66 Captain of Haniki Hall

In total, there were eleven captains in Royal Dream Higher Academy. At the head of the entire student body, and for that matter the head of the captains, was the Student President, followed by the Vice President. The other nine captains were captains of the four schools and and the captains of the five halls of residence.

The five halls of residence were Jenggen, Limponsu, Tarvik Shar, Yugaki and Haniki Halls. Since the academy was a legacy of the Yugaki-Haniki Clan, the two halls of the same name, Yugaki and Haniki, were the most coveted of all the halls in Royal Dream. But of course, as to who became a member of their hall laid in the hands of the captains.

Every year, during the trials, all the captains observe the applicants as a way to scan for proteges or new members of their halls. After a school completed its trials, the captain of that school would send the total number of new students to all the hall captains, giving them a quota of students they could admit into their halls. Thereafter, the hall captains would select the students they wanted in accordance to that quota.

It was for this reason that the Captain of Haniki Hall was carefully going through the lists of new students in the School of Weapon Studies and School of Beast Studies.

"What about the other two schools?" She said, her eyes not leaving the book she was looking through. A small silver cat was curled in her lap as though it was the most natural thing.

"The Soul Recovery School had only twelve students passing and they've all already being selected by the other hall captains." Baono said. Due to the great importance placed on soul recovery, it was a wise idea to become allies with a student in the soul recovery school. Unfortunately, the lady was always busy with matters outside the academy, and thus, she was the last person to select her members.

In fact, it was not even a selection, since all the students had already been taken by the other captains and she was left with the leftover. Baono was sure that the Lady did not give a damn about this arrangement either. After all, she had never wanted to be a captain in the first place.

"The Combat School is still in the first phase of their trials." Baono added, knowing very well that the Lady probably had no idea. It was best to tell her the information she had gathered.

"So I have about one hundred new students in my hall." The captain said, finally looking up at Baono. There was a beautiful smile on her her fair face. "It seems the others took the majority. Well, I don't blame them. I was never at the meetings anyway."

The captain run her slender fingers through her long black her. "I guess, they'll have to select who they want in the Combat School and I can take the rest."

A wave of uncertainty flashed in Baono's eyes as she heard the words of the Lady.

"You think otherwise, don't you?" The captain said. She had known Baono long enough to know when she disapproved of something. However, since Baono was the ever loyal aide who knew her place, she never voiced her opinion unless asked.

"Forgive me, Lady Ashesi. But there is something I need to tell you."

The captain closed the book and then placed it on the stylish wooden table in the room. She adjusted her position in her sofa as she gave Baono her undivided attention. Even though Baono was twice the age of the seventeen year old captain, she always showed the child absolute reverence. After all, Lady Ashesi Handini-Yarra was one of the most important people in the kingdom, though she never really lorded it over others.

Lady Ashesi kept on looking at her aide, waiting for her to say whatever she needed to say.

"Do you remember the day we went to Ahn Bayari?" Baono asked.

The captain knew that Baono was not the type to chatter unnecessarily. Thus, she went along with answering the questions. She nodded in the affirmative. "That was about two or three months ago. Why do you ask?"

"Bear with me, my lady. Do you also remember when we visited the market in the city?"

"I do. You have to go straight to the point."

"Forgive me, Lady Ashesi. When we were in Ahn Bayari, you happened to buy some wooden toys from a boy in that market."

Lady Ashesi smiled instinctively as soon as she heard the words. Her left hand went to the wooden sun necklace around her neck while her right hand lovingly stoked the silver cat lazily sleeping in her lap. She had no idea why Baono was bringing this up now, but for some reasons unknown to her, she was rather happy hearing about it. After all that time, she had never forgotten that encounter with that beautiful boy with the brilliant black eyes.

Her sun necklace, a gift from that boy, always reminded her of him. And besides, the fact that Layeesi had been so happy when she received those wooden horse figurines was enough to remind her about that incident. Seeing her sister smile after all those years had been a blessing, and Ashesi knew that it was all because of the boy.

Baono noticed how the lady's countenance had changed the moment she brought up the 'boy'. For a moment, she feared that the news of the boy's real identity would shatter the Lady's happiness.

"That… boy," Baono began carefully. The word 'boy' felt very cold on her tongue, after all, she knew that person was not a boy at all. "He is here in the academy, applying to the Combat School."

Ashesi's eyes lit up upon hearing the unexpected news. She could clearly see those deep black eyes; something she had never forgotten since she went to Ahn Bayari.

"Except she is not a boy, but a girl." Baono slowly added, as though wanting every word to sink in. She watched carefully as the Lady's face dimmed in… confusion? She could not really place the emotion. It was like a mixture of shock, confusion, disappointment, even amusement.

Ashesi smiled bitterly, still clutching at her necklace which looked quite out of place on her elegant apparels. "Oh." Was all she could say. "Who is she?"

"Her name is Savyrran Thark. She is here with her twin brother, who is now a student in the Soul Recovery School."

"I see. I would like to see her."

Baono bowed lightly. "Of course, my lady. But she is currently partaking in the trials in the Combat School. I don't know if she would pass, but if she does, the second phase of their trials begin tomorrow in the Royal Arena. I think the whole academy will be there."

Ashesi bit her lips gently, as she run her fingers through her hair. "I have to see my uncle tomorrow."

"It will begin at noon."

"Then I guess I can make time to see what she's capable of."

Then directing her gaze to her cat, Ashesi muttered to herself. "She looked very strong."

A subtle smile cracked Baono's ever stoic demeanor as she saw the look of awe on the Lady's face. The first time she saw that look was in Ahn Bayari when Lady Ashesi first laid her eyes on the girl, whom she thought was a boy then. Apart from her sister, the only thing Lady Ashesi ever gave her undivided attention to were her soul armos and her soul beasts. Thus, it was quite endearing to see her so fascinated about someone, especially a nobody from some no name town.

"Maybe I should speak to Kakami today. I will let her know that I plan to accept Savyrran into Haniki Hall."

"That can be arranged. She just needs to pass her trials, my lady."

"I believe she will." Lady stroked her cat gently, a gentle smile on her face.