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twitchy?
    “ I'm not sure, sir,” Ceril said. It was not technically a lie. The sword looked like the one he found with Gramps, but he had left that one in Ternia with Gramps. It couldn’t be the same sword. On top of that, it looked like the ones in Swarley’s video, too, and Ceril sure wasn’t going to mention that to the headmaster.
    “ You're not sure?” Squalt said. Ceril thought the man’s tone mocked him.
    “ No, sir,” Ceril said. ”I’m not sure. I have seen a sword kind of like this one, but there’s no way I can say it’s the same one.” Ceril swallowed and said a silent prayer that honesty would indeed be the best policy here.
    “ And where have you seen such a similar sword?” asked the headmaster as his attention once again moved from the sword at Ceril’s feet to whatever was behind him.
    Ceril said, “At my Gramps' house, sir.”
    The headmaster visibly tensed. He asked very deliberately, “Was it this sword, Ceril?”
    “ I'm not sure, sir.”
    “ Did you bring that sword with you to school?”
    “ No, sir,” Ceril said. His response was immediate. He hadn’t. That was the truth. Maybe he was going to get out of this by telling the truth after all. Maybe he wouldn’t have the new headmaster think he was a murderer and a terrorist on the first day of school after all.
    “ Are you sure?” the headmaster inquired. “Are you sure you did not bring it with you?”
    “ Yes, sir,” Ceril said. “Absolutely.”
    “ So this is not the same weapon that set detection sensors off in your dormitory last night?”
    Ceril flinched. What detection sensors? He hadn’t heard any alarm. “I don't know what you mean, sir.”
    “ Of course you don't,” the headmaster said. He turned around again. With his back turned to Ceril, he said, “Ceril, can I ask you to please reach down and pick up the weapon?”
    “ I’m sorry, sir?”
    Headmaster Squalt did not turn around. “I asked you if you could reach down and pick up the weapon.”
    Sweat began to bead on his forehead. His heart beat harder and faster, and he could feel every beat in his ears and cheeks. His stomach churned, and he thought for a moment that he was going to vomit. Through gritted teeth, Ceril asked, “Why?”
    “ Just do it, Ceril,” the headmaster demanded.
    Ceril took a deep breath and leaned down to grab the hilt of the sword. The moment his hand wrapped around the hilt, the light green aura flared. The light green was much brighter now, and a hint of purple was mixed with it. The effect was unlike anything Ceril had ever seen before.
    No, that wasn’t quite true. He had seen it once before: the video of the terrorists. Their swords glowed like this as they killed those people. As they killed those kids.
    The headmaster looked at Ceril in fascination. He stared at the sword, but his attention was soon drawn away from Presentation again. This time, the headmaster stood up and reached for something behind him. When he returned, Squalt held a sword that was very much like the one Ceril was holding, only the headmaster’s sword glowed a much less intense orange and brown.
    “ Ceril, I am going to need to speak to you in person immediately, if you wouldn't mind. Do you know the way to my office?”
    Ceril shook his head. “No, sir.”
    “ I will get Professor Nephil to escort you, then. And please, be discreet with your weapon. If you would like, you may return it to your dormitory on your way here.”
    “ Yes, sir,” Ceril said. He had no plans on returning it to his room.
    “ I’ll see you soon, then,” the headmaster said. The hologram flickered and disappeared.

Chapter Three
    “ What does the headmaster want?” Ceril asked Nephil as they walked out of the Library.
    “ To meet with you in person.”
    “ About what, professor?”
    “ If I had to guess, Ceril, it would be,” Nephil pointed at the gold sword in Ceril’s hand, “that. I am sure that he will want to fill you in on the details