As he left the office, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease. He thanked the system for its help and asked, "Why do they show us those videos?"
"I don't know," the system replied, its tone evasive.
Desi rolled his eyes, annoyed by the system's reluctance to share information. "You've been keeping things from me lately. Why?"
"It's to protect you," the system said. "I'll tell you when the time is right."
"Protect me from what?" Desi asked, frustration creeping into his voice. But the system remained silent, leaving him with more questions than answers.
Exhausted both mentally and physically, Desi returned to his dormitory. He noticed that Liam and Gazi were not there and wondered how their tests were going. He collapsed onto his bed, sleep claiming him almost instantly.
As he drifted off, his mind replayed the day's events—the grueling tests, the haunting video, and the cryptic words of the system. He knew there was more to St. Edward's than met the eye, and he was determined to uncover its secrets.
As Desi lay asleep, the system's voice echoed in his mind, a melancholy tone lacing its words. "Alex, why did you show him that video? That war is something we are all trying to forget."
In the principal's office, Principal Eleanor Marshall sat across from Counselor Alexander Reynolds, her expression stern. "Why did you show the students that video, Alex?" she demanded. "That war... it's not something they should be exposed to."
Alexander, young and calm with a reassuring presence, met her gaze evenly. "Principal Marshall, I needed to ensure they have strong minds. We can't afford to have weak-minded individuals here."
The principal sighed, still not fully convinced. "Have any students caught your eye?" she asked, curiosity mingling with concern.
A grin spread across Alexander's face as he thought about four certain students. "Yes, a few. They're promising."
Principal Marshall collected the results of each test, scanning through them. Five outstanding students stood out, and she smiled, though a shadow of worry crossed her face. She picked out 200 names from the thousands and handed the list to Alexander.
"Pass these on to the students," she instructed.
Alexander nodded and left the office. Later, he could be seen knocking politely on a door. A confident voice from within answered, "Enter."
He stepped inside to find Mr. Navarro sitting at his desk. Alexander handed him the file with the names of the students who had passed the exams. Mr. Navarro looked through the file, his expression shifting from mild interest to a more serious demeanor as he saw the 200 names.
As he flipped through the pages, a name caught his eye: Billy Stark. He gave a nod of approval, recognizing the son of a fellow member of the B10. But then another name made him freeze: Desiderio Rossi. He looked up at Alexander, who simply nodded.
Navarro stood up abruptly, his expression urgent. He called his secretary. "Announce a meeting to the other B10 members immediately. They must all be there."
In an undisclosed location, hidden away from prying eyes, a clandestine meeting was underway. Ten prominent figures sat in opulent chairs arranged around a grand table, shrouded in darkness. At the head of the table sat a larger, imposing chair, currently empty, casting an ominous presence over the room.
The atmosphere was thick with tension as the B10 convened in secrecy. The only illumination came from the dim glow of candlelight, casting eerie shadows on the faces of those gathered.
A woman in her fifties, with sharp, elegant features and silver hair tied into a neat bun, spoke first. Her name was Evelyn Blackwood, 6th of the B10, known for her cunning and ruthless efficiency. "Alejandro, why have you called this meeting so urgently?" she asked, her voice cutting through the silence like a knife.
Mr. Alejandro Navarro, the 3rd of the B10, was visibly sweating, his usually calm demeanor replaced with a sense of panic. He fumbled with his words, causing the others to exchange concerned glances.
When all ten members had taken their seats, leaving the larger chair at the head of the table empty, Alejandro finally spoke. "I have the list of all the students who are to be enrolled," he said, activating a hologram that displayed the names.
Mr. Stark, Billy's father and the 10th of the B10, smiled proudly when he saw his son's name on the list. However, the others remained tense, waiting for the reason behind Alejandro's distress.
Evelyn Blackwood pressed him further, "We have already discussed the enrollment. Why the panic?"
Alejandro highlighted a specific name on the hologram, causing the room to fall into a stunned silence. "Desiderio Rossi," he announced.
Evelyn's eyes widened. "Am I hallucinating, or is there actually a Rossi on this list?"
Another man, his face gaunt and serious, glanced at the empty chair and asked, "Do we know the boy's relation to him?"
Alejandro shook his head and sighed deeply. "No, we don't."
"Should we even allow him into the school?" another member questioned, his voice trembling slightly.
Evelyn laughed derisively. "Oh, how dare you suggest we deny a Rossi entrance to the school?"
The room sighed in defeat, acknowledging the gravity of her words. Another member, a stoic man with a calculating gaze, said, "If a Rossi is at the school, he must have a plan. We should allow him to proceed and assist him where necessary."
The members nodded in agreement and moved on to another topic. The 1st of the B10, a man named Gabriel Kane, with a commanding presence and an aura of authority, asked, "Alejandro, how are the preparations for the school's opening progressing?"
Alejandro replied, "We have chosen the students eligible for enrollment based on a test conducted at the five Academy. From thousands, we selected 200 from each academy as you have seen."
Gabriel continued, "What about the location of the school?"
Alejandro took a deep breath. "The school is on planet Elysium Prime. It is located outside the Milky Way, but it is identical to Earth with a similar atmosphere. The students will not know they are not on Earth."
Gabriel's eyes narrowed. "And the darkness there?"
Alejandro nodded. "Elysium Prime has low to no darkness, much like Earth. It is one of the rare planets we've found with such characteristics."
The other members nodded, satisfied with the choice of location. However, another member with a worried look, Dr. Jonathan Mercer, 8th of the B10, expressed his concern. "I hope the students can handle this."