Wow…I’m starting to like this man. He’s good with words. I could feel his emotions in his speech even though he's speaking so calmly. I guess that’s why he’s the Principalis. Anyway, these rules sound great! Looks like I’m going to have a peaceful year in this place. Uh.. maybe not so peaceful as we will mostly be involved in crimes?

“Now, we’ll talk about the things that we will expect for you in those amounts of time. As I said before and I will say it again, you have 3 years. In those years, you just need to do three things…” The Principalis said, scanning the crowd. “First, you need to attend classes like a normal student–” He’s suddenly stopped by the grumbling sounds of the mass. I expected him to be annoyed but instead saw his lips curling up. I guess he thought that this is the normal reaction for them. Students who just went here to experience thrill? But, I’m not like them. Some of us are.

After a few seconds, the crowd went silent again and the Principalis resumed, “I understand your complaint. It’s the normal reaction. But, you need to know that the classes that you will attend are different from the normal ones. It’s more advanced. And much more complicated. However, you also need to know that you’re not here to enjoy your life. You are here for your loved ones, for your homes. You are here to protect them. You should keep that in your heart and mind.” He said as his smiles deepened.

“Anyway, you have three classes per day, and it’s three days per week. Those classes focus more on laws, human psychology and anatomy. You also have combat class, two days per week. Your instructors will inform you more about it. And the rest you could do whatever you want. You could spend your two days sleeping, studying, socializing anything you want as long as you follow the rules.”

He opened the pocket watch tied to his wrist, checking the time, “For the last, every third month you need to help the police to solve a crime in which we called The Hunt. And for the record, nine out of twelve crimes have been solved by one student. He’s quite famous and known for the name Silver.”

***

“Silver? That famous rising detective? He’s that good?” someone asked.

“He solved nine crimes for three years, for blood’s sake! Of course he’s good! How can you be so stupid?” answered by someone behind me. I guess they know each other based on how casual they talk.

Anyway, I didn’t expect Silver to be an alumni here. Well, he really isn’t the person to flaunt it. He’s known for being an independent and nonchalant guy. And we have no way to know it since the authorities disclosed all his personal information. Not only him, but for most detectives. For their safety I assume? And I think it’s also because of this school. Maybe some contracts are being signed before they leave?

I massaged my chin as I processed all the information I received. The Hunt, huh? Interesting…

“Now to be clear, we don’t have seniority by year here. We don’t respect other students by how long they are here. If they are here earlier or later than you it doesn’t matter. To gain someone’s respect you need to prove yourself. You need to be worthy of it. And the only way to do that is to raise your ranks.” The Principalis continued. “Yes, we have rankings and The Hunt plays a big part in it. We released it every three months after you finished your hunt. There’s also a title in which you will gain after you solve a specific number of crimes.”

The crowd turned excited with this reveal. Murmurs filled the courtyard. I could already hear someone boasting that they will be ranked within a year. There were also some that speculating about the title’s name. I heard Mystery Solver, Murderer Hunter, Shadow etc. Of course, I also think of some names, but the one I chose is Night’s Knight which I found the coolest.

However, the Principalis broke these speculations of ours as he resumed, “If you manage to solve 3-6 crimes, you will receive the title of Young Sparrow. Solve 7-11 crimes and you will receive the title: High Sparrow. And, if you solve all 12 crimes. You will be granted the title of The Roc. Which is quite befitting since you will leave a myth that nobody can ever forget. But, I doubt anyone can accomplish it since the crimes that will be assigned to you will get harder and harder as the time goes on.”

The grumbling sounds of the crowd started again. This time it was louder and clearer. Most of them understand the words of the Principalis at the end. It means the harder the crime the more dangerous it gets, and the more dangerous it gets the more their lives will be at risk. While some were only complaining about the title’s name. Saying how uncool and lame they were and that they are not worthy of their effort. Which I found funny since I know that they chickened out when they heard the number of the crimes they will solve to gain it.

So Silver must be a High Sparrow as he solved nine crimes. Seriously, nine crimes? It’s only now that it sinks in my mind that I found it an amazing feat. If it’s not the Principalis that said it, I doubt I will believe it since the crime index in the land can reach up to 85.6. Meaning around 43 250 crimes were reported in that time with around 50 million population. And a single soon-to-be detective solved 9 crimes alone? Like hell! Solving nine crimes might be a single drop added in the ocean, but still it’s a great contribution towards peace. Moreover, he contributes more than the corrupt fully-pledge police out there.

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I saw the Principalis checking his pocket watch again. I guess he has other important things to do? I could also see him glancing at someone in the side and shaking his head which I couldn’t see well since I’m far from the stage. Well, I do hope he quickly wraps this up. My arm and legs are getting sore from holding my case and standing. And it’s not like I can put down my case since someone might take advantage of the crowd and steal it without my notice.

Thankfully, luck is on my side, and the Principalis granted my silent wish, “I know most of you came from far away towns or cities, and you wish to be rested as soon as possible. I will not delay you any longer and will let you go to each of your assigned flats. But before you do so, I want to introduce you to the people that you can seek advice and call help for when needed. I hope these people will be your model and serve as your motivation to strive and work harder when the classes start.

“Now, please welcome the High Sparrows! Let’s all give them a round of applause.” The Principalis left the podium and gestured his hand to the side where four people started coming out—three boys and one girl. All of them wear a distinguished and remarkable feature. There’s one with hair like seaweed, a one with big eyebags, a man with a scarred left eye, and a girl with pigtail hair chewing and popping bubble gum. They are all different and unique in a way that they distance themselves to each other. If there’s any similarities, I think it’s only their outfit. They all wear a breasted brown coat, with a pin of sparrow spreading his wings open.

The crowd started to clap their hands, some of them even whistling. I couldn’t see what their reactions were since my eyes were fixated on the people above the stage. I’m remembering each of their faces, drilling it into my mind. They’re the people I must surpass in order to achieve my dream. They’re also the people that I must watch carefully because they might be the key for the land to achieve peace. They’re gonna be my goal. My ladder. My stepping stone. Maybe even my wings?

After I remembered their faces, I turned my back, holding the tip of my hat and ready myself to leave. I don’t want to fight my way through this crowd later so I need to position myself near the exit. But before I could even walk away, the clapping sounds stopped suddenly along with whistles, creating a silent atmosphere. I turned to look back to see what’s wrong and just saw a woman who wasn't there earlier bowing to Principalis. I saw the Principalis opening his mouth, saying something but I’m too far away to hear it. Then, the woman walked and stood in the center of the four as if it was only natural.

My eyes widened in shock and my mouth wide opened when the face of the woman laid bare to me. I know her. Somewhat. Since we’re just together earlier but still I couldn’t believe it. But the evidence is there, sucking every one’s soul: Her intoxicating pale blue eyes that anyone can’t help but be drawn to. There's no doubt. It’s the woman who’s in front of me on the train. It’s the woman who made me break my honor. The woman who I do not know the name of.

I stared at her, different thoughts racing through my mind, until it went blank as her eyes met mine.

***

The sun’s blinding ray glistened through my window, forcing myself to stand up and pulled the curtain over. I like it dark. It made my mind focus and thoughts not wander. I laid on the bed again, eyes opened and closed until it settled on the brown ceiling above.

The ceremony is over, I leave after the High Sparrows introduced themselves. I’m now in my flat. Took me a while to get the key due to the long queue. I’m surprised how spacious it was when I got here. There’s a single bed, a drawer, a work table with a small shelf, it also has its own bathroom and a plain black board on the wall, which I think is used for brainstorming and mind mapping. And I just finished arranging it to my liking. I put the bed on the far corner near the window, the drawer beside it. I moved the work table in front of the board, then put a curtain in between separating the work and the resting place.

It made me tired and my muscles quite sore. But, it also made me satisfied and sad, realizing it’s my new home now. My home for a long three years. I sighed as I remembered my mother and father…and our feud. They will write to me, right? I hope they will, afterall I’m still their child. Their only child, and I know no parents can stand their child.

I forced myself to stand up before my thoughts went deeper. I brushed the curtain aside and sat at my workplace. I pulled my notebook on the shelf and got a pen on the holder. I need to do what I meant to do here. I should treasure my time. I started to write down all the information I learned, from the rules up to the Hunt. I scribbled all it down, filling three pages already. I continued until I transferred all the information from my mind to my notebook. With this I shouldn’t worry about forgetting things which are quite unlikely, but still a possibility.

After I finished, I closed my notebook, put it back on the shelf, then took another one. This time I drew a line and made a table. With each column having different symbols. In the first column I drew a bird, and under it I listed names. I started with William Sullivan, the Principalis’ name.

Then, I wrote a few descriptions of him: around 50-60 years old the same age as Old Jack, black narrow eyes, has wrinkles but more dominant on his cheeks showing he smiled a lot, has a friendly and trusty atmosphere, etc. Then, I leave the other column aligned to him blank.

Next, under him I wrote another name: Lyss Lawson. I wrote descriptions of her but I stopped and erased it. It’s too vague. Then, I wrote another but erased it also. It’s too long. I tried to think of anything else, then settled on one thing. I wrote it down. It’s the only one. It’s her pale blue eyes.