Alpha Academy: Misfit's Rise

Chapter Eighteen: The Evaluation

The day of the midterm came a lot faster than I would have liked. Thanks to Lucian's study group, my grades and magical performance steadily improved. But I was still a long way from where I needed to be.

Surprisingly though, I felt okay about all the exams I took in the morning. Soon, all I had left was Magical Expression, but that could be my undoing.

I stopped by the Persephone mural on my way there, partly because I liked seeing it, but partly because I didn't want to be around the other students just yet. I was nervous enough already.

But the Persephone mural must have some curse on it that said I could never be alone around it, because soon I heard voice behind me say, "It's a beautiful mural."

I whirled around to see the teacher who rescued Sedna standing behind me. Ms. Icarus, someone said her name was?

"You're Billie, aren't you?" she said, coming up to stand next to me. I just nodded. She was dressed more normally today in brown pants and a fluffy white shirt. She would have looked like a pirate, except that she was wearing a black top hat. There were no goggles this time though.

"That was a brave thing you did for Maeve, you know," she said flatly. "Stupid, but brave."

"Thank you," I said, though I wasn't sure if that was a compliment or not.

She sighed. "I remember my second year here. There was an accident. Several dozen Wizards were killed, and many people believed a group of Warlocks were behind it. They claimed innocence, but were convicted anyway. The Warlocks here went crazy, as did the Wizards. There were fights all the time. Things calmed down after a while though." She sighed again. "But now it's like they don't need provocation." She looked at me then, a humorless smile on her lips. "You chose one hell of a time to join the Realm."

"Don't have to tell me twice," I said under my breath. I wasn't sure if she heard me.

"I heard they gave you a deadline," she said. "And they're going to expel you if you don't meet a certain standard."

She didn't really say it like a question, so I didn't bother to respond.

"I also heard Lucian's your tutor." She gave me a pointed look this time, clearly looking for an answer.

I just nodded.

She chuckled. "At least you have that going for you. Lucian's magical performance is beyond anything we've ever seen, and his research with Mr. Merlin has provided some amazing results. Not that he'd mention it, humble as he is. I've never seen anyone so comfortable with other species, and a Sorcerer at that." She seemed perfectly content to have this conversation with herself, so I didn't say anything. Hopefully, she'd get the hint and walk away.

"Mind you, he wasn't always like that." My silence didn't put her off at all. "When he first got here, well, I don't think I've ever known a student to start that many fights their first week. Or first month. But then one day he just stopped, like he was a completely different person."

I glanced at her, eyes wide. I couldn't help it. Lucian? Fights? Sure, he liked to get in the middle of other people's fights, but that was to keep the peace. But starting the fights? Even Thorin's dragon rider theory sounded more plausible than that.

"You should get going, before it's too late," Ms. Icarus said, or more commanded. I quickly agreed. This conversation was getting too weird.

"For what it's worth," she said just before I left earshot, "I hope you stay. We could use more people like you."

I looked back, but she had disappeared. I turned around again and collided with someone else heading toward the staircase.

"Seriously, Rusty," Artemis heaved. "Again?"