Legacy of Ariul: A Science-Fiction Thriller (The Omnilogos Singularity Book 2) by Michele Amitrani

Author:Michele Amitrani [Amitrani, Michele]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781988770543
Publisher: Michele Amitrani
Published: 2023-04-19T16:00:00+00:00

21

TEMPUS FUGIT

NASHVILLE, HANDAL’S INSTITUTE FOR GIFTED STUDENTS

10 years before

Angelica

“Congratulations on completing this course, Angelica.” Cantara taps the hardwood desk with her knuckles. “You’re a smart girl with a lot of potential. I expect great things from you.”

Angelica clears her throat, blushes. “Thanks, Madame.”

Cantara nods to a chair. Angelica sits.

“I heard you’ve applied to join the Ganymede Institute for the treatment of ether-induced disorders,” Cantara says, studying Angelica.

“That’s correct, Madame.”

Cantara probes Angelica with her eyes. “Mind if I ask you why?”

Angelica bites her lip. It takes effort to look into the cold, emerald-green eyes of her teacher. “It’s uncharted territory,” she explains. “Etherosophy is a science in its infancy. There’s much we don’t know about the long-term effects of the ether on the human body. I want to unveil what we don’t know while helping people who are negatively affected by the cyberspace.”

Cantara shifts on her chair. “Do you know that the pay sucks?” she asks.

Angelica frowns. “Madame?”

“Sixty-thousand dollars, tops,” Cantara says. “I know waiters who make more.”

“Madame, money is not the reason I’m pursuing this line of work.”

“All right,” Cantara says. “What about your classmates?”

Angelica blinks. “What about them?”

“Well, they made much more profitable career choices.”

“Have they?” Angelica looks at her teacher, puzzled.

“Absolutely,” Cantara says. “Venus and Ravi will go into politics, Asha will try her luck in corporate finance, and Lucius will dive into the entertainment industry. As for James, he will…well…” She trails off, a small smile playing on her lips. “God only knows what our James will do. And you, my dear, want to fill out medical reports and hand over Paracetamol to drug addicts and hippies? I never liked a waste of talent, much less when it comes to my students.”

“You’re worried I made a poor choice,” Angelica says.

“I worry you’re letting your heart do the thinking.”

“And that’s wrong?”

“It depends.” Cantara reaches for a steamy cup of black tea, holds it in her hands. “Word on the street is that Milo Jasper needs a junior assistant for his research and development department.” Cantara sips the tea, sighs with pleasure. She looks at Angelica with a knowing smile. “He’s desperate for a girl who knows her way around multi-fractary cyber-morphic calculations and etheric discrepancies.”

“Milo Jasper,” Angelica says, her voice shaky. “The executive director of the Covenant for Etheric Safeguarding?”

Cantara smiles at her student’s conflicted expression. “The only bastard with a legitimate shot at dethroning Jason Cloverfield from the etheric Mount Olympus.” She takes another sip, smacks her lips, and waits.

Angelica isn’t aware she’s holding her breath until she’s forced to draw it in quick gulps.

“The job’s yours, if you want it,” Cantara says. “If you play your cards right, you’ll have a chance of being a senior etherion in Jasper’s fold in five years, maybe less. From that point, the sky’s the limit. You’ll be looking at a dazzling future.”

Angelica studies her hands in silence. She feels her teacher’s eyes on her. “Madame, can I ask you a personal question?”

Cantara waves a hand. “What is it?”

“Why did you give up your career to teach a bunch of teenagers?”

Cantara places the teacup on the desk.

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