CHAPTER 83: [83] VANESSA, NOT DIRECTOR

"Director, you sure that ain’t AI generated?"

Director Angelo blinked twice, her eyebrows rising toward her hairline. For a moment, she stared at him in silence, her hazel eyes widening slightly. Then something unexpected happened.

She laughed.

Not a polite chuckle or a sarcastic snort, but full-bodied, genuine laughter that had her leaning back in her chair, one hand pressed against her stomach. The sound filled the office, transforming her from intimidating authority figure to something much more human.

"Oh my god," she gasped between bursts of laughter. "That’s... that’s your defense? ’Must be AI’?" She wiped at the corner of her eye.

Xavier allowed himself a small smile. "Worth a shot."

"Bold strategy," she said, finally regaining her composure though her eyes still sparkled with amusement. "I respect the creativity, Valentine."

Director Angelo stood up and walked to a small bar tucked into the corner of her office. "Want something? Water? Coffee?" She pulled out a crystal flask from a drawer. "Something stronger?"

"It’s daytime," Xavier pointed out.

"Time is a social construct," she replied, pouring amber liquid into a glass. "And paperwork is eternal torture." She took a sip and leaned against the edge of her desk, much closer to Xavier now. "So. Six guys. You handled yourself pretty well for a D-rank."

Xavier shrugged. "They weren’t exactly trained fighters."

"No, they weren’t," she agreed. "Just entitled assholes who put their hands on one of my students." She tapped the screen again, switching to footage outside the theater showing the initial harassment. "For the record, I don’t actually care that you beat them up. One pulled a knife, which makes it clear self-defense."

"Then why am I here?"

"Because," she sighed, returning to her seat, "Vice Director Kayama is a stickler for rules and procedures. She insists we maintain ’appropriate standards of conduct’ and ’disciplinary protocols’ and blah blah blah." She made talking motions with her hand. "Honestly, if it were up to me, I’d give you a medal for taking out the trash. But unfortunately..."

She gestured to a stack of papers on her desk. "Paperwork. Forms. Incident reports. Disciplinary documentation. All because you decided to handle this yourself instead of calling security." She took another sip from her glass. "So congratulations, Valentine. You’ve officially ruined my Friday afternoon."

"Sorry about that," Xavier said, not feeling particularly sorry.

"No, you’re not," she replied with a knowing smile. "But you should be, because now I’m going to ruin your Friday too."

Xavier tensed slightly. "Suspension?"

"Please. What would that teach you?" She waved her hand dismissively. "No, you’re going to help me with all this paperwork since you’re the reason it exists."

Xavier’s shoulders relaxed. "That’s it?"

"That’s it? Have you seen this stack?" She pointed at the pile. "And that’s just the beginning. There’s also a fine—five hundred credits to cover the administrative costs."

"F-five hundred?" Xavier’s eyes widened.

"Would you prefer community service? I hear the bathrooms in the North Training Facility need a deep clean."

"Paperwork sounds great," Xavier said quickly.

Director Angelo grinned. "Smart choice." She pushed a tablet toward him. "Start filling out these incident forms. I need detailed descriptions of what happened, why it happened, and how you’ll avoid similar situations in the future."

Xavier took the tablet and began working. After a few minutes of silence, the Director spoke again.

"So. First year at Catalyst. How’s that going for you?"

Xavier looked up from the form. "It’s... different than I expected."

"It always is," she said, sorting through her own stack of papers. "Your professors say you’re doing well. Even Luna Valdez mentioned you have potential, which from her is practically a marriage proposal."

"Professor Valdez doesn’t seem the marrying type."

Director Angelo snorted. "Good observation. What about the rest of your class? Making friends?"

Xavier thought about his answer. "Some, yeah. Luka, Sayuri, Beppo... they’re good people."

"And quite a few female admirers, from what I hear," she added with a sly smile. "You work fast for a first-year."

Xavier groaned. "That’s not—"

"Relax, kid. I’m teasing you." She leaned forward. "But seriously, you’ve made quite an impression in a short time. First the thing with Thalia Sinclair, now this vigilante justice."

"I wasn’t looking for attention," Xavier said truthfully. Not yet anyways.

"Few who deserve it are," she replied. "But now you have it, so the question becomes: what are you going to do with it?"

Xavier paused his form-filling. "I just want to become a good hunter."

"Noble goal. But ’good’ is subjective." She studied him with those hazel eyes that seemed to see more than they should. "What makes a good hunter to you, Xavier?"

The question caught Xavier off guard. In his previous life, "good" meant efficient, deadly, undetected. But now?

"Someone who closes the gates and protects people who can’t protect themselves," he finally said.

Director Angelo nodded slowly. "Not bad." She finished her drink and set the glass down. "You know, when I was your age, I thought being a good hunter meant being the strongest, taking down the biggest gates, getting the most fame."

"And now?"

"Now I think it means doing what’s right, even when it’s hard. Even when no one’s watching." She tapped the screen showing the fight footage. "Like stepping in when someone’s being harassed, knowing you might get in trouble for it."

"These forms ask a lot of redundant questions," he commented, changing the subject.

"Welcome to bureaucracy," she laughed. "The real monster we’re all fighting."

They worked in companionable silence for a while.

"So what’s your story?" Xavier asked eventually. "How does someone who hates paperwork end up as Academy Director?"

She looked up. "You’re bold, asking personal questions during your own disciplinary meeting."

"Just making conversation."

Director Angelo leaned back in her chair, twirling a pen between her fingers. "I founded this place, actually. Built it from nothing after..." She paused. "After I lost someone important to me. Thought I could make a difference, train hunters who wouldn’t make the same mistakes."

"And the paperwork?"

"Necessary evil. Though I try to delegate most of it to Lucy—Vice Director Kayama." She smiled ruefully. "She’s much better at the administrative stuff than I am. I’m more of a... big picture person."

"You mean you slack off while she does all the work," Xavier translated.

Instead of being offended, Director Angelo barked out another laugh. "I like you, Xavier. You don’t sugarcoat things." She pointed her pen at him. "But don’t let Lucy hear you say that. She already thinks I’m the worst boss in existence."

"Your secret’s safe with me," Xavier promised.

"Good man." She glanced at the clock on the wall. "How’s your roommate situation working out? Calypso Valentine, right? Your cousin?"

Xavier tensed slightly. "It’s fine. We get along well."

"Hmm." The Director’s expression gave nothing away. "Interesting coincidence, both of you showing up at the same time with the same last name but no previous record of connection."

"Distant branches of the family," Xavier said smoothly. "We only recently discovered each other."

"Right." Director Angelo nodded. "Well, family is what we make it, I suppose."

They continued working through the paperwork for another hour. By the time they finished, Xavier’s hand was cramping from signing so many forms.

"There," Director Angelo said, gathering the completed documents. "That wasn’t so bad, was it?"

"I’d rather fight those six guys again," Xavier muttered.

She laughed. "Honesty. I appreciate that." She stood up, indicating their meeting was coming to an end. "The five hundred credit fine will be added to your student account. Pay it within two weeks."

Xavier nodded and got to his feet. "Is that all?"

"Almost." Her expression turned more serious. "Look, Valentine. You’ve got potential—not just as a hunter, but as a leader. People listen to you, follow you. That’s rare, especially in first-years."

"I’m not trying to lead anyone."

"The best leaders rarely are," she said. "Just be careful. The spotlight can be dangerous at Catalyst. There are politics and pressures you don’t understand yet."

"Like Dominic Black?"

Something flickered across her face. "You’ve met our star student, I take it?"

"Earlier downstairs. He was... friendly."

"Dominic is complicated," she said carefully. "Brilliant, powerful, charismatic. Also intensely competitive and possessive of what he considers his."

"He made that clear," Xavier said dryly.

Director Angelo studied him. "Word of advice? Dominic didn’t get where he is by being careless or underestimating people. If he’s taking notice of you, there’s a reason."

"Should I be worried?"

"Let’s just say tread carefully." She walked him to the door. "And maybe consider channeling some of that protective energy into sanctioned academy activities instead of parking garage brawls."

Xavier nodded. "I’ll keep that in mind."

"See that you do." She opened the door, then added more quietly, "And if anyone else harasses your friends, make sure there aren’t cameras next time."

Xavier couldn’t help but smile. "Yes, Director."

"Vanessa," she corrected. "When it’s just us. All this ’Director’ stuff makes me feel ancient."

"You don’t look ancient," Xavier observed.

"Flattery will get you everywhere except out of that fine," she replied with a wink. "Now get out of here before Lucy sees you and makes me give you actual punishment."