The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 89

Further cuts – god, I’d forgotten all about those -

Neumann’s eyes focus on me now, perceiving that I am completely lost. “In case some of you are unaware,” he says, his voice dry, “which is…frankly abundantly clear from some of your expressions, Alpha Academy cuts a further 40% of its entering Cadets at the end of the Examination.”

I go pale. What? What?

40%!?

What the hell is this Examination!? Why didn’t Jesse and Rafe say anything!?

“What I am attempting to explain to you,” Neumann continues, “is that Espionage cuts on top of that. If you pass the Examination but fail your Chemistry exam? You’re out. The rates for continuing in Espionage are the most competitive in the school, which I believe is fair, considering that we do not want to produce inept agents. With an entering group of 8, as we see here, I would expect the continuing number in January to be…”

He pauses to consider, perhaps doing the math.

“Somewhere between two and three of you.”

My breath freezes in my chest. What. What?!

“Of course,” he says with a bored sigh, “there is no reason why all eight of you could not make it if you were the most spectacular incoming group of young cadets the school has ever seen. I would just…not expect it to happen.”

He takes a moment to look each of us in the eye, and I don’t miss it when he lingers longest on me.

“You will be trained for other affinities within Espionage with other professors, but all of you will meet here three times a week to study with me. You will be examined in your other affinities as well and will be required to pass those examinations too. You will also need to be fit enough to pass the Examination, which will be your own responsibility. I suggest you each work very hard. That being said, if any of you do not believe yourself up to the task, you may apply to switch to the…Ambassador Track.”

But the distaste with which he says the word suggests to us that to do such a thing would be a great step down in the world. My heart twists for Ben, who is already there. All of the young men around me straighten their shoulders, and I see that each is determined to try.

Neumann takes another moment to look us all over, not inviting questions but leaving the space open in case any of us have anything burning we need to ask. And even though questions race through my mind, I press my lips together in a firm, determined line.

I can ask Rafe and Jesse for answers to those later. Now? Now I need to listen.

“Good,” Neumann says, nodding, and then he reaches below the desk again, pulling out a stack of notebooks and pens. “Hand these around,” he says, offering them to the young man closest to him, “lessons begin now.”

As Neumann speaks I scribble furiously in my notebook, taking down everything he says because I don’t yet know his teaching style – is he the kind of professor whose lessons you pour over again and again in an attempt to memorize his wisdom? Or is he more of a guide through the field, supporting you as you learn at your own pace? I’ve had both kinds of teachers – but until I know his style? I’m writing down everything.

The pages are soon filled with a wealth of information, and even though I’m intimidated, by the end of the class I’m also incredibly excited about what to come. The lesson plan that Neumann has sketched out for us – by the end of the semester we’re not going to refresh our understanding of the basics of Chemistry, but we’re also going to understand the chemical compositions and the mechanics of how to create twelve subtle poisons that he understands as the basic toolkit of any self-sufficient shadow agent.

Those poisons, he promises, will be the basis of our examination at the end of term.

My hands are almost shaking with nerves and excitement when we close our notebooks at the end of the three-hour class. I slip my pen into the notebook, clutching it to my chest as I get in line with the other students picking up my textbook at the front of the room.

When Neumann places it in my waiting hand, he smirks when I almost drop it, my eyes going wide at the surprising weight. “Going to have to work on that, Cadet,” he murmurs. “If you can’t carry the book, how can you expect to carry the knowledge?”

“Well, it will weigh a lot less when it’s all in my head,” I murmur, lifting the book more firmly into my arms as I turn away.

To my surprise, Neumann laughs, and he nods to me as I glance over my shoulder on the way to the door. When I trip over a desk because I’m not looking where I’m going, he just laughs again good-heartedly, hanging his head a little with a sigh and a smile.

I dart into the hall, embarrassed but smiling.

I probably shouldn’t be as surprised as I am when I walk immediately into my brother, basically bouncing off his chest.

“Ari,” he says, frowning down at me. “What the hell is going on with you?”