Okay, so, if I suddenly stop updating this story, know that it's because the formal really, really burnt me out and in taking a break I probably bounced to another fandom. Then again, the stuff that will be coming up for the play arc will get kinda heavy. So, if we never get further than this chapter, it was for the best.
As always, thank you for reading!
Ephemer was running way later than he intended to today. When he returned to his room after saying good bye to Anora, and realizing that it was past midnight, he just sat on his bed to stare up at the ceiling. Everything that had occurred that night seemed to have happened in a blur. The boy closed his eyes for only a moment, and when he opened them back up, he was shocked to find that it was now 9 in the morning. And so he was running very, very late.
His shower was far too short to get all the hair gel out, he almost forgot to put his signature scarf on, and he still hadn't considered if he should eat something before getting to the auditorium. The only thing on his mind was Anora. He was sure that she was waiting for him. Thinking about it only made him move faster. The first promise he ever made to her, and he was about to break it like a twig. What a good friend he was.
The boy thought he had made it home free when he was but mere inches from the auditorium. But then he noticed Ava, standing at the entrance, looking as if she was waiting for someone. If being a part of her family meant anything, it meant that he could easily recognize when she was looking for him. He didn't have time to talk to her. Maybe it wasn't too late to sneak in through the back...
"Ephemer, I need to talk to you."
Too late. Ava had seen him and was heading his way. He could still bolt in the opposite direction- but was it really worth it at this point?
"Full offense Mom," he impatiently told her, "But I'm running super late today. Can't it wait?"
But Ava was not going to back down. She put a hand on his shoulder before telling him, "No." as she dug her nails into his shirt.
Surprised at her strength, Ephemer froze for a moment. "What happened?" he asked. After a short pause he added, "Was it something I did?"
"Just be in my office in 10 minutes." came the less than helpful answer. "There are others I need to find and talk to first."
"Alright." he reluctantly agreed, despite Ava already heading in the opposite direction. Ephemer took one last longing look at the auditorium before starting to head toward the main building.
"Sorry Anora..." he mumbled under his breath in a dismal tone.
Every step further from the auditorium was another feeling of foreboding that Ephemer absolutely dreaded. It didn't surprise him that the door to Ava's office was open. But it did surprise him to see that he wasn't the only one summoned to Ava's office.
Skuld was calmly talking to Ventus- who looked rather perplexed, as he were expecting to get in trouble. Then there was Brain, casually riffling through whatever papers Ava happened to leave on her desk. There as another boy that Ephemer couldn't easily recognize- based on height alone, it was obvious that he was in a higher year than the rest of them. The older teen casually flicked back a strand of his long pink hair as he read through a poetry book- Ephemer wondered for a moment if it was even possible for a guy to look so pretty.
But it didn't help his confusion any. Instead, Ephemer looked around the room, looking at the group, saying their names with an incredibly confused, "Skuld? Ven? Brain? And, uh…?"
"Lauriam." the pretty, older teen greeted as he looked up from his book. He even walked over to offer to offer his hand. "I believe my sister is acquainted with one of your friends."
"Lauriam." Ephemer repeated before shaking the older teen's hand. He turned his attention back to the rest of the group before asking, "Why are you guys here?"
"Because I need to talk to all five of you." Ava said from behind, bringing all of their attention to her.
"Headmaster Ava!" the five of them declared- each with their own level of surprise.
Ava gave them a thin smile as she closed the door behind her. What horrified Ephemer the most was that Ava even took the time to lock her door. Ava never, ever, locked the door to her office. She had the most flexible open door policy of all the headmasters- and just now she actually locked her door for the first time in Ephemer's entire memory.
Ava must have noticed his pale expression, because she looked right at him and smiled.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to murder you." Ava mused, earning Skuld, Lauriam, Brain, and Ventus's attention. Ava gave a small smile as she made her way to her desk. "No," she went on, "But what I am about to say should never leave this room. Do you five understand me?"
The five of them looked at Ava in a new round of skepticism.
"Of course ma'am." Lauriam spoke up first.
"If we must..." mumbled Brain as he fingered the tip of his fedora.
"I've never actually had to keep a secret before." Ventus sheepishly admitted. "But I can try."
Skuld had folded her arms in thought. She knew Ava enough to know that this was something incredibly important. "I'll listen." she agreed.
This now left Ephemer. He too knew that Ava was planning something serious. But what could be so special that they weren't allowed to talk about it? Eventually, Ephemer gave a small sigh of defeat, gesturing for Ava to say what she needed. She gave him a small nod back of acknowledgment before turning her attention to all of them.
"I have yet to discuss it with the other headmasters," Ava admitted- her fingers nervously knitting into each other, "But I want you five to become Daybreak Academy's first student council."
The looks of shock were exactly the ones she expected. So, quite naturally, she took it as a sign to continue.
"As you know, while most of the student body can work well together, there are still… cracks. Scary, deep cracks that not even Invi can see. I need you five to be the seeds of hope for the future student body. You will help guide fellow students to work together- to get along with each other. I need you to… to be what we headmasters can not be."
Hearing this, the five students went silent. The idea of it all – to be what the current headmasters could not be – sounded so… daunting.
"That's… a very tall order, ma'am." Brain was the first to note.
Ava averted her gaze before admitting, "I know. I… I know."
A silence fell between the six of them. The kids were all considering the idea, the offer, with a still seriousness.
"Headmaster Ava," Lauriam finally spoke up. "I'm sure you're aware, but I will be graduating from Daybreak next year. If you truly wish for the five of us to watch over the student body at any given time, what would happen when I leave?"
Ava took a deep breath out- she had been expecting this question.
"After graduation -and this applies to all of you, not just Lauriam- should you chose to, you can immediately begin an internship to become full time staff." she told them. "However, I would not encourage it. Instead, should you choose to travel abroad for further studies, you may do so. When time comes, perhaps after Ventus graduates, I will call you all together again and ask if you would like to come back."
"Assuming we don't contact you first?" Brain questioned with half a smirk.
Despite herself, Ava smiled. "Right." she agreed. "Assuming you do not wish to start the internship sooner. I will respect any decisions you choose to make- here or in the future."
The kids nodded; this made some sense. It definitely relieved some pressure from them, at least.
"I'll do it." Skuld decided without a second thought.
"I second the notion." Lauriam agreed. But the other three were silent.
"Can… can I think about it?" Ventus requested- his voice was small and almost pleading. "I need to… I need to think about it."
"Of course." Ava agreed. "Brain? Ephemer? What are your thoughts?"
"I would like some time to think it out as well." Brain affirmed. His face was unreadable as he said it. For the second time that day, everyone's attention was brought to Ephemer. Unlike Brain, it was obvious that there was some conflict on Ephemer's face.
"I'll do it." Ephemer said in a still voice. "But it's not set in stone, right? We can change our minds any time?"
To his relief, Ava nodded. "It's your choice." she affirmed. He gave her a small nod, confirming his choice. With that, the students left the headmaster's office and went back to their day.
When Ephemer left Ava's office, he let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding in. He checked a nearby clock for the time. 11:40 am. Without a second thought, Ephemer started off into a sprint to the auditorium. He hoped that the auditions were still going on, and that Anora will forgive him for being so late.
Especially that last part.
He was starting to realize that Anora was far too important to be stood up to like that.