Episode 9

 The academy had four floors.

By mid-morning, it had approximately zero responsible students.

---

Second Floor – Strategy Class (Allegedly)

Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting long gold rectangles across polished desks. The teacher was mid-lecture about defensive formations.

Myskai wasn’t listening.

She was standing slightly out of her seat, staring out the window like a gargoyle with trust issues.

“…Is that Rose?” she muttered.

Ryder leaned over. “What?”

Myskai squinted. “With that Ash guy?”

Birdie scrambled to the window. Aziza remained seated, but her eyes flicked up calmly.

“Aren’t they supposed to be in class?” Ryder asked.

Myskai’s jaw dropped. “Is Rose actually…skipping?!”

A chair screeched loudly behind them.

“Ash is skipping?!”

Heads snapped toward Elias, who was now standing straight up, hands braced on his desk, looking personally betrayed by the concept.

Ryder blinked. “Is that unusual? Seems like something that would be normal for that kind of guy.”

Elias stared at him like he had just insulted the integrity of mathematics. “Ash has never missed a minute of school that wasn’t due to an inevitable reason.”

Every eye in the room shifted toward him.

Realizing the gazes on him he slowly lowered himself back into his chair mumbling “…It’s strange.”

Myskai didn’t sit.

“Should I get a bat on them?”

Aziza’s head turned immediately. “I don’t think that would be wise.”

“What?” Myskai demanded.

Aziza folded her hands neatly. “They’re leaving together, alone, without telling you. They clearly want to be alone.”

Birdie nodded carefully. “Aziza might have a point.”

“Yeah,” Aziza continued. “We’re here. We can afford to give Roselyn a break.”

Myskai hesitated.

The word break felt foreign.

“I guess…”

Ryder leaned back casually. “If my sister gets a break, how about us?”

Myskai blinked at him. “I don’t know…”

“Your bats can watch the academy,” Ryder said smoothly. “And we have plenty of agents here to hold the fort.”

She hesitated. “But—”

“A break would be good for you, Bat.”

There it was. That nickname he only used when he was being sincere.

“If you think so…”

“I do.”

A long pause.

“Okay, fine. Where are we even going to go?”

Ryder grinned. “I heard there’s a nice café over the river.”

That did it.

Within minutes, Myskai’s bats had repositioned into subtle surveillance mode, and she was walking out the classroom door pretending she had not just abandoned her responsibilities for the first time in…forever.

Aziza watched them go.

Then she turned to Birdie.

“If you want to go have fun too, I can watch over. No one will know if just one more is gone.”

Birdie’s eyes widened. “Really? It’s been ages! Thanks, Aziza, I owe you one.”

“Think nothing of it.”

Birdie spun around. “Elias! Join me?”

Elias froze like a deer in philosophical headlights. “Uh… I…”

“He’s coming with me. See ya, Aziza.”

And just like that, Elias was being dragged into freedom, still trying to process the collapse of Ash’s perfect attendance record.

Aziza remained seated.

She glanced at the clock.

“Huh,” she murmured. “Odd how well things work.”

---

Third Floor – Advanced Combat Theory

Kosmo tapped his pen against the desk.

“Where’s the teacher?” 

Riddhima slowly leaned back in her chair. “You guys thinking what I’m thinking?”

Ace didn’t hesitate. “If you mean skipping… I’m up for it.”

Amber stiffened. “But…?”

Riddhima gestured vaguely at the half-empty classroom. “Roselyn and Myskai are here, they don’t need us every minute. Besides, we’ll only be gone a few hours. Most of the students in this class have left by now anyways.”

Ace turned to Kosmo. “Arcade?”

Kosmo’s eyes lit up. “Sounds fun. Do you know the coordinates of one?”

“65.8076 and -34.0678.”

“Sweet. Let’s go!”

Amber stood halfway up. “Guys—”

Riddhima grabbed her wrist gently. “Don’t ruin the fun. You really want to stay here all by yourself?”

Amber looked around at the emptying room.

“…Well, no…”

“Hurry up then!”

Kosmo grinned, already pulling out his teleport device.

And just like that, another group blinked out of existence.

---

Fourth Floor – Tactical Ethics

Echo was mid-note when S.S. Water leaned across the desk dramatically.

“Guys, I have a huge favor. Can you cover for me?”

Echo didn’t look up. “Where are you headed?”

“Well, I met this guy yesterday while I was getting stuff for dinner. I agreed to meet him today.”

Lil Bill’s head shot up. “Cool! What’s he like?”

“I’m not really sure,” S.S. admitted. “But he cooks!”

Lil Bill blinked. “He… cooks?”

Echo raised an eyebrow. “Is that all it takes to gather your attention?”

“No,” S.S. said quickly. “But there was this mysterious vibe about him. I’m curious. That’s all.”

Lil Bill straightened in his chair. “I… cook.”

She stared at him flatly. “And so do I, Bill. Wrap your head around that now?”

He hesitated. “…Would you let me cook… for you?”

She considered this.

“Sure. But only if you cover for me.”

Stra, who had been quietly observing the entire exchange with unreadable eyes, suddenly leaned back.

“What if we just all skip?”

Echo looked over slowly. “Excuse me?”

“One time won’t hurt,” Stra continued smoothly. “There are plenty of other agents here. Lil Bill can take us to his favorite restaurant and we’ll keep your secret. We can be each other's alibies if worst comes to worst.”

Echo tapped her pen against her notebook.

“…I’m up for that. I could use a good meal.”

Lil Bill brightened instantly.

S.S. stood, already gathering her things. “It’s settled. I’ve got to go now! Thanks guys!”

She hurried out before anyone could overthink it.

The academy bell rang.

Echoing through corridors. Through stairwells. Through empty rooms.

On the grounds outside, students wandered freely.

Ash and Crimson somewhere secret.

Myskai and Ryder heading toward a cafe over the river.

Birdie dragging Elias toward freedom.

Kosmo teleporting half a class to an arcade.

S.S. Water walking toward Thorn & Scorn Park.

Lil Bill trying not to think too hard about that.

And Vienna, somewhere in the building, smiling to herself.

Because sometimes chaos doesn’t need to be forced.

Sometimes all it needs…

is a little encouragement.

And thus claps.

There were no agents left on the school grounds.