Chapter 15. The JUST President

Good thing class this morning was not Ma'am Ague's schedule.

After what happened yesterday, she was sure it would be awkward for the both of them. The seven children were sent home and in just a few hours, the government dismissed it as case solved. They even reported that the culprit was taken into custody when in reality, it is chained in the basement of Orion Agency. 

"Do the government officials know of…your existence?" asked Ma'am Ague before everyone parted ways last night.

"Nothing to be anxious about. We have our own people in the government who are also moonmages so yeah, there is nothing really to be worried about if you are thinking of how they are being covered up," Sir Tanori answered.

Those agents working in the government were the key persons on how the myriad of moonmage associations throughout Earth were able to operate smoothly for how many centuries without being caught by the public. They immediately erase any footage of the moonmages especially at nights when there is a full moon. Even if the job was getting harder because almost everyone in this age held a phone that can video something instantly and post it on social media in just seconds, there was not a single solid proof that is left in the worldwide database that moonmages and true magic exist. Which is why Sir Tanori assured Ma'am Ague that everything was under control.

But did they really have nothing to worry about?

They just made history yesterday. A Moonling and a group of moonmages just interacted for the first time in three centuries. This would surely go down in history. The higher ups kept on bothering Sir Tanori for more detailed reports on what happened. Some even proposed to come and visit Jazel just to see the Moonling but Ma'am Ague strictly invoked her right to privacy telling them that she wanted to be left alone as it was before.

"Now that we are aware of each other's identity and existence, it cannot be avoided that we can no longer go back to the usual normal. Still, let me say this. I hope we still get to lead ordinary lives," Ma'am Ague said last night.

Reality sucks. Her being a college student was a gloomy thing that Raii Shin would love to trade the world for.

"We just had a quiz yesterday and now we have another?" Dawn irritatedly said beside her.

Good thing their instructor was an old man who had difficulty in hearing. Raii Shin nudged Dawn, signaling her to be aware that their professor was already patrolling near their area. Dawn just rolled her eyes. Worse thing was, their quiz was purely handwritten. Their instruction was a man of the past times so of course he would still prefer the traditional way of schooling.

The bell rang and they all sighed in great relief, like everyone was experiencing such hard times in that classroom. The professor collected their papers and then walked out along with them. It was already lunch.

Just as they were about to get into the cafeteria, the students at the gate suddenly broke into a cheer.

All heads turned at the sound near the gate. Dawn was the tall one so naturally, she was able to see the reason for the commotion. Dawn's hand went to her mouth as she gasped.

"Why?" Raii Shin asked, already eyeing the menu at the counter.

Dawn tugged at her repeatedly so she had no choice but to look at the direction her best friend was pointing to her.

There, near the gate as visible through the cafeteria's glass panes, the crowd of students paved way to a tan blond-haired boy who was busy smirking and waving his hand like he was some actor and model. Raii Shin squinted her eyes and that was when she only realized that the boy was actually the student council president of JADE.

"Oooohhh. He has returned," one of the girls beside them giggled.

If Raii Shin was not mistaken, the bulletin board of the school had announced that their SC president was on a school tour to the other universities and academies for the purpose of intellectual learning and the strengthening of friendship. It was his responsibility after all to make sure that JADE will be on good terms with Jazel's East-West Law School (JEWELS), Jazel University of Saint Therlin (JUST), and other learning institutions within Jazel. It was just like the same with Orion Agency, how Sir Tanori also frequented other moonmage agencies in different cities. If that was how professional JADE was, then Raii Shin's school must really be really a topnotcher.

"Chicken and salad please," Raii Shin told the one at the counter.

The cashier pressed the buttons, handed her the receipt, and within less than a minute, her order appeared. Raii Shin scooped her order which was steaming hot. The return of the SC president was good but she was famished and she couldn't admire him the way the others did. Ever since Raii Shin entered college, she no longer had a decent breakfast due to her oversleeping because of the nature of her work. Although she was only in-duty when the full moon comes once in a month, she was still called to be at the office at midnight for training and reporting.

"You really can't be bothered when you are hungry," Dawn teased her as she also got her order.

Raii Shin let the joke slide and just sat and started to gobble her own food. 

"Whoa, slow down, Raii Shin," Dawn said, who was just sipping on a fruit shake and vegetables. Although Raii Shin knew that she was an athlete, JADE's basketball captain to be exact, and that Dawn had to maintain a fit image, Raii Shin couldn't imagine how her friend could go through the day without a heavy lunch. If only the rice on the menu wasn't that pricey, Raii Shin would have opted for it.

The intercom beeped, making all students in the cafeteria, even those outside walking, stood still.

"Hello, this is Arko Redanda, your SC president. To all members of the League of Leaders, we will be having a meeting at the SC hall at exactly 1 pm. Please come on time. See you."

After that, the buzz returned. Raii Shin noticed Dawn's face.

"Oh? You don't seem happy. Isn't he your crush or something? You'll be having a meeting with him, you know."

Dawn took three long sips before answering.

"First of all, he's not my crush or something. I'm not a member of his fangirls, unlike Harana and the others," Dawn whispered the last phrase and then eyeing the surroundings to make sure they weren't around.

"But you were quite excited when you saw him earlier," Raii Shin pressed on, taunting her.

"Hah, I'm sorry dear Raii Shin, but you can't make me blush like that," Dawn smirked. Raii Shin rolled her eyes in defeat.

"Fine," Raii Shin said. Dawn chuckled at that but her face returned to being serious again after shoving the last vegetable in her mouth.

"Arko is someone truly that is to be looked upon. I only see him as that, nothing more. The thing is, no one in the League of Leaders is excited to have a meeting with him."

"Oh?"

"His meetings contain a series of lectures of charts, graphs, and pictures. We are forced to listen to every detail as he hates his efforts going to waste, especially when we can't apply it in our teams. Although it has good effects, his perfectionist side is really draining that some can't cope up. His plans are also flexible and always changing that leaders come and go," Dawn stated.

Raii Shin realized Dawn's fear.

"You said that the basketball captain that you replaced had three other side jobs apart from school and being an athlete so he couldn't make his reports. That was why JADE declared you, a first-year student, to be the basketball captain because of your background in business writing as they deemed it fit to see that you can handle the tenacity of report writing," Raii Shin said.

Dawn nodded. "Yes, that's true. Which is why I have a feeling that something or rather someone will again be changed, especially that he had just gone from a school tour. He might have seen new things that he wants to implement at our university."

"Are you afraid that this time it might be you?"

"No, no, don't get me wrong. I support whatever his decisions are although I admit I will be a little sad if that will happen. Being the basketball captain and experiencing being a member of the League of Leaders is something that really molded me so I'm just a little hesitant that I will be saying goodbye to such experience if ever I will be it. That's just it," Dawn said. 

Raii Shin was about to say something or anything that she thought might lift her spirits up but then Dawn smiled. "Anyways, at the very least, I will be free from such a hectic schedule and then we could finally go to that new barbecue place!" 

Raii Shin had nothing to worry about.

"Sure," Raii Shin replied with a smile also.

Dawn stood holding her tray.

"It's almost time. I will be going first. You wait for me at dismissal time, okay?" Dawn said and walked. After putting her tray on the counter, she ran out of the cafeteria waving her hand at her. Good thing she was a basketball player. She can run to the next building in less than five minutes.

If only she could run away from that freak of a president.