Infinite Regress by Christopher G. Nuttall Page B

said. “I have seen and approved all of your course schedules, after the traditional round of haggling, so your formal classes will begin next week, on Monday. If you change your mind about taking one or more of your classes, you may do so at any point, but I am obliged to warn you that it will not be added to your permanent record and it may be impossible to transfer to another class. The tutors have the right to reject any late applicants.”
    Emily nodded. Fourth Year had been intense—and Fifth Year promised to be worse. A student who joined a class a week late would be behind and a student who joined a month late wouldn’t have a hope of catching up. The tutors would probably advise any latecomers to retake the year, rather than allow them to enter a class they couldn’t complete. It wasn’t a pleasant thought, but it was more practical than anything she’d seen on Earth.
    “There are, however, a number of changes in the school,” Master Tor continued, after a long moment of silence. “In particular, some of these changes affect you personally.”
    Emily frowned. Gordian had made a brief speech at dinner, the previous evening, where he’d alluded to changes, but he hadn’t said anything concrete. Now... she leaned forward, forcing herself to relax. Maybe the changes wouldn’t be bad ones. Gordian probably just wanted to make his mark on the school. He was experienced enough, surely, to know what worked and what didn’t.
    “In particular, you will be expected to take on a mentoring role towards the younger students,” Master Tor said. “You will each be assigned to serve a handful of new students as their mentor. Your task will be to introduce them to Whitehall, outline the basics of magical education and the rules of the school, then provide what support you can as they make their way through their first year. This whole process will be supervised by Aloha, our Head Girl.”
    He nodded towards Aloha, who smiled wanly. Emily frowned, wondering if Aloha still bore a grudge over Master Grey’s death. She certainly deserved to be Head Girl—Emily hadn’t met anyone smarter—but would she take her feelings out on Emily? Or had she come to realize that Master Grey had deliberately lured Emily into a trap? It wasn’t as if he hadn’t had options for evading the duel, if he’d wished. No one would have thought any less of him for refusing a challenge from a student...
    Melissa held up her hand. “Sir,” she said. “Are we meant to give up our own time for this?”
    “Yes,” Master Tor said. “In fact...”
    “But time is not on our side,” Melissa interrupted. “We all have to study on our own when we’re not in class.”
    Emily stared at her. Interrupting a tutor? It wasn’t done! And yet her heart sank as she realized Melissa was quite right. Even without having to work for Professor Locke, having to give up some of her free time to assist younger students would have a serious effect on her studies. If it was going to be bad for Melissa, it was going to be sheer hell for Emily...
    “We are aware of the problems,” Master Tor said. “However, we will only discover some of the problems by doing it.”
    Caleb leaned forward. “I can see a problem right now,” he said. “How many of us will have the time to study so we can pass our exams?”
    There was a general rustle of agreement. “He’s right,” Cirroc said, backing him up. “If we have to spend our time tutoring stupid brats, we won’t be spending it studying.”
    Master Tor cleared his throat, loudly. “First, we will be monitoring your progress and will intervene, if necessary, to ensure that you have a reasonable chance of passing your exams,” he said. “Second, we believe that your mentoring services will not be required after the first couple of months. Third, we have been contemplating extending Fifth Year to two years, thus allowing you to concentrate on your studies for the duration of the second year.”
    “Then it