Some females started to shriek with delight when Gregory stepped onto the stage while some males started murmuring in awe and admiration. Gregory kept his cool and walked up to the podium.
"Greetings students. My name is Gregory Drake and I will be your new librarian. As many of you know I was the Vice Captain of this great Kingdom's army.... I have decided to change my career and provide any knowledge I have to any student who is willing to listen while still fulfilling my daily duties."
"As for the career change, our Kingdom's future will be in your hands, I want to see you become better students, better people, better citizens for our fair Kingdom. I will not tolerate anyone braking a rule in the library or any disrespectfully behavior towards myself, other students or faculty members."
"You are the future, do not become a disappointment. That is all." Gregory said in a monotone tone voice that it left everyone dumbfounded and then walked off the stage. The Headmaster quickly walked back up to the podium and looked at everyone again.
"Rain if you could please." The Headmaster said as Rain stood up from his seat and walked into the middle of the isle. He raised his one hand and started to draw a glowing mint green ruin in the air, in front of his body as his lips moved breathlessly.
"Please stay still while Rain takes attendance." The Headmaster said as everyone except the first years sat slouched with bored expressions while the first years sat up with perfect postures. The ruin exploded into a pulse and filled the room until it reached the walls. Rain looked back at the Headmaster and nodded his head.
"Perfect everyone is accounted for! As traditions goes, fourth years you have the remainder of the day off. Please take the time to review the new student handbooks as to avoid expulsion. Third years please wait outside, first years will be out shortly."
"Please be civil when selecting first years! You'll be mentors for the next two weeks so do not slack off. Second years please make your way to the posting boards and sign up for your extra curricular activities. If you have not stopped by the registrars office to pick up your schedule please do so. Dismissed." The Headmaster commanded.
Everyone except the first years left immediately. The first years were too nervous to get up from their seats and quietly sat there, waiting for someone to make the first move. Ariana grabbed Edlyn's hand and pulled her upwards.
Her eyes were sparkling and she had a wide smile on her face. "Lets go Edlyn!" She shouted as she picked Edlyn up in a princess carry, she effortlessly jumped onto the tops of the seats and made her way to the isle.
Most of the first years jaws dropped while others thought poorly of her actions. "There is no time to waste." She said as she gently placed Edlyn's feet on to the ground. "We don't want to be stuck with some third years that won't take care of us."
She quickly turned to face Rain and curtsied. "Goodbye Professor Rain." She said then Edlyn followed suit. When they lifted their heads they could see some first years started to rush up from their seats.
Ariana grabbed Edlyn's hand and rushed down the isle. As they ran towards the doors they could hear a sickly sweet voice loudly criticize Ariana's behaviour. Edlyn turned her head around, brought her hand up and pulled down on the skin under her eye as she stuck out her tongue. "Y-O-U!" They heard Vanessa yell, they couldn't help but laugh as they ran down through the doors and down the hall.
They reached the main door and pushed it open. The sun light was bright and Ariana shielded her eyes. "Welcome first years!" They heard students cheer as a round of applause exploded. Ariana was able to focus on the students before her and turned around in awe. She saw that more first years started to come out of the Cathedral.
"CAYDEN! CAYDEN! VANESSA IS LOOKING FOR YOU!" Ariana spun towards the boys yelling while a blushing Vanessa stood in the middle, slightly covering her eyes in embarrassment. "Guys please! We must let the third years pick the students!" She said in such a soft voice that it was easily drowned out by their shouting.
"Excuse me." A female student said as she walked up. She had chocolate brown hair tied into a side ponytail, a small fringe, a button nose, sharp amber eyes, a tiny mouth and olive skin. "Female students are to be paired up with female students while the males go with the males. It is inappropriate to pair a female and male just because of your selfishness." She said.
Vanessa hide her disdain filled eyes behind her hands but she couldn't really hide the aura that was practically spilling out from her pores... well at least not to Ariana.
"Who are you to push your opinion on Miss Vanessa?"
"That's right Miss Vanessa has a right to look for Cayden! Not matter how much it hurts us!"
"Miss Vanessa Brenton is Cayden Remo's official fiancee! No one has the right to separate the two lovers!"
Boom! It hit her like a brick wall. Her eyes grew wide as the colour drained from her face. "Edlyn did I hear wrong... did that boy just say Cayden's fiancee?" Ariana said in a pitiful whisper. Edlyn couldn't say a single word as she looked at her friend's state.
"Ha... ha... no wonder he said to stay away." She started to say as tears welled up in her eyes. "It must be hard on Cayden to have such a disgraceful fiancee.... alright I'll play ball with you. My name is Vera DuChamp and I am the third year representative for the Student Council." She said in a cold voice that people started to murmur around them.
"Representative for the Student Council! What a joke! The Brenton family has far more power than any Student Council member!" A boy with shaggy red hair said as he stepped up to Vera and puffed out his chest. "Who are you?" Vera asked with a snake like smile that it sent chills down the boy spine. "I am Kyle Brenton, Miss Vanessa's cousin." He tried to say with pride but failed to command any authority with his voice.
"Payton Cress!" Vera shouted as a a tall male stepped beside her. He had cropped black hair, square, black framed glasses, fair skin and a strong nose. "Yes leader." He replied with a small bow. "Please deduct 10 points from Mr. Brenton's student compliance score." She ordered coolly and Payton quickly pulled out a silver pad with white paper attached to it.
"Kyle Brenton, First year, average score. Received 10 compliance points for attending the assembly has now had 10 points deducted from compliance record. He is now sitting at zero points. If one more point is deducted expulsion will be in his future." He said robotically as his paper glowed a fluorescent blue as he wrote.
"W-what are you d-doing?" He stuttered as he took a step back. "As representatives we hold the rules, policies and procedures of the school very seriously. As representatives we are obligated to report any misconduct of any students. As representatives we are given the power to award and deduct points from your compliance record."
"Usually these are bonus points for students who need an extra boost in their final grades. It also helps weed out the unwanted in the school... so Mr. Brenton do you have anything else you want to say?" Vera explained in a dark tone that Kyle could only click his tongue as he averted his gaze.
"I didn't think so." She continued as she flicked her fringe back. "As I said my name is Vera and this is Payton, we're the third year representatives for the Student Council. The rules for the selection are third year female students to first year female students. The same rule applies to the males, everyone please separate yourselves accordingly." Vera said as she watched the first years faces.
She allowed a shaky grin to appear on her face but only for a fleeting moment before she coughed. "Alright please go pick out your first years." Vera announced and the third years rushed towards the fresh blood like lion's to their prey.
"Aww this one is shaking Jessamine!" A girl shrieked.
"What are your hobbies?"
"What do you think of my complexion? Is my skin too dry or too oily and why?"
"Do you like food? Foods the greatest after a good workout!"
"If you could be a tree what kind of tree would you be?"
"I don't want to waste any valuable time mentoring a child when I could use it for studying. If you think you're worthy or of use to me especially in furthering my achievements then come along! I will not wait!"
"That one is adorable! I wish we could mentor some of the boys!"
"You... can... come... with... me... if you want..."
"You look sturdy! You're mine."
Edlyn nervously grasped onto Ariana's arm as she watched every other first year be picked up. Vera walked up to the girls as her cold, icy eyes assessed them. "You." She started to say but Ariana paid no attention to her.
"Way are you clutching to someone who acts like a natural repellent to magical creatures? I can see from your energy flow that you attract them without reservation but your companion... hers is unreadable, more like unstable, wild, unpredictable and scares them away." Vera said with disdain.
Edlyn let go of Ariana's arm and embraces her tightly. "No! Sh-e is a goo-d gir-l!" She shouted a little to loudly and everyone turned to look at them. "Good girl or not, the facts are there. I suggest you come under my wing and separate yourself from someone... so unreliable. She may very well be your future downfall if you're not careful. Come, I have much to teach you."
Ariana snapped back to reality and glared at Vera. She straightened up her back and removed herself from Edlyn's embrace. "As a representative for the Student Council you're quite shameless." She said with conviction.
Vera's eyes widen but overall kept her poker face in place. "That's quite bold of you too say. What is your name?" Vera asked with a raised eyebrow. Ariana followed protocol when greeting an elder and curtsied as she bowed her head.
"My name is Ariana Drake." She said courtly but refused to smile. "Ariana Drake... Ariana... Drake. I'll remember that name." Vera replied with a nod. Ariana raised her head and caught a flash of hatred in Vera's eyes. "Now explain yourself Miss Drake."
"Certainly, as a representative of the Student Council you hold yourself as a neutral individual. Never clouded by others opinions or whispers, you're on the side of justice and righteousness, correct?" Ariana asked.
Vera crossed her arms over her chest and widened her stance. "Yes, that is correct." She answered as she narrowed her gaze at Ariana. "You wouldn't be so bold as to criticize a student based on their first appearances but rather properly judge them at a distance, carefully analyzing the possibility of fact being fiction or rumours to be true. So that your observations make a resolute conclusion?" Ariana asked coolly.
"Yes." Vera answered suspiciously. "Good to hear! So my question is why are you trying to separate my friend from me? Are you making your judgement on me because of my magical energy? Am I not here to learn how to better myself? If you're judging me already without doing your due diligence then are you not going against what the Student Council stands for?" Ariana asked with a small smirk.
Vera pursed her lips as she stared Ariana down. "Why is there no answer? Can you not admit your mistake and apologize for your quick judgment? Is this why you are only a representative of the Student Council and not an actual member?" Ariana asked innocently but Vera was already blushing from embarrassment.
"Payton." She spat and the young man scurried over beside her. "Yes." He said as he eyed Ariana. "Maximum points for insolence." She hissed while Payton hesitated to write on the silver pad. "Payton!" She yelled as she looked over and saw his pen hovering over the page.
Sweat rolled down his face profusely as his hands trembled. "I-I-I-I." He stuttered but Vera pulled the pen and pad from his hands. She looked down and almost dropped the items onto the ground. Her eyes were wide with horror and envy.
Ariana watched silently as a smiled crept up her face. "How can this be?!" Vera shouted in frustration. Ariana shrugged then pulled off her ribbon that was tied around her neck. She slowly walked up to Vera and placed the ribbon on top of the silver pad.
"I'm guessing that only the Student Council members, teachers or Headmaster has the right to deduct my compliance points." She said with a smug smile as Vera cautiously picked up the ribbon. "Stars! She is the one that has the stars!" Payton shouted. The on lookers started to whisper as they looked at the person beside them checking to see if there was another among them. "That's right, I am the first and only student to get a perfect score for the entrance examination."
Vera clutched the ribbon in her hand, her eyes were started to blaze with hatred and her hand started to glow a bright orange. "Ahi pizte! "She shouted as Ariana watched silently. Vera's hand lit on fire, engulfing the ribbon in a brilliant flame.
Some people gasped while others took a step closer. The ribbon started to glow a bright red before shooting out of Vera's hand and wrapping itself around Ariana's neck, completely undamaged. "No! This can't be! It must be a fake!" Vera shouted as she slammed the silver pad and pen to the ground.
"How could I make a fake!" Ariana shouted with an oppressive tone that it caused Vera to shrink back a little. "You said so yourself! My magical energy is unreliable, unstable and utterly useless so how could I make such a high quality counterfeit without proper training from the academy? Did you not just look down on me and decided to label me in front of your peers as a misfit? A complete outcast? Trash that should be tossed aside?"
Vera clutched her fists and tried to straighten her back. "Prove that you're none of those things then!" She shouted. Ariana batted her big, innocent eyes at Vera. "How would you propose that?"
Vera gritted her teeth and stared her down. "Battle me!" She shouted with gusto. Ariana looked at Vera like she was out of her mind and sighed. "I don't think that is wise."
Vera's face started to twist with anger. "Are you looking down on me... or are you afraid I'll beat you so bad that your precious ribbon will lose its value?!" Vera hissed in between calming breaths. "Neither." Ariana answered with a shrug.
Vera couldn't take her cocky attitude any longer and raised her hand. "Miss DuChamp, I think that is enough. You're crossing a line in front of so many." Cayden said in a calming voice as he gripped her wrist.
Vera instantly blushed and pulled back her hand. Clutching her wrist close to her chest she dropped her gaze and became meek. "Cayden! Cayden, it's me Vanessa Brenton your beloved fiancee." Vanessa called out as she rushed up to them.
Once she was standing in front of Cayden she grabbed the ends of her grandiose looking dress and curtsied. "It has been a long time." She said sweetly but Cayden gave her an indifferent look. "I'm sorry but I don't know you."
Vanessa's sweet angelic mask cracked. Her eyes started to swirl and tear up as her world started to crumble. "Impossible!" She shouted. "You wrote me letters every month!"
Cayden stared her down with a cold glare making her squeak in fear. "Miss Drake was it? I would think you would believe you were brought up with better manners. You disrespected a third year, you must apologize and beg for forgiveness." he said with an icy tone.
Ariana kept her gaze cold as she looked at Cayden then pointed her nose into the air as she puffed out her chest. "Thank you Mr. Remo, I'll take your words into consideration but heed my words, regardless of status or age, respect is earned. I was disrespected first so I believe I acted in my own right to stand up for myself." She replied as she brought her gaze down and looked at Vera.
"Miss DuChamp I accept your challenge and up the stakes." Vera brought up her gaze and peeked at Cayden from under her eyelashes. "Anything." She answered gently. "If I win I'll assign each third year to a first year."
Vera snapped out of her pink bubble and looked at Ariana as if she had three heads. "How dare you!" She hissed as her face started to turn red.
"If I lose, then I'll bow my head and allow you to becomes my mentor. No matter what you say or do, I'll never question you and obey your every command." Ariana continued as if Vera said nothing.
Vera calmed down a little bit and started contemplating Ariana's words. "I want something more." She said as a dark grin graced her face. "Anything you want." Ariana said indifferently. "You'll also become my personal maid for the first semester." Ariana nodded her head without hesitation. "As you wish."
"No!" Edlyn shouted as she stepped in front of Ariana, arms stretched out, blocking Vera's view of Ariana. "I'll not allow it!" She shouted. "Oh you said that perfectly Edlyn! It looks like when you become passionate you forget to think about enunciating your words! Good for you." Ariana said with a bright smile while Edlyn continuously glared at Vera.
"It's useless, your friend has agreed." Vera said coldly as she took a step forward towards Edlyn. "She's right there's no turning back now." Ariana said as she placed a firm hand on top of Edlyn's shoulder. She moved her aside effortlessly and took a step closer to Vera.
Ariana looked her at her face then to her chest and brought her hand up to her mouth as she let out a small laugh. "Have you cracked under the pressure? Did you suddenly realize that you got yourself into trouble? Realized your own insanity?" Vera asked as she looked into Ariana's eyes.
Ariana pointed at her own chest and smiled. "No, it's just funny that I already won in this area while I am so young. I wonder if I'll dominate you in the battle arena too?" Ariana said. Vera paled at her openly mocking words and looked out at the crowd. "Who'll act as our referee in our unofficial match?" Vera shouted but Ariana started to release a cold and ominous aura surround her body and adjacent area.
"Oh no. If we're doing this then we are making it official. Someone go get a faculty member, we'll put on a grand battle in the arena!"