Chapter 9: CHAPTER 9: RESULTS AND THREATS

After my proclamation to become the next Student Council President, word has been buzzing around the school about the new leader of the Winter Family. It just takes one mouth to reach thousands, and that is what I took full advantage of. Now that a few weeks have passed, I can tell that students are finalizing who they can vote for. This is a crucial decision for them to make because the people that they vote for can make their school life a living hell or a paradise. For these lazy rich kids, they would rather go with an easy option so that they can just float through school without having to worry about a helicopter officer around every corner.

 

Word about me has even reached the students' families which, for better or worse, has gotten me plenty of invites and notices concerning meeting with me. I had Delic decide the meeting schedules for me since I had my campaign and leader duties to tend to. To think it has been almost six months since I decided to take on the role as the new leader. It seems like it was just yesterday that I was crying by myself in the desolated mansion. Just thinking about it gives me continuous motivation to push forward to my goal.

 

At long last, the awaited voting period is starting. The students are given a sheet of paper with all of the candidates' names and their desired position. Shamelessly, I mark my name for President, then I look at the rest of the names for the other positions. Even though I said that this is a crucial decision for students concerned with their school life, this is a critical decision for me since these will be the people who will aid me in running the school. I look back at all of the candidates' campaigns and make my decision through who was most honest and hard-working. Obviously, with rich kids, honesty isn't most of their strong suits, but their auras give off who they are.

 

I mark my final decisions and pass the sheet of paper to Mrs. Giselle. I will have to wait until next week for the final tally to be posted in the Grand Hall.

 

After everyone passes their poll sheet to Mrs. Giselle, she gives us the rest of homeroom off and dismisses herself from the classroom. That is when everyone begins huddling into their own clicks. Watching my classmates enjoy their conversations, I once again realize that I don't have any friends to talk to. I mean... I'm used to being alone... at least I was before everything changed. I guess some things don't change. I will always be alone somewhere.

 

I take out my notebook and begin planning my next steps and a contingency plan just in case I don't get the President's seat. Before I knew it, the bell rang for the next class to start.

 

During lunch, I head out to my usual quiet spot to eat when I notice that Delic was waiting for me on the bench. I walk over and sit next to Delic who also had his lunch out. Between bites, Delic would try to talk and ask me questions. He should really be careful; otherwise, he is going to choke on his food.

 

"Do you think you are going to win this election, Master?" asks Delic as he wipes his mouth with a tissue.

 

I take another bite of my sandwich before answering. "I did the best I could. Of course, there will be people who won't vote for me, so I know that winning is by luck and not choice. Whatever the students decide, I will just make a plan around it."

 

Delic leans in closer and whispers, "Would you like for me to fake some votes to ensure you win?"

 

Snapping my neck over to where Delic is still hovering, I glare at him causing him to move back. "I will never accept a forged victory, so don't even think about doing that ever again. As much as I would like to win, a victory that isn't won by my own hard work is a loss that will forever haunt me. I'm sure my parents will be very displeased if forged victories are how I chose to lead my life."

 

Out of nowhere, Delic brings forth one of his annoying smiles. "Good. Even though the method I used was cruel, you have surpassed the test given to you."

 

"What test?" I ask as I take a drink of my juice.

 

"Winter Vessels are dependent on their leadership skills. Every new Winter Vessel has to go through some sort of test periodically to show if they are righteous enough to lead their people with honesty and clarity just like the snow and ice within them. If their judgements are dark or clouded, the snow becomes black and will result in death before another vessel is born.

 

"Winter Vessels need to be as clear as ice in their decisions and as clean as snow in their leadership abilities. As contradictory as that may seem since your family deals with the Underground as well as those above, you must never let your leadership be tainted with other people's ideals if they don't match yours. That's what it means to be as clean as snow."

 

"What happens if they fail the test?"

 

Delic sets his finished lunch down next to him and hesitantly pauses. "If at any point the Winter Vessel fails the test, as the protector of the Winter Vessel, arctic wolf spirits have to isolate the vessel until another one is born or the current one changes his ways." Delic grabs my hands in his and gazes into my eyes. "I'm so glad that you passed, Master. I just know that you will make a great leader."

 

Before I can say anything in response, the bell rings for lunch to be over. I escape Delic's hands, grab my things, and stand up. "Thank you, Delic," I say without turning around to face him. "Thanks for believing in me. I will become a leader to be proud of and a master worth serving." With that, I walk back to my classroom without giving Delic time to answer. Knowing him, he would probably do something embarrassingly doting if given the chance.

 

A week goes by, and it's time for the Student Council results to be posted. I enter the Grand Hall where Delic meets up with me after parking the car. I scan the line of papers to where the results for Student Council President should be. Once I find it, I quickly walk over to get a closer look. When I finally reach the front of the crowd, I look up at the sheet.

 

Student Council President: Viola Winter

 

There were other things written under it, but I paid no attention to it. 

 

I did it. I actually did it!

 

Suddenly, I feel a warm sensation on my waist while I was coming to terms with my victory. Before I knew what was happening, Delic has me flying in the air.

 

"You did it, Master! You won!"

 

"Delic! Put me down!" I command. Glancing over at the sea of students in the Grand Hall, I notice that they are all watching me. This is so embarrassing!! "Delic! Down! Now!"

 

At the sudden command, Delic gently sets me down.

 

Thank goodness this man is a wolf spirit. He is essentially a dog who listens to commands if given correctly. I don't like using commands like that on him, but I was seriously about to die from embarrassment if he didn't stop.

 

"I understand that you are happy for me, Delic. However, you need to control yourself in front of the students. You are a teacher and counselor here. You have to act like one." Even though I can't see it, I can just feel his wolf ears tugging back as he wraps himself in his tail like a dog who has been scolded by his master. Well... that's basically what this is right now.

 

Reaching my hand over his head, I pet Delic's soft hair. He slowly peeks up at me and notices my smile. "Thank you for your support, Delic."

 

"Anytime, Master," responds Delic happily.

 

He really is like a dog. Isn't he? I laugh to myself and proceed with my first unofficial day as Student Council President.

 

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Later that day, I am called to the Headmaster's office. He tells me that I need to make a speech for tomorrow's inauguration of Student Council Officers. We go through the details of what needs to be included in the speech and how long it should be. After we settle on the broad outline of the speech, I excuse myself from the office and head to the front of the school where Delic is waiting for me.

 

Once we arrive at the estate, I immediately head towards my room and get started on the speech. However, Delic catches up to me and drags me into the bathroom.

 

"You need to change first and complete your rounds of duties before you can start on whatever it is you have on the desk."

 

"Can't my duties wait for a short minute? I need to write my speech for the inauguration tomorrow."

 

Delic closes the door behind him and continues to remove my clothes. "Your speech can wait. Your household duties are more important since this is your stronghold. If something doesn't get checked properly, then the stronghold can fall."

 

I fall quiet. As annoying as it is, Delic is right. The Winter Family is now a newly budding organization instead of its usual long tradition fortress. We are essentially starting from the ground up, and even if one small thing is wrong, we can fall right back down again or worse.

 

Later that evening after finishing my rounds and eating dinner, I sit in my ever so quiet room with just my desk lamp on. Using the outline as the base, I write a nice and short speech that should be appropriate to the occasion.

 

The next day rolls on by, and all of the students are gathered in the gymnasium for the inauguration. In the process of starting the function, the teachers line up the new officers. Mrs. Giselle and Delic approach me with a small box and hand it to me, so I open it up and see a beautifully bright snowflake brooch inside. Delic takes out the pendant and pins it on my uniform with nothing more than a smile and a pat on the head. They both wish me luck on my speech and leave to meet up with the other teachers in the stands.

 

After the rest of the new officers are called on stage given their respective items to hold, it is finally my turn to ascend the stage. Upon entering the stage's platform, I am greeted by the school's Headmaster. He shakes my hand to congratulate me and hands me the school's scepter that is given to all new Student Council Presidents as the representation that the school is in his or her hands. With the scepter in my hand and the speech in my head, I face my schoolmates and present my first words as official Student Council President.

 

"Good morning everyone. My name is Viola Winter. I am extremely honored to be given the title of President, but I am more than happy with the fact that so many of you trust me with this duty. In the name of the Winter Family, I will do my best to lead this school and my new family with pride and honor. If you ever need anything, the door to the Student Council is always open. Thank you again for your time."

 

As a finishing touch, I encase the whole gymnasium with a snow cloud and shower a flurry of snowflakes over them. The mixture of clapping and joyful laughter makes me smile uncontrollably as I watch everyone enjoying their time trying to catch snowflakes. This is the kind of place I want to create. A place where you can honestly smile and laugh without judgment.

 

To my surprise, the rest of the day went by the moment I blinked. All I can remember is the teachers congratulating me, meeting the other officers in the Student Council room, and the non-stop feeling of happiness. However, that feeling of happiness quickly went away as soon as Delic and I arrived home. We were greeted with a note stabbed onto the wooden gate:

 

'If you know what's good for you, you will marry the leader of the Golden Lions and use your powers for the Lions. Consider this an honor to be the lioness of the strongest gang in the Underground. You have until tomorrow night to give a response.'

 

Delic clicks his touch and snatches the paper off of the door. He takes the knife and throws it at a bush where a sudden yell can be heard. Heated with anger, Delic walks over to the bush and picks up the small felinoid from behind it. He shoves the paper into the felinoid's chest and glares deeply into his face.

 

"Marriage to the Lady is strictly prohibited. Relay that to your boss." Delic growls before flinging the felinoid from his grasp and walking over to me.

 

"Do you think that was a good idea?" I ask as Delic gets back into the car.

 

"I let my protective instincts get the best of me. Didn't I?" he asks after realizing what he did.

 

I nod my head, and Delic sinks into his seat before driving through the gate without another word.

 

As per usual, I complete my duties around the house with the unusually close escort of Delic. 

 

He must still be bothered by the note. The Golden Lions, huh? They are a large gang consisting of some of the most muscle-headed felinoids one could ever meet. They used to be on good terms with the Winter Family when my father was still around, but now that he's gone, the Golden Lions must have taken it upon themselves to be called the strongest gang.

 

Since I have a lot more on my mind than usual, I tell Delic that I'm going off the estate for a walk just nearby. Of course, he strongly disagrees with me considering the threat that we have been given and the idiotic threat that Delic slipped out. We ended up compromising by letting a medium-ranked spirit come with me in the form of a dog since Delic had other duties to tend to at the estate.

 

The wind gracing my face feels so nice compared to stuffiness inside my room. I hardly ever leave my room once I'm finished with my duties now that I look back at it. I guess since I don't really have any 'official' duties yet like my father did, I don't need to use my father's study for business. I have to build back all of my father's connections and get the business back together.

 

Not even ten minutes into my walk, I happen to pass an alleyway that caught my eye. Normally, I don't pay much mind to alleys since they are generally dark with nothing important in them; however, this one is different. I felt an aura of anger and sadness. It reminded me of how I felt back when I was all alone. I turn around and head back to the alleyway where I found two teenagers around the same age as me. We were just staring at each other in silence for a moment.

 

I can't just leave them there. I feel their intense anger and overwhelming sadness. I want to help them.

 

"Are you two okay? Are you hurt anywhere?" I kneel down and hold out my hand. "Do you need help?"

 

I guess my sudden movements scared them because the two teenagers flinch. This causes their hoods to come off. At the same time, the moon escapes from the clouds to reveal the teenagers who have pointy ears. A gleam shines from their foreheads and quickly hides as the clouds slide over the moon. An amber gemstone.

 

Pointy ears. Dark skin. Silver hair. Amber gemstone on the forehead. These are all evidence of dark elves, but what are dark elves doing in the city center? They hate all of the noise and pollution.

 

In the midst of my pondering, one of the teenager's stomach growls. A small chuckle escapes my lips. This time I hold out both hands to the dark elves.

 

"It seems that you are hungry. How about we go to my house and fix you some food?"

 

The dark elves whisper between themselves before finally placing their hands on top of mine. I take a firm hold of their hands and raise them from the dirty ground. Getting a better look at them now that they are out of the alleyway, they can prove to be useful if I can give them something back in return.

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