The rest of class passed quickly, and the time for them to wrap things up soon came. Noah was pretty happy with how things had gone. Even with the wrench that Jalen’s appearance had thrown into his plans, it didn’t seem like anything had gone awry.

Jalen seemed generally interested in his students and didn’t look like he’d be messing with any of them, and he didn’t even appear to suspect too much about his teaching methods or contents.

It’s definitely a good thing I toned things down. If I started going on about giving a Master Rune away or any of the slightly more detailed things I had planned, he might have picked something up.

But, as things are now, it looks like he’s pretty much just watching what’s happening and isn’t all that more interested than he would be in anything else.

Noah gathered everyone up when there were just a few minutes left before the transport cannon was due to kick back on and draw them back to Arbitage.

“Are you finally going to tell us the announcement?” Todd asked. “Because I’ve barely been able to concentrate. You can’t just dangle something like that over a man’s head. It’s not right.”

“Your complaints have been duly noted and ignored,” Noah said without missing a beat. “But yes, it’s time for the announcement. It’s about the advanced track.”

“Did our acceptances get rescinded?” Alexandra asked. “That wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest.”

“What? No.”

“Did they decide to give us a bunch of Runes because of how cool we are?” Todd asked.

“Also no.”

“They’re throwing us a pizza party?” Moxie asked.

“No! Why–” Noah cut himself off and spun to look at Moxie, who wasn’t even bothering to hide the grin on her face. “Don’t join them! You already know the bloody announcement!”

“Well, get on with it then.”

Noah rolled his eyes. “I was getting there, if you’d stop throwing guesses out and give me a second to speak. We’ve all been invited to meet the rest of the advanced track tonight. Something like a welcoming party.”

“So they are throwing us a pizza party!” Isabel pointed out.

“It’s not a pizza – oh, whatever,” Noah grumbled, throwing his hands up in defeat. “Either way, it’s exciting. You should all look forward to it. But, at the same time, don’t forget where it is we’ll be or who is there with us.”

“You’re saying you think it’ll be another test of some sort?” Alexandra asked, her brow furrowing.

“I don’t know if it’ll expressly be a test, but you can assume that they’ll be paying very close attention to all of us. We’re all going to need to put on the appropriate behavior and ensure we make the right impression.”

“Isn’t the saying putting on our best behavior?” Isabel asked, tilting her head to the side.

Noah grinned. “Yes.”

“I take it you didn’t misspeak, then.”

“No,” Noah replied. “I did not.”

***

Several hours later, after everyone had returned to Arbitage and spent some time decompressing and getting ready, they all met back up in front of Moxie’s room in the T building.

They were all greeted by Vermil in his best pair of clothes, which happened to be identical to nearly every other pair of clothes he wore. He chewed on a strip of jerky as he watched all the students pile in, nodding to them as they showed up.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Moxie had donned her fur cloak and wore her normal uniform beneath it. Beside her were two hooded figures. The first wore a gnarled wooden mask, and the second simply had his hood pulled low over his head to hide his features.

“Is everyone ready?” Vermil asked, stretching his arms above his head and yawning. He sniffed at his clothes, then scrunched his nose. “When was the last time these got washed?”

Moxie flicked him in the back of the head. “Yesterday. At least try to act presentable, won’t you?”

“Right. Sorry.”

“So… what do we do?” Todd asked. “Just sit around here and wait?”

“Yeah. I’m assuming that someone should pop up soon enough to take us,” Moxie said with a shrug. “Don’t get impatient. If they’re anything like the other nobles I know, then we might end up waiting around a bit.”

“I’d like to see them try,” Jalen growled from the darkness of his hood. “I don’t like being kept waiting.”

“Please don’t destroy the advanced track,” Moxie said politely. “We need it in one piece.”

“Ah, right. I’m not going to interfere. I did say that,” Jalen said, but it sounded more like he was trying to convince himself than anyone else.

Mercifully, they didn’t have to wait long to find out if he would be true to his word. After just a few more minutes, hurried footsteps echoed down the hall and everyone turned as Ulya appeared down the bend, her back pressed to the stone.

The bags under her eyes hadn’t abided in the slightest. If anything, they’d grown deeper. Her skin was a shade paler than it should have been and her nails had been picked raw. She looked horrible.

As soon as she spotted the masked man at the back of the group, some of the tension eased out of the shoulders. Her fingers ran over the hilt of a dagger at her side, and she swallowed.

“Vermil. Everyone. Pleasure to see you. I’m here with the advanced track.”

“You look like shit,” Vermil said.

“Thank you,” Ulya said, her lips pressed so flat that they were nearly white. “I need to check you all, if you don’t mind.”

“I already checked them,” Vermil said, taking a step forward. “No need. You can check me if you absolutely have to, but have you really been living like this?”

“Yes,” Ulya said curtly. Vermil turned and pulled his hair back so Ulya could make a small incision at the back of his neck. She let out a small breath and stepped back. “You’re absolutely sure they’re safe?”

“Yes. They’re fine. Have you even met anyone since we last spoke? Or have you been hiding away?”

“Does it matter?”

“I suppose it doesn’t, but you should be careful. You might end up getting yourself killed if you’re so tired that you can’t react properly.”

“Your concern is appreciated,” Ulya said, not sounding like she appreciated it in the slightest. She sheathed her dagger and jerked her chin over her shoulder. “Let’s go.”

They all followed her out of the building and along Arbitage’s streets.

As they walked, Ulya fell in closer to Vermil and sent a glance over her shoulder at the hooded figures taking up the back of the party. “I recognize your teacher. Who’s the other one?”

“His friend,” Vermil replied.

Ulya’s eyebrows lifted ever so slightly. “Equally as powerful?”

“Yes, but he’s not going to be doing anything to help. My teacher might not as well, but the other one is purely here just to observe.”

“He’s trustworthy?”

“I dare you to tell him he can’t come. He’s a Rank 6, and a strong one.”

Ulya grimaced, then inclined her head. “I was prepared for as much. I’ll handle things, then. Stick close to me once we’re there. I haven’t been able to check anyone other than you lot and Gero, and I won’t have seen Gero in the time it took me to come get you.”

Vermil just inclined his head, and the rest of the trip went quietly. After about thirty minutes of walking, they’d left the main grounds of the school behind and made their way deep into the city. Ulya brought them several alleyways, then up to an inconspicuous door in a plain stone wall.

She pulled it open, revealing a well-lit stairwell leading underground, then started down without a second of hesitation. Everyone piled in behind her, the masked figures keeping their spots at the rear of the party and closing the door behind them after they entered.

It only took a few more minutes to reach the bottom of the stairs, but the sound of muted chatter and clinking silverware heralded their trip down. About a dozen people sat in a large, circular room along a table that split the room nearly in half.

The majority of the chairs at the table were empty, and everyone sitting at it sat in very clear groups. Even within the advanced track, it was pretty evident that not everyone was on the exact same page.

As soon as people spotted the group enter, much of the conversation fell silent. Everyone turned toward them and a tall man sitting at the end of the table rose. He had a neatly trimmed grey beard and toned muscles covered by red velvet clothes emblazed with a golden heron.

The man spread his hands out, a smile crossing over his lips in greeting. “Ah. Ulya has returned with the newly accepted members of our program. Welcome, all. Please, sit. Get some food and enjoy. We’ll get to business shortly, but there’s no need to cloud our enjoyment of the night too early.”

He seemed perfectly friendly, and the wide grin on his lips was earnest. Even though he was dressed in gaudy, expensive clothes, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes showed that he was often locked in a perpetual smile.

There was just one slight problem.

The man didn’t have a heartbeat.