Meeting with Peet (Part 1)

While others dueled, my sight focused on Peet. He smiled at me, but refused to say anything. There were others inside the room, therefore it wasn't a private place. The question was; how do we lose the others? 'I'll slip a note into his pocket. We should be able to meet during the night, or somewhere in the evening. Of course without Henry and his company following us', I figured.

While everyone got busy watching two Formations trying to destroy each other, I wrote my note and silently slipped it into Peet's pocket. Just to make him notice, I made my movements a bit more obvious than necessary. He quickly found the note, but didn't take it out to read. I had a feeling he didn't trust any of his so-called friends, or classmates.

Mila and John ended their duel with John's win. "This was interesting, thanks for showing me some new stuff. I'd like to visit the library now, and check out a few more Formations. Hehe, there's so much for me to learn". They of course proposed to go with me, and to keep up the pretence, I agreed.

At the library, they proposed a few Formations from the wind and water area. Most of them focused on offence, and only one water based Formation on defence. That didn't matter, the purpose was to simply cease these duels.

The ones specialising in either water or wind, tried to explain Formations to me. I found that hilarious, especially since their skills were worse than mine. Nonetheless, we spent a few hours inside the library, before their group had to leave for some sort of meeting. 'It's your move, Peet. I gave you the time and place for our meeting. Will you appear, or ignore it?', I asked myself before leaving as well.

My grandpa promised me a better feather, one that could access the top floor. He kept his promise, and gave me a black feather with a golden tip. That was the same one top students of the First Class possessed. "With this feather, you can access the top floor. Have a look at the Formations there, and try to learn one. Hehe, I'm sure it will take much longer than one day", he said.

"I'll do that tomorrow, and thank you. How are you anyway? Do you want to spend some time with your granddaughter, hehe?", "You little… Come here, let grandpa mess up your hair", he replied and grabbed me. Curly joined us in our little antics. She'd bite my or grandpa fingers lightly, and sometimes climb underneath our clothes. She was a pest sometimes, but we had fun.

"Huh? That's weird, Dawn's not around", I said to myself while entering our room. She wanted to find out more and observe people, therefore I assumed she did exactly that. "Anyway, we'll be leaving soon ourselves. You up for it Curly?", "Arf!". Usually, Curly remained at the tower. She didn't like the attention of others, and the city was too crowded for her. She didn't like too many people around, because she didn't trust them.

I'd be tired too, if every passerby was a potential threat of even an illusion. Curly always checked her surroundings, and even tried to detect illusions when there were none to worry about. Perhaps she was a bit too paranoid, but there was no need to try and change that. Her attitude saved my life, I couldn't argue with that.

With Curly on my neck, we left the tower and headed towards the stables. That was the meeting place I proposed for Peet. People usually didn't hang around that place. Moreover, Turry would be lonely if we didn't pay him a visit from time to time.

"Moo!", Turry exclaimed when he saw us. "Hehe, how are you doing? I know you sit around here most of the time, but once I'm done with some business, how about a ride? We don't want you to get lazy, eh?", I proposed. Turry loved the idea, and moo-ed in agreement. Peet wasn't there when we arrived. He didn't show up after a while either.

'Perhaps he's too shy, or maybe he doesn't want to speak with me privately. I'm confused… He seemed interested in that note. Maybe my judgement was wrong', I said to myself. We awaited Peet for a good half an hour, but he didn't show up. I decided to grab Turry and ride around a bit. Before we got a chance to leave, someone whispered at me from behind the stables.

The voice belonged to Peet, and he was hiding himself behind some crates and barrels. "Took you a while to get here", I said. Peet motion for me to speak quietly, and then pointed at Turry. "Are you leaving somewhere?", "Turry needs some exercise, we'd ride around for a while, then return here. Anyway, why are we so quiet", I replied.

"No one can know we met like this… I have a better place in mind. You know the Third Class area, right? Meet me behind their building, there's a small stone shack with some tools and whatnot. I'll be there in about half an hour, can you make it by the time?", he proposed.

"Sure, I'll be there. Since we'll meet in half an hour, I'll take care of Turry's exercise now", I agreed. "That's fine by me, I'll see you in half an hour then. You can leave first, I'll make my way to our meeting place soon… Make sure no one follows you", Peet replied.

I wasn't sure why the secrecy, or the careful attitude. My choice was based on the amount of people present, not based on our visibility. Peet wanted to meet somewhere secluded, and out of the way. There had to be a reason, and I'd learn about it in half an hour. "Anyway, let's go for a small ride, Turry. No one should say anything if we ride around the Academy, not after my grandpa showed off the last time, hehe", I said while patting his head.

We rode around for a while, and some students were surprised to see someone ride around the Academy. When they realised it was me, they didn't even try to stop us. 'Hehe, grandpa's position is quite useful. Without him, I'd have to leave the Academy and the city, just to ride around a bit'. Besides, we didn't obstruct or annoy anyone.

Half an hour later, I found the stone shack Peet told me about. "So, why the secrecy?", "You weren't followed, right?", he asked instead. "Yes, I'm pretty sure no one followed me. Your actions alone tell me you didn't want to be seen with me alone, care to explain why?", I replied.

"You see, the Academy isn't all that meets the eye. I'm not sure why you wanted to meet with me either, and in private, but my assumption is; you want answers to some questions. Before you ask anything, that's not why I'm here. You are being watched, and that's why we can't talk privately like that, at least in public", he explained.

"Right... Why am I being watched?", "I'm not sure, they don't tell me that kind of stuff. Henry and others are keeping an eye on you. I don't mean Henry and our group, there are others… I know, this isn't an answer, but they didn't tell me a reason. Why did you want to speak with me?", he replied.

"You just answered some of my questions already. This Academy is shady. Something's off about the First Class students, the way people behave and so on. The discredited past figures, rules, and factions. Now you tell me they watch my steps. What exactly is going on here?", I asked.

"That's right, it's shady and thankfully, you slipped that note into my pocket. Others wouldn't answer your questions, no, you'd get into trouble instead. I'll explain. Your grandfather is the headmaster, but his power around here is… small, to put it mildly. The real owners of the Academy are the Imperials and prominent families", he started.

"The factions you mentioned, they exist, and exist for a reason. That reason is obedience. No one's allowed to progress from the Second Class, if they don't become puppets, or pawns in the hands of the Imperials... or one of the important families. I learned that the hard way. Henry is at the top of our faction, while John is like his right arm. They are the top students, but not because their skills are at the top. Their purpose is to recruit and keep other students in place. For that, they are granted benefits. Things like access to the top floor of the library, where the title 'top student' comes from", he continued.

"You can't go against the Imperials and those selected families, not your grandpa nor the factions. They can easily replace your grandpa with someone else, albeit they'll keep him so long he listens. The historical figures you mentioned, they didn't break any rules. They simply went against the Imperials and their ways. Their meddling into the Academy's affairs. This place is corrupt, and once you reach the First Class, escaping is no longer easy", he added.

Peet explained a lot of important things, but the most worrying part was the surveillance. They watched me, or us for whatever reason, but Peet couldn't tell me why. "Peet, you're no idiot, and you seem to be an upright man. There's a reason behind all this. You wouldn't simply confess all these details to me, right?", I asked.

"...Yes. I was hoping you'd help me out a bit. There's no way I'll ever become a top student. They will not allow that. I'd have to abandon my own pride and beliefs, in order to even have a chance. You are a bit different, since your grandpa can grant you access to the top floor. There shouldn't be any issues either, since your Formations are really good. I'd even go as far as to say that you didn't show us your true abilities… In short, I'd like to get my hands on the Formations from the top floor", he explained.

I didn't expect such a request. Though what he said was true, especially since the black feather with a golden tip was already in my possession. The question remained, why would he require these Formations? "I don't understand. Even if you get your hands on those Formations, there's no way you'd use them. They'll figure out you stole them somehow… Or are you planning to sell them?", I asked.

"That is true, but I'm not planning on selling them. My plan is to leave this Academy, and for good. This isn't a rushed decision, these were my plans for a while now… At least plans to leave the Academy. With you around, and perhaps the potential of gaining a top Formation, this seems like the best opportunity", he replied honestly.

"I'm grateful for your honesty, but what about me? You did warn me about the hidden gazes, but that doesn't grant you a Formation. What can you propose to me in exchange?", "I'll tell you everything. About the Imperials, the families… and something else I've heard recently. You seem interested in the affairs around here. Moreover, I have a few reasons to trust you. Your questions alone indicate that there's no reason to be afraid. This conversation will stay private", he replied.