by C. C. Monö
When he reached his chair, he pushed the round spectacles further up on his prominent nose before motioning everyone to sit. The applause died down, and the silence that followed felt almost intrusive. Principal Cunningham beheld the audience, his pudgy hands on the backrest of his chair.
Izabella let out a little giggle. Paul picked up his champagne glass, saw that it was empty and put it back. Thabo didn’t move a muscle. Axel clasped his hands under the table as the tension grew. I’m doing this for Talk Thirteen, he reminded himself a few times.
“Almost two hundred and forty thousand people applied,” Principal Cunningham began with his high-born, British accent, and a voice so clear and charismatic, it was almost hypnotic. “Twelve were chosen. It was no simple task. Many people have the potential to become good leaders, yet, at the Academy, good isn’t good enough. We don’t even settle for ‘great’. Our students must have the potential to become historical. Their presence must make those around them feel thunderstruck.” He paused, considering his audience with an air of tranquil wisdom glowing around him. “After long and rigorous testing, thorough evaluations and meticulous scrutiny, twelve students were finally chosen. Twelve potentials. Twelve leaders-to-be…and these twelve …are you.” He allowed another dramatic pause, then opened his arms wide. “Welcome to Eagle King’s Academy!”
The students broke out in wild whoops and cheers. Lights flashed across the room and confetti began to rain down from the high ceiling. Axel peered around the hall feeling sceptical about the whole thing. The students behaved worse than teenagers at a rock concert, and the servants like religious fanatics worshiping a god. It was unnerving to see.
Then his eyes fell upon one of the teachers sitting next to Principal Cunningham, Professor Jackson, the man Nicole had referred to when discussing the golden eagle at the foyer. Dressed in a black suit, he sat with his hands interlocked in front of him. He was in his mid-fifties, handsome but with a grim, unyielding face and piercing blue eyes that stared at…Hey. Axel paused. Why was Professor Jackson staring at him?
Shit! The realization struck him hard and he cursed his own carelessness. While everyone else was clapping, shouting, and cheering, Axel sat there quiet and wide-eyed, taking in the spectacle around him. He must have stood out like a paralysed raven among lorikeets.
Putting on a smile he began applauding and it took over a minute before he dared another glance at the teachers’ table; by then Professor Jackson had turned his attention elsewhere.
At last, Principal Cunningham raised his hands, and the room fell silent.
“The Eagle King’s Academy. We are proud of our name. Throughout history, the eagle has symbolised power, authority, wisdom, and strength, and we live by our name. With our guidance, you will become the greatest among leaders; the king of eagles. It will not be easy. To succeed and graduate you must work harder than you ever imagined. Over the next two and a half years, you’ll be pushed to your limits and discover sides of yourself you never dreamt of.
“I tell you this so you understand the magnitude of what you have embarked on. There will be days when you question yourself; days when you feel all alone, and moments when you wish you were alone. There will be times when you want to give up and go home, and days when getting out of bed seems to be the most difficult task in the world.” The principal waved his index finger in the air. “And by that I am not referring to you waking up on a Sunday morning with a bad hangover.”
The students laughed and Axel had to admit he was drawn to the principal’s words. Not so much by what the man said but how he said it. The way he emphasised his words, pausing at the right time and using the right intonations unhindered.
His gaze moved to Professor Jackson, who sat rigid in his chair, scanning the room like a prison warden expecting an inmate riot. Axel was quick to turn away before their eyes could meet again.
“To be a true, successful leader is not an easy task,” the principal continued. “You will continuously face new challenges, even long after you’ve left the Academy, and therefore I would like to tell you a little story.
“Many years ago, a student of ours faced a particularly difficult dilemma. She began doubting herself and her ability as leader. To help her make the right decisions, she came up with a few words based on some of our guiding principles. It strengthened her when she needed it the most, so when she graduated, she decided to share her words with the other students. That is how our secret Leadership Allegiance was born.” Principal Cunningham pointed at the wall behind him. “Please stand up and let us read the sacred text illuminated behind me.”
“Out of darkness and into light,
I come walking without fright,
I am strong and I am proud,
I have the power to rule a crowd.
I build visions for you to see,
I inspire all of thee,
I motivate so you will follow,
I’ll drain our enemies’ weak and hollow.
I empower and foster trust,
Will make ‘following’ into lust,
I build potential where none exists,
Will lead the way through rain and mist.
I make decisions when others waver,
I’ll be your friend and secret saver,
I succeed where others fail,
I’ll be the one that people hail.
I am accountable for my actions,
Keep in check my bad reactions,
But I am accountable for you as well,
So if you fail me I’ll make life hell.
I’m the role model who leads the way,
All the time and all the day,
I’m a fighter, not a bleeder,
I’m the one you call the leader.”
In the dim light, Axel stood at his place. He felt dreadful. He was an outsider and an imposter in a world that was unlikely to accept either. As the applause broke out around him, he closed his eyes, knowing somewhere deep in his heart that he was heading for disaster.
CHAPTER 20
Taking a deep breath, the man pulled the black mask over his face. Dressed in black sweatpants and matching hoodie, he slipped through the door, leaving the safety of the stairwell behind him. From this moment on, he wouldn’t be able to move without the security cameras recording him. With any luck, the guards wouldn’t pay the ninth floor any attention. If they did, this would all be over within minutes.
Checking his watch, he determined the teachers had now left the party and were three stories up, staring at large screens while analysing the students as they interacted with one another at the party. This meant the security guards were focusing on five areas; the outside premises, the entrances, the roof, the restaurant, and the twelfth floor where the teachers were. In other words, he should be safe. At least that was the theory.
With trembling hands, the man placed a key-card against the lock to open the door. He adjusted the hood over his head and entered Axel’s apartment. The creepy blue light from the aquarium shimmered into the hallway creating an unsettling atmosphere. The man took a moment to collect himself; just long enough to get control of his breathing. He didn’t turn on the lights as it could draw the attention of one of the patrolling night guards.
He passed through the living room and reached the dark corridor. With a bit of fumbling, he managed to turn on the night-vision function on his mask, bringing the area into full view. After allowing himself a second to scan the surroundings, he hurried down the corridor to the bedroom.
The wallet was in the drawer of the bedside table. Working as fast as he could, he pulled out the business card, replaced it with a replica, and returned the wallet where he found it.
Two minutes and seventeen seconds had passed since leaving the safety of the stairwell. At midnight, the automated back-up system would kick in. The security cameras would transfer the past twenty-four hours of recordings to a secure hard drive, impossible to breech. That was in forty-two minutes. Before then, he needed to manipulate the recordi
ngs to make himself vanish from every camera in the building. Every step had been planned in advance, but it would still take him at least twenty minutes to complete that process. It was time to get a move on.
CHAPTER 21
Axel woke early the following morning to sunlight peeking through the edges of the thick curtains and the refreshing smell of ocean and warm sand. Confused he sat up and let his eyes wander the room. Oh yes, the Academy!
He kicked off the goose down-filled duvet and headed for the bathroom. After a hot shower, he pulled on pair of black trousers, a turquoise shirt, and matching sweater. Pretty good, he decided, checking his reflection in the mirror before heading out for breakfast. To his surprise, most of the students were already in the restaurant. He received a few polite nods on the way to his table.
“Good morning,” Izabella said with a sly grin. She appeared the picture of professionalism in a pair of fancy grey trousers and a pink blouse. “You’re not an early riser, are you?”
“It’s ten past seven!” Axel replied and sat down. “Oh, thank you.”
The last comment was directed at a waitress who appeared out of nowhere with a cup of steaming tea, a jug of warm milk, and a pile of newspapers, which she handed him with a polite bow.
Izabella laughed and pushed up her glasses.
“I got up around five thirty figuring I might as well get used to it. I’ve a feeling that from now on we won’t be sleeping much. This is the E.K.A., after all.
Paul looked up from behind a newspaper. “I was thinking the same.” He smiled. “I got up at six.”
Axel poured some milk into his cup. Considering the massive bags under Paul’s blood-shot eyes, the guy could have used a few more hours in bed, he thought.
“How are your feet?”
Paul barked out a laugh.
“A little sore, mate. Too much dancing, you know.”
Axel picked up his steaming cup. “What about you, Thabo? When did you get up?”
“Hmm,” Thabo said, without taking his eyes off his paper. “Too early for my liking.”
All right, so Thabo wasn’t much of a morning-person. Of course, neither was Axel. Since the others seemed content to spend the morning in silence, he dropped the pleasantries and focused on the breakfast buffet instead.
The Academy’s offerings easily rivalled that of any five-star hotel. The long table, behind which the teachers had sat the previous night, now displayed a vast array of breads, pastries, juices, fruits, cereal, sausages, eggs, baked beans, and anything else one could desire for breakfast.
Half an hour later, stuffed to the brim with pancakes and an omelette, Axel waddled down to the majestic foyer for the morning orientation. He was the first student to arrive. Nicole was waiting for them by the golden eagle, engaged in a quiet conversation with one of the guards.
A faint scent of rose hovered over the place as Axel made his way across the marble floor. He gave Miss Davis at the reception a polite nod. She bowed in return which made him feel both uncomfortable and a bit pompous. When two other staff members also lowered their heads in respect, Axel made a silent vow to never get used to the bowing. He wasn’t better than these people and didn’t want to be treated as such.
Soon his thoughts moved on to other matters. Even from a distance, Nicole looked stunning. Her blonde hair stood out in sharp contrast to the black coat that seemed to hug her body. Lucky coat. When she saw him, she brightened and waved off the guard.
“Good morning, Mr Hallman. How are you this beautiful morning?”
“Great! And you?”
“Oh…I’m very well, thank you.” She paused and seemed to study him for a second. “How kind of you to ask. Did you enjoy the party last night? I met Ms Izzati at the restaurant this morning, and she said there was a fair bit of dancing going on.”
Axel laughed. Dalilah Izzati was an intense woman from Malaysia. They hadn’t spoken much as she’d spent most of her time on the dance floor.
“Well, she, Julie, and Paul were dancing as if there was no tomorrow,” he confirmed. “The rest of us weren’t as persistent.”
Nicole let out a charming laugh, the kind that washes over you like gentle breeze on a hot summer day. It was so sweet and radiant it seemed to light up the entire foyer.
At that moment, Izabella, Paul, and two other students, Julie and Federico, stepped out of the elevators. Dressed in their new black coats, they crossed the large open space with proud faces, passing the bowing servants without as much as a glance.
“All right,” Nicole said, watching the students approach. “Are you ready to explore Brussels?”
CHAPTER 22
Brussels was a charming city with narrow cobblestone streets and great architectural buildings. Known for its chocolate and beer, the city offered countless cafés and pubs, along with waffle stands and restaurants. By the time the students returned to the Academy six hours later, Axel felt as if he’d seen every corner of the city.
“I’m exhausted,” Federico Calvo sighed, as they passed through the security checkpoint.
Axel had spoken to Federico the day before and found him to be an ambitious man. He’d started his career at the age of ten, selling fresh juice in his hometown of Choele Choel in Argentina. By twelve he had twenty-three friends working for him, pressing and selling the juice. By eighteen, he’d saved enough money to start his own juice bar. Now, at twenty-three, he was a millionaire, owning several bars in the country. It was crazy. He was just a year older than Axel.
Federico ran a hand through his thick, curly hair and turned to Cordelia Campbell, a charming woman from Victoria, Canada. “I’m going up to the pool for a swim. Do you want to join me?”
Cordelia, who during lunch had told Axel about the successful network she’d started for young entrepreneurs, turned to Julie Baston, a bright but serious woman from France. “Sounds fun. Will you join us?”
Izabella gave Axel a nudge. “Come on, we should go too.”
Before Axel had a chance to reply, Paul stepped in and placed his big hand on Izabella’s shoulder. “That’s a great idea,” he said. “Let’s rendezvous in twenty minutes.”
Axel stepped out of the elevator on the fourteenth floor. He was in a wide corridor with marbled floor and large, arched windows. Izabella, Paul and Thabo were already waiting for him on a bench under a massive, potted tree. According to a wall-mounted sign made of gold, the pool area was at the end of the passage, near the sports centre.
“That way,” Paul declared and stood up.
They passed an old man in green overalls, tending to a colourful flowerbed along the wall. As soon as the servant saw them, he stood up with effort and bowed. Axel gave him a fleeting smile. The others, however, ignored the man. Instead, they admired the spectacular, curved ceiling, which functioned as a massive screen, displaying a blue sky with small tufts of clouds moving down the corridor at a slow pace.
“Fascinating,” Thabo mumbled.
Right as he was, the captivating ceiling dwarfed in comparison to what they discovered a few minutes later. The pool area was nothing less than a grand indoor rainforest, and as soon as the students stepped through the doors, they came to a unified stop, eyes wide with amazement.
“Wow!” Axel managed after a moment’s stunned silence. He drew a deep breath, filling his lungs with hot air that smelled of tropical fruits and coconut.
The ceiling and part of the walls were made of glass, similar to that of a greenhouse, but massive trees, creepers, and exotic plants made it hard to see the sky from the ground. Despite this, the space felt airy and full of light. A symphony of singing birds, rustling of leafs, and chirping insects welcomed them, and somewhere in the background came the muffled sound of a waterfall. For the first time since his arrival, Axel felt completely at ease.
Beside him, Paul shifted his weight.
“Crikey,” he mumbled in awe.
“Look!” Thabo pointed towards the ceiling. Axel peered up just in time to see a huge eagle, proud in its
appearance, fly above their heads before disappearing behind the treetops.
“Okay, boys, the changing rooms are over here,” Izabella said, already moving towards a small bungalow near the entrance. “Let’s get changed so we can explore this place.”
Swimsuits and cover-ups on, they set off along a narrow stone path, following small wooden signs with the word “Pool” on them. They walked underneath palm trees and between clusters of bamboo. They passed golden cages nestled among the exotic greenery, occupied by large turtles, strange lizards, and colourful birds. They even crossed a wooden bridge, stretching over a slow-moving stream.
“My god, have we found the Garden of Eden?” Izabella laughed as a butterfly flew past her head.
“Come on,” Paul said, grinning, “I think I can hear Federico and the girls.”
The pool was in a clearing, and it was, as with everything else within the walls of the Academy, a spectacular sight. Along one side was a natural-looking waterfall with vines climbing up its sides. Huge trees reached out over the water. Axel was once again reminded of just how creative and eccentric the Academy was. There was even a small island in the middle of the pool. On it stood Federico, about to dive into the water.
“You’ve got to see this!” he shouted and dove in.
Thrilled, the four students dropped their towels and jumped into the warm water.
“You’ve got to be joking!” Paul yelled as his head appeared above the surface a moment later. “They’ve built the pool inside an aquarium?”
Hidden underneath the deck was a huge aquarium that enclosed all sides of the pool.
“Isn’t it neat?” Cordelia laughed before disappearing under the water again.
“There are goggles by the waterfall,” Julie said putting on a pair she had already grabbed. “It is fantastic.”