My mouth turns down in a desperate frown, because even if he’s relieved…
God, but I love being an Espionage Cadet. I don’t want to be reassigned – I want to study it all.
“I’ll talk with the Captain,” I say, giving an assured nod. “I’ll…I’ll do both tracks.”
Neumann smirks at me and nods. “We’ll see,” he says, quiet and sure. “Upon your return. Now you’d better head out – you have other professors to meet with before you get some rest.”
I hesitate. “Faiza?” I ask, just a whisper.
He smirks. “Don’t you worry about my dashing girl. She will be fine.”
“You haven’t heard from her?”
Neumann quirks an eyebrow at me. “What kind of spymaster would I be if I told you that?”
“A nice one,” I growl, showing my teeth a bit. To my shock, he actually laughs.
“Go!” Neumann says, giving me a little shove on the shoulder. “I have work to do, and so do you.”
I sigh, turning down the hall, my head hanging as I process this sudden news.
“Ariel.”
The name rings out after me and I turn back, meeting my favorite professor’s eyes.
“You stay alive, all right?” he says, clenching his jaw, working hard to keep the emotion from his face.
A tiny grin takes my lips. “Are you being sentimental again, sir?”
“Not at all, Cadet,” he says, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Just issuing my standard orders. You’re very important – to this world, as well as to me. Just…make sure you come back.”
“Yes, sir.” I say, giving him a steady nod.
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