Extra's Descent

There were a total of six members in the committee, including Brandon and Amelia.

Fourth and fifth year students were currently focused on their Guild Internships.

Which is why the committee consisted of second and third years, with Brandon being the only first year.

Standing in the center, Amelia was the first one to speak.

"During the week of the Festival, we'll split the work into shifts."

—Brandon and Oscar, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM.

—Amelia and Lilith, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM.

—Simon and Cain, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM.

And that would be for the first day.

For the next few days, the order would rotate, as well as the partners, in order for everyone to learn to work with each other.

The meeting spanned for a total of thirty minutes.

They had discussed the small restrictions they placed on themselves if conflict arises.

While magic wasn't allowed to be used for fighting inside Academy grounds, the Committee had the privilege to do so.

But it would only serve to incapacitate. If they had somehow managed to inflict a wound, then they would have to settle it themselves.

Abuse of authority was strictly forbidden and would immediately result in expulsion.

It was strict with its members, but the credentials and rewards reaped was well worth it.

Committee members would be given the luxury to skip out on lectures whenever they pleased.

There were other incentives as well such as free lunch, and the opportunity to be referred to a guild as soon as they graduate.

But the discussion was mostly a reminder.

Most of the information was already given–via–document.

Which is why Brandon had formally accepted the proposal.

After their brief discussion, the committee was then dismissed and was scheduled for another meeting in the afternoon.

Just like that, everyone turned to leave the room.

Brandon was just about to leave when he was halted by Amelia's voice.

"Wait."

Turning around, Brandon tilted his head.

"Uh… Yes?"

"I've wanted to ask this for a while now."

Brandon closed the door and sat back down on the couch.

Locking gaze with him, her lips pulled up.

"Before that, care for some hot cocoa?"

"...Okay?"

*

Setting down the mug, Brandon sat face to face with Amelia.

He couldn't fathom just what Amelia wanted to talk about.

Slurp~

And as Amelia finished sipping, she placed the mug down as well.

Looking at him, she licked the residue off her lips before opening her mouth.

"I only want things to be clear with you since you're my best friend's younger brother."

She paused and looked at him intensely.

Where was this conversation going?

"But be honest, Brandon. Do you have a problem with me?"

"..."

What?

What was she talking about?

Tilting his head, Brandon asked.

"Uh? Why do you think so…?"

"I might be jumping into conclusions here. But back during the party, and now as well. You look at me as if you've seen a ghost."

"..."

Ah.

He thought he was being subtle about it.

The tension he felt.

Raven didn't seem to notice it when they met up.

But for some reason, Amelia was able to notice.

"Haha…"

He laughed.

"...?"

And Amelia skeptically tilted her head.

Clearing his throat, Brandon spoke up.

"I don't know what all of this is about. You're just overanalyzing things, Amelia."

"Eh…?"

"Don't you think you're just paying too much attention to me?"

"..."

This was the only thing he could do.

To fluster Amelia and to divert the topic away.

He couldn't tell her that he witnessed her death in a vision.

Amelia sipped on her mug, seemingly unable to reply.

Swallowing, she pursed her lips.

"So… Is it all a misunderstanding?"

"Yes."

It worked.

"Is it all cleared up now?"

"...I guess so."

"If that's all, I'll be going now."

"Sure."

At her approval, Brandon got up and started walking towards the door.

Opening the door knob, he paused and turned towards Amelia who continued to sip from her mug.

"If you need anything else, just call me."

She set down the mug and pursed her lips.

"Wait."

"Hm?"

"I don't have your number."

***

There was a certain spot in the Academy that Sarah would often go to kill time or relieve some stress.

The rooftop.

Very typical, and yet for some reason, it wasn't a popular spot.

At the end of the trip, she had planned on dropping out of the Academy.

The first agenda was to find a job after dropping out.

But right after she was about to, when she checked her bank account, she was horrified by the sight that greeted her.

For some reason, her account displayed a total of 4 Platinum Coins or 400 Gold coins. She had thought it was some kind of error.

But when she checked with the bank, the account was traced back to Oliver White.

She was unsure how to feel about it.

But in the end, she got the hidden message that Oliver wanted to convey.

'Take this money and live in peace.'

At least, that's what she thought it meant.

Four Platinum Coins was enough for two people to live peacefully.

If it were spent wisely, then the money could last for their entire lifetime. There would even be some remaining after their deaths.

In other words, it was a lot of money.

The first thing they decided to do was to finally leave the hellhole known as Everglade.

Moving into Vale City, Sarah and her mother had found a middle class apartment to move into.

And that was what they did during the entire break.

As she recounted everything that has happened so far, Sarah let out an audible sigh.

"Haa…"

Leaning on the railings, Sarah lowered her head down.

She had been elected as Class B's leader for the Foundation Festival.

She was quite unsure how to proceed or how to handle her class.

She was never that relevant, nor noticeable in the beginning of the semester.

But as the midterms started, her classmates had been paying a lot more attention to her.

Scanning the view of the entire Academy grounds below, her eyes paused at a certain figure.

"It's him…"

His pale-white hair instantly registered in her mind.

How can it not when it was the same man she had attacked a few weeks prior.

She knew she was in the wrong.

She had already come to terms with Emma's death.

Brandon wasn't the one to blame.

It was the Wraiths…

But she didn't know how to tell him that, nor how to approach him.

Squinting her eyes, she continued to scan him.

He lay on the grassfields alone, eating what seems to be a sandwich.

Once again, he was the most talked about student within the first years.

After acing the prelims with a perfect score, news of his achievement instantly made waves throughout all the other sections.

Since he was alone, now was the perfect chance to approach him.

Who knew when she would get another chance to do so?

But her eyes widened shortly after that.

"Huh…?"

A beautiful woman with golden locks and azure eyes approached Brandon and sat beside him.

"Is that…"

As she sat beside him, she unwrapped thin foil she carried with her, revealing a sandwich similar to Brandon's.

"I see."

It made sense.

For someone as handsome as Brandon, he would obviously have someone who could match his looks.

She was a total beauty, even Sarah could admit that.

She focused more on the woman's identity.

Squinting her eyes, all of a sudden, her mouth formed an 'o' shape.

"Isn't that…"

Who else could it have been?

Amelia Constantine.

A third year student, and was considered to be the most beautiful student in Astrea Academy.

Considered, since the most beautiful title was also given to Belle Locke, Brandon's sister.

In other words, it was a clash of beliefs.

"An older girl, huh?"

So that was his type.

She continued to scan them. The two were eating together.

Brandon was nonchalantly laying on the grass while reading a book. Amelia on the other hand was eating a sandwich.

"...At least pay attention to your girlfriend."

Brandon was taking her for granted.

Sarah decided to leave it at that. It would be rude to continue staring at the two while they were spending time together.

Patching things up with Brandon would have to come for another time.

With such thoughts, Sarah left the rooftop.