However, my mission is always front and center of my priorities. I’ve become adept at sneaking cell phone pictures from various texts in the library and pocketing materials from the infirmary and classroom supplies.

I regularly have calls with Kor, who comes armed with a bunch of specific questions and tasks from the Inner Chamber. Sometimes I speak with other Inner Chamber members as well. The other day I had a very long and very boring call with some United Nations dude about clean energy.

Fun fact, a lot of renewable energy initiatives in the provincial world are actually already based in Maker tech and have been introduced into society over the years by the Families.

Less fun fact, Mr. UN was trying to get more specific details about how much of the island’s electricity is renewable. The answer is 100 percent. It is now my very unfun homework to find out the methods by which they achieve this percentage. But I do actually want to help combat climate change, so I’m not mad about it.

I’m still worried about getting caught, but ever since appeasing Grey by involuntarily acting as Simon’s trampoline, the Guard hasn’t been giving me any more attention than they would a regular student.

My bigger problem lately is that I’ve been feeling guilty. I’ve been spending more time with Kaylie in order to learn about how Maker medicine works, and Xander, the Ark steward, to gain a better understanding of the security surrounding the Guild Testaments, and I kind of hate that I’m lying to everyone who is being so nice to me. It’s not like they’re the ones responsible for keeping their knowledge from the rest of the world.

But I know I’m doing the right thing. I may be enjoying everything I’m learning, and I may have a growing respect for a lot of the Maker ideals, but that doesn’t change the reality of their inherent selfishness. I’m here for the benefit of the whole world, not just for me.

Except for this week. Right now I’m way too busy and distracted to do anything other than work on polishing my gallerie for Quorum.

Which is in two days.

Not only will being a journey give me access to the Ark and the Guild Testaments, but I’ll also get access to the guild labs and stockrooms. Everything about my job here relies on me getting accepted into a guild.

The guild system is not nearly as confining as I’d expected. Unlike provincial university—where you basically have to choose your career path as a child, and if you choose wrong, too bad—the guilds expose you to all different disciplines aligned with your skills.