Chapter 0471″Really?” I ask, perking up and looking around. “What happened?”

“We got our specializations,” Ben says, beaming at me as he settles onto the couch next to Luca and I, sitting in my usual seat.

“That’s amazing!” I burst out, delighted. But then I hesitate. “But also, what does that mean?”

Ben laughs at me, shaking his head. “It kind of sounds like the same as you, Ari – you got a personal tutor, but the rest of us just got sorted into smaller groups with new professors who are able to teach us according to what the Academy thinks is going to be out future jobs.”

“That’s so exciting,” I say, my eyes going wide as I look around at them. “What did you get, Benzie?”

“I,” Ben says, pressing a proud hand to his chest, “am going to be an Ambassador of the proper sort – the kind that actually goes places and negotiates man-to-man instead of one who just prepares the paperwork. They said…” he blushes here, I think a bit of unused to complimenting himself, “that they think I’m really good with people and have the right personality to get what I want without stepping on many toes.”

“I think that’s very true, Benny,” I say, smiling proudly at my friend and slipping my foot away from Luca’s lap to give him a little kick of joy. “You’re going to be amazing at that.”