“Cadet Mason,” came a voice behind me, and I jumped guiltily and immediately pulled my hand out of my pocket. I turned to see Professor Green staring past me and out the window over my shoulder. “You aren’t a fan of Cadet Fitz,” he said. It was a statement, not a question. I shifted uncomfortably, not quite sure what to do with that. Green was my least-favorite professor. He was direct to a fault and made me feel like my skin was two sizes too small. When he looked at me it was as though my skull was the same clear glass as the window, allowing him to see all my thoughts swirling around inside my head. Every other professor was happy with their yes, sirs and no, ma’ams, but Green had never been impressed with me. Not when I aced every test he gave or finished at the top of every simulation.

“I’m not sure how I should answer that, sir,” I finally said when the silence had begun to stretch uncomfortably.

“You don’t have to,” Green said. “The boxes that need to be moved to the third floor are over here.” I turned and followed him to the corner storage closet. He threw open the door and flicked on the lights to reveal stacks of dust-covered boxes.

“That’s a lot of boxes,” I said.

“Then you’d better get a move on,” he said, turning to sit down at his desk. I stared at that stack and felt a new fury bubble in my veins. Why was I here and not Fitz? She’d been just as guilty as me for causing a disturbance in the hall. Probably even more so. I picked up the first box and turned to see Green still studying me, and I quickly rearranged my face into one of passive obedience.

“She isn’t here because she doesn’t need to build character,” he said, and I paused on my way out the door. What was this guy? A mind reader?

“And I do, sir?” I said.

“She has her weaknesses, and you have yours, whether you’re willing to admit it or not. Moral fiber is something that can’t be taught, but hard work helps some. Being the best isn’t always the best thing for one’s character. It will do you no good to be the best Glitcher at the Academy if your insides don’t match your outside.”

I had no idea what that meant, but I mumbled something I hoped sounded like an agreement and headed out the door.