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Joel stepped back, surprised at the outburst. He wasnt certain how to reply. Rithmatists rarely spoke to ordinary students. Joel had tried to talk to some of them during his first few years of classes, but theyd always ignored him. Now, one was talking to him. He hadnt expected her to be quite so annoying. Honestly, Melody said. Why do I have to be the one to deal with all of this? Because the Master chose you, Joel said. Youre lucky. He only picks fewer than one in a thousand. He obviously needs better quality control, she said.

Then, with a melodramatic sniff, she turned and pushed her way into Professor Laytons classroom. Joel stared after her, then shook his head and crossed campus. He passed groups of students running toward the springrail station. Classes done, it was time to go home for the day. But for Joel, campus was home. A group of students he knew stood on the quad, chatting. Joel strolled up to them, half lost in thought. I think its unfair, Charlington said, folding his arms, as if his opinion were the only one that mattered. Professor Harris was furious when she didnt show up for her final, but the principal brushed it off. But shes a Rithmatist, Rose replied. Why would she want to get out of the test anyway? Charlington shrugged. Maybe she wanted to get a head start on summer. Joel had been paying only vague attention to the conversation, but he perked up when they mentioned Rithmatists. He moved over to Davis, whoas usualstood with his arm around Roses shoulders. Whats this? Joel asked. One of the Rithmatist students, a named Lilly Whiting, Davis said. She skipped her history final today. Chucks missing a gear about itapparently, he wanted to take the final early so he could join his family in Europe, but he was refused.

They shouldnt get special treatment, Charlington said. Shell probably still have to take the test, Joel said. Its not like their lives are easy. No free periods, starting early each day, staying in school through the summer Charlington frowned at him. Trust me, Charlie, Joel said. If something took her away unexpectedly, shes not off lying on a beach having fun. She might be in Nebrask. I suppose, Charlie said. Yeah, you might be right He paused, fishing for something. Joel. Yeah, Joel. I knew that. Well, you might be right. I dont know. Professor Harris was sure upset. I just think its strange, is all. A few other students reached the quad, and Charlington joined them, moving off toward the springrail station. Joel could vaguely hear him begin telling the same story to them. I dont believe it, Joel said softly. What? Davis asked. About that student? About Charlington, Joel said.

Weve been in classes together for three years, and he still forgets my name every time we talk. Oh, Davis said. Dont worry about him, Rose said. Charlington doesnt pay attention to anyone who doesnt have a chest worth staring at. Joel turned away from the retreating students. Have you picked summer elective yet? he asked Davis. Well, not exactly. Davis was the son of a professor, andas suchlived on campus, like Joel. In fact, he was the only other of an employee who was around Joels age. Most of the ren of the staff went to the public school nearby. Only the ren of professors attended Armedius itself. Well, them and Joel. His father and the principal had been close, before his fathers accident eight years ago. I have a kind of crazy idea, Joel said. About my elective. You see He trailed off; Davis wasnt paying attention. Joel turned to see a group of students gathering at the front of the campus office building. Whats that? Joel asked. Davis shrugged. You see Peterton there? Shouldnt he be on the 3:15 back to Georgiabama? The tall senior was trying to peek through the dows. Yeah, Joel said. The door to the office opened, and a figure stepped out. Joel was shocked to recognize the mans sharply militaristic trousers and coat, both navy, with gold buttons.

It was the uniform of a federal inspector. The man placed a domed police hat on his head, then bustled away. A federal inspector? Joel asked. Thats strange. I see police on campus now and then, Rose said. Not an inspector, Joel said. That man has jurisdiction in all sixty isles. He wouldnt come for nothing. Joel noticed Principal York standing in the doorway to the office, Exton and Florence visible behind him. He seemed troubled. Well, anyway, Davis said. About summer elective. Yeah, Joel said. About that I, um. Davis shuffled. Joel, Im not going to be spending the summer with you this year. It, uh, turns out Im not free. Not free? What does that mean? Davis took a deep breath. Rose and I are going to be with the group Michael is taking this summer. To his summer home, up north. You? Joel said. But youre not one of them. I mean, youre just Like me. Michael is going to be an important man someday, Davis said.

He knows my father has been preparing me for law school, and Michael is planning to go himself. Hell want help, in the years to come. Someday, hell need good attorneys he can trust. Hell be a knightsenator, you know. Thats thats great for you, Joel said. Its a derful opportunity, Davis said, looking discomforted. Im sorry, Joel. I know this means youll spend the summer alone, but I have to go. This is a chance for me, a real chance to move up. Yeah, of course. You could ask him if you could come. I kind of already did. Davis ced. Oh. Joel shrugged, trying to convey a nonchalance he didnt feel. He let me down easily. Hes a classy guy, Davis said. I mean, you have to admit, everyone treats you pretty well here. Youve got a good life, Joel. Nobody picks on you. That was true. Hed never suffered from bullying. The students at Armedius were too important to waste time bullying. If they didnt like someone, they ostracized them. There were a dozen little protopolitical factions on campus. Joel had never been a part of any of them, even the outoffavor ones.

They probably felt they were doing him a favor. They treated him with civility, laughed with him. But they didnt include him. Hed have traded that for some good, oldfashioned bullying. At least that would mean someone considered him worth noticing or remembering. Ive got to go, Davis said. Sorry. Joel nodded, and Davis and Rose jogged off to join a group gathering around Michael near the station. With Davis gone, Joel really was going to be spending the summer alone. His grade was practically empty. Joel hefted Professor Fitchs books. He hadnt meant to take them in the first place, but he had them, so he might as well put them to some use, as the library wouldnt lend Rithmatic texts to ordinary students.

He went looking for a good place to read. And to think. Several hours later, Joel was still reading beneath the shaded boughs of an outoftheway oak tree. He lowered his book and looked upward, peering through the branches of the tree toward the tiny shards of blue he could make out of the sky. Unfortunately, the first of Fitchs books had proven to be a dudit was just a basic explanation of the four Rithmatic lines. Joel had seen Fitch loan it out to students who seemed to be struggling. Fortunately, the second book was far more meaty. It was a recent publication; the most interesting chapter detailed the controversy surrounding a defensive circle Joel had never heard of before. Though a lot of the Rithmatic equations in the book were beyond Joel, he was able to understand the texts arguments.

It was engrossing enough that it had consumed him for a good while. The further he read, the more hed found himself thinking about his father. He remembered the strong man working late into the night, perfecting a new chalk formula. He remembered times his father had spent, an excited tremble to his voice, describing to the young Joel the most exciting Rithmatic duels in history. It had been eight years. The pain of loss was still there. It never went away. It just got buried in time, like a rock slowly being covered over by dirt. The sky was getting dark, nearly too dark for him to read, and the campus was grog still. Lights glowed in some of the lecture halls; many of them had upper stories to provide offices for professors and housing for their families.

As Joel stood, he saw old Josephthe groundskeepermoving across the campus, ding each of the lanterns on the green in turn. The springworks within them began to whir, the lanterns flaring to life. Joel picked up his books, deep in thought about the Miyabi Defenses convoluted history and the Blad Defenses nontraditional application of Lines of Warding. His stomach growled in complaint at being ignored. Hopefully he hadnt missed supper. Everyone ate togetherprofessors, staff, ren, even Rithmatists. The only ordinary students who lived on campus were the ren of faculty or staff, like Joel. Many of the Rithmatic students lived in the dorms. They either had family who lived too far away to visit, or they needed to accommodate extra study time. All in all, about half of the Rithmatists in Armedius lived in the dorms. The rest still commuted.

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