Sarah's POV

I was now in the large courtyard with the other surviving cadets. I stood next to Rhiannon but noticed Violet wasn't anywhere. She however joined us a few seconds later and she flashed me and Rhiannon a smile. Standing on a dais ahead were two men. Most likely the commandant and executive commandant.

Two hours later the bells of the college rang and the remaining cadets arrived along with three riders joined in. Xaden of course was with them which wasn't a surprise. Panchek cleared his throat before beginning to address us.

"Three hundred and one of you have survived the Parapet to become cadets today, good job sixty-seven did not"

I really did not like this guy nor was I crazy about his smile.

"As the Codex says now you begin the true crucible, you will be tested by your superiors, hunted by your peers, and guided by your instincts, if you survive to Threshing and if you are chosen you will be riders, then we'll see how many of you make it to graduation"

"Your instructors will teach you" Panchek then moved his hand in a sweeping gesture to the professors near the academic wing. "It's up to you how well you learn"

The bastard then wove his pointer finger at us. "Discipline falls to your units and your wingleader is the last word, you don't want me involved with that said I'll leave you to your wingleaders my best advice? Don't die"

I mentally flipped Panchek off as he stepped off the dais as a woman with brunette hair with a fierce-looking scar stepped on the stage. She introduced herself as Nyra before getting down to business. Names were called and those cadets were assigned to their squads and sections. Jack aka the asshole joined the Flame Section of First Wing. Soon Second Wing was being announced and my name was called along with Violet and Rhiannon to Second Squad Flame Section.

The sun was now shining and it's warmth felt good after crossing the Parapet in the f**king rain. At the end of assigning cadets their wings and sections, Xaden shot Violet a glance and the way Violet lifted her chin was funny as hell. She was not intimidated by him one bit. The wingleader arched an eyebrow before suddenly telling Second Wing's wingleader something. Then all of the wingleaders were in a group discussion. When it was over Nyra spoke.

"Dain Aetos you and your squad will switch with Aura Beinhaven's"

I was confused as we followed Dain Aetos to freaking Fourth Wing!

That bastard Xaden!

He smirked and I mentally face-palmed while Violet looked uncomfortable. With the last of the assignments, Xaden took charge.

"You all are cadets now" he addressed us. "Take a look at your squad these are the only people guaranteed by Codex not to kill you, but just because they can't end your life doesn't mean others won't, you want a dragon? Earn one"

Oh, I plan to Riorson I thought to myself.

Xaden made a comment that made a lot of the cadets cheer. Then the unforgettable sound of wings was heard and in the sky flying towards the courtyard were dragons. Rhiannon said they were beautiful and they certainly were. Each dragon suddenly stopped before landing on all fours on the walls behind the wingleaders.

My attention was suddenly brought upon a gorgeous navy blue dragon that landed on its own perch behind Xaden. Her name was Sgaeyl and she was Xaden's bonded dragon. She was a Blue Daggertail and not a dragoness to be messed with. Nonetheless, she was beautiful and as though she heard my thoughts Sgaeyl turned to me.

Her golden gaze didn't intimidate me like it did with most others. I gave the dragoness a respectable nod and she blinked before focusing her gaze back to the crowd and her rider. A cadet decided to bolt from his section and wing screaming bloody murder. A red dragon opened its mouth and unleashed its fire upon the fleeing cadet.

Sixty-eight were now dead. Nope, make that wrong because two more cadets got scorched.

"Anyone else feel like changing your mind? No? Excellent, roughly half of you will be dead by this time next summer, a third of you again the year after that, and the same for your last year, no one cares who your mommy or daddy is here, even King Tauri's second son died during his Threshing, so tell me again do you feel invincible now that you've made it into the Rider's Quadrant? Untouchable? Elite?"

No one cheered this time around. Someone nearby pissed themselves.

"Because you're not untouchable or special to them" Xaden mentioned pointing to his dragon. "To them, you're just the prey"

Next Day.

Morning

Sleeping with the other female riders was going to take time to adjust. I kept my sword and sai's close in case some idiot decided to break the Codex. After breakfast, everyone listened as Captain Fitzigibbons read the names of the dead. I wore the black attire for riders as did everyone else. A silver four-pointed star was embroidered on the collar of our uniforms signaling us as first-years.

After the death roll was read did all cadets attend History and Battle Brief. Now we were doing sparring for assessments.

"I'm not much of a fighter" Violet mumbled as she, Rhiannon, and watched the other cadets duking it out.

"It takes practice" I reassured her. "Your smart as hell though"

In Battle Brief the youngest Sorrengali proved her intelligence from her years of scribe training. Ahead Ridoc was fighting against Aurelie. My hair was in a ponytail instead of a bun or braid. A lot of the guys had their shirts off and while some female cadets swooned I did not. I was here to become a rider not to find a damn boyfriend.

Ridoc suddenly lunged at Aurelie but she dodged and used her leg to try to trip her opponent. He didn't fall but instead recovered and drew out a dagger. Emetterio protested that no blades were allowed since we were being assessed. Ridoc put his knife away and avoided a punch from Aurelie.

Ridoc then swore before hesitating. Let's just say he got his ass kicked via getting punched repeatedly in the face by Aurelie and even a tooth went flying. Emetterio ended the match and Aurelie was escorted to the healers.

"If you want I can help you with sparring" I offered to Violet.

"Same here" Rhiannon chimed in.

"And in return? Nothing comes without cost?"

Violet smiled before answering.

"I'll help Rhi with history and having another help me with hand-to-hand combat will be appreciated"

I shot Violet a grin before Emetterio called for me. Rhi and Violet wished me luck and my opponent was Sawyer.

"Lady's first"

I smirked before trying to give him a kick on the leg so he would fall over. But he caught my foot before throwing me over his shoulder. I landed on my stomach and it hurt slightly but I quickly countered Sawyer's next move by kicking him to well you know where.

Several people whooped as I used that moment to successfully knock Sawyer off of his feet via a roundhouse kick. But our sparring wasn't over and it seemed to last forever. For every move I made Sawyer either dodged or countered and vice versa.

Things ended when I sucker-punched Sawyer hard as hell in the gut and he fell. I straddled myself onto his chest and asked.

"Do you yield?"

"Yeah"

With a smirk, I got off from his chest and offered my hand out. He returned the smile before accepting my hand and I pulled him to his feet.

It was then I saw Violet was sparring with Imogen. She was someone you didn't want to f**k with. Violet dodged a kick but Imogen landed a kick on the youngest Sorrengali. Violet fell onto her back and her opponent was on top of her. Dain protested that using her signet wasn't allowed. In the end, Violet lost the match with a broken bone.

I chose not to write Jack killing his opponent. Can't stand him. Also I'm thinking of pairing Sarah with Liam. Meaning he doesn't die in this fic y'all.