Mirren Academy of Spells

Chapter 19: Headmaster

Chapter 19: Headmaster

Days passed by quickly. Sometimes, we were in the academy, most of the time we were in the assembly. The rest of the senior students were also busy with their apprenticeship. There were more days when the senior classrooms were empty, the corridors were silent, and the dorms were nothing but a place to rest.

After weeks of being busy, we finally had the chance to have lunch together—the three of us, Claudia, Alice and I. We waited for Claudia at the school tower's cafeteria, waving our hands with glee the moment we saw her approaching.

"Claudia!"

Alice was especially excited to see her. She'd been anxiously waiting and beaming nonstop when she arrived.

"You look like you saw your hope or something," greeted Claudia, straightforward as ever.

Alice grabbed her arms to sit beside her. "You are my hope, my saving grace."

Claudia scrunched her nose and gave Alice a suspicious look. "Did the assembly brainwash you?"

Alice burst out laughing. "I just have a little bit of favor to ask you."

Claudia gave an exaggerated sigh. "Look at us, we're being true adults, seeing each other only to ask for favors." Oh, how I missed Claudia's sarcasm.

Alice nudged her. "Just one favor. You're a headmaster's apprentice, right?"

"Yes?" Claudia was still suspicious. I always enjoyed watching the two bicker.

"Do you know the fourth headmaster? Can you set me up for a meeting with him?"

"The fourth headmaster," Claudia repeated with visible mirth, but Alice didn't catch up. "Why?"

"I was assigned to get a few details from him."

"About what?"

"It's strictly confidential." Alice raised her chin in the air with pride, earning a roll of eyes from Claudia. "But isn't he the most secretive of all headmasters? I've been in the academy for four years, but I've never seen him. Have you?"

I shook my head.

"See? We don't even know what he looks like. And I heard he doesn't get along with the assembly, so they got me in the mess." Alice was getting exasperated as minutes passed by.

I couldn't blame her. It looked like those tasks with no hope were being given to interns like us, especially those that concerned people who opposed the assembly.

We were in the middle of our meal of drumsticks and mashed potato when Claudia asked, "Are you sure they're asking for the fourth headmaster?"

From what I heard, there were four headmasters in the academy. Two of them dealt with student affairs, one dealt with external affairs, and the remaining one was rarely mentioned. Just someone who held the title from the family who pioneered the academy. They didn't do administrative work, there was no specific responsibility given to them, but nonetheless, they oversee the academy themselves.

"Well yes," answered Alice, waving the paper in front of us. "He's the one specified in the memo."

Claudia checked the writings on the memo with her own eyes. "Anyone in the place of the fourth headmaster?"

"See?"

Claudia had a mischievous smile on her lips.

"I don't like the way you smile," Alice said.

Claudia dragged us out of the cafeteria. "Let's go to the 'anyone in the place of the fourth headmaster'."

"We're not done eating yet!"