Chapter 2

Do you think she’s had enough for one day?

I don’t think so.

Neither do I.

The blond young girl poured the tea silently and efficiently. When she had served the tea, one of the two elders waved her away. Keeping her eyes averted, she bowed and left the room, walking backwards so as not to offer any disrespect. She slid the rice-paper door closed, raising her eyes a little just so she could catch a glimpse of the two men.

One was her headmaster, a proud man who would do anything for power. He was dressed in blue. The other man radiated power. His crimson robes were decorated with dragons in gold thread. They only began talking after her footsteps had disappeared down the corridor.

She went to the kitchen to excuse herself. It was the end of her shift anyway, so they let her rest in her room. In the privacy of her room, she locked the door and took out a pair of tiny headphones. Switching it on, the receiver began receiving the signal from the transmitter under the bottom of the teapot in the room.

“That was the child?