Alpha Academy: Misfit's Rise

chapter twenty-three: The Decision

"The Union symbolizes all we have accomplished," Koya's voice boomed. "And by engaging in this behavior over some petty quarrel, you have not only embarrassed our school in front of the entire magical community and tarnished its reputation, but you've desecrated this sacred unity." I perked up. That sounded like a closing statement.

"Furthermore, these actions have forced us to reconsider ..."

I slumped back down in my seat. We'd been sitting here for nearly an hour and a half as Koya and other members of the Alpha faculty blabbered on about how we were better than this, our school was better than this, and they expected more of us; even though we could all read the subtext that said they thought we were horrible students. They just didn't want us to know that was what they were thinking. They were right though. Scarcely anyone walked away from that fight unscathed. At least three students were sent to the Alexandria healing facility, though none suffered permanent damage. The fight hadn't broken up until the Union Enforcement Agency had arrived and forced the students to break apart. At least no one could say I'd had a boring first Spirit Festival.

"—don't see an improvement in your behavior, we will be forced to reconsider the Academy's attendance to all future festivities." The people around me gasped. I guess that was a big deal.

"You are dismissed," Koya said. I heaved a sigh of relief. If I never attended another festival, that was fine with me. It had started out great, but it ended with Artemis going back to her avid hatred after a month of ignoring me. My little act of charity hadn't ended things with Jumong either. It only made him trust me less. And Lucian and I still weren't speaking.

Speak of the devil, Lucian himself was making a beeline for the exit. He was usually very involved in the meet and mingle afterward. Only something of great importance could get him hightailing out of here like that. I should probably just let him go. Nothing I wanted to say would make anything better. But I found, in this moment, I didn't care.

I still I had no idea why he wouldn't speak to me. All I knew is that it started after we left that dingy-old archive room. Maybe I'd said something that had offended him. Or maybe he was mad I'd touched that precious soul stone and infected it with my Rustiness. Or maybe he was tired of being associated with someone so weak. Whatever the reason, he was going to have to say it to my face. He owed me that much.

He was several feet ahead of me when I emerged into the hallway, forcing me to run toward him.

"Hey." I fell in step beside him. "You want to tell me what—"

"Ms. Runningdeer," Mrs. Morningsky appeared in front of us out of nowhere. "Would you mind following me to my office? There's a matter I wish to discuss with you. Both of you." She directed her gaze to Lucian at that last bit. He didn't bother to acknowledge her though. She then strode down the hallway without checking to see if we were coming. After another failed attempt to catch Lucian's eye, we followed her.

"Please, have a seat," she said as we entered her office. "I'm not sure if you are aware of this, but I'm your academic advisor." She was right. I was not aware of this, and wondered why it came up only after I started failing my classes.

"We have been monitoring your progress, and there has been some improvement. But the fact is, we are a school—a society of magic—and you have failed to produce any sufficient magic since you arrived here." She lifted her chin, glancing down at me over her nose. "We can teach you everything there is to know about magic, but if the natural talent is not there ..."

My lips felt dry. "What are you saying?"

Her eyes turned cold. "We have come to a decision. There is no place here for you."