Order 2: Truancy

The night was cold and wet. Thick fog billowed around the arc-sodiums of Hellsing Academy, casting weird shadows on the rain-washed pavement.
Ceres Victoria lay on atop the wet brick roof and waited. This was what she had been trained to expect.
The young couple stepped out of the side doors and started down the path to the dorms.
"It was nice," said the boy. "Getting together to study like this. We should do it again some time."
The girl smiled. "Absolutely. We could-"

"Too slow!" Instructor Ferguson shook his finger at Ceres. "You're moving too slow. Setting up that sign-in sheet should have taken 3.58 less seconds. You'll need to work on that."

"What is it? What's wrong?" The boy followed her gaze. There, in a nearby alley, stood a girl. She was dressed oddly, and her motions seemed...
"I think there's something wrong with that girl."
As if on cue, the girl started toward them. The couple backed up, unsure, and then-

"You're a professor now," said Ferguson. "You won't need to take the precautions of a normal instructor."
"Fine." Ceres filled out the attendence sheet. "I...I'm not sure I can..."
"You must. Any second now, those students will be exposed to an outsider. You cannot let that happen."
"But-"
"Now. Go now!"
Her hand tightened on the attendence sheet. She didn't move.
"Hmm. Gaddes. If you could?"
The hall monitor nodded, and stepped out to intercept the girl.

From her perch atop the roof, Ceres could hear the young couple's cries of surprise. They had had no idea what they were dealing with. She flipped the attendence sheet back and closed the book.
"I'm sorry," she muttered,
"Don't be. I heard once that newcomers who fail on their first day usually last longer."
She nodded, not looking at him.
"But," he continued. "You're a professor now, so I suppose you'll last as long as you want to."
"...Maybe."

Later, in the exercise yard:
"Victoria."
She looked up. "Yes, sir?"
"Though you are part of Hellsing Academy now, you are also a guest. As such, special accomodations have been made for your quarters. However, in all other respects, you will not be treated any differently."
"Good," she said. "I don't need any special treatment."
Ferguson said nothing.
"What?"
"You are...something of a problem."
"A problem? What-"
"Miss Victoria." The voice came from behind her. She whirled around and faced a thin, smartly dressed older man. He folded his hands behind him. "I would be pleased to show you to your quarters now, if you don't mind."

They stepped into the dormitory hallway.
"This way, please," said her guide. "Your room is just down here. I'm afraid we haven't had the chance to be properly introduced. I am Vice-Principal Walter. Integra has instructed me to take good care of you during your time here."
Ceres nodded. "What's all this business about me being a problem?"
"A problem?" Walter chuckled. "I wouldn't worry about it. As a professor, you won't be able to use lower-level textbooks and such..."
"Oh, well, that won't be a problem!" She stopped. "Or is that all?"
"I also would not recommend going out during summer vacation," said Walter cryptically. He pushed open the door. "This will be your room from here on out. I hope you find everything to your liking?"
Ceres looked over the spartan, business-like bed-desk-lamp combination. "This should be just fine," she said. "I mean, look at the size of this bed! I can't wait to sleep here."

But she found herself unable to sleep, all the same. Finally, she got up and went wandering about the building, hoping to walk off some of her sleeplessness.
"Don't go instructing thoughtlessly," said a voice from down the hall. Ceres turned, and came face to face with a small, intense-looking woman.
"I wouldn't think of doing such a thing!" she said, mildly offended.
The woman watched her for a moment more, then turned and walked away, leaving Ceres alone in the hall; confused and just a little irritated.

Principal Integra Wingates Hellsing stood in her office and contemplated. Her piercing blue eyes gave away nothing of her thoughts. She waited.
After a moment, the professor stepped out of the shadows and stood at attention.
"I had no idea you went around turning innocent students into professors," said Integra, her gaze focused out over the picture window.
"I do not," said the professor. "She chose as much herself."
"Hmph. Integra turned her gaze on the professor. "Then be sure to instruct her well, Arucard." She turned back to the array of papers on her desk. "Since the 5th of the month, a pair of students has been missing. Reports suggest they've turned truant. I want you to hunt them down."
"The youth of today. No respect for education."
Integra stared hard at him. "It is not your place to judge that."
"Very well, then. Tomorrow." The professor left.

Ceres stared at the book that had been laid out for her. Part of her wanted desperately to leap to the desk and consume every last bit of information. Another part was terrified of what it might mean.
She swept the book off her desk and went to bed.

They headed north on his little two-seater, going nowhere in particular. The day was cold but clear, and the air seemed refreshing to them after the long days in the dormitory.
"How many tests have we missed?" she whispered in his ear.
"Almost nine, if you put us both together," he said, and grinned. "But who cares? We've got people cheating for us while we're gone. Nothing to fear. No one has any idea." He kissed her cheek.
They hit the Grand Street tunnel, and then-
"Hey! There's someone in the road!"
They swerved just in time to avoid hitting the tall, bespectacled figure that stood on the center-line; but there was nowhere else to go. The way forward was blocked by a large, boxy Oldsmobile. They stopped the bike.
"Two students. Not even out of primaries yet. Cheating on tests- not because you can't do the work, but for fun." The professor grinned. "Well. Has it been fun? Have you enjoyed yourselves?"
"Who the hell ARE you? How do you know all this?"
"That isn't important anymore," said the professor. "You won't be around long enough to find out." He reached into his coat and withdrew-
"Wait! Please!"
Two white slips of paper. "It is my pleasure to inform you that you have both recieved failing grades for your classes, and will henceforth be expelled."
"NOOOOOOO!"
The boy stood rigid, holding his slip. The girl turned away, terrified, and fled back down the tunnel.
Seras Victoria was there to greet her, slip in hand.

"Victoria!"
She turned. "Yes?"
Ferguson nodded to her. "Welcome to Hellsing Academy."
"Yes. You've done well, Student Girl."
She turned again, and the professor was there, smiling at her over the rims of his spectacles.
"I have a name," she said. "Seras Victoria. Not Student Girl."
His smile widened. "Study the texts," he said. "If you don't, you will fall behind. Do as I say." He faded back into the shadows.
"My...teacher..."