Arms out for balance

Zhilakoa walked towards the gates, her feet carrying her on autopilot as her mind replayed Eryn's words from that morning when he replaced her smooth soled shoes with sturdy leather boots. "Don't let the wind sway your steps... Arms out for balance... If the pack slips, drop it." She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice the figures ahead of her until she almost collided with them. "Zhilakoa, watch where you're going!" Kaida exclaimed, laughing. Zhilakoa smiled, "Sorry, I was just lost in thought." Jalise, Kaida's twin, raised an eyebrow. "Deep thoughts, I presume?" She was always the more serious of the two. Zhilakoa nodded.

Kaida and Jalise exchanged a shocked glance, their eyes wide with surprise. "Zhilakoa, we thought you left," Jalise said, her voice trailing off. "After what happened to your family" Kaida added. Zhilakoa winced at their words, feeling the familiar ache in her chest. She bit her tongue, not wanting to revisit the painful memories. Jalise, never one to filter her questions, asked, "Was Lyra ever found?" Zhilakoa's eyes dropped, and she felt a lump form in her throat. Kaida swiftly kicked Jalise, a silent warning to shut up. "Sorry, Zhilakoa," Kaida said. "We didn't mean to pry." Zhilakoa forced a smile, trying to brush off the painful memories. "It's okay. I'm just trying to move forward and no I haven't found Lyra." Jalise nodded, her expression sympathetic. "Of course. So, which division are you trying for?" Zhilakoa took a deep breath. "Crystal Division." Jalise replied "I'm heading to the Scrivener Division. I've always loved books and learning." Kaida grinned mischievously. "And I'm off to the Crystal Division with Zhilakoa I guess. We'll face the balustrade together" Jalise's face turned serious, and she hugged Zhilakoa . "Be careful, please. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you." Kaida hugged her twin, and they exchanged teary goodbyes. " I'll write you as soon as I can," Jalise promised, before hurrying off towards the Scrivener Division. Kaida linked her arm with Zhilakoa's, and they continued towards the Crystal Division gates.

The atmosphere was tense with anticipation as Kaida lead Zhilakoa, along the worn cobblestone path toward the south where the main college is built into the side of Aethereia Mountain, as if it was cleaved from a ridgeline of the peak itself. The sprawling, formidable structure towers over the crowd of anxious, waiting cadets and their tearful families. The entrance to the Crystal Division is nothing more than a fortified door at the base of the tower, just like the Shaman entrance to the east. But while the shaman cadets can walk straight into their ground-level division, we Crystal Division cadets will climb. Kaida and Zhilakoa join the Crystal Division line, waiting to sign in, and she made the mistake of glancing up. High above them, crossing the river-bottomed valley that divides the main college from the even higher, looming citadel of the Crystal Division on the southern ridgeline, was the balustrade, the stone bridge that's about to separate Crystal Division cadets from the cadets over the next few hours. I can't believe I'm about to cross that thing.

As they waited in line, she gazed up at the buildings, each one housing a different flare of the Crystal Division. The crystal spires rising from the rooftops signifying which of the three annexes each building houses. The blue crystal spire indicated the 3rd years. The red crystal spire indicated the 2nd years, and the yellow crystal spire indicated the 1st years.

As they waited in line, Zhilakoa stood behind Kaida, her mind racing. The balustrade loomed above them, its stone bridge stretching across the valley like a skeletal finger. Kaida chatted with the cadet in front of her, seemingly unfazed by the daunting task ahead. Zhilakoa envied her friend's confidence.

Finally, they reached the front of the line and signed their names on the parchment presented to them. The roll-keeper, a stern looking woman with a thick braid extending to her shoulder said to them "Cadets, may the winds be at your back."

With that, they were ushered through the fortified door. They made their way up the winding staircase, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. At last, they emerged onto the balustrade, the wind whipping their hair into a frenzy as they gazed out at the breathtaking view.

"By the gods," Kaida breathed, her eyes wide with wonder.

Before starting the treacherous crossing, the cadets' names were called out, and Eryn stood inspecting them, his eyes scanning the group and the scroll with their names. Zhilakoa's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met, and he gave her the tiniest nod of acknowledgement. She quickly looked forward, not wanting to draw any attention to herself.

Kaida was the next to start the crossing, but just as she did, the cadet she was talking to lost their footing and fell from the balustrade, his screams echoing and finally becoming silent. Kaida stepped onto the first slab of stone, her eyes fixed on the far side of the chasm. The wind lashed at her face and hair as she took her first step, her foot slipping slightly on the slick surface. She recovered quickly, her arms outstretched for balance. Finally, she reached the other side, her legs trembling beneath her.

Taking a deep breath, Zhilakoa began her own crossing. As she placed her right foot on the narrow stone bridge slick with moss and dew and the rains from earlier, it slipped, and she struggled to regain balance. Her heart beat frantically as she struggled to regain her balance. With a desperate lunge, she reached the next slab, her arms stretched out for balance.

Zhilakoa's eyes darted downward, her stomach lurching at the sight of nothingness, far below. She forced her gaze forward, focusing on where Kaida stood. But Zhilakoa's relief was short-lived as a vicious gust of wind slammed into her sending her stumbling sideways. Her foot slipped off the edge of the slab, and she felt herself falling, her screams rippling from her gut. She managed to grab hold of the edge of the stone. She pulled herself back onto the slab, her shoulders trembling from exhaustion. She took another step, and another, her eyes fixed on the other side But just as she was nearing the midpoint, a cadet behind her was fuming, trying to push her to her death. Zhilakoa's heart raced as she took several quick breaths and moved faster, the person behind her chasing her every step.

Finally reaching the other side, Zhilakoa swiftly drew two daggers from her sides and held them at the cadet's neck in an X position. "You should not have tried that," Zhilakoa's eyes flashed with anger as she held her daggers to the neck of her attacker and tried to study the hate in his ice blue eyes. He yelled "You're weak whoever you are, you're a liability" as he twisted her right hand, a searing pain shot through her shoulder, and she felt the familiar pop of her dislocated joint. She swallowed the shout that rose to her lips, refusing to give her attacker the satisfaction. Instead, she spun around and dropped to her knees, her movements fueled with pain and adrenaline. She jammed the hilts of her daggers into the cadet's knees, and he crumpled to the ground with a cry of pain.

Older cadets rushed to separate them, their faces "Enough!" one of them barked, hauling Zhilakoa to her feet. "You're both lucky to be alive. Put your names down on the list of survivors and go wait."

Zhilakoa's shoulder throbbed in agony and her shirt rapidly soaking blood as she nodded, her eyes never leaving her attacker's face. She knew this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

With a quiet growl, she sheathed her daggers and made her way to the list, her hand shaking as she scribbled her name. Kaida was already there, her eyes wide with concern.

"Zhilakoa, your shoulder," she whispered, reaching out to touch it.

Zhilakoa flinched. "Later," she hissed, her eyes fixed on the cadet who had attacked her. "Let's just get out of here."