"So, I've been thinking about forming my own Diviner's council," I announced, glancing at Luna to gauge her reaction. Her eyes widened with a glint of excitement, and a small smile tugged at her lips. I could tell she was thrilled she must have already guessed she'd be one of the members.
"Wow, I'm... honestly excited," Luna said, her voice almost breathless. "I've always dreamed of meeting one of the ex-Diviner's council members, but to be part of a new one? That's insane!" But then, her smile faltered.
"But...?" I pressed, leaning forward, curious to know the reason for her hesitation.
She hesitated, then let out a sarcastic laugh. "I'm just realizing... I'm going to be a council member under a dumb Diviner," she teased, rolling her eyes.
I couldn't help but wonder if there was a hint of jealousy in her voice. "Luna, you don't have to pretend. If you're jealous, it's okay"
"Jealous? Of you?" she cut me off with a sharp look. "Don't flatter yourself, Rowan. Not in this world."
Before I could respond, the teacher's voice cut through our conversation. "Alright, each of the five group leaders will now take turns selecting their members," she announced. Luna was among the first to choose, and she didn't hesitate.
"Rowan," she said clearly, her voice echoing through the classroom. A wave of murmurs rippled through the students. Everyone was shocked Luna, my so-called rival, had picked me first.
"Something fishy is going on," I heard someone whisper behind me. I couldn't help but smile, recognizing Luna's clever strategy. She knew that if she didn't pick me first, someone else might.
As the selection continued, Luna made another surprising move. On her second turn, she chose Aaron, bypassing one of the top students still available. It was an expected choice, though Aaron was her best friend.
The room buzzed with energy as the groups filled up, but things reached a fever pitch when Luna's final choice came around. She leaned in close to me, her breath tickling my ear. "Are you sure you want Alex on the team? Remember, he knows your secret."
I turned to her, my eyes widening. "How do you know that?"
"The bathroom incident," she said with a smirk, her eyes gleaming with amusement. I couldn't help but smile back, once again admiring her sharp wit.
"Alex," Luna called out confidently. The room erupted in chaos. The last group cheered in relief, knowing they wouldn't have to take Alex, a notorious troublemaker. Meanwhile, the rest of the class was dumbfounded. Luna had chosen the weakest link, someone capable of dragging the entire team down.
But Luna knew what she was doing. She was always a few steps ahead, and that was why she was invaluable. Besides, with both of us the two smartest students in the class on the team, we could handle any challenge.
The teacher wrapped up her instructions, "From now on, group presentations, assignments, and projects will determine your grades. Work together, or fall apart."
****
As the students dispersed, I gathered my newly formed team. I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. "Thank you all for agreeing to be part of the new Diviner's council," I said, trying to sound confident, even though I wasn't sure they fully understood what it meant.
Aaron furrowed his brow. "Wait, what exactly is the Diviner's council?"
Before I could respond, Luna stepped in, clearly in her element. "Each Diviner has a council," she explained, her voice clear and commanding. "It's a secret society that helps the Diviner carry out covert missions, protect humanity, and serve as his most trusted allies. The council members are not just advisors; they are soldiers, spies, and strategists."
I watched her speak, completely mesmerized by the way her lips moved, her passion shining through every word. For a moment, I was lost in thought, an urge to kiss her building as I admired her confidence.
"Rowan? Hello?" Aaron's voice broke through my daydream. "Were you even listening?"
"Y-yeah," I stammered, quickly nodding. I shot Luna a grateful look, knowing she had done a better job explaining than I ever could.
****
I left school early, feeling the weight of my new responsibilities. A message from Thomas had arrived earlier, summoning me to the usual meeting place. I had no idea what he wanted, but I knew it was important.
After stepping through the portal, I found him standing there, as stoic and mysterious as ever.
"Why did you call me out here?" I asked, my voice tinged with exhaustion.
Thomas turned to me, a knowing smile on his face. "I see you've formed your council," he said without any preamble.
I sighed, tired of questioning how he always seemed to know everything before I did. "Yeah, I have. So, what's next?"
"You need to assign each of your council members a unique ability, with the aid of a system" Thomas said, his tone matter-of-fact. "If they're going to be effective, they need systems that will allow them to defend you and themselves."
I blinked in surprise. "Assign systems? How am I supposed to do that?"