Page 31 of Black Wing and Shadows
“You all have been inside, but the stadium classroom is where we hold our current events lecture, discussing what's happening in our military. We review war strategies and recent developments there. The class is led by Major Fogg, Major Melamora, and Captain Pascal. You might recognize all three from drill instructions during basic training. Of course, there are doors for all levels, as it spans the entire seven floors.”
We kept moving forward and arrived at the second sparring gym, nearly identical to the one on the opposite side. We pressed on until we reached Watch Tower Three. We crossed over on level three of the Charlie Wing as before. She gestured toward one of the spacious classrooms and explained that was where Major Duft taught wielding once students gained their abilities. She signaled with her hands and clarified that the other classrooms were explicitly designated for Shapeshifters, situated directly above and below us. The middle section was reserved for Sorcerers, while the end area was for Infantry. She pointed toward the far end and identified it as Watch Tower Four, then turned us around to head back to Watch Tower Three.
Once inside, she climbed to the eighth floor, pushed open the sturdy gate, and we crossed the narrow bridge that connected the campus to the administration building. Watch Tower Four also had a small bridge connecting it to Watch Tower Five, which led into the busy infirmary. A ground-level bridge crossed the rushing river. Watch Tower Three had a long, steep bridge leading to Watch Tower Six, the tallest of the towers. It also served as the check-in point when we first arrived. We crossed over and entered a reception area set up from my initial arrival for basic training. A desk sat near the entrance, opening into a spacious room filled with racks of uniformed clothing, mostly black.
“You'll report your name, then you'll be handed your uniforms. You'll receive five black tees, five black leather pants, two black leather jackets, one black leather field coat, and black combat boots. Your tees, jackets, and coats will have your last name sewn on the upper left side. On the right arm, there will be a small gold Feather Wing to show you're a first-year in the Feather Wing Rider’s branch. There are many symbols, but the number on the right side indicates the year you are. Go to each person to collect your items. I’ll be here on this wall waiting.”
The bustling room crowded with cadets eagerly collecting their uniforms. I approached each station, announced my name, and received pieces of my uniform from attentive staff. Each stop took some time due to the large number of cadets collecting their gear. This likely prompted many cadets to return early for an advantageous head start. Once I had myuniform, hands full, I made my way back to Emmen. Once all seven of us were with her, she motioned toward the door, and we crossed the bridge again. We took a left and went down Charlie Wing to Tower Four, then went down to the ground floor, cut across the flight field, and returned to Tower One. We went up to the seventh floor.
"That concludes our tour. You are all free to do as you please. The first day is chaotic with everyone running around. Some people are seeing menders to heal from basic injuries, which, if you are in need, is an option. Most people tidy up their belongings in their rooms and prepare for this evening’s celebration. Most wear a nice dress outfit. If you don’t have one, you can wear one of your uniforms, or there is a lending closet of clothing back at the admin office, a floor below where we got uniforms. There are fancy suits and ball gowns."
She turned to walk away but quickly turned back. “Oh, also, I recommend always having at least two daggers on you. People are cutthroat, and without powers, you are sitting ducks. That said, per the code of ethics, no one may cause harm to another within the same wing.” Then she left.
Thora, Sadie, and I headed into our rooms. I started rummaging through my bag, which I had just accessed that morning after basic training. I packed a few books for reading and studying. I brought six of my favorite lightweight, sharp daggers. I also brought two elegant formal gowns and a pair of flat shoes to match them.
Additionally, I brought some sleek black leather pants crafted with durable Kevlar, along with armored shirts also made of tough Kevlar. I heard stories about how ruthless others could be—not just Riders but members of various branches. My father was a military general, which meant he had made fierce enemies along the way. Since our names were sewn into our uniforms, other cadets would likely piece together my identity.
I chose a single black dress that reached down to my calves. It was tight around my torso and flared out at my thighs. The dress shimmered with constant reflections from its jeweled surface. I fastened both of my thighdagger belts and sheathed two sharp daggers. I let my hair down, allowing the natural sandy blonde curls to cascade freely. My hair extended about four inches beyond my buttocks and appeared to grow an inch during basic training. Usually, my hair stayed in a braid, except when I washed it.
Thora also brought a sleek black gown that was floor-length and semi-tight, accentuating her figure. She stood a couple of inches taller than me at five feet five inches. She left her dark brown hair down, letting it cascade to her mid-back. Her olive skin complemented her light brown eyes, enhancing her natural beauty. I paused to admire how stunning she looked.
Sadie didn’t bring a gown with her. Instead of going to the lending closet, I offered her my second gown. It looked stunning on her. The dress was floor-length for me, but for her, it hit mid-calf, since she was five feet seven inches tall, making her four inches taller than I was. Thora handed her a pair of black heels because they had the same shoe size. She chose to wear her light brown hair in a sleek bun, though I noticed it was slightly past her shoulders before wrapping it up. Her light skin with pink undertones contrasted strikingly against the solid black gown. She had piercing dark blue eyes and lengthy eyelashes, which immediately caught my attention.
CHAPTER 12
All the cadets headed into the courtyard. The six of us females in the electric platoon decided to walk in together. The courtyard looked beautiful. Floating orbs of light hovered overhead. Gentle music played, and groups of people gathered. The dining area doors were open for us to grab food and mingle. Maybe this was the college’s way of helping us become friends before we turned against each other.
While going through basic training and being in a diverse squad with members from all branches, I couldn’t imagine wanting to hurt anyone simply because they chose a different path. As we passed the outdoor arena, vibrant floating light orbs danced in the sky. Groups of cadets gathered nearby. The six of us gradually separated, each finding friends to talk to. I found Ophelia and embraced her warmly. We had grown close during basic, and of course, she had saved my life, which meant a great deal to me.
Suddenly, I heard shrieking, and before I could turn around, someone pulled me into the biggest, warmest bear hug I had ever experienced. I didn’t need to open my eyes. I knew it was Lili, her frantic shrieks and tight hugs revealing her identity. She held me so firmly that I struggled to breathe. I coughed, and she finally released me, still gripping my arms. She stepped back to look at me, her height towering over mine. I stood at five foot three and never caught up to her.
"Oh Auri, I have missed you so much," she exclaimed with a wide smile.
“Me too. I can’t believe I am in your platoon!”
“I know, out of six Platoon Leaders, you got me!”
“And you made Platoon Leader, that’s amazing.”
“Thank you. How was basic?”
“It was an experience. I got severely injured during the pass, but I made it out.”
“Oh Auri, I didn’t know. I am glad you are okay.”
“I am good, you know me, I am a survivor.”
She waved at someone behind me, and as I started to turn around to see who it was, I was pulled into another big embrace—Alexander.
“Ella, I’ve missed you so much. Gods, I dreamt of holding you again.” His voice dropped, and warmth filled his eyes as he pulled me close.
I pulled back from him and looked up. He reached down, and before he could kiss me, I looked down, offering my forehead for him to kiss. He withdrew, sucked his teeth, and furrowed his brows at me. “What’s wrong?”
“We are not—” I started, but a cough cut me off, and a familiar tingling crawled through me.
He eased away slowly and smiled, a look that revealed his annoyance yet masked it from others—an expression that sent chills down my spine. He turned sharply toward the source of the cough. My stomach clenched tightly, and I wrestled with how I would introduce him.Oh, hey, mate, these are my childhood best friends, who are twins—oh, and we used to date.
“Zane Braegon, this is Auriella Blackcreek.” Alex introduced him tome. I was so confused.
