Chapter 690: Faction, Years Representative Candidates

Prince Daniel Aethelmont stepped out as the Head of the Royal Blue Faction, a smug smile resting on his lips.

He adjusted his posture as he glanced around the assembly grounds, searching for a particular person among the students.

His gaze moved across the crowd until it finally settled on Ezra Ashenlocke.

Once he found Ezra, Daniel glared at him, though he maintained an innocent smile on his face.

The contrast between his expression and the look in his eyes was rather amusing.

Anyone who knew him well might have noticed it, but he made no effort to let the others see what he was thinking.

Ezra didn’t react.

He simply continued looking at the students standing in front of the stage, paying no attention to Daniel’s gaze.

Whether he had noticed the Prince’s expression or not, he gave no indication of it.

Prince Aldric Aethelmont walked out as the Head of the Golden Circle Faction.

He waved at his faction members, who greeted him as soon as he appeared.

Several students raised their hands, while others called out their greetings.

Aldric responded with a composed smile before taking his place on the stage.

As the Vice President of the Student Council, he was already standing among the Council members.

His position made his appearance less surprising to those who knew him, but the greetings from his faction members continued until he settled into place.

Louis Evergrey walked out as the Head of the Arcane Foundry Faction.

Carmine Bergwyn walked out as the Head of the Crowned Order Faction.

Susannah Galehart walked out with an open emerald hand fan in her hand, calmly looking at the students.

She moved it gently as she made her way forward, her gaze passing over the gathering without lingering on any particular person for long.

She was the Head of the Ivory Circle Faction.

Eleanor Tempest walked out elegantly as the Head of the Royal Crest Faction.

Her movements were graceful, and she carried herself with the ease of someone accustomed to being watched.

Several students turned towards her as she approached the stage, their attention drawn by her presence.

Ransley Burnwick walked out as the Head of the Grand Crucible Faction.

And finally, at their center...

Drax Drakes stood as the Head of the Iron Vanguard Faction.

All eight Faction Heads of the Royal Academy now stood in front of the students.

The assembly grounds had grown quieter as the heads took their positions.

Students who had been talking among themselves turned towards the stage, waiting for the proceedings to begin.

The eight factions were represented, and the candidates who would compete for their respective positions were about to be announced.

"We shall now begin calling out the names of our chosen candidates."

Drax said calmly.

Clive Morgan, the Vice Head of the Iron Vanguard Faction, walked over to Drax and handed him a Zphone Tablet.

The device displayed the names of the candidates selected to contest for their Faction’s Year Representative positions.

The other Vice Heads of the factions did the same, handing their respective tablets to their Faction Heads.

Of course...

The Second-Year students in the factions already had representatives.

But for their year...

It was more of a re-election.

The current representatives had already held their positions, but the upcoming elections would determine who would continue to lead their respective years.

For the First-Year students, however, the process was different.

They were still establishing their positions within the factions, and the candidates would have to compete for the right to represent their fellow students.

"I will go first."

Eleanor Tempest said calmly with an elegant smile on her face.

Many boys and girls looked at her with admiration.

Even from her small movements and a few words, it was easy for her to draw people’s attention.

She did not need to raise her voice or make any grand gestures.

Her presence alone was enough to make the students look her way.

"For our Faction’s Second Year."

Eleanor said, looking at the screen of the Zphone Tablet.

"We have only two candidates, who is the defending champion, Preston Sailor, and the lady who will be challenging for the title, Bridget Bergwyn."

She read out the names calmly.

The announcement drew the attention of the students belonging to the Royal Crest Faction.

With only two candidates competing for the Second-Year representative position, the contest would be between the current holder and the challenger hoping to take his place.

"For the First Year, there is only one candidate, which is to be expected."

Eleanor looked towards where Vera stood, her arms folded.

"Vera Ashenlocke."

Eleanor called Vera’s name.

Both Flowers stared at each other, but Vera had a bored expression on her face.

She showed little interest in the attention surrounding her, remaining where she stood with her arms folded.

Eleanor’s elegant smile remained in place, while Vera’s expression suggested that the announcement had hardly surprised her.

"Oh, it is truly expected."

"But there are more Flowers in the Royal Crest Faction, so I expected there to be competition, but Lady Selena Galehart didn’t even try to compete, huh?"

"It’s Lady Vera Ashenlocke they’re going against, and don’t forget, she’s Rank One."

"Ahh... that’s facts right there."

Low voices of discussion about Vera becoming the First-Year representative of the Royal Crest Faction continued across the assembly grounds.

Some students found her selection unsurprising, while others wondered why none of the other Flowers had challenged her for the position.

Her rank was already well known among the students, and it was difficult to ignore the difference between her achievements and those of many of her peers.

As the conversations continued, Carmine Bergwyn called out the names of the students competing for the Crowned Order Faction’s representative positions for their respective years.

After he finished...

Susannah Galehart called out her faction’s representatives.

Then, Louis Evergrey listed the names of his faction’s representatives.

Since he was also a Second-Year student, it was obvious that he would be the Second-Year representative of his faction.

"As for the First-Year representative of the Arcane Foundry Faction... the three students are..."

Louis said calmly.

"Grace Evergrey, Dave Wakener, and Kane Casper."

He listed all the candidates competing for the First-Year representative title of his faction.

The faction members turned their attention towards the three students.

They were all top students of their Year, ranked among the best hundred.

Their academic standing had already earned them recognition, and many of them had supporters within the faction.

With three candidates competing for the same position, the members would have to decide which student they wanted to represent them.

The three candidates now had their names announced before the entire gathering.

Whatever support they had gained before the election, the announcement made their competition official.

The other Faction Heads then listed their candidates’ names.

Some factions already had their representatives chosen, while others still needed to hold elections to decide among their candidates.

Prince Daniel Aethelmont walked forward as he listed his faction’s candidates.

Obviously, for both the Second and First Years, they were people close to him.

For the First Year, it was Tristin Aethelmont.

While the Second Year was represented by Colwell Dewinter.

Daniel’s choices were hardly surprising.

Both candidates were closely connected to him, and their selection reflected the people he had chosen to support within the Royal Blue Faction.

He made the announcements without any visible hesitation, then stepped back once he had finished.

Then...

Prince Aldric Aethelmont walked forward to call out the names of his own faction’s representatives.

Like his elder brother, Prince Daniel, Aldric’s representatives were also people close to him.

Princess Victoria Aethelmont was already the Second-Year representative.

And she was also the Vice Head of the faction and an official of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee in the Student Council.

Her position within the faction was already well established.

As both a representative and a member of the Student Council, she held responsibilities that extended beyond the students of her own year.

And Prince Charles Aethelmont was the First-Year representative without the need for an election.

Young Lord Veda Ashenlocke and Strake Drakes had chosen to support him in becoming the representative.

With their support behind him, no one else in the faction could argue against his selection.

The matter had effectively been settled before the candidates were announced, leaving no need for another student to compete for the position.

Finally...

Drax Drakes walked forward.

"For the Second-Year representative..."

He glanced at Clive Morgan.

"Clive Morgan retains his title and will be leading the Second Years of our faction, while for the First Year."

Drax paused, now looking at the students below.

"Fatima Drakes and Maxwell will be the two competing First Years for the Representative title."

He said calmly.

"Maxwell versus Lady Fatima Drakes?"

A First-Year student from another faction said to his friends in amusement.

"But how did Lady Fatima even get into the candidacy? Isn’t her academic ranking quite sad?"

"Hahaha... isn’t it because she’s a member of the Drakes?"

"You guys are a bunch of idiots."

"Yeah, Lady Fatima Drakes only ranked low because she faced Mr. Ezra Ashenlocke."

"That’s only what a loser would say."

"Do you think she can beat someone like Maxwell?"

"The New Sun is going to get the position."

"It’s an election, not a fight."

"You don’t know how the Iron Vanguard Faction rolls, then."

"Since when did we start acknowledging a commoner like Maxwell?"

Little arguments erupted following the announcement of the First-Year representatives for the Iron Vanguard Faction.

The discussion spread among the students standing nearby.

Some questioned Fatima’s academic standing, while others argued that her low ranking did not tell the whole story.

Maxwell also had his supporters, and they were confident that he would secure the position.

Many members of the Iron Vanguard Faction understood how their faction’s rules worked.

They knew that the contest between Fatima and Maxwell might be a losing one for her.

However, not everyone was concerned with the faction’s internal rules.

Some students focused more on her academic results, questioning why she had been allowed to compete when her ranking was lower than that of students she would normally be expected to outperform.

Their remarks continued, passing from one group to another as the students discussed the two candidates.

For some, Maxwell was the obvious choice.

Others were unwilling to dismiss Fatima so quickly, especially those who knew that her encounter with Ezra Ashenlocke had affected her ranking.

Fatima Drakes didn’t pay attention to the murmurs about her.

She simply kept her eyes focused on her older brother as he finished speaking.

The arguments around her continued, but she made no effort to respond to them or defend herself.

Her attention remained on Drax.