A vibrant red caught his eye as Jellal stepped forward from the group of teenagers, to volunteer himself to jump first; after all, someone had to, right? But of course, another had taken the initiative to move apart from the huddle too; the girl that had caught his eye at the Ceremony earlier. As he turned to look at her, she did too; hazel eyes meeting chocolate brown. She looked away as quick as she had turned her gaze towards him; not as noticeably curious about the Dauntless born as she had been before. Jellal followed her eyes that gravitated towards the ledge before them - towards what really was to be the beginning of the rest of their lives as Dauntless.Â
âSomeone has to go first.â
The red-head stepped onto the ledge as she spoke, her black clad legs positioned slightly apart as her hands balled into fists; Jellal noticed that they quivered, but only slightly. Jellal followed suit, stepping onto the ledge and being the Dauntless born that he was, he placed his hands behind his back with his feet practically hanging over the edge; his very stance screamed fearless. Jellal closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as the chatter behind them ceased; to see who would take the jump and go first, to see who would be brave. It was only natural that Jellal would go first, after all he was Dauntless born, right? It was practically the same every year, or so he heard; a Dauntless born jumped first and the rest followed. Yet, little Miss Candor seemed dead set on breaking that tradition.Â
Jellal lifted a foot, as if to step forward into the air.Â
A scream resonated in his head.Â
Brown eyes wide with fear.
Jellalâs eyes flew open as he hesitated, his booted left foot hoovering above the drop. He looked to his left to see the scarlet haired girl looking at him; and then, she jumped. Just like that. AÂ Candorhad been the first to jump. For a moment, Jellal didnât do anything, he simply watched as the girl in the white blouse disappeared into the darkness below; until he couldnât see her bright hair any longer.Â
âWhatâs wrong with your Fernandes?â Gerryâs voice broke the silence, âGet a move on!â
And so, Jellal allowed gravity to take control of his body, shifting his weight onto the foot suspended in the air; and then, he fell. Almost automatically his lids covered his eyes, preventing the wind that whipped at his skin, hair and black attire relentlessly. He knew that others would be foolish enough to keep their eyes open during the fall; although to have sight during such a drop would be comforting to some. The fall lasted for less than a quarter of a minute; yet, it could have been a quarter of an hour. Time truly flowed in mysterious ways.
When he made impact with the rather soft, safety net, cheers filled his ears from who he could only assume were his fellow Dauntless. When he opened his eyes, his assumption was proved correct; various Dauntless had gathered to see the new initiates and to welcome them to the compound. Before Bree, the Dauntless woman  who usually greeted the new initiates at this stage, could even speak to him after helping him from the net, Jellal found himself locked in a headlock; boisterous laughter reaching his ears.Â
âOi,â he mumbled as his blue locks were ruffled once more before he was released from the headlock to see Noah, Jonahâs older brother, grinning at him. Surrounding him was also Ronan, Korbin and Jarrett; Dauntless members that were around two years older than Jellal, Puck and Jonah.Â
âWell, if it isnât little Jelly bean?â
âWe knew you would be back!â
âCanât believe you let a chick beat you to it though.â
Before Jellal could reply, a tapping at his knee caught his attention; a familiar action that he could only roll his eyes at. âEmber,â he muttered, turning around and looking down at none other than his little sister, Ember. She was ten years old and, like Jellal, had blue hair; only hers had grown to below her shoulders and was tied in two pigtails. Her similarly hazel eyes stared up at him wide-eyed, a grin on her face upon seeing her older brother back in the compound.Â
âNice jump,â she said, âbut itâs a bummer that Erza beat you to it.â
âErza?â Jellal repeated, raising an eyebrow questionably at Ember who proceeded to roll her eyes at her brotherâs obliviousness to what was going on around him.
âThatâs what the first jumper is called, the one that beat you to it slowpoke.â
âOh, cool.â Perhaps if she heard the blatant disinterest in his voice sheâd leave him alone for the moment. Ember tilted her head past Jellal and, without another word to her brother, she walked past him; perhaps she had seen someone else to annoy. Of course, peace could only last for less than a minute when her voice sounded once again.
âJellal, are you still going to help me hold that knife?
He looked around Ronan to see Ember standing before none other than the Candor girl, Erza was what she was supposedly called. âYes Em, just not right now, okay?â