Evergreen Academy

Chapter III

-Good morning, students!
What a pleasure to finally see you all gathered here! -
The same cheerful voice they heard at their wake-up resounded in the room.
An elegant woman, of an extraordinary icy beauty, almost intimidating, had stood up from the teachers' table and reached a microphone at the edge of the elevated platform.
-First of all, I want to compliment you! Congratulation, you all made it into my very exclusive Academy! You must be exceptional students, as well as extraordinary individuals.
As you may have deduced, I am Mathilda Blade, the headteacher.
I want to introduce to you the teaching staff. -
With a broad gesture, she pointed at the tableful at her back, where the professors now sat still and collected.
-You will have all the occasions to personally get to know each of them in the next days, during lessons.
I've been charged with the honour and duty to present you the system of our precious school, as good as possible, within a reasonable time. -
She gave a hint of a smile, apologetically, but it soon disappeared.
Noah thought that modesty didn't suit her face.
-I want to anticipate that we take the responsibility to educate very seriously. We may sound strict, but that's because you are all very special and we want you to reach your full potential.
As you should already know, you will not find your cellphones between your belongings.
They aren't allowed in this school, as they would be a distraction.
You will be able to communicate with your loved ones through letters at the end of the semester.
Furthermore, you will soon notice that this school is not provided of any advanced electronic device nor internet connection.
We firmly believe in more traditional methods. -
Murmurs of dissent and confusion spread through the room.
A girl two tables apart from Noah, Poppy and Adam, raised her hand.
A little reluctantly, Ms. Blade allowed her to speak.
-How are we supposed to research stuff? -
-We have a very well-stocked library. -
-How did I get here? How is it I can't remember? -
On the heels of the first question, someone else, in the front of the Salon, must have found the courage to ask what everyone had been thinking.
The headteacher, however, didn't falter.
-Don't be silly. By train, like everyone else. The same train that will bring you home in June. -
The muttering increased.
Poppy's hand ran to grab Adam's, as all three of them shared an incredulous look.
-June? We won't be home for Christmas? - It was hard to determine who was talking at that point.
-I fear not, it would be a delay in the strict schedule we are following. 
You will exchange letters with your families for Christmas. A little sacrifice this year to make them very, very proud the next one. 
You will not leave the institute until the end of the academic year, but I am sure you will find all you may need to pass the time here. Our school provides many options.
We made a promise to you, to your parents, to ourselves, and it's to bring out the best of each single one of you, and we don't want to leave anyone down. -
Another student stood up. -But schools are closed in... -
-Evergreen Academy is much more than a conventional school.
You will see if you all stop interrupting me with meaningless questions, darlings. -
That time, the headteacher voice sounded quite menacing. Her patience had been tested, and she was clearly making an effort to hold her temper.
The room fell back into silence.
Poppy had gone as pale as the marble floor.
-My siblings... - She explained in a whisper.
Noah nodded. He knew what it meant. He felt her.
-We intend to provide you the highest preparation possible in every field.
You will be evaluated all round. You are going to study more traditional subjects, just like English, mathematics, science... as well as less common ones, for example Latin, philosophy, music... And I strongly recommend you not to underestimate any of them. 
Physical education holds a remarkable position in our study plan, if you are used to considering it recreational time, reconsider. 
You will attend 5 to 7 hours of lessons a day: from 8 am to 1 pm, with the addition of two occasional hours in the afternoon from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm, from Monday to Friday.
The classes will be created based on your starting level rather than age.
You will be assessed by 4 sessions of exams: intermediate examinations, in the first week of November and the last one of March, and finals in January and June.
A ranking will be drafted according to the results. We will consider your overall preparation, but we will also reward the eventual improvement and the commitment.
As a little incentive, I'll show you the prize of the success.-
Ms Blade took something small and shiny out of her pocket, and raised it in front of the students.
It was a jar. A simple tiny metallic jar.
-This is called the Serum, or Tears of Heaven, if you have a thing for drama.
It's the latest frontier of scientific research, and, we are positive, of evolution.
It has the property to enhance each person's abilities in a quite... magical way, let me tell you.
But only the top students will receive one: you will have to prove your worth in order to obtain it.-
She smiled, while her fingers closed around the jar like a claw. 
Her silence conveyed that questions were now encouraged. However, after the previous heated exchange and all the new overwhelming information, the students seemed more hesitant.
It took a while before someone finally asked, -What does it do, exactly?-
-We have no way to know in advance, darling. It reacts differently to every DNA, allowing the person to develop a unique, remarkable ability, completely beyond the ordinary. We call it a Speciality. -
-Do you have one? -
-Just like every other teacher, assistant and head student of this school. It allows us to keep you safe.-
Noah didn't like the way in which she said ''safe''. It may have been just his imagination, but he felt in that word the subtle hint of an impending danger on all of them.
A shiver ran down his spine.
-What's your Speciality?- Poppy's voice, so close, loud and unexpected, made him flinch.
Instantly, Ms Blade's smile became glacial. They once again crossed that unpredictable limit between what they could and could not know.
-Why don't we ask instead one of our head students for a demonstration? Would Edmund Davenport please join me?-