It took a while for the rest of the students to file out of the classroom–a few (all girls) stopped on their way out to bat their eyelashes and flirt with the professor, the flirting disguised by stupid questions. Questions like, “What fascinates you about essence, Professor Gerves?”
I tucked my tablet and pack of herbs from my healing class under my arm, then slowly made my way down to the front of the classroom. I waited patiently about two feet away from where Nic stood.
Nic waited until the classroom door shut behind the last student before his helmeted head turned to face me. I shifted my feet as I could feel his unseen eyes boring into me with an annoyed intensity.
“Hey, uh, I’m sorry about–”
Nic raised a hand to interrupt me. “Your idiotic questions during my lecture are not why I needed to meet with you after class.”
My back straightened. “Oh, really? Why, then?”
“First, I wanted to congratulate you on succeeding in your duel and officially welcome you to the academy. It was not a small feat. Well done.”
I grinned. “Thanks.”
“But you have much more to learn.”
Nic turned away from me and strolled over to a modest-sized desk in the far left corner. A plush chair awaited him right behind it. He settled into the dark cushions with a sigh.
“Well, yeah, I know that. That’s why I’m here, isn’t it?” I said with a quirked brow.
“Yes, yes. Of course. But you could benefit from training with someone who knows your…” His helmet bobbed up and down as he seemed to study me. “Your specific situation.”
I perked up. “Are you offering?”
Nic sighed again. “Yes, I am.”
“You don’t seem too happy about it.”
“I don’t enjoy having to do extra work, and training you will be just that–extra work.”
I sniffed and raised my head into the air. “I’m a quick learner–you’ll see. And I don’t see anyone forcing you to do this ‘extra work.’”
Nic tapped his fingers along his thigh. “Well, we’ll see how quick of a learner you really are,” he said, ignoring my “extra work” statement completely.
He paused for a moment longer, then said, “Do you have any classes or work on Saturday?”
I thought back to both my school and work schedule. “No.”
“Meet me here at dawn this Saturday.”
I scowled. “Saturday’s my only day to sleep in.”
Nic’s head tilted to the side as if he dared me to continue arguing the point. I didn’t. Besides, who was I to complain about some extra one-on-one training? The last time I’d had that was when Drayek was alive….
“You may leave now,” Nic said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
I about turned to leave, but the confusion I’d felt during his lecture presented itself once again.
“Nic, if you know more about essence than your course teaches, why do you still teach it incorrectly?” I said.
“It doesn’t matter what essence looks like,” he responded softly. “What matters for most people is to learn how to remain aware of its presence and to try to harvest streams at all times–even if you can’t see them.
“Besides,” Nic continued while leaning back into his tall chair, “it would seem odd if I knew things about essence that most didn’t, don’t you think? It would arouse some unwanted suspicion.”
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
I nodded. He was right, of course.
Speaking with Nic about “arousing suspicion,” and also his and my similarities, made me think about something he’d said on the first day we met.
“Why did you turn off your Codex?” I whispered. This was the second time I’d asked Nic that question, but maybe he’d answer this time.
“I said you may leave now, Rayden.”
***
I had no idea what these clues placed by Professor Bilith would look like. When she’d first announced the group “quest” assignment in her class, she hadn’t offered any explanation on what these clues that she’d hidden around the city and academy would look like. All I knew was where to find the two clues my group had assigned me.
I circled around myself at the top of the steps on the highest floor of the academy, where Headmaster Bohin’s offices were–where I was supposed to find one of my clues.
“Can you scan this floor for anything out of place?” I asked Dex.
“I–I–will–”
I pursed my lips, concerned. “Uh, Dex?”
“I am sensing something strange located at the end of this hall, Rayden.”
I began making my way to where Dex had indicated but thought to him simultaneously, “Is there a way you can scan your own systems? Make sure there are no flaws or things… I don’t know, things that are just breaking?”
“I can do a systems check if you wish me to, Rayden.”
“Uh, yes, please.”
Between the long pauses and hours of not responding to me and the weird stutters, it didn’t seem Codex was doing all right.
But I wouldn’t worry about it now. Not as long as he would actually do a “systems check”–or whatever he’d called it–to appease me.
I passed every door that led to a different office, all used by Headmaster Bohin. I caught myself holding my breath as I passed them, hoping the headmaster wouldn’t pop out from behind one of the doors and demand I sit with him for a chat and some tea.
I felt along the furthest wall, trying to find any weird bumps or abrasions in the smooth, red wallpaper. After walking the length of the back wall the second time, I finally caught sight of a sliver of white peeking from underneath a door jam to my left.
With a satisfied chuckle, I pulled the paper out of the stained wood and unfolded its seam. In hurriedly scrawled handwriting, I found the words,
THIS CLUE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE THIRD AND FOURTH NUMBERS TO THE
COMBINATION OF MY SAFE. YOU WILL FIND THE THIRD NUMBER BY
COUNTING THE NUMBER OF DOORS ON THE 2ND FLOOR OF THE ACADEMY.
THE NUMBER OF DOORS IS THE THIRD NUMBER TO THE COMBINATION.
THE FOURTH NUMBER TO THE COMBINATION IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THE NUMBER OF DOORS ON THE 2ND FLOOR AND THE AGE OF THE YOUNGEST
PERSON TO EVER ATTEND SOLOMON’S REALM ACADEMY.
I cursed under my breath. Of course Professor Bilith wouldn’t have made it easy for us. Not only did I have to solve this clue and actually figure out the third and fourth numbers to the combination, but I also still had to retrieve my second clue from the mess hall. And I suspected the other clue would also have me running all over the place.
And I still need to meet Cinthara, I thought, subconsciously deciding that I would, in fact, meet the Euridice clone at her request. I was too curious about what she intended to tell me not to go.
At least the location of my other clue is on the second floor, where I also have to count a bunch of doors.
Even then, I still needed to get going.
I tucked the clue into a deep pocket sewn into the jumpsuit, then tiptoed past the headmaster’s offices and headed for the stairs. I halted, however, at the first step and winced as a realization struck me. I didn’t have much time, which meant I should probably take a lift.
I waited for that familiar clenching in my stomach to arise but was pleasantly surprised to find that no uncomfortable feeling came. It seemed I was getting used to those glass boxes.
I grinned at myself and turned left down a narrow hall right at the top of the steps.
“Oh, Rayden!”
I clenched my teeth and froze mid-step. I knew that voice a little too well at this point. My suspicions were confirmed as the familiar weight of Headmaster Bohin’s hand landed on my shoulder.
I turned to face the headmaster and forced a smile. “Hello, sir.”
“What are you doing here? And please, call me Jaeke, remember?”
I darted my eyes about myself but decided to just tell the truth, “An assignment from Professor Bilith sent me up here, sir–uh, Jaeke.”
“Oh, yes. That makes sense. She’ll send her students off on creative adventures every once in a while.” The headmaster’s dark eyes lit up with a fire-like intensity as he smiled. “Please, join me for some tea, and we can discuss your first day of school and how it went.”
I swallowed. “Uh, I really should–”
“Whatever assignments you have I’m sure can wait. I’ll vouch for you. Besides, I only want to chat for five minutes or so.”
Or so…. I suppressed the urge to grumble those words back at him aloud.
“Come, come. I have some peppermint tea already brewed.”
I smiled at Jaeke all the way until he turned his back to me and began skipping toward his main office. With a scowl on my face, I begrudgingly followed.