JIAN
Thalia Aguilar and Harry Collins—the 4th and 7th seats of the Supreme Ten—hold a position of unparalleled power within the academy. Their influence is so profound that their decisions are nearly as binding as those of the Headmaster. They embody the pinnacle of authority in Aster.
"Hey, Sam," Harry greeted as he and Thalia settled into their reserved seats in the conference hall. Their seating arrangement was a mark of their esteemed status, reserved only for the highest echelons.
"What are you doing here?" Sam asked as he comfortably took his seat, while the rest of us remained standing. There's a strict protocol: unless the Supreme Ten instruct you to sit, you must remain on your feet.
"Attending the meeting," Harry responded with a casual shrug. "The others are preoccupied with the welcome ceremony preparations, so we're here as their representatives."
"We actually don't need you here," Sam murmured under his breath, though it was likely that Harry and Thalia didn't hear him.
"You may now sit down," Thalia declared, her voice echoing in the room. We took our seats, and the meeting resumed.
"So, any other ideas?" Nayi's question cut through the murmur of the room. While others began to voice their thoughts, I remained silent. There seemed little for me to contribute, and the noise in the conference hall grew louder. Kathlyn and I exchanged a glance and sighed in unison.
"You need to do this... and blah, blah, blah," came the continuous stream of suggestions from various members. I rolled my eyes, overwhelmed by the redundancy.
"Is there any minister around?" Nayi's inquiry made Sam and Kathlyn's heads snap towards me. Oh no, not now! I shot them a warning glare; they weren't supposed to uncover this detail.
"No one?" Nayi repeated, her tone sharp. With no response from the room, I exhaled in relief. I could easily strangle those two. "The ministers are all silent. How about the Supreme Ten? Any idea who they could be?" Sam's voice carried a note of frustration.
Harry's lips curved into a knowing smile. "We know quite a bit, but the Prime Minister? I haven't a clue."
Murmurs of speculation filled the room. Sigh. The academy's structure is vast and intricate. Let me break down the four primary groups:
First, the **Student Government**—the familiar student council. They manage the relationship between the student body and the officers, handle school events, and maintain direct communication with the faculty. Sam is their leader, the PRESIDENT.
Second, the **CAT Officers**—Grade 10 students who act as the academy's enforcers. They ensure peace and order and hold the authority of the DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE to punish rule-breakers. They are commanded by the CORPS COMMANDER.
Third, the **Ministry**—a group of ministers who oversee various organizations. They rank above the CAT Officers and are led by the Minister of Justice. There are 12 ministers, though only a few are well-known, as many prefer to stay hidden. The known ministers include the Minister of Justice, Minister of Environment, Minister of Finance, Minister of Industry, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Health, Minister of Science, Minister of Sports, Minister of Transport, Minister of Communication, Deputy Prime Minister, and the PRIME MINISTER.
Lastly, the **Supreme Ten**—the most formidable and revered group within the academy, likened to the gods and goddesses of Olympus.
With that overview complete, I refocused on the meeting. Kathlyn had noticed my silence and nudged me.
"So, the theme for the School Festival will be 'ALLIANCE,'" Nayi announced. "There will be competitions among various organizations, so prepare your clubs accordingly. I'll be sending you tasks via email." Everyone nodded in agreement and began to leave. I started to gather my things, and, unfortunately, I was the last president to depart, drawing the collective gaze of the room.
"Miss Rosales," Sam's voice halted me. What could he want now? "Stay. We need to discuss something."
Reluctantly, I reseated myself as Thalia and Harry turned their attention to me, their expressions suggesting a hint of recognition.
"Well, we should leave. We'll be calling a General Assembly soon," Thalia said. She and Harry bowed to the Student Government before exiting the room.
Kathlyn sank into her seat with a sigh of relief. "The tension those two create is insane," she commented.
I walked over to Sam and looked him squarely in the eye. "What's this about?"
"Nothing," he replied, his tone indifferent.
"What? Why did you—ugh! Sam Louis, Prince of the Martin-Louis Palace!" As always, he met my frustration with his signature poker face. Laughter erupted among the others.
"Enough with the teasing," Nayi scolded the group. I sighed heavily.
"Oh, right, it's Saturday. Why are you so busy?" Nayi asked.
I simply smiled. "I have a lot of work to do, you know. Booklover's Club business."
"Tss. You don't do much in that club—just read all day," Sam retorted. I raised an eyebrow. "What? I'm right!" he protested loudly. I could only shake my head in exasperation.
"Seriously, you know how many new books are published daily? Our academy doesn't want to fall behind the times," Kathlyn explained.
"Exactly. With our commitment to staying current, it seems like almost every book in the world has been here since the academy's inception," Cal added.
Laughter filled the room, except for Sam.
"What's so funny?" Sam snapped, his irritation palpable. The room fell silent.
"Tch. Still such a killjoy," I muttered under my breath, but Sam's keen ears caught my words.
"What?!"
"Nothing, nothing," I said, though his frown deepened. He's hopelessly stubborn. Oh, and I almost forgot—he's my cousin. A second-generation cousin, I believe. That's all I know.
"Good. Now get back to work," Sam ordered before leaving. As soon as he was gone, everyone visibly relaxed.