In a session of "Introduction of Demonology" lecture, Professor Dawson came into the classroom with a bright and warm smile: "Hello class, welcome to today's lecture. And I would like to let you know, that I have finally finished evaluating your first group projects. Sorry that it took so long, it's because we have some really interesting projects, and I would like to make sure that all the groups that have done good jobs would receive their due recognition."
"Is that good news? I think it's good news." Aimee was nervous: "Oooh, it'd better be good news for us."
"Relax, sis, it's just a group project from an introduction class." Thomas chuckled.
"So here." Professor Dawson reached into her bag and took out three scrolls: "These are certificates from the academy's Office of Publication. These are offer letters, letters showing that three of this class's projects have caught the eyes of some of our best reviewers and editors, and they are willing to publish these projects as official papers in our official academy digest."
"Oh my." Jason fake gasped then started laughing softly: "That's good - I mean, that's really good. My engineering school had one of those, and having a project thesis published was quite an achievement."
"It's exactly like a civilian engineering school, Mr. Lin." Professor Dawson walked by and dropped one scroll by his table: "Only it's quite a bit more prestigious, because it's literally magical, and we don't have an over publishing problem - yet, so it's even better. Because your project thesis actually has a non-trivial chance to get quoted. So congratulations, Mr. Lin, Ms. Baker, Mister and Miss Chaver, your work on the serial murderer proved quite inspired, insightful and full of potential. Just beware that the academy will need all of your consent to publish, so talk it out if that'd be an issue for any of you."
"Oh my god. This is awesome!" Aimee couldn't control herself and grabbed the scroll directly from Jason's desk and opened it: "Holy shit! My first published thesis!"
"Khmm." Thomas cleared his throat: "OUR, first published thesis."
"Okay, okay, fine. You did the work too." Aimee was embarrassed by her own action, and she laid the open scroll down on Jason's table so everyone in the group could see it: "'... in recognition of your inspired and insightful thesis on the identity of the suspected serial murderer from the cases of Burr, Hamilton, Clover etc. We the Grant Academy Office of Publication are hereby offering to publish your thesis in the Academy's Official Magical Theories Digest...' Holy shit! I'm sorry, I'm just so excited."
"Congratulations again. Good work everyone. But please do remember, this is still an introductory class, and chances like these aren't just handed out like candies." Professor Dawson went back to the podium: "Now, let's begin our lecture. Everyone please turn to page 445."
Caroline looked around the room, it looked like the group of Taylor Jensen and Robert Hendricks also got a scroll of their own.
"Ugh, is this actually that prestigious? Or is it a glorified line item for the privileged kids?" Caroline sighed and shook her head.
"Hey, look at the bright side." Jason nudged Caroline gently: "Our theory totally rocks, but theirs isn't so bad either - so let's just enjoy the fact that our thesis got published."
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In the Grant Academy principal's office, Tamil Brooke as the representative of the board, Principal Hawke, Professor Barnes as the headmaster of Hellbruck House, and the Headmaster of Anderson House, Professor Randall Collins, and a woman in dark blue robe, who happened to be the renowned sorceress and also the known rival of Josephine Wong, Professor Dorothea Clarkson, were discussing the situation at the academy.
"... I agree with Professor Barnes. We should take the student's welfare seriously and consider sending them home for the time being." after a short pause, Professor Dorothea Clarkson said: "We should send them home."
"I still maintain that this would be a terribly bad idea." Professor Randall Collins shook his head and said: "We still have no clear idea on how much of the contaminated material is still in the academy - and we all know that a lot of it is still in the students' hands. And if we let them go home, they are just going to go back to their places to spread it around. With the dormant cycles of some of those materials on the list - they might be facing some more danger."
"We can establish a proper process for going home. And we can search the students." Professor Randall Collins said: "We could make it conditional - if anyone wants to go back home, they need to consent to a thorough medical examination and search and vetting of personal items."
"That would be a PR nightmare, we can't do that." Principal Hawke sighed: "We're not law enforcement, we're just an academy. We do not have any authority to impose this kind of measure on our students. Not to mention it would be a severe violation of the privacy of the students."
"Yeah yeah, the rules." Professor Randall Collins sighed: "But we've already had what, almost thirty cases of exposure? And we still have no clear leads into where those contaminating materials came from and thus, we're nowhere near getting rid of them. We've gotta do something. Not letting anyone leave is not going to hold up forever - sooner or later the students would come and ask for their kids back."
"Which is why we could just send them home early." Professor Barnes said.
"Which would be terrible for us and anyone trying to establish a trace of this contamination, and it would basically mean that the whole investigation would be a bust." Professor Randall Collins said: "If we really plan to send everyone home, I'd recommend locking the academy up entirely and ban all public activities for a short time in order to isolate the paths for further exposure. All we need to do is wait it out and treat the ones who developed symptoms and then we can let the rest go."
"It is not practical, not to mention way too disruptive for the normal functions of the academy." Professor Dorothea Clarkson shook her head: "And we don't have that kind of authority either - we'll need the approval of the board, and we'll need greenlight from the Department of Education and the Center of Hazardous Material Control to enact something like this."
"Alright, professors. I'll need some time to think about this." Principal Hawke started rubbing his temples: "Let's hope the investigation would lead to something soon."