The Skyhome Academy

“Attention all cadets,” a voice announced over the nexus crystals. “Curfew will begin in fifteen minutes.”

Rose, Simon, and Emma were all seated at a table in the library, with books open and papers scattered about. After hearing the warning they began packing their belongings into backpacks. Around them were many bookshelves and expensive furnishings. The noble saw no one else nearby.

“I guess we stayed a bit late,” Simon noted.

“At least I got all my classwork done,” Rose said in relief. “It’s too hard to concentrate in my room when Alice and Avice are yammering back and forth.” The noble took on a vapid expression, folded her hands together beside her head, and imitated Alice’s high-pitched tone. “Lord Jame is just so wonderful. Oh Rose, if only you were oblivious enough not to recognize his spiteful nature. Then you could waste your time hoping he’ll ask you to the Winter Formal as well!” Both peasants laughed, and the trio started toward the library’s entrance.

“About the formal…” Simon said to Rose. “Do you think you’ll be going?”

“I’m hoping Prince Robert will ask me. He compliments me whenever we talk, so he must be interested.”

“But that’s all he does—it’s not like he spends any time with you outside of class. Remember a couple weeks ago, when you asked him to study with us?”

“…⁠Maybe he just doesn’t need to study much,” Rose said doubtfully as they stepped into an elevator and began floating downward. “Or he’s too busy with his diplomatic duty to babysit Princess Mei.

“I know he overreacted that time you questioned her, so you don’t trust him. But I’d rather think well of someone who wants to defend the kingdom.”

“Margas seems eager to fight,” Simon pointed out.

“Well…he’s an exception. He only wants to fight because he likes hurting people!”

They stepped out of the elevator, and Rose continued. “Anyway, speaking of the prince… I think things will go easier if you’re more careful about etiquette.”

“I’ll be as polite as he is.”

“You should listen to Lady Rose,” Emma insisted. “Being disrespectful can go poorly for peasants. It’s like my grandmother once told me. ‘The nail that sticks up gets hammered down.’”

Rose gave a slight laugh. “Old Bea said that? I like to think the nobility aren’t that harsh.” But her words were followed by an uncomfortable silence.

After the group exited the library into the cool night air, Emma spoke again. “It would be faster to cut through the telekinetics building, My Lady.” Rose nodded, and soon they entered the structure. They passed by the usual paintings, nexus crystals, and elaborate light fixtures that decorated most of the castle. The lamps had already been dimmed slightly, and their footsteps were muffled by the fine carpet.

As they were walking through a corridor, Rose heard a rough masculine voice through an open door some distance ahead. “…⁠the day can’t come soon enough. I want to be there to see that arrogant prince die.”

Treason! Rose ran toward the doorway, with her companions following her. She drew her wand and cast her arcane shield, while Simon did the same. Emma also cast the spell.

They soon arrived in the stairwell. But it seemed they had been heard, because two sets of footsteps could be detected retreating upward a floor above them. The trio ran up the stairs and left the stairwell where Rose believed she had heard the traitors exit. She looked in all three directions from the stairs, but there was no sign of their quarry.

“Should we split up?” Simon asked.

“Too dangerous,” Rose told him. “They might be spellcasters.” She picked a direction, and the three continued searching. After several minutes, they finally gave up.

“This is hopeless,” Rose said, as they looked down yet another intersection in the corridors. There was no sign of anyone. “We’d better use a crystal to report what happened.”

She then heard another announcement. “Attention all cadets. Curfew has begun.”

“Maybe we should go back to the spire first,” Simon said. “If the guards let us through the gate, we won’t get in trouble.”

“This is too important to wait,” Rose insisted. She did not see or hear the figure exit the office behind her, but she certainly noticed when a hand suddenly clamped down on her shoulder—or more accurately, the defensive spell protecting it. There was a flash of light from the shield. Emma emitted an alarmed squeak, and all three of the cadets started.

“Just what are you three doing here?” Mage Isabel asked suspiciously. She withdrew her hand. “And with your wands out?”

They turned to her. “We heard someone talking threateningly about Prince Robert, Ma’am,” Rose explained. “I think there were two of them, but we didn’t get a look. They escaped when we tried to chase them.”

“If that’s some excuse so you can weasel out of trouble, you’d better come clean right now—it’ll only make things much worse.”

“I’d never lie about something that serious,” Rose told her insistently. “I need to speak to the intendent right away.”

The mage nodded, and there was a momentary shimmer as she activated her arcane shield. Does that mean she believes me? She then accessed her personal crystal. “Baron Tessel, it’s Mage Isabel.”

The intendent’s voice emitted from the device. “I’m here.”

“I have some cadets in the telekinetics building without permission. They claim to have overheard a threat toward Prince Robert.”

“Bring them to my office.”

“Right away, Sir.”

Mage Isabel then deactivated her crystal. “If you’re telling the truth, then you were reckless. You’re only cadets—you know damn well you should have reported this immediately instead of trying to pursue.”

“Sorry, Ma’am,” Rose said. Her companions repeated this.

Simon then addressed the mage. “I was wondering… Why did you sneak up on us?”

“I saw some cadets who were breaking the rules and thought it would be fun to scare you. Come along.” The trio shared a look of disbelief before following her.