The door to Engel’s office loomed before me. When I rapped my knuckles against it, I was rewarded with a satisfying knock, hollow and resounding.

  “Come in,” a voice called from the other side. Except, it wasn’t Engel’s, and when I leaned against the door to push it open it was Mira I saw hunched over the massive desk and equally imposing mound of paperwork.

  Mira wore her annoyance plainly when she glanced up from her work. I got the immediate impression that I was merely caught in the collateral of whatever frustration she was harboring towards her situation; she did not look comfortable.

  “Recruit,” Mira said by way of greeting, a slight nod accompanying the word. Perhaps noticing the edge in her voice, when she continued it was with a more controlled composure. “What can I do for-” She cut off as she set her quill down, glancing between me and the stack of work before a look of sudden revelation sparkled across her features. “It occurs to me that, as your Lieutenant, it has been some time since I checked in on your wellbeing.”

  “Actually, I was-”

  “It is no trouble at all.” She quickly stood and made her way across the room. “In fact, we should go for a stroll around the grounds. Fresh air facilitates good conversation.” She said that last part in an almost sing-songy voice that reminded me of after–school cartoons.

  There was no real argument to be made as she ushered me out into the halls, startling Fudge who had barely gotten comfortable before having to scramble to his feet lest he be left behind.

  “Sorry Fudge,” she chirped, the rapid improvement to her mood contagious enough to make me crack a smile.

  I did my best to keep pace as Mira marched her way through the manor, each of her steps worth several of mine. She was all but running away from what must have been an exhausting day.

  Poor woman needs a break.

  As we stepped out into the daylight, Mira swung her arms out wide and breathed deeply.

  “You smell that, recruit? Nothing better.”

  I mirrored her action, happy to concede that fresh air was, in fact, good for the soul.

  “Nothing better,” I agreed.

  “So,” she started, falling into a slower pace as she stepped off the path and onto a winding, pebbled walkway that cut through one of the ground’s many gardens, “how are things?”

  I raised an eyebrow.

  “You really do not know?”

  She winced slightly, at that.

  “I know what I have been told. Now I am asking you to tell me more.” She reached over to pluck a purple flower, its petals dotted with silvery specks. With a fluid motion, she slid it in her hair, the intricacies of her braid leaving many nooks and folds for which to keep it secure.

  I smiled. There was something charming about seeing someone capable of casual destruction engage in whimsy.

  “Fair enough.” Behind us, Fudge sneezed, having decided it would be a good idea to shove his entire face into a shrubbery. “Cruz is not what I expected, but I am making it work.”

  At the mention of my wayward mentor, Mira bristled but didn’t otherwise let her agitation show. “The Captain told me you have been appraised as to the situation.”

  I recalled something Cruz said to Mira the day I met him.

  “You were opposed to it.” It wasn’t a question.

  “I was,” she agreed.

  “And now? Do you still feel the same way?”

  “In principle? Yes. I simply did not realize just how…” Mira trailed off, lips going thin as she searched for the words she wanted.

  “Mature I would be?” I offered.

  She chuckled at that.

  “Not quite, but close enough.” She also didn’t finish her initial thought, but I could infer the sentiment. A willing participant was more tasteful than an ignorant one.

  “On a similar note, I do not suppose you have any insights as to why Eva seems to like me even less than Cruz does?” I asked, figuring I’d take advantage of the situation. Eva and Pix had since left on another job, but my reception from the young woman remained consistently icy whenever I happened to pass her in the halls.

  Mira hesitated for a moment.

  “I do, but the specifics are not mine to share.”

  “I would be content with generalities.”

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  Mira stopped and rounded on me.

  “Why do you want to know?”

  “You suspect I have something sinister planned?”

  Mira’s eyes narrowed.

  “That is not an answer to my question.”

  “It was not,” I admitted, arms spread in concession. “Honestly? Eva has…” It was my turn to trail off, since I wasn’t sure how to translate the concept of baggage in a way that wouldn’t come across as rude. “Eva clearly has a past,” I eventually settled on. “One that does not involve me, but that has influenced her opinion of me. If I knew what that past was, I might be able to-”

  “To fix things?” Mira offered wryly.

  “Exactly, I- What is so funny?”

  Mira chuckled slightly at my response and waved off my question.

  “It is nothing,” she said. “You just reminded me that boys grow up to be men.”

  “That is usually how it works, yeah,” I said. Clearly I’d missed something, but Mira didn’t give me time to dwell on it.

  “Normally, I would insist you approach Eva yourself. However, since you are but an adorable child, I will make an exception in the name of improving Squad Nine’s morale.” She knelt down so that we were eye-to-eye. “Remember, though, I am not sharing details that are not mine to share. If you ask, I will be annoyed. Do I make myself clear, recruit?”

  I nodded.

  “Yes, Lieutenant.”

  “Good. First, a question. Will, do you want to be a Slayer, or was this the best of your bad options?” I didn’t answer straight away, and I could tell from Mira's slight nod that it was all the answer she needed. “Exactly. To be clear, I am not berating you; it is not uncommon for people to join our ranks to escape something else.”

  She sighed.

  “In this, you and Eva are different. She wanted to join The Slayers when she was about your age. Officially, the Slayers turned her down. She had to wait until she was older, such were the rules.” Mira paused for effect. “Recently, those same rules were trampled beneath whatever stunts Lionel pulled to shield you from Crown conscription.”

  I nodded my understanding.

  “I can see how that would frustrate someone. I take it the reason she wanted to join is the thing you will not tell me?”

  “Correct. It is good you understand.”

  “You do realize that I could probably make some accurate assumptions based on what you did tell me, right?”

  Mira frowned at that.

  “You certainly could try, but I would advise against it. Strongly.” A tense silence quickly filled the space between us, courtesy of my big mouth. Mira stood and turned to admire one of the flower beds. She idly chewed at one of her fingernails while she did so.

  “Where is Captain Engel?” I asked, eager to change the subject. I still hadn’t broached the main topic I wanted to. “I take it you were filling in for him today?”

  “I- yes, the Captain is seeing to a situation that would benefit from his Skills. Something made its way up the waterways. I am sure he will brag about it when he gets back.” Mira was equally willing to move on, which I appreciated.

  They brought the shovel guy to deal with an aquatic threat? I was probably missing something obvious, but I could-

  “Is he going to dig up a river or something?!”

  “In a manner of speaking, yes,” Mira said as if we weren’t discussing something absurd.

  I thought back to the bestiary. There were comparatively few aquatic entries, but one came to mind, its description resembling a narrow mosasaur, a creature of speed and too many teeth to count.

  “Racudrilo?” I asked and Mira beamed.

  “Great guess. I am impressed.”

  “The bestiaries are oppressively thorough,” I countered, waving off the praise even as I smiled widely at it. It was nice to have my hard work acknowledged.

  “That they are,” Mira agreed with a chuckle. “Which is exactly why being able to suffer through them is an accomplishment.” She gave me a pat on the shoulder that left me preening.

  “Well, in that case, thank you,” I said.

  “You are very much welcome.” Mira looked towards the sky, briefly. “Though with that I should probably get back to work. It was good to hear that you are-”

  “Actually, there was the matter of why I came to the Captain’s office to begin with,” I interjected.

  “As I am not the Captain, I assumed the matter would wait.”

  “That… was a fair assumption,” I admitted. “As it so happens, though, you might be able to help.”

  “Understood. Still,” Mira made a quick pivot and motioned back the way we came, “we had best start heading back while you raise whatever it is you need to raise.”

  Fudge had wandered off the path to explore the gardens and check up on the countless interesting smells it held. I gave a sharp whistle and knew it wouldn't be long until he re-joined us.

  “It is about something Cruz told me,” I started. Mira’s face scrunched up slightly but she motioned for me to continue. “He seems to be under the impression there are plans for me to go to The Capital. He also sounded surprised that I hadn’t heard about those plans. Are you able to enlighten me?”

  Understanding dawned on Mira’s face.

  “Oh, that? It will not be relevant for several years, so Engel decided to wait until…” she trailed off when she saw my frown. “I see no harm in telling you now that Cruz already mentioned it, though.”

  “That would be appreciated.”

  “It was one of the concessions we were forced to make when we negotiated with The Crown.” Mira approached the topic casually, which did plenty to ease any concerns I had that it was something disastrous. “Since we do not usually recruit children - not in any official capacity, at least - it had never been a possibility before. Since the Slayers technically occupy a Council chair, though, we are obligated to participate.”

  She was circling around the point and I grew impatient.

  “Participate in what?”

  “The Crown Academy. You will attend when you are old enough.” She shrugged, oblivious to the mounting terror her words inspired.

  Well… shit. Of all the things I was preparing myself to endure in my second life, returning to what was effectively high school was not one of them. Engel was right. I was better off not knowing. I shunned ignorant bliss and was paying the price. This is going to be awful.

  That's right, folks, we do have an academy arc in the future. Any staples from them you'd love to see Will tackle? Any you hate?

  You can read up to 10 Chapters Ahead over on my . Today's chapter includes Will finally meeting someone who I teased near the start of the book.

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