Ozymandias Academy

Part 4

Elle showed up to her class the next day full of trepidation. She had a meeting with Dr. Capra after class that she was really looking forward to, but she also was nervous about maybe seeing Forrest. She still hadn't come to a conclusion about how she felt about him, nor could she figure out how he felt about her. But sure enough, there he was in his usual seat. Elle was starting to notice smaller things about him - the way his hair always fell perfectly, even after he ran his hands through it, the fact that he only had a dimple on his right cheek when he smiled one of his frequent dazzling grins, the effortless way he leaned back in his chair, making it always seem like he had somewhere better to be. Had it been any other class, Elle surely would have spent the entire period entranced by his looks rather than the subject matter. At least they were on speaking terms now. After the dance they'd really made strides in their relationship, and he always made the effort to say hello to her, ask her about her day, and they'd exchange a few words before class started. Since she usually stayed after to talk with Dr. Capra, she was effectively cutting the time she had with Forrest in half, but Dr. Capra had been telling her about some very intriguing things, which she was hoping would really come to fruition today. Perhaps it was he magick sensibilities enhancing her foresight, but she felt very strongly that talking with Dr. Capra and forging a strong relationship with him was the right way to go for her at that time.

Her thoughts occupying her for most of the class, the period simply flew by for Elle. She bid a hasty goodbye to Forrest as she made her way up to Dr. Capra's desk. He glanced up at her, then said, "Not here. We'll talk in my office," and continued gathering his teaching materials. It didn't matter to Elle, so she simply rocked from her toes to her heels and waited. Finally, Dr. Capra was ready. "Walk with me," he said. Elle complied, but she sensed that something was the matter. Dr. Capra had a nervous disposition at the best of times, but today he was absolutely frenetic. As they passed through the doorway of the classroom, Dr. Capra leaned down to her and said, "In this academy, the walls have ears. You must be careful where you say certain things."

Elle was taken aback. Was this what he had been alluding to in their many meetings before now? What "certain things" did he have to tell her? She couldn't begin to fathom how deep things went. There must be some sort of conspiracy happening right under her nose. The thought of this excited her, though she couldn't put her finger on why. She knew she should have been worried, or scared, but she was just intrigued. "What kind of things are we talking about, here?" she asked quietly.

Looking around furtively, Dr. Capra seemed to decide that where they were wasn't secret enough, so he shook his head. "We should keep moving." Then he paused. "I'm sorry to put you through this, Elle. I'll try to be as clear as I can." He glanced around them one more time, then hurried off down the corridor.

"Sir, what's going on?" Elle struggled to keep up. Several other classes had just let out, and the halls filled with students. Dr. Capra pulled her into an empty classroom, and they stood by the door, watching the tide of students go by.

"Elle, we must be quick. Something bad is happening at Ozymandias Academy," Dr. Capra said with great conviction.

"Something bad? What do you mean? I thought Oz was the best place for people like us." Elle didn't want to believe it. She'd been dreaming of going to Oz for as long as she could remember.

Fidgeting nervously, Dr. Capra seemed to come to a decision and began speaking, his words all spilling out at once. "It's Dean Astor. I don't know what he's doing, but students in many of my classes have disappeared. All strong students, too - students like you. I'm worried for you, Elle. I've seen the kind of power you wield, and even without that, you've got a strong mind. It is almost certain that you'll be next."

"But I-" Elle paused. "Meeting Dean Astor would be a great honor, would it not?"

"Should he summon you, do not trust him." There was real fear in Dr. Capra's eyes, and Elle believed that what he was saying was true. Or at least, he thought it was.