, first years?"

The cheers grew, Ridoc now jumping up and down. "You're embarrassing us, Gamlyn." Cordelia snapped, the back of her hand slapping his upper arm. The boy yelped and stopped, an expression of fake hurt spreading across his lips.

"You feel invincible after the parapet, don't you?" Xaden called, his eyes finally meeting Cordelia's. "You think you're untouchable! You're on the way to becoming the elite! The few! The chosen!"

More cheers rang through the crowd before a crowd of dragons landed behind the wingleaders on top of the walls surrounding the courtyard. Cordelia's eyes widened. Sure, she had seen dragons from far away, but never this close up. They were beautiful. Viscous, but fucking magnificent. Cordelia would do anything for a dragon of her own.

Cordelia assumed that the navy blue dragon behind Xaden was his, Sgaeyl. She was one of the only blue dragons that had bonded with any of the riders currently at Basgiath. She towered over most of the others, her golden gaze falling towards the girl with silver hair.

Seriously, what the fuck did this girl do. Even Xaden's dragon had a problem with her.

A few cadets screamed at the sight of the dragons, and Cordelia let out a groan. She knew where this would go: more perfectly good soldiers were about to die.

"We're going to have to bring the masons in again." Dain grumbled as pieces of the rock from the wall the dragons were perched on fell to the ground. Sgaeyl was joined by seven other dragons, three red, two green, one orange, and one brown.

Ridoc leaned down, his gaze never leaving the dragons. "The blue one kind of reminds me of you." A smile appeared on Cordelia's face as she stared up at Sgaeyl. "You both have the same grimace."

The boy always had to ruin it. "You're such a dick, Gamlyn."

As the words left her mouth, a cadet from third wing rushed away from the crowd, bolting to the back wall. One of the red dragons immediately released their fire at the cadet, incinerating them to ash before they even reached the back wall. When they saw that, two other cadets left their group, trying to escape, and met the same fate as the first. Cordelia sighed. She had been right. They did this every year apparently to try to scare the first years straight. That's why they brought out the wingleader's dragons.

"Anyone else feel like changing their mind?" Xaden chuckled, his gaze moving to Sgaeyl, proudly eyeing her. As there were no more protests from the crowd, his shoulders straightened. "No? Excellent." He turned back to the students. "Roughly half of you will be dead by this time next summer. A third of you again the year after that, and the same your last year." Cordelia's knuckles curled at the thought of so many deaths at one college. "No one cares who your mommy or daddy is here. Even King Tauri's second son died during his Threshing." Cordelia eyebrows furrowed. Surely that couldn't be true. How did they even allow him into the quadrant. "So tell me again: do you feel invincible now that you've made it into the Rider's Quadrant? Untouchable? Elite?"

His hands clapped together as not a single cheer could be heard from the crowd. Even Ridoc had shut up. A flash of steam ran over the crowd from the dragons. One final scare tactic to weed out the weak. "Because you're not untouchable or special to them." Xaden pointed back to Sgaeyl. "To them, you're just prey."

Word Count : 3015
An :
Hi guys,
Bodhi's back, and we got a lil bit from Ridoc's perspective!
I hope you all are enjoying this story!
If you are, please vote on this chapter and leave a comment about what you'd like to see in future chapters!