Soulstone Academy

Chapter Ten: Elites

"The elites are excused in the last subject. We have a meeting." tanging anunsiyo niya bago umalis.

"Iyon na 'yon?" bulalas ni Theus nang mawala sa paningin namin ang lalaki. "Ang suplado suplado talaga ng lalaking 'yon! Nako!"

Naalala ko ang pagbigay niya ng notes kanina. I don't think he's suplado or cold, talagang awkward lang siya when it comes to social interactions.

Pero may ibang nakapukaw ng atensiyon ko. "Elites? What's that?"

"You asked about some council kanina, 'di ba?" nakangiting sagot ni Solana. "The Elites are a group of twelve students who are tasked to govern the whole student body. Napipili sila tuwing Selection Ball. Two top students from every house 'yon. Kami ni Eva ang mula sa House of Spring Brook, si Theus at Kam mula sa House of Psyche," tukoy niya doon sa lalaking lagi niyang karibal sa class participation. "Tapos itong si Dawn at Tsuki sa House of Ocean Moon."

"Tsuki?" kumunot ang noo ni Tamara. "Iyan ba ang second son ng Nuray?"

Tumango sila. Nuray? That family has a royal bloodline but they come from the neighboring country, Gareth. Ang alam ko din ay magkasundo ang mga ito sa Villareal noon ngunit natapos ang pagkakaibigan nila 20 years ago.

"House of Beasts has Margot and Bryant, while House of Wind has Henri and Sawyer. Sa House of Golden Sun naman sina Fei at Helios." dagdag ni Theus. "It's easy to categorize us from other students because our capes have our house colors and not the usual white."

"So you make rules?" tanong ko.

"Academy rules are already established and they follow outside principles." si Dawn naman ang sumagot. "Creation of new rules can be promoted to us. It will undergo various processes and screening. Tinitingnan din namin kung kailangan ba talaga siya. But the final word resides in our dean. Kahit na maganda at gusto ng lahat, kung hindi niya tatanggapin, mapapa-walang abiso iyon."

"Not even your president? Or the royal family?"

"The dean has more power than any council members, royal bloods, or even the Academy scholars in Ukiyo. In this place, he rules. At sa isang tanong mo, the Elites have no president."

Ngumuso ako. No president but that boy exudes too much authority and leadership. Akala ko naman siya na ang student council president kung sa mga normal na eskwelahan.

"I thought he was your president..."

"Helios?" tanong ni Solana saka tumawa. "We just respect him because he ranks as the strongest soulbearer in this academy. But there's no specific roles inside the Elites. We govern over our houses and controls the rules inside the academy. We make sure that the students follow them and punishes those who don't."

Punishment, huh? I know four of the Elites so maybe I can have a more magaan na punishment? Suhol na kung suhol? I laughed evilly in my head. Ano na lang kaya ang iisipin ng mga estudyante 'pag nalaman nilang nagpapasipsip ako?

Oh... What about when I finally wear those forbidden colors inside this sacred walls? What a sacrilegious act brought by the Tempest' Miss.

"K-Kinakabahan ako sa expresiyon mo, Raven." bulong ni Tamara sa tabi ko.

I gave her a smile. I just can't contain my excitement, that's all. I've always liked the existence of rules. It tempts me to break and disrespect them. The reaction that my action will later cause often brings me joy.

"What about the House of Blades?" tanong ko makalipas ang ilang sandali.

Nagkibit-balikat si Dawn. "Well, you're a newly formed house so your elites may be appointed at the upcoming Selection Ball." magtatanong na sana ako nang pigilan niya. "Since we don't have a next subject and your questions aren't ending, can we head to the library? Para sa assignment natin sa History."