Days pass in a blur, being buried under a mountain of books, just like everyone else in the academy. It is not just myself that it is under constant scrutiny.
Fortunately, Titian and I parted ways, and I can't say that I'm sad about him being shown the door, because he'd failed to rise to the academy standards. It turns out that money can't buy everything. But I also can't say that I was sad to see him go. After all, Aldo puts the prestige of the academy above all else. Despite my many shortcomings, I'm doing well on an academic level, and I have managed to go through most of the source material, and more. Christmas is around the corner, and the end of my probation period is approaching at a dizzying speed. Laira, David and the others are neck-deep in studies, and we find very little time to hang around. The pace of the academy is demanding, and most of us find very little time to behave foolishly when there is a constant axe hanging over our heads.
Today is the final test for this year, and I have a feeling that our numbers will thin even more. Some of the students will go home for the holidays but never return.
It will be just me, the spider, and the ghosts in the academy for a month. I'm dreading the thought of being on my own for so long.
Laira has invited me to go home with her but I already know that space will be tight, I don't want to intrude in their lives.
Her father has finally separated from David's mother, and now live separately. But David has remained incredibly protective of Laira even though their family has been torn apart.
Enid insists that I should go home for the holidays, and sleep in her room, and this way Mason and I won't have to see each other. She says that he spends most of his time cooped up in his office, or out of the district for days on end. I still find it hard to return to Northenhay, despite Enid's reassurances.
I can't imagine his reaction if we cross paths, but it is something I refuse to dwell on.