Chapter 30 – Announcement

The Student Council for Warlocks & Witches.

They are... nay, even I don't know who or what they are but many of the other scholars seemed to know.

They even knew the faces of the members.

Did I miss something that everyone else knew?

I felt left out.

I looked at the student who had just told me who the person on stage was and blinked at him.

"Uh, who are those?" I asked, inquiring more about the said Student Council.

"Dude, are you serious?" he asked me, shocked that I didn't know who he was talking about.

"You don't know who the Student Council are?" he said.

"Uh... if I knew... I wouldn't be asking, would I?"

"So you didn't read your academy handbook then."

"Huh, there was an academy handbook?" I thought to myself.

I tried to recall if I had one or was ever given one but the memory of such an event did not occur to me.

"Academy handbook?"

The scholar hit his forehead with his palm in disappointment and heaved a sigh.

"Heavens, who is this guy?"

He hissed and ignored me afterwards, casting his gaze on the white-haired boy in front of us.

"So rude."

The white-haired boy on the stage tapped the microphone and blew on it.

"Testing, testing..." he said, imposing quietness on the auditorium.

"Good day everyone, my name is Jonny Sinns. I, on behalf of the Student Council for Warlocks & Witches, would like to officially welcome you all to the academy."

A round of applause was the reply to his opening speech.

We seemed to like Jonny better than Williams and were more eager to listen to what he did to say.

"I believe that every one of you must be wondering why you were called to this auditorium. It is for an important announcement, which I'm sure that some of you can already guess what it is..."

Jonny cleared his throat and continued, "We could have just sent out circulars but decided that one of us should speak to you all face-to-face."

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Ah, yes! I remember now.

I remember the academic handbook. I received it, or rather, it was given to my father on the day of my registration last year.

I never really got to read it since it skipped my mind, but was its content really that important?

If it was, then I'm probably fucked unless I can convince Mr. Navas to bring it to the academy for me.

But it's Mr. Navas. Pfft, he will probably tell me off before eventually doing so.

Or I could just borrow Liz's or Rordon's, you know, to make it easier for myself.

I didn't understand the fuss about the Student Council. It's not like they were some powerhouse or something similar.

I presume it's just a body made up of students like us.

Anyways, back to Jonny.

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"Every year, a slot is opened for a candidate from each year to fill in as a representative. It is that time of the year again and you, the second-year warlock and witch apprentices, have been given this opportunity to choose your representative. A person who would convey your thoughts and concerns to the council.

"Courtesy of our Student Council President, who is unavoidably absent today but would have loved to be the one addressing you lots."

Jonny's words started a fire in the hearts of every second-year scholar who was present at the announcement.

"I have a chance at trying my luck for a spot at the council," one said, grinning like he had won a lottery.

The scholar who had told me about Jonny had an even wider grin on his face that it was becoming creepy.

"If I can become the Second Year Representative, then I have a chance of getting into the Student Council," he said.

I didn't get what the frenzy was about. I didn't know if becoming a representative had benefits or untold privileges attached to it.

Tch, now I have to read that handbook.

Anyways, disregarding my thoughts, Jonny Sinns went on and on with his speech. I don't blame him though, it was not as if he could hear them or read my mind.

"In six weeks, we will be back and a situation where more than one candidate has been nominated for the slot, then we reserve the right to conduct a form of elimination test ourselves to pick a candidate for you all."

"Six weeks, huh?" Bolzen muttered and giggled where he sat behind me.

Rordon clutched the air in the room with great enthusiasm. "Six weeks? That's more than enough time to grab this!"

Many of the second-year scholars were motivated by Jonny's announcement except barely a handful of us whom I noted to be indifferent, at least facially, about it.

I couldn't care less really because I didn't know the worth or benefits of whatever the slot that was offered to us was.

"Are we done already?" I grumbled and at the same time, my stomach grumbled too.

I was getting hungrier by the minute.

"That will be all," Jonny said, stepping away from the microphone.

As soon as he was done, we heard a stuttering voice echo.

"E-E-Excuse me... I have... a question," someone said from the front, adjusting her classes.

"Bridget?"

It was Big-Eyed Bridget.

Remember her? She's the one I ran into whilst searching for Jasmine in the restroom.

Tch, you have to remember these things, man.

Jonnu moved closer to the tripod again, "Yes?" he said.

"What is your question?"

Big-Eyed Bridget cleared her throat and looked around — behind and sideways — before speaking.

She was the shy type of girl who did not do very well with public speaking. I was surprised she even raised her hand to ask a question.

"If... Sorry, what... what happens... w-when... we don't have... a candidate of our own?"

She hurriedly sank back into her seat after asking her question and breathed harshly like an overworked labourer.

Jonny smiled. "Thank you for that question. It is a very important one."

"In that case," Jonny responded, his lips curling up into a menacing grin for whatsoever reason.

"...the Second Year class of the Zenith Academy for Warlock & Witches ceases to exist."

The crowd went wild. "Whaaaaat!"

"What the fuck do you mean by that!" Rordon yelled at him.