“I actually like them, so they’re safe unless they do something to hurt you.” I waved at him.
As we parted ways, Slater whispered, “She just cleared a girl with one touch. I’m obsessed.”
Zuko smirked. “Cleared her? She made her shit herself. I’m also obsessed.”
Eleanor blinked. “Wasn’t that…mean?”
Aura shrugged. “She wasn’t taking a hint, clearly.”
“They could’ve handled that better,” Lorian muttered.
“I handled it fine,” I said dryly.
Hawk rubbed the back of his neck. “At least she’s loyal to her brother. That counts.”
I nodded. “Thanks for understanding.”
Slater wrapped an arm around me. “I understand, too, venom baby.”
Zuko’s smirk deepened. “Same, pretty little poison.”
Raze leaned toward Zuko. “She could kill you, you know.”
“I know.” Zuko sighed dreamily. “It’s so hot.”
We walked into the House of Twilight’s classroom, our steps echoing softly against the dark stone floor etched with faintly glowing trap runes. Thankfully, our schedules and maps plastered in our common area had prepared us, making the winding halls of Apex Nexus easier to navigate. Still, the air here felt heavier in this classroom, infused with a subtle aura of misdirection and secrecy.
The classroom was arranged meticulously: two precise rows of desks, five in each. A large screen hummed quietly behind the professor’s wide, disorganized desk of trinkets that I was almost certain were tools of magic and tech combined. Behind it stood Professor Jarvins, whose sharp, black eyes scrutinizedus with practiced indifference. His salt-and-pepper hair spiked erratically like he’d recently survived an electrical shock, which maybe he had. Either way, it complemented his disheveled layers of coats, fingerless gloves, and scuffed boots. Underneath that was the academy-issued suit, I was pretty sure, at least. A wire, or maybe it was a twig, protruded from the corner of his mouth, occasionally shifting as he chewed thoughtfully.
“You’re here,” he drawled dryly, his eyes glinting with mild disappointment. “Unfortunate. Let’s begin. Take your seats.”
Immediately, Dimitri and I straightened, as if Jarvins’s casual disdain was a direct challenge for us, and perhaps it was. We exchanged a glance, a spark of what I could’ve only described as rivalry igniting as we moved in silent tandem.
Dimitri took the seat beside mine, spine rigid, his red eyes sharp and alert beneath the small, tight coils of his hair. Koa settled beside Dimitri, looking uncharacteristically wary. To my left, Slater practically dove into the seat closest to me, grinning as Zuko slid into the chair beside him with a disgruntled expression. Behind us, Aura, Eleanor, Raze, Lorian, and Hawk quietly took their spots.
Jarvins began pacing slowly, each step deliberate and predatory. “This isCharm and Deception Level one.You’ll learn to lie, cheat, and manipulate. Not to your own squad, of course, but to others. Expect to fail, multiple times.”
“I won’t,” Dimitri muttered defiantly under his breath.
Jarvins halted abruptly, glaring at him without turning fully around. “I heard that. Lose the arrogance, vampire, or it will be your undoing.”
Dimitri’s smirk widened, seemingly unfazed.
Ignoring Dimitri, Jarvins continued smoothly, “Assignments will appear impossible at first glance. You’ll steal from me, escape intricate traps, and spy on your peers, not your squadmates. Cleverness will earn rewards; laziness will earnharsh consequences. Like the real world. We are not heroes. We are professionals.”
Slater frantically scribbled notes, but I kept my gaze locked firmly on Jarvins, absorbing every word he said.
I’d worked too hard to attend this academy to mess up.
“The final exam will be immersive, but I’ll track your progress meticulously throughout the quarter. Every successful lie and every secret uncovered matters in the grand scheme. But remember,” he paused, eyes narrowing, “lie to me, and you fail.Instantly.”
Silence settled thickly in the room.
“Questions?” Jarvins raised a brow expectantly.
Hawk hesitated before raising his hand. “Why exactly do we need to learn to lie and manipulate as an agent? Isn’t honesty usually better?”
Jarvins flashed a sharp, unsettling grin. “Because, Mr. Moonfang, the truth can sometimes get you or your squad killed.”
