The First Assembly
Cho
We were walking uncertainly towards the school. It was a sleek black edifice lined with white. Its presence was formidable. Somehow, without meaning to, our pace slowed to a crawl. My hand found Snowy’s. Fizz’s arm went around Sandy.
The door creaked open. A tall lady stood there in a long black dress, resembling a kimono. She had a strange accent, as if a mix of many languages. “I am your principal, Fa C. Do come in. ”
Zacharias
The scary dragon lady looked at us and beckoned us in. My mouth was too dry to speak, but evidently Fizz’s wasn’t. “Why do they call you Fa C? Is that a nickname? Or is it your real name?”
Ms. Dragon Ma’am didn’t seem offended or irritated at Fizz’s question. On the contrary, she seemed pleased, almost impressed. “Students and teachers alike call me Fa C. That is all you need to know of my name.”
Angelina
This woman had dark black hair with small white braids hanging from it. Her gown thingy was tied with a white sash. A knife hung from a strap on her sash. It was nearly concealed, but I didn’t miss it.
She had done a good job of trying to protect her identity. Her hair was clearly dyed in a morbid, fascinating sort of way.
Vincent
I could tell you straight up what I found weird about this lady. Her eyes were jet black. When I looked into them, I saw midnight, and storms, and wilderness. Needless to say, that rather unnerved me.
I hurriedly tore my eyes from her face and looked at her hands instead. Big mistake. The were loosely gripping a gun in a holster. Here perfectly manicured nails were black with the slender ring finger painted white.
Cho
Ms Fa C walked at such a pace that made me have to run to keep up with her. She sent us to a room. closed the door, and locked it behind her. Clearly, they were not taking any chances where the students were concerned.
The room was empty when we came, but it began filling up with children soon. They all must have finished the obstacle course. Strange..I never saw anybody but us in the obstacles.
Zacharias
Lady Iron Dragon entered the room and asked for us to follow her. We did, but not without some trepidation. We were led into a large hall. There were seats in groups of four. Naturally, we sat together.
I had a look at the other teams. One consisted of some soft spoken children. They threw furtive glances at everyone. Another table had a group of children in trendy outfits. The sat with colored hair and eyeliner, making them look a bit like goths.
Angelina
The assembled groups had both girls and boys in various ratios. They sat in various poses of anticipation. The tables each sat at, looked similar, but not quite. Ours was wooden and old fashioned. Another one seemed to be made up of some kind of screen.
I was about to look at some other tables when Fa C started speaking. And when Fa C starts speaking, Everyone stops to listen.
Vincent
This is what she said, “Students and Teachers, My officers around the world have recruited this batch of students to join us this year. Hogwart coaches students to be spies, people loyal to our bureau of investigation.
In order to be successful spies, training needs to start at a young age. You all are 13 years old. your training will be for seven years, extending until you are 20. You may choose to stay at the institute year round or opt to go home for the summer vacations.”
Cho
She continued, “There were 30 students selected in the training course this year. 20 cleared the initiation. Each group’s initiation was slightly different, just like every cabin in the train and every table is different.
All spies are not the same. We aim to take that part of you that is different and nurture it to make you special. Every day is a test. Every class is a test. We are always watching. A list is pinned up outside the rooms of every year. The toppers of that year are listed in order on it.”
Zacharias
“You are not an individual here. Your group is your family. Spies have to work with each other and trust each other. Ranks state the groups, not the students. This will most likely be your group when you grow up as well.
Life as a spy will be hard and wearing. Just because this isn’t a normal school, it doesn’t mean you won’t work hard. You will work twice as hard as any other student in any other school. If anyone wants to back out, please back out now.”
Angelina
Nobody moved an inch. They seemed glued to their seats and frozen. Fa C appeared to wipe a tear from her eye. “This is the path you have chosen. There’s no looking back no. I hope that you think you have chosen well”
Her voice suddenly became a lot more brisk and businesslike. “Right, so classes start at 7:00 am. Food will be made by you. A spy has to cook for himself, or herself as the case may be. All food ingredients will be provided in the pantry. You must place an order two hours in advance.”
Vincent
“Everyone in the room must know how to cook. If you do not know how to, I suggest you learn. We have quite a few books on gourmet cooking in the library. I will not hear of only girls doing the cooking.
Every child in this room has been chosen for the training course. You may have been taught the old maxim, ‘boys shouldn’t hit girls.’ I suggest that you put this out of your heads right this moment, because they will not hesitate to hit you. You may be expected to fight each other physically in self defence, no questions asked.”
Cho
“There are many classes in this course for your first year. They will not all be revealed to you at once. You will receive a schedule stating where you have to go and it is your business to go there. Your classes may be taken all 20 together or individual groups or just a few together.
As I have already established, your cabin is the most important group you will have. The groups that you have made in the compartments are most probably going to be your cabin, but we have an official ceremony. It is called the Key ceremony.”
Zacharias
“Please stand up and come closer.” A teacher close by took out a large bag. “Put your hands in and draw out one key.”
Everyone did so. My hands had felt around the bag a little, but no key seemed right. Then I found a brass old fashioned key. It fit. I picked it up and held it aloft. Snowy, ‘Punzel, and Fizz all held the same key.
Angelina
I was thrilled that we all had the same key. Fa C said, “That is the key to your cabin. The others holding a similar key are your cabinmates.”
There was only one separation. A pair of girls, probably twins, were separated. One held a keycard and the other, a small iron key. They parted, visibly relieved.
Vincent
Fa C said, “Your rooms are down that hall. You may leave.” And we did.