My mom loved this man with her whole being. The tears she shed and the pain she endured in silence as she was left to take care of us in a neighborhood that wished to see us fail were devastating. She had to rise up as a widow and now single mother to give us the life she had dreamed together with her husband.
To think he was somewhere out here - alive and healthy - doing whatever duties a headmaster was designated to complete somewhere else while Mother had no choice but to do what any mother would.
Raise us with as much love she could fathom to replace the loss of our fatherly love.
Not to forget how Scarlett knew of this as well, leaving me to wonder how long she knew - or did she know this entire time?
The silence that continued to reign upon the room made it seem like no living individuals were within the square box walls. I wondered if they were actually expecting us to respond, but even if we wanted to, I knew I couldn't get a damn word out.
Not here and now.
When the room continued to remain silent for another full minute, Artemis slowly nodded his head in understanding.
"Your shock is reasonable, and we do not require you to respond back to us at this time. Not many reach this point at S.S.S. and it leaves all of those who have speechless."
He looked along the line at each one of us, his eyes finally returning to mine once more as he continued, "I'm sure you have lots of questions and the three of us specifically would be happy to answer them before you enter the realms of S.S.S. Sky Division. However, I'd like to say this now, seeing as it's more urgent."
What's more urgent?
"Now that you've graduated from the S.S.S. Trials, your invitations to S.S.S. Sky Division are ready and within the medals around your necks. Uzziah Sabella, your invitation will be back at the dorm house for you to sign with your own medal that has been awarded for your participation in ensuring Team 999 remained safe when outside interference attempted to ruin their chances."
All Uzziah did was nod just slightly, his expression as blank as ever.
"Again, I'm sure you are experiencing many emotions right now as well as piling questions. We can only answer them once you've agreed to attend the next four years of spy school. This is implemented to ensure whatever is discussed and revealed is kept safe and does not reach the outside surface. You're allowed to know that you are among the very few demigods that have reached this moment of time on graduation day, so you all should be proud of yourselves."
Demigods. We're...demigods?
That simple word of power wasn't even processing in my mind as of now, and I still couldn't even absorb fully what was being stated.
"With that being said, you will have twenty-four hours to make your decision. If you do decide to attend, you may activate your medals to reveal the official invitations and sign them with the magic feather that will appear with your solid intention to attend. Your signature confirms that you will attend the next four years as well as swear to keep this moment between your team and any other demigod students chosen to attend S.S.S. Sky Division."
He looked around us once more and added, "Just in case you're wondering, if you do decide to refuse, you'll be given a compensation package that will ensure the six of you are given decent jobs in society that best fit your strengths. This meeting will be erased from your memories, and you'll forget that you even attended S.S.S. Academy."
WHAT!
Aria nodded and decided to elaborate, "Please also remember that those memories include your interactions with one another. Everything that happened in the last four years will be erased and unless fate decides to unite the six of you once again in your normal supernatural lives, you won't recall anything that occurred. We've sadly been forced to use such drastic measures due to past students who've joined other spy academies and used the strategies and experience gained through their years at S.S.S. against us. We deal with the off chance of being attacked by spies of different schools and districts due to many reasons we can’t disclose at this time."
Again, the room was heavy with silence, and Artemis nodded.
"You'll have twenty-four hours from when you leave this room. I'd suggest unlocking your medals privately, for each one has a message that will project a holographic video and you will be told some secrets never before revealed from the chosen mentor of the invitation. Once you've signed and confirmed your enrollment as a team you will begin your summer vacation. We won't answer your burning questions unless it's deemed right by the council. All of us who stand here are magically wired and we can reveal what is allowed. We are unable to disclose what should still remain a secret until the time is right. Use your summertime to bond, tie any loose ends or resolve conflicts, and spend some time with your families and friends, if need be. The night before the start of school, we will ask for three team members to come to this very room so that we can discuss and answer any further questions. The information will be recorded so your teammates who don't attend will be able to listen to the tape. You'll then be given a private interaction with one of us to ask anything else."
With another scan of our line, he nodded again.
"That is all for now. You have twenty-four hours to make your decision. Before it is said, I know this seems like a very harsh way of celebrating our successful spies, but please remember that we're doing this for your own good. I hope we'll see all of you three months from now."
No words could describe how I felt now, and the idea of forgetting everything that occurred was the most frightening thing.
I’d forget my loves, the memories we shared, Lia, and even Star.
That last part of my thought made my nerves spike up in a flash, and with a poof, there was a drop on my head. I blinked and could already predict the reaching paw that patted my nose before Star revealed herself.
She looked into my eyes, only noticing my prolonged silence before she was on the floor before us and looking at the lined-up council.
Stretching her body and spreading out her stance, she hissed.
"MEWR!"
The sound was loud enough to make all of them flinch, but my eyes widened as a prism magic circle appeared beneath us and the light shooting out from the circular masterpiece engulfed our vision.
When the light dimmed, I opened my eyes to see we were back at the dorm house. All six of us quickly exchanged looks before we peered down at Star, who stretched again before looking back at me.
"Mewr?!"
"She's...asking if she did good?" Dimitri's voice was barely audible as he looked at Star.
Now my eyes were watery as I slowly nodded.
"You did amazing, Star. Thank you for getting us out of there." I hoped my shaky voice showed enough of my appreciation as my heart dropped, and I burst into sobs.
"Mewr..." Star was off the ground and floating up to snuggle against my cheek in asecond, and the loving action only made me cry harder.
Soon arms wrapped around me, aiding in comforting each other as we finally took in what just occurred.
There was so much to say. So many things that we now had to do before we made yet another life-changing decision with a time limit looming our heads.
What hurt the most was that the last four years led us to a web of secrets, and even after all the sacrifices, challenges, and accomplishments we carried on our shoulders, it felt like we hadn't achieved a single thing now.