Xandrian Stone 4: The Academy Part 3 Read Online Free Page B

one of the long tables, me feeling very small and kind of insignificant in the large room, all alone with the Captain. "What's the problem, Stone? You don't fear a dressing down, do you?" She looked at me, and before I could answer she continued. "You do! Because you were home last week or because of the mass shield?"
     
    "Well, both. Although the first part was practically ordered by the Commander."
     
    "It was. The Supreme Admiral asked us to do this to you, to as he said 'test the young man in a dangerous, surprising problem-solving situation'. Our healers were all geared up and ready, should you need assistance. When you fell, it was all I could do to convince them to not run out to you on foot." She chuckled. "I'll have to make amends later on. By the way, you got a souvenir on your forehead." I looked up automatically and swished my hand across my forehead, removing a couple of small stones that had not penetrated my skin on my fall but just stuck to my sweaty self.
     
    "Thanks. So I am not in trouble?"
     
    "Divine, no. You are here because of what you did with your shield. Tinting a shield is the final lesson in the academy. Most Shield Wizards can tint their shields just far enough for it to be visible, but not more. Matte black is something unheard of, I checked back with the Supreme Admiral." She took a small sip of her water. "Then I challenged him, I must admit. I wanted to know why you are still a cadet in the first place and why your ability with shield magic - and, for that matter, all the other colors - has not earned you an instant promotion to Lieutenant at least." She pointed at my shield ribbon. "You are the strongest shield in the fleet, probably with a comfortable margin. What you did to save us on Eden 3-1 should not have been possible for a single wizard."
     
    She sighed. "He gave me the weirdest answer: 'Tell the Prime Cadet that you are cleared for full disclosure, all officers ranked Captain and above are being informed. Have him scan you for this moment in our conversation so that he'll know it's real.' So, scan." I nodded and scanned gently.
     
    As she was a communicator we could solve the problem of secrecy easily enough. I used communications magic, just strong enough that she could hear it, and directed a thin stream of it at her. 'I see. Please nod if you can hear me.' She got big eyes and nodded. 'Sorry for this unconventional delivery, but this must remain secret for now. Encapsulate the memory of this with the utmost feeling of secrecy to ward against involuntary scans by sensors.' She nodded.
     
    'You may have heard of The Prophecy?' She nodded again, and her face suddenly got very serious. 'The Supreme Admiral and I both think that it might be about to come true. In fact, the Supreme Admiral seems to expect it now. It seems probable that The Prophecy is speaking about me. I sure hope that this is a false alarm, but I have the weirdest, strongest feeling that it is not and we are about to get trouble. That is why I did not receive a special promotion to Lieutenant right off Classification Day or a special promotion now. The Supreme Admiral and I both agree that is is better for me to go through the academy as cadet and learn as much as I can.'
     
    She mouthed "When?".
     
    'It might be today, it might be in ten years. Yes, it is frustrating, but we simply do not know.'
     
    She stuck her hand out. "Understood. Go back to the other cadets, tell them I congratulated you for your use of shield magic and thanked you again for saving our lives. Both of which I hereby do." She managed a small smile. "I believe some drills to increase this Brick's efficiency are in order." We shook, she took a big gulp from her water and headed out. I sipped and went back to my fellow cadets, with that light-headed feeling that always comes after a shock. All the captains and above were being informed? This had just turned very, very serious.
     
    I could only hope that I had time to finish the academy