"Shit!" Rachel muttered, staring at the number of eyes fixed on Valentine and her. They were definitely losing penalty points for this.
Rachel turned her head and nudged Valentine, who seemed frozen in place, dazed by all the stares.
"Come with me."
She grabbed Valentine's arm and led her toward the last empty seats at the back. Eyes followed their every step.
Sitting down, Rachel leaned closer and whispered,
"Be bold. Keep your head high no matter how they look at you."
Valentine nodded, taking a deep breath before her gaze drifted to the seven elegantly dressed students at the front. Their customized uniforms gleamed under the lights, badges pinned proudly on their chests. Each one radiated power.
And there—standing beside them—was Lira.
She was part of the Student Council?
Valentine sighed and forced herself to focus on the speech being delivered by the breathtaking boy at the center of the stage.
Then she saw his eyes.
They were two different colors — one silver, one blue — and she couldn't look away.
Suddenly, fragments of her dreams flashed through her mind. A face in the dark. Those same eyes.
Her breath caught. A sharp pain pierced through her head.
With a small scream, she covered her ears, trembling. Her fingers clutched the silver cross pendant on her neck, the familiar touch grounding her.
Rachel immediately reached for her, panicking. "Valentine! Hey, are you okay?"
It took a few minutes, but Valentine finally steadied her breath. Thank goodness they were seated at the back—no one seemed to notice.
"Thank you," Valentine murmured, meeting Rachel's worried eyes.
"We'll talk when we get back to the dorm, okay?" Rachel said softly.
Valentine nodded, her gaze drifting once more toward the boy who'd triggered her reaction.
What's happening to me?
When the speech ended, Valentine's eyes followed the boy as he stepped off the stage. Rachel noticed.
"Don't stare at the Myst boys—especially André," Rachel warned, her tone serious.
But that only made Valentine more curious.
Could what just happened be related to him? She had to find out.
After the speech, a golden-haired boy with a playful smile stepped onto the stage. His charm was effortless—bright, warm, and dangerously disarming.
"Now that the formal stuff is over," he began, "why don't we add a little fun to the ceremony?"
The hall erupted with laughter and cheers.
"Let's start with introductions!" he continued. "I'm Louis Rivers, Vice President of the Student Council."
Applause followed.
Rachel leaned closer, muttering under her breath. "Don't fall for the smile or those friendly eyes. He's a snake.
Valentine wasn't surprised. Since the moment he appeared, she'd sensed the falseness behind that smile. Still, curiosity urged her to ask,
"Why do you say that?"
"In Malcolm College, every Student Council member holds a special title. It's not all roses here—it's also full of thorns," Rachel whispered.
"Louis Rivers, heir to one of the world's biggest tech companies. They call him The Tempest."
"The Tempest?" Valentine repeated.
"I'll tell you the rest later," Rachel replied with a sly grin. "For now, just watch the show."
One by one, the members stepped forward:
"André Valmont, The President."
His voice was calm, steady, and somehow dangerous.
"Jasx Hart, The Strategist."
A dark-haired boy with piercings, smirking as the crowd cheered.
"Cassia Wynn, The Treasurer."
Sleek, poised, her green eyes sharp and unflinching.
"Rhea Kim, Academic Advisor."
Soft-spoken yet radiating quiet brilliance and confidence.
"Alex Von, Disciplinary Head."
Towering, broad, with fiery red hair and a no-nonsense glare.
"Lira Knox, Event Manager."
Her voice rang with mischief, her aura both wild and unpredictable.
When the introductions ended, Louis grinned.
"Now that we all know each other, let's add a little spice! Lira will hand out a mystery card to each of you. Anyone who can pull off an amazing performance will earn one week of access to the Student Council's private library—and an extra 50 penalty points."
Gasps filled the room.
Valentine tilted her head, confused. "What's so special about that?" she whispered.
Rachel gawked at her. "You don't check the school forum? Or at least Poppy's videos?"
"I didn't know there was one," Valentine admitted. "Just tell me what it means."
Rachel sighed. "The Student Council's private library holds Rhea's predicted test papers—and getting access means passing exams easily and building connections with the Council. As for the 50 penalty points—those keep you from joining the weekly Top-Up activities. Everyone starts with 500 points a month, so trust me, this is a huge deal."
Valentine nodded slowly, intrigued.
"What happens if someone runs out of points?"
"You don't want to know," Rachel said darkly. "You basically become the school's entertainment. You do anything others ask. It's humiliating."
Before Valentine could ask more, Lira appeared beside her, offering a card with a wink.
She was the last to receive one.
"Each card has a number and a task," Lira announced from the stage. "When your name is called, come up and tell us your number. The screen will reveal your challenge. Fail—and you'll spend an hour with Alex, plus lose sixty points."
A murmur of dread rippled through the hall.
Rachel sighed. "See? I told you. Beneath that smile, Louis is pure trouble."
Valentine didn't reply. Her fingers tightened around the card. Something deep inside told her the task waiting for her… was the one thing she'd sworn never to do.
She exhaled softly and raised her eyes to the stage.