The Knight Academy

CHAPTER 41

Soon winter break ended, bleak and boring. The only new addition to my mundane life was my father, drilling me on about my laziness for not sparring in winter. I had no partner but Daniel said he could take me on just to stop father from gnawing away at me.

When we both were outside and darting about, occasionally crossing swords, but his blows were weak, unlike Clive's. Daniel couldn't really fight me so he was evenly making sure we were crossing swords and nothing more.

I despised the pity yet I enjoyed it. Unknown to him, father was practically the leader of the rebels, and his sons were pawns and sold off for connections. I was surprised he was engaged to Heloise and somehow, the thought of Clive and her face fused, and the lack of Clive never left my head.

When school started once more I bid them goodbye, almost afraid of what father will be next time I see him, and the headache that came with his pressure. I'll be his last pawn, after all.

I had sent my letter to Clive but I highly doubt he received it because I had no response, nothing. I waited to catch him private and ask about the letter, but unfortunately mornings were busy.

Boys I barely remembered—Arthur and Noah and the others—rushed to ask me about mine and brag about theirs. The room with Will and Wyatt was silent and Will and I carried an idle conversation; Will talked about how silly his younger siblings were and asked if I enjoyed seeing mine and I said yes. It technically wasn't a lie because without Jonathan and Daniel I had no one else to lean on.

Even if they were ignorant about getting played.

The second class we shared, Clive was still missing. In his absence the popular boys gathered around me, pushing Will to the sides.

Their spit landed on me and I held back the urge to grab someone's collar and tell them to get out of my sight. Why isn't Clive in class? Was my letter connected? My mind raced with theories until class ended and I stayed behind, asking the Latin professor if Clive had given note of his absence.

"Well, that's private matter but you need not worry, Clive Vagrant has informed me he will be missing class for a while."

"A while? Pardon me, but did Clive tell you in person or through the Headmaster?" I pressed on.

My professor smiled. "The Headmaster. He got permission from him, after all."

Damn it!

I had half a mind to rush to the Headmaster's office, but I knew I had no power—no way to take Clive away safely with me. My house was in turmoil, and the Headmaster had guardianship of Clive, who was nothing but a vagrant.

I stood there and my professor said he'll begin class preparations if I had no further questions, and I nodded and left for my next class.

That day I didn't see Clive at all.

The days came and passed, and over a week Clive was gone from the academy, all professors replied the Headmaster had granted him time off.

"Maybe he's injured," some said.

"Maybe his family matters are important," others said.

Even the boys around us had began to ask. Cory caught me one day and asked if I had seen Clive at all.

"No, I haven't. Why?"