Page 88 of An Arcane Education
I explain the conversation to her, relaying how when I’d asked the Chancellor about the names, she gave the excuse that they were too common for her to know who I was referencing.
“Yeah, something fishy is going on there,” Delilah says. “Especially if she knows your father’s relation to them, which I have to assume she does since you’ve asked her about him.”
“But why would she hide that?” I wonder, then add, “Do you think the professors would know who they are too?”
Delilah considers the question for a few seconds beforeanswering, “Maybe? Most staff members don’t interact much with the board, but there are probably a few who keep up with all the politics of the academies. The board oversees all the magical academies, so sometimes there are overlaps in policy and things like that. But your average professor who’s just here to teach probably wouldn’t care enough to know their names.”
I breathe a little easier. The Chancellor may be intentionally misguiding, but it’s somewhat reassuring that the other two professors I’ve spoken to about this—Alaric and Professor Showen—likely weren’t aware.
“Are you okay?” Delilah asks. “You look kind of pale.”
“Just trying to process this.”
“How do you even know all this, anyway?” Max asks Delilah.
She shrugs. “Board meetings are technically public record for the academy community. Most people just don’t care enough to look. My parents work in government and like to know what’s happening behind the scenes, though, so I must’ve just inherited their curiosity about boring things,” she jokes.
“You’re a hero,” I tell her. “Seriously, I would’ve driven myself to insanity trying to figure this out.”
She smiles. “Glad to help. Anyway, I should go get back to studying, but… be careful, okay? With what your dad said in his letter and the fact that Aldrich is intentionally lying to you, something weird is going on.”
“I’ll be careful. Thank you again for your help.”
She leaves, and Max looks at me expectantly. “So, the most important person on campus is intentionally lying to you, you just found out your grandparents are on theboard of trustees, and another professor who I won’t name has also been keeping secrets from you. What’s your plan?”
“I have no fucking idea. What can I do? Because I certainly don’t want to make an enemy out of the Chancellor, but I also can’t just sit on this information without digging deeper.”
“I get that. Well, I’m here to help how I can, and I know the other girls are too.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you have you guys.”
“Ditto,” Max retorts. “Anyway, my suggestion is that we get through the rest of this shit show of a semester and then work on investigating when next semester starts back up. You can even search for information about your grandparents while you’re home for winter break.”
“That’s a smart idea. I’ll have computer access then, which I’m not sure will help, but it can’t hurt either.”
“That’s the spirit. Worry about passing your classes before anything else, and then we’ll get shit done. Deal?”
“Deal.”
But even as I say it, I know I won’t be able to let this go entirely. Delilah and Max are right—something isn’t adding up here. And now that almost all of the faculty members I’ve spoken to have proven to be untrustworthy, I have to take my father’s letter seriously. Trust no one.
The question is, why?
CHAPTER 38
Despite my agreement with Max to leave the topic alone, I’ve spent all day spiraling about the implications of what this all means. Why did my father feel the need to warn me about his parents? And why does Chancellor Aldrich seem to be in cahoots with them?
I ruminate on the same questions I’ve been turning over in my mind since yesterday as I turn my key in my mailbox. I’m not expecting much, maybe a letter from my mother or an administrative notice about winter break housing, but instead, I find a thick envelope with my name written on the front and the Arcadia Academy seal embossed in dark green wax.
I frown. Why would I be getting something this official from the academy?
Unable to wait, I tear the envelope open and unfold the heavy stationery. The page swims before my eyes as I try to process the words on the page.
Notice of Disciplinary Hearing
Student: Vivian Harver
Date and Time: November 30that 8 a.m.
