Are You A Vaelus?
As I stood before the gathering of faces in the dimly lit conference room, a wave of dread washed over me, a tide of uncertainty that threatened to drown my resolve. The ornate wooden table was surrounded by a mix of eager and skeptical expressions, all fixated on me, their new President. What have I gotten myself into? I couldn't shake the feeling that I was in way over my head. My thoughts flickered to Celene, my mentor. I should've consulted her before stepping into this role.
"Hello. Um… I'm your President, Avant Dekus," I managed, my voice cracking slightly as I spoke.
The room buzzed with murmurs, a cacophony of excitement and anxiety. Then, through the noise, a voice floated to me, barely a whisper yet laced with curiosity.
"Zephira, why is your father with the new President? Isn't he his Majesty the Emperor's personal advisor?"
The mention of Zephira caught my attention, and I turned my gaze toward the source of the voice.
Zephira? I glanced in the direction of the voice, and there she was. Suddenly, it clicked. I understood now why Master Zovran seemed somewhat familiar; he reminded me of Zephira.
The resemblance to her father, Master Zovran, was striking; they were two halves of the same whole. When our eyes locked, I smiled instinctively, and she shyly returned the gesture. The warmth of that moment momentarily eased my anxiety.
"Everyone, please introduce yourselves to Avant-Dar, your new President," Master Zovran declared, his deep voice commanding immediate silence.
A ripple of confusion danced through the group at the sound of my name, "Avant-Dar." The name hung in the air like a tangible presence, sparking murmurs of intrigue. It was an unintentional burden that felt heavier than I could bear.
A stoic-looking youth broke the silence, his blonde hair glinting under the flickering lights. His sculpted features reminded me of Tra'az Geminor, though the resemblance was more superficial than anything. I couldn't help but wonder how many admirers were clamoring for his attention, especially after witnessing the fervor of fans back at Celestial Academy. I shuddered at the memory; those fans were unhinged.
"Lord Orlen, excuse my ignorance, but it is uncustomary for you to introduce our new president as Avant-Dar. I understand he must have great potential, being a Junior and having managed to be part of the Monst—"
He caught himself, his eyes widening in realization.
"I mean, the seniors of Squad 13. But having Lord Orlen himself escorting him is perplexing. After all, House Orlen only serves the Royal House of Vaelus."
Master Zovran's gaze darkened, a shadow creeping over the youth as he channeled a hint of his imposing presence. "Why should I explain my actions and behavior to you? Are you a Vaelus?"
The youth paled, his bravado evaporating in the face of Master Zovran's power. It was clear he hadn't anticipated the fallout from his words. I couldn't bear to see someone intimidated like that, so I interjected before things could escalate further.
"Master Zovran, please stop. There's no need for violence. I'm sure he didn't mean to offend me."
"Compassion and empathy. Well done, Avant-Dar," Zovran praised, a hint of surprise in his tone. The approval felt like a double-edged sword; while I appreciated his acknowledgment, I was more concerned about the young man who had just been put through the ringer.
The youth stammered out an apology, the color slowly returning to his cheeks as the tension in the room shifted. As silence fell again, Zephira broke the ice.
"I'm Zephira Orlen. Here in Marfik's Ophiuchus Royals, I'm the Vice President. I look forward to assisting you, President."
One by one, everyone began introducing themselves. Their voices formed a tapestry of responsibilities and ambitions, weaving together a portrait of the Ophiuchus Royals. As each person spoke, I tried to take mental notes of their names and roles—Devon Sil, the leader of the Peer Support Liaison Office; Mortius Senta, the Conflict Resolution Officer; and Aurora Medoran, who coordinated our events. Their titles and duties formed a structure that, while intricate, provided a sense of order I desperately needed.
Just as I felt the semblance of control returning, the room was suddenly pierced by an alarm—a blaring sound that echoed ominously off the walls. My heart raced.
"What's going on?" I asked, panic creeping into my voice as old memories flared up, memories of the Zealot attacks on Stellaris.
"That is a conflict alarm," Mortius explained, his expression grave. "It activates when there are academy students fighting without permission. This usually means things have escalated out of control. We need to act quickly."
"Great. Just what we need on my first day," I muttered under my breath. "What should we do?"
"Avant-Dar, what do you think we should do since you already have a rough idea how the Ophiuchus Royals are assembled?" Master Zovran's eyes sparkled with expectation.
I felt the weight of their eyes on me again, the pressure building like a storm inside my chest. It was a pivotal moment, one that would define my leadership. I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts.
"Mortius, alert your squads to the area. We need to contain the situation before it escalates further. Have one of your strongest squads stand by at the conflict."
I turned to Devon and Natalia, who were now leaning in with rapt attention. "Devon, Natalia, arrange your squads to assist in the evacuation of students. Work with the ARA medics and assign some squads to help treat any injured students."
I glanced around the room, scanning the faces for a reaction. "The rest of you, will be on standby. Mortius, let's head to the scene."
Master Zovran watched me closely, a smile of approval creeping onto his lips. "Decisive. You're a natural-born leader, Avant-Dar. I'm looking forward to your future as a ruler."