Chapter Text
Juliet (OC) POV
Basgiath was far from a fairytale castle, as some people claimed it to be. It was a place for soldiers and their dragons. A cold, harsh, and isolated place. However it does have some beauty to it as well. The grey stones were partly covered by ivy and moss and the grassy fields in front of the castle were like a painting. Simply beautiful.
First year cadets, like me, had difficulties finding their place in the tight knit groups of second to fourth year cadets. I was studying as much as I could, reading, my nose always inside a book, and midnight sparring sessions with the fellow first years.
Most of the older ones ignored us, but he always watched. The shadow wielder. Xaden. He was always watching, as if he was scared to miss something. He was always lingering, always observing and it annoyed me a lot.
I braided my blonde hair on the way to the sparring spot and adjusted the daggers I carried with me. I never went anywhere without them. "We can pick who we fight today. Any older cadet we want, and they can't refuse." A girl with blue dyed hair whispered to a brunette boy beside her. "Anyone brave enough to go first?" The wing leader asked.
The room grew silent and I took the opportunity and took a step forward. Hushed whispers and small snorts. "Very well, who are you?" The wing leader asked.
"My name's Juliet and I challenge Xaden." I said with a firm voice. The room fell silent again and the wing leader stared at me like he had seen a ghost. "Are you sure? You can pick someone less brutal than him." "I challenge Xaden." I repeated myself. "Don't say I haven't warned you." The wing leader parted my shoulder before he walked to the side.
The shadow wielder stepped onto the platform and I made my way over there. "Either you're insane or you have a death wish." His dark eyes studied me throughoutly. "A bit of both. You can choose the weapons." I offered and he reached for the sword in the hilt of his belt. "Unless you wanna back out, blondie." He smirked as I took my sword. "I have never backed down from a fight I picked myself." I said before launching the first hit at him.
The clashing sound of metal on metal was heard until my sword clattered to the ground. "Seems like you've lost." Xaden held the blade of his sword against my throat. His chest was pressed against my back. The warmth he was radiating was almost dizzying. He doesn't had to stand this close to knock my sword out of my hands.
I smirked. "Perhaps you should look down, I doubt we're done yet." I held one of my daggers in my hand, the blade inches away from his groin. His eyes widened slightly when he realised and I used the moment to hook my foot around his. When I pulled his feet from under him, I jerked my arm up and my elbow hit his face.
He dropped to the ground, knocked out as it seemed. I held my shoulder, which was definitely hurt from the sudden movement. Hushed whispers and some random clapping noises.
But I knew, I just knocked out a second year cadet twice my size, and it definitely did something to my ego.