Page 37 of A Mastery of Monsters

“Maybe that’s the point,” I say. “That there are lots of ways you could connect them.”

One of Caden’s boys snorts, which Caden rewards with a smirk. Jesus, it’s like they already took a semester of Bully 101, and we haven’t even gotten to reading week yet.

“August has a fair point, as does Bryce.” Bernie writes down the words dates, rankings , and general connections . “How else might we connect them?”

“Factions,” Violet suggests. Some of the other candidates bristle. Ah yes, we’re supposed to act like those don’t exist. Violet immediately gains points with me.

“Good. Anyone else?”

“Legacies and familial ties,” Caden says.

“Good, good.” Bernie spreads his arms. “The purpose of this exercise is to explore all these connections. However you chose to arrange it would have been correct, as long as you can connect every single photo. So why don’t you do that now?”

After a lot of back and forth, the group finally decides to organize based on different sorts of legacies, grouping Dr. Weiss’s inner circle together, and then certain families, etc.

When it’s time for me to place my photo, I decide based on what Caden and Bryce said to put him in the section labeled expelled , and no one says anything as I do so. Bernie even nods at my choice.

When the lesson ends and people start to file out, Bernie calls me back.

Shit. Did I mess up? Why did he nod, then? I swallow and come back to him, sticking my hands in the pockets of my jeans as we wait for the room to clear.

“Sorry for holding you back,” he says. “I wanted to give you some more context. I find this process to be especially hard on new students. You aren’t told these stories.

Many candidates have been attending weekly lectures their whole lives.

It’s a little backward, honestly. We always want new students, but these additional levels are harder for them to reach.

” In a lower voice he says, “Though I suspect some of that is by design.”

“By design?”

“Take academia, for example. Do you think the point is to let everyone in? Setting aside the need to charge for tuition and the like, do you believe the goal of this university is to be accessible to everyone who wants to attend?”

“No. I mean, that’s why we have grade cutoffs and things like that, right? It’s supposed to be elite.”

“Exactly.” He leans against the ticket desk.

“But with the proper connections, even someone unremarkable can have access, can’t they?

And yet, for everyone else, we act like it’s merit.

Like they’ve had to work hard to earn it.

Never mind all those who toil and sacrifice and still don’t get to partake.

So that when you stand on that stage and they give you that diploma, you feel the importance of it.

Exclusivity requires scarcity. Whether it’s valid or not. ”

“That’s why you all do the nominations, isn’t it? I get that the competition is needed for leveling up monsters or whatever, but ideally, anyone who wanted to be a Bachelor or Master could apply. That would be fairer.”

Bernie smiles. “You’re seeing it now. Yes, there is nothing about this candidacy that is meant to be fair. By design, like I said.” He points at me. “You may want to watch your phrasing, though.”

I falter. “What?”

“?‘You all.’ ‘That’s why you all do the nominations,’ you said.

As if you aren’t part of this society now.

” I splutter, and he holds up his hands.

“I won’t hold you to it, just something to keep in mind.

Now, let’s chat about what I held you back for.

I gather that you were confused about Lawrence being in the expelled category.

For the most part, what we teach is that he simply left four years after the founding of the society, three years after he joined, and a single year after the invention of the serum.

However, those in the know understand that he and Dr. Weiss didn’t have a clean break.

They clashed. According to some of Dr. Weiss’s journals, Lawrence didn’t think we should have Masters.

The idea of bondage of any kind, understandably, upset him.

Dr. Weiss wanted bonding to be a temporary solution, and Lawrence wanted to abandon the serum and search for an alternate cure entirely.

When Lawrence left, it’s rumored that he stole important items from our dear first Doctorate.

Special objects as well as the research detailing their functions.

Which made Dr. Weiss not his biggest fan. ”

“Special objects?”

“I hate to use a word like ‘magical’ because it’s so unspecific, but I suppose that may be the easiest way to describe them.”

My instinct is to call bullshit. First, I have to believe in monsters, then an apocalypse, and now magic?

Nah. The monster thing doesn’t follow traditional science, but at least it has some scientific starting point.

I can get behind a bit of unexplained science, sure.

Even this apocalypse could have some scientific basis.

But magic ? I’ll believe that when I see it. “What were the objects?”

“No idea. Lawrence left with them, and that was it. Many years later he formed his own group devoted to Black activism and philanthropy, and that was it. Dr. Weiss later branded the man a traitor, and that became his legacy.”

“I didn’t know,” I say.

“Don’t worry, I won’t dock you points. For a newcomer, you did well.

And honestly, what I care about is that students learn.

It’s why my wife and I were put in charge of this historic site.

” He waves around the room. “Eventually, I’ll move on from teaching of any kind, and just do this.

” He nods almost to himself. “Yes, I think this will be my last year overseeing the candidacy.” He smiles, the corners of his lips pinched tight. “Virgil is doing well?”

“Uh, yeah. I think he’s anxious, but fine.”

“It’s good he has you. I dislike politics, society politics even more so, but I hope there is some positive change on the horizon for him.

He has so much potential. I would have liked to take him on myself but, unfortunately, I’ve never been able to move past the Bachelor stage.

” He plays with the hem of his shirt. “Wasn’t much help to my son for the same reason.

My father had recommended that I wait before seeking a nomination since we’d had the mutation in our bloodline before.

That one day, someone in my family might need me.

But I was impatient. I wanted to ascend.

To be important in the society right then.

” The hint of a smile plays on his lips.

“I thought I’d proven him wrong when I became a Bachelor, but he was right in the end. ”

I attempt to arrange my face into something appropriate.

Everything in Bernie’s body, from his hunched shoulders to his averted eyes, makes it clear that this is the greatest regret of his life.

His kid needed him, and he had no way to help.

All he could do was watch. Watch his son compete, and struggle, and fail.

All because he was impatient for the title.

Bernie says, “He’s happier, Virgil. I must assume that is due to you. I cannot take sides, of course, but I am rooting for the two of you. Glory will never be greater than the ability to safeguard the people you treasure. I hope you learn that now instead of later.”

I thank Bernie and leave the tower. He stays behind.

I get why Virgil and Corey like the guy despite his poor choice in clothing.

He cares about the candidates. Chen, too.

Even if they realize that the society itself isn’t exactly perfect.

They’re self-aware. They want things to change, and they’re in a position to guide the next generation of Masters toward that.

It’s hard not to root for them at least a little bit.

Even if I’m not planning to stay in the Learners’ Society.

As I head back to campus, I get a text from Riley that says, Hello, stranger .