Chapter 26: The Spy

Johnny made his way over to us. “Bartley isn’t coming back. He sent word that he was joining the Army of Knights,” he said.

“Kenley isn’t coming back,” Celestria told everyone in a shaky voice.

It was clear how badly Tanner wanted to hug her, but he resisted.

“I haven’t seen Willow either,” Johnny said. “I bet he isn’t coming back either.”

We stood at attention when Master Bavol stepped forward and flicked her wand, enchanting the vocal cords of every master in attendance.

“As you may know, the academy was attacked while you were on break,” she started, her loud voice making the tables shake. “There were casualties, and we’re still waiting for the magical contractors to arrive and repair the tower.”

“Damn Arachnids!” someone shouted.

Master Sinnie stepped forward. “We thought so too, but we believe this was an inside job.”

“Which means that there is a spy among us,” Master Audrey clarified.

Gasps of horror echoed down the hall.

I had a suspect, and by the looks of it, Celestria did too, but maybe it was too obvious?

As though she could sense that I was accusing her in my head, Allyah pushed herself to the front of the group. “It’s probably Drake,” she said, a maniacal look in her eyes. “Nobody knows where she really came from or who she belongs to. It’d make perfect sense for her to be the spy.”

Celestria narrowed her eyes. “Drake is a Jolenta now, and Jolentas have never been and will never be spies,” she told Allyah. “Watch what you say, or I swear you will regret it.”

Master Carleton’s slow claps broke through the tension and made everyone turn. “This,” he said pointing at the girls, “is exactly the spirit we need if we want to find the spy and defeat the enemy.”

“Now, now, let’s not encourage in-fighting,” Master Rhoslyn said, ever the gentle presence. “We must remain calm and focus on what’s to come.”

“Due to the recent events, the wand ceremony and the final testing of the first-years will take place next week,” Master Bavol announced much to everyone’s shock. “Danger is knocking on our door, and we need to know who is capable and ready to defend us. Now go get some rest because tomorrow is a new day, and you have a lot of learning and training to do.”

***

The whispers about who could be the spy died off once we went to bed and picked back up as soon as we woke up. As for me, I thought about it even in my sleep—thanks to Alston, who apparently had the ability to visit me in my dreams.

I told him all about the damage to the academy, the deaths, and the wand ceremony and test being moved up because of the threat. Alston promised to reach out to his magical connections in the Forest of Pixies and see if he could get any information.

Allyah must’ve taken Celestria’s warning seriously because she ducked out of the bathing room as soon as I walked in. I knew she was gossiping about me, but at least now she was doing it behind my back instead of to my face.

“There’s still a chance that she could walk through that door,” Celestria said once we bathed, got dressed, and returned to the dining hall for breakfast.

“I’m sure Kenley would love nothing more than to be with us right now, but she made the choice she wanted to make. We can’t judge her for it.”

Celestria wiped her tear-streaked face. “You’re right. If she’s happy, I’ll find a way to be happy for her.”

I locked eyes with Administrator Dawson as soon as he walked in. ~No news~, his solemn expression told me. I wasn’t sure whether I was angry or relieved. A part of me wanted to know why the people who raised me decided to leave me, but now that Hunter and I were together, I was afraid the truth would break us up.

“Good morning,” the administrator addressed everyone. “Please follow your usual class schedule. These last few days are especially crucial for the first-year students. The final test will be different from the one you underwent at the start of the year, so make sure you pay attention and absorb as much information as possible.”

“You never know what kind of spell or potion might help you pass,” Master Rhoslyn chimed in and winked at me the moment our eyes locked. She had such a quiet presence that I hadn’t even realized she was in the dining hall.

“Exactly,” the administrator agreed. “Combat could also come into play, so you’ll be training with Master Carleton as usual. Wand placement will take place tomorrow. All first-years are expected in the arena at eight in the morning and not a minute later.”

As sad as Celestria had been, hearing Administrator Dawson mention the wand ceremony made her perk up a bit.

She wasn’t the only one excited about getting a wand. Most of us had been feeling magic build inside of us, but we couldn’t practice any of the useful or complicated spells until we had wands. In my case, I hadn’t been able to do any magic at all. Honestly, it made me feel anxious and full, as if I’d drunk too much water in one go and had no way of getting rid of it.

“Hey, guys,” Tanner said and walked up to the table, Hunter by his side.

“Long time no see,” Hunter told me and took a seat right next to me.

Blood rushed to my cheeks. “I thought we said we would keep us a secret,” I said through gritted teeth, in case Allyah could read lips.

“We are,” Hunter said. “But don’t expect me to ignore you. I did enough of it before break. It was awful. We can hide our feelings, if that’s what you want, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t hang out as friends when other people are around.”

“You’re really missing your roommates, huh?” Tanner swiftly changed the subject once Johnny joined us. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days.

“I’m all alone now,” Johnny muttered and took a bite of a muffin.

Hunter scratched his temple. “Here’s an idea—why don’t you stay with us? Unless you like the peace and quiet, that is.”

He tossed the muffin aside. “I hate it!” he said. “Do you mean it? You really want to room with me?

“Let’s do it,” Tanner said. “We get along really well, and I have a feeling that all of us are going to pass the test, the ladies included. We’ll be spending many more years at the academy, and getting to live with friends will make all the homework assignments and difficult classes worth it.”

“I completely agree,” Hunter said.

“Thank you. It means a lot,” Johnny said, his grin growing wider and wider.

Tanner was right. With so many of us gone, the rest of us had to stick together.

“I wonder what kind of wand I’m going to get,” Hunter pondered out loud once the rooming situation was figured out.

“I’m curious too,” I said. “I’ll have to report back to Alson as soon as I get it. He expects a detailed description.”

Before I realized what I just said, Hunter leaned in, a quizzical expression all over his face.

“Who’s Alston?”

“Oh, just a new friend I met on break,” I said, although that answer probably only made things worse. I shouldn’t have mentioned the little fella, but my excitement got the best of me.

“A girl who works for us,” Celestria added.

If I could’ve hugged her without the guys thinking there was something wrong with me, I would’ve done it.

After breakfast, we rushed to our first class. It was hard to pay attention, especially with Hunter staring at me and tempting me from across the room, but I glued my eyes to my book and did my best.

In shifting class, we learned about what felt like the millionth magical animal of the year. In history, we listened to a presentation all about Arachnid’s most notorious rulers and their sidekicks. The way Guarin, the king’s confidant, bared his yellow teeth in the pictures made me queasy.

My brain was so full of information that getting to work with my hands in potions class felt like a vacation. Master Rhoslyn walked around as we practiced making a potion that if mixed correctly, could make small cuts and wounds close up within seconds. The students who mixed it right got to keep a vial as a gift.

It came in handy later in the day because combat practice was more brutal than ever.

When I arrived with my fake sword and daggers, Johnny, Tanner, and Hunter were already on the field.

“Imagine that you’re dancing with your opponent. Move with the flow,” Carleton instructed everyone as Tanner and I faced each other.

And dance we did. Master Carleton was right; swordsmanship was an art form. It also got your blood pumping and left you with blisters on your feet and cuts on your hands.

“What did I get to deserve a partner who is a superstar at making potions?” Tanner asked as he took my vial of healing potion and drained it to the last drop.

“You should be thanking Master Rhoslyn for being such a good teacher.”

“We’re in the same class, remember? I mixed that potion three times and still ended up with purple goop,” he said and tossed a handful of wet mud in my direction.

Even though Tanner was a prince and he’d probably grown up having people constantly give him praise, he knew how to accept his shortcomings and poke fun at himself. I liked that about him.

One of the many things I learned at Oswalda, was that I did, in fact, have a knack for mixing potions. I’d never had a talent before, at least not one that didn’t involve digging up potatoes and plucking cherries from the cherry tree so we could sell them at the market.

No matter how tired I was at the end of the day, finally being good at something was what kept me wanting to sneak out of my room as soon as Celestria fell asleep, visit Master Rhoslyn in secret, and watch her mix complicated potions in her classroom.

“I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you for your time and patience,” I told her.

Master Rhoslyn grinned to herself. When she dropped a frog leg into a caldron, sparks shot up to the ceiling. “Don’t worry, dear. I’m sure I’ll be able to think of something when the time comes.”