Page 33 of Light Leech

A woman with vibrant red hair in a ponytail stood from her seat facing the window. She looked to be in her mid-forties, though the abundance of violet light makeup and facial touchups said that she longed for a youth now lost.

“Little Devóne Eclaine!” She ran to Boyband on steep heels and embraced him as if he was a nephew, just as he had told me.

His face remained tepid, hiding his annoyance. All he offered was a pat on the back with one arm while the other hung limp.

“Do you remember me?”

He squinted. I hoped he would at least try to win her over with feigned enthusiasm, but all he offered was a dry stare and “nah.”

The woman giggled. “It’s been a while, I guess. I was sorry to hear about your parents. I truly loved those two. They were such great people.”

Boyband nodded.

Her laugh was uncertain. She looked up, eyes locking with Naoma as she approached with an extended hand. “Hihow, I’m Veren.”

Naoma shook her hand. “Mei. This is Alyosha, my husband, and our son, Yuze.”

“Wow, it’s such a pleasure to meet you all. Why don’t we come sit and make ourselves more comfortable? Mistress Kamina tells me you have some questions regarding the school’s curriculum?”

“Something of the sort.”

Veren sat on a padded swiveling chair while we sat close to each other on a white couch next to her. Boyband remained standing.

Naoma was quick to adopt her mean-girl attitude. I had to fight to keep my smile hidden as I saw the condescension build in her glare. “I asked for a representative of the Zingang Board of Education and I was given a meeting with you. If Mistress Kamina remains a blockade, perhaps you could help?”

“As a fellow parent, I understand your concerns. This must be quite frustrating–”

“Enough with the HR talk. I see that this is going nowhere. I need to speak with someone who directs the curriculum. If you can’t offer that, I’m afraid this is a waste of time.“ She started to stand.

Veren returned the condescending joviality. “Sit. Why do you think you deserve to speak with someone of such authority? Why should we conform to your idea of a proper education?”

Naoma remained standing and crossed her arms. “I never suggested you change your curriculum, I only wish to know where it comes from.”

“The board.”

“And what determines what they teach?”

“What are you aiming for, Misses Mei?”

“A school worthy of my son. As a parent involved in this school’s decisions, maybe you could offer some advice?”

“What kind of advice? I’m sorry, but I’m quite lost as to what you want.”

Naoma rolled her eyes, but I saw her clenching her hands behind her back and clicking her nails. Zeg. This was going nowhere. What had we expected coming here? To walk to the Board of Education and find some informant? We had gone in without a plan and now found it biting us back. Playing covert parents was a waste. Once again we had leaned into a story hoping it would lead somewhere, only to find a dead end. We had looked at the missing children in Arabasia from the wrong angle. Perhaps this was our Teru. Where we had sought the Correction, we instead found an oddity in the Eclaine’s choice for Boyband’s school.

“I came here for you.” Veren pointed at Boyband. “You know that, right, Boyband?”

I saw the slight pulse of Gui aura behind him. “The zeg did you call me?”

“Don’t think we don’t know what you want,” Sanna said from behind.

We moved to the side of the room to keep both women in view.

“Choosing a school was an obvious flag,” Sanna said.

Veren’s smile was more confident and knowing than Naoma’s act had ever been. “Perhaps you could have passed if the Eclaine heir hadn’t announced himself prior to your arrival.”

“The zeg is happening?” Boyband asked.