Sat’xahr, 4044 AOT

AB Academy, Headmaster’s Office

After Asylum has been officially approved by the Student Council and AB Academy’s Headmaster, it will again enter another round of evaluation by the Board of Directors. This board is mainly composed of representatives of the Seven Houses that oversee the academy’s activities and development. Here, they will dig up on the reasons why the club was made and why they should be allowed to exist. If the newly formed clubs passes this final assessment, they will be recognized as an official club and will be allocated with the right budget in accordance to their club activities. However, if anything goes wrong in this meeting, a club that has already been approved may still be dissolved.

Before all that, Ivanryd Naoe and Zharyx Dimasalang are consulting the headmaster about the upcoming meeting. They both know that the he wants this club to stay. The Headmaster, the Student Council President, and the Commander of Balaam Knights are going to attend the said meeting to pass the documents about the new clubs. Once the board read it and they have questions, they are meant to defend and state the reason why such clubs were approved. Zharyx will not question the headmaster’s decision, rather he would try figure out the purpose behind it on his own. Ivanryd, on the other hand, will want to hear a reasonable explanation as to why he should defend the club. He is a rational person, if he deems a club as unnecessary then he will not meddle with the board’s decision.

Ivan and Zharyx are sitting in front of the headmaster’s table while reviewing the document containing the list and information of the new clubs. There are a few that are still under observation since they only have five members after most of the students have settled in their own clubs. These clubs may get disbanded if one of the members quit. But that is not their biggest concern. Even the students find Asylum to be a very questionable club in existence.

“Headmaster Dimasalang,” Ivan’s deep voice rings across the closed office. “That new club, Asylum, you approved will not be able to get through the strict watch of the board.”

“That’s why I’m asking for your help to defend them.” The headmaster replies with a confident tone. “If the three of us unite then I’m sure they won’t be able to scrape off that club.”

“I have no objections defending the club.” Zharyx states. “However, with their kind of club description… and goals… it will be very difficult.”

“Ah-! You don’t have to use that seemingly nonsense description prove the club’s worth.” The headmaster wears a cunning smirk. “Just tickle their imagination.”

“Tickle their imagination?...”

“Just hint that there will be merits in keeping the club just the way it is. Don’t add too much details, and don’t explain too much.”

Ivan’s brows furrows. “Do you intend to use the fact that my younger brother joined that club to connect them to the StuCo and BK?”

“It’s up to you.”

“Odd jobs…” Zharyx mumbles.

“Were you behind the creation of the club?” Ivan’s gaze sharpens at the headmaster.

“The kids decided that on their own. As a responsible adult, I am merely supporting them.”

It does not seem like Ivan is buying it.

“I originally planned for the scholars to join and help out the student council if they ended up not joining any club.” The headmaster pulls a cigarette stick out of his coat’s pocket. “But… they had a different idea after they met each other. It looks like they gathered a few more misfits and collected them all in one place.”

“Misfits…” Ivan sighs. “It sounds like my brother just entered his rebellious stage. Of course joining a club from the green-zone doesn’t sit well with the other nobles.”

“If we are to defend the club’s existence this way, then sooner or later we’ll have to make use of them.” Zharyx states politely. “However… Azalea is very unpredictable, and… They already slipped away from your original plans.”

The headmaster clears his throat. “Azalea is a very smart child, and so are um, some members of Asylum. They won’t purposely stir up trouble. Things like giving them some extra club activities is inevitable. If they want to keep this privilege, they have to work for it.”

“Why are you so worked up over this club?” Ivan asks. “Do you unreasonably favor these students?”

He chuckles. “Ivanryd, I treat all of my students fairly. That means, I will provide them with what I deem they need in order for them to grow.”

“I don’t see how this set up could help make these students grow.”

“Do you still remember why AB Academy have three color zones?”

“To avoid conflicts by separating student according to their status.”

“Right. However, when Aleut Balaam founded the academy, there were no such thing as status among the students. It was just a small school with brilliant minds and skilled reveils sharing their discoveries about their powers, helping each other improve and grow.”

“The color zones were not necessary that time.”

“When did they become necessary?”

Ivan cannot answer as he only have a vague idea.

“Today, even though there are no conflict between the students, it drove a wedge dividing the students.” The headmaster rests his back on the chair while twirling a cigarette stick between his fingers. “The red only hangs out with the red, and are warry of everyone else. The blue looks down on the red and the green. The green fears the influence and power of the blue while they avoid and distrust the red.” He then turns his gaze back at Zharyx and Ivan. “Do you not see the difference that Asylum has made?”

“This is the first time, since the color-zones were established, that the blue, green, and red are gathered in one club.” Zharyx responds. “All reds only joined the three clubs led by the red as well. Most of the nobles also only joined the same two clubs that was established at the founding of the academy. In cases where the blue mixes with the green, it’s only when the blue leads the club.”

Ivan thinks about it for a while. He sets down the folder that contains the list and information of the new clubs.

“In this society,” the headmaster carefully places the cigarette stick to stand on the surface of his table. “There will always be ‘differences.’ We must realize that the invisible wall that separates one person to another is something that they themselves must break. Will this academy ever overcome the differences just like how Asylum did?”

“I do not know if this small wave of change will be good or bad for the academy…but something like that is not something I should decide or stop.” Ivan states before standing up. “I will not be against the club, but I won’t excessively defend it either.”

“That’s good enough.” He smiles.

Ivan politely bows before leaving the office.

“I’ll leave Asylum in your hands, Zharyx.” The headmaster turns towards his son. “Not only in this upcoming meeting but also in the future after that… I hope they won’t be too much of a burden to you.”

“The student council already looks after all of the existing clubs’ activities.” Zharyx replies with a confident smile. “Adding a few more won’t be a problem. However, Asylum is a little unique, so I’ll take it up as a challenge.”

After that, with Zharyx and Ivanryd’s mediation, all new clubs in the list were approved officially. Although Asylum seems to have attracted a few curious eyes, it does not seem like those kind of attraction and curiosity will pose any trouble. As long as there are no huge issues regarding the members of the club, the board will not bother with its activities.s

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