29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XWcumggXc
INVISIBLE BONDS
The Dining Hall was a jungle. Well, not exactly a jungle, but how else would you describe a room full of spies-in-training gossiping and chatting in (at least) fourteen languages?
I sat at our usual table with my two best friends, Nora and Melody. Vanessa and Amy had stayed back to crack a difficult code in Advanced Encryption class. I could feel everyone’s eyes on us as we chowed down on our friend rice. Ever since we won the Inter-team Championships, we’re been sort of like celebrities at AAE and I was loving every minute of it.
“A senior greeted me today!” Melody said excitedly. “Of all people!”
“Why wouldn’t she?” Nora said, biting down on her chicken. “You think it’s easy winning a competition like that?”
“Do you think we will be sent on missions?” Melody asked. “Like real ones? Not just simulations?””
I took the last bite of my food and relaxed like I wasn’t thinking the same thing. With our status as sophomores and good grades in Covert Operations class plus bonus points for winning the Championships, our chances of going on real missions –doing real spy stuff– was really high. But convincing Madame Fiona (headmistress of AAE) to do so was the problem. She would say that she would need to see for herself that we were ready. To be honest, she was the one in our way and that really irked me.
“Maybe,” I said. “If the rumours are true.”
Suddenly, a wave of whispers washed over the room and the chattering ceased. I was about to ask what the hell just happened? When my ears picked up on a conversation happening outside the Dining Hall. All Ascendants have enhanced senses but based on what I heard I wished I didn’t.
“...your mum was a good colleague of mine.” That was Madame Fiona. “Although we were also rivals, we respected ourselves and worked perfectly as a team, always striving to be the best versions of ourselves. I was shocked when I heard about her sudden disappearance”.
Another voice spoke out. It sounded younger but I knew all too well. “It came as a shock to everyone.” A pause. “Please, if you know anything about her whereabouts, can you tell me and my sisters?”
“Trust me, Irisa, I will make sure you and your sisters will be the first to be informed.” I could tell Madama Fiona was smiling. “Until then, welcome to the Athena Academy of Espionage.”
The doors opened and Irisa meekly walked in. I hated how cool she looked at just 13, two years younger than me (soon to be three when I turn 16 in November). Cute jewel earrings hung below her cropped curly haircut and she wore a blue open-zipper over her uniform, along with a denim messenger bag decorated with all sorts of patterns and patches –including a school emblem brooch– strapped across her back.
“Hey, Ruby, isn’t that your cousin?” Melody asked me, squinting her eyes.
“Yeah…” I replied. I didn’t mean to sound so annoyed –a good spy should know to control and manipulate her emotions– but I was having a hard time doing so. I mean, it’s bad enough that four of my (adopted!) cousins had just barged into my life but now one of them attends my school?!
After getting a plate of plain spaghetti and salad (ew!)Irisa looked around for a place to sit. I avoid eye contact because A) I don’t need her to interrupt my social life and B) everyone knows freshmen don’t sit with sophomores, or anyone, for that matter.
But, of course, Irisa failed to see the obvious.
“Hey cos!” She said excitedly immediately after spotting me and rushing over.
Please don’t call me ‘cos’ I thought as I said, “Oh…Hey.”
Nora poked me in the ribs, a subtle way of telling me to be nicer. Sorry girl, when it comes to annoying cousins, I don’t do nice.
“Can you believe we’re now in the same school?” She asked, practically jumping up and down in her light blue sneakers that matched her jacket. “A school for spies, even?!”
I sighed, took out a packet of bubblegum from my front pocket and popped a piece into my mouth. I chewed it thoughtfully for a bit before replying, “I think that’s supposed to be a secret. You can’t be a spy if you can’t keep secrets.”
Irisa’s face fell and I could feel Nora and Melody glaring at me. What’s the matter? I told her the truth!
“Well, that’s why she’s here, isn’t she?” Melody said, defending her. “To become a spy, just like us. They wouldn’t pick her if she wasn’t capable of being one.”
“Actually, they would,” I pointed out. “And they did. She’s only here because of who her mum is. You can’t be the daughter of Roxy Godwin and expect not to be admitted into spy school.”
“Most of us are daughters of spies,” Nora snapped. “We are the daughters of spies. What exactly is your point?”
“My point is that we were picked because of our skills, not just our parents. She was picked only because of her parents.”
I heard a sob behind me but when I turned back, Irisa was gone. I have to admit, I did feel bad but I was glad I didn’t have to deal with her now and could move on to more important matters like how to convince Madame Fiona to send us on real missions. But judging by the looks my friends gave me, I knew it wouldn’t be that easy.
“What the hell was that, Ruby?!” Nora spat.
“What?” I spat back, already knowing the answer.
“The way you talked about her,” Melody said quietly. “How you acted like she wasn’t even there.”
“I only told the truth,” I said, crossing my arms. “She can’t be a spy and act that way.”
“You can’t be a spy and act this way,” Nora said. “You took things too personal instead of professional or, at least, mature. You failed to be the bigger person, to be the one who would do things right, just like what spies would never do. But guess what? You are not a spy. None of us are. That’s why we’re here. So you have no right to talk to your fellow student that way, let alone a new one.”
I clenched my fists in irritation. “You guys are being dramatic. Irisa isn’t even related to me. She’s ADOPTED. And I do have a right to talk to her like that because I have more experience than her and a chance of becoming a real spy before her. It’s you that doesn’t have a right to talk to me like that because you guys are attacking me for such a small reason!”
Nora and Melody looked at each other, frowning. Then they prepared to leave.
“We’re going to our next class,” Nora said. “Meet us when you’re ready to be a sensible human being.”
“And a good friend,” Melody added.
I could only watch as they quickly cleaned up and then disappeared into the now dispersing crowd. I so badly wanted to chase after them, to say sorry, to put our life-long friendship back on track. But I was so angry I just embraced the sudden loneliness.
After my friends left, I slumped back in my seat, feeling the sting of their words. Nora’s right. I messed up. But could they understand the pressure of living up to a family of legends? I had to focus on something else—something productive.
Later that evening, as the sun set over Nova City, casting long shadows through the academy’s towering windows, I found myself in the training hall. The rhythmic sound of punches hitting the bag echoed in the spacious room. It was just me and the heavy bag tonight.
With each punch, I tried to push away the frustration and anger. My fists landed harder, faster, fueled by the day's events. Sweat dripped down my forehead, but I didn't stop. I couldn’t stop. If only I could train hard enough to forget about the tension with Irisa and the argument with my friends.
"You're hitting that bag like it owes you something," a familiar voice called out from the doorway.
I turned to see Madame Fiona, arms crossed, her stern gaze softened by a slight smile. I quickly stepped back from the bag, wiping my forehead with the back of my hand.
"Madame Fiona," I said, trying to sound composed.
"You’ve had a tough day, I hear," she said, stepping into the room. "Your friends are worried about you. And so am I."
I sighed, feeling a lump rise in my throat. "I just... I just want to prove myself. To everyone. I don't want to be seen as just the daughter of some legendary spy. I want to be me."
Madame Fiona nodded, her expression thoughtful. "It's a heavy burden to carry a family legacy, but it’s not your only burden. You have your own path to carve. And that starts with recognizing your own worth, not just in comparison to others."
I looked down, my hands clenched into fists. "I know. It’s just hard sometimes."
"It’s supposed to be hard," she said gently. "That’s what makes it worth it. But you don’t have to do it alone. Your friends, your family—they’re there for you."
Her words lingered in my mind as I left the training hall that night. Maybe I needed to approach things differently, to find a way to balance my ambitions with my relationships. Tomorrow, I’d try to make things right with Nora, Melody, and even Irisa. I owed it to myself to be better, to be the kind of spy, and the kind of friend they could rely on.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCkuq4UvxT
