Chapter 380: Keep it a secret

Astrid pulled Brandon and made him sit on her seat before hopping on his lap. "Sit here, boyfriend~"

With a sigh, he glanced at Clarisse and asked "What is the reason that you called me here, Senior Clarisse?"

With a faint nod, Clarisse began to speak "Council of Seven consists of the most powerful and intelligent students in the entire academy... who are talented and the best in their own fields."

"And as seniors graduate... new students occupy the positions in the Council of Seven."

"And obviously only the most talented and strongest people can enter the Council of Seven."

Brandon frowned slightly upon hearing this ’I see... that’s why she called me there.’

Looking into his eyes, she smiled faintly "Well, I am sure you understand already... we are extending an invitation for you to join the Council of Seven."

"You don’t have to reply now; you can take your time and reply."

"I have seen your strength because I have fought with you in the past, Brandon."

"Even at that time, you were taking down B-rank aberrants easily, and I am sure you must be even stronger now."

Astrid, who was sitting on his lap, looked at him intensely "That’s true... You have surely become stronger."

Brandon glanced at Astrid with a slight frown ’Astrid... she is quite dangerous. I am not sure if she really saw through my rank.’

’Her ability is to perceive and analyze ether at a microscopic and macroscopic level. She can ’see’ the flow, density, and structure of ether in all things.’

’I am using the artifact given by Charlotte, but in front of her abnormal skill...’

He glanced into her green eyes and then a slow smile appeared on her lips "Hmm~"

She leaned forward and kissed his ear "You are so cute, my dear boyfriend~"

’Did she really see through me?’

Clarisse cleared her throat softly, "Astrid, behave."

Astrid only hummed, "I am behaving, President."

He turned his attention to Clarisse and she spoke "You don’t have to decide immediately," she repeated. "But, Brandon, you should understand what this means."

The blonde girl rested her chin on her hand and added "Being in the Council is not just status or prestige. It means influence. Access to restricted documents, classified ether research, and priority rights in field missions."

"It also means every big decision involving the academy, its students, and responses to ruptures... will go through you. You’ll be sitting among us when it matters."

Brandon remained silent for a moment.

This was bigger than a simple title.

And responsibility.

Astrid tapped his cheek with a finger "You look serious. Cute."

"...Stop calling me cute."

She smiled wider. "No."

Sehra leaned back in her seat "Clarisse is right. With your current trajectory, whether you accept it or not, the Academy will eventually treat you as a political figure."

Clarisse nodded "Your strength, your identity as Rheanne Church’s Herald, your public reputation..." her voice softened, "and the fact that many eyes outside the academy are already watching you."

She intertwined her fingers atop the table "Joining the Council will give you structure, protection, and support. And in return, we will gain someone capable of shaping the future."

Astrid rested her chin on Brandon’s shoulder, "And we want you here."

Brandon’s fingers curled against Astrid’s knee and he frowned slightly "...I’ll think about it."

Clarisse’s smile softened "That’s all we ask."

Astrid hummed happily, nuzzling the side of his head like she already considered his answer obvious.

With a sigh, Brandon spoke, "Then... I will take my leave."

"Hm, see you later, Brandon."

Astrid got down from his lap, and he stood up before leaving the place.

As he left, Clarisse glanced at Astrid and spoke "So did you see anything abnormal with him? Also what’s his current rank?"

The remaining members turned toward Astrid.

Astrid stretched her arms above her head with a satisfied sigh.

"Mmm..." she hummed lazily, tapping her lower lip. "Who knoooows."

Clarisse frowned slightly "Astrid..."

Astrid’s gaze condensed and lether arms fall down "I am not snitching on my boyfriend..."

-_- Clarisse gave her a deadpan look.

The black-haired senior exhaled a laugh "Boyfriend, she says."

Sehra shook her head helplessly ’This girl...’

Clarisse leaned back in her chair, "Astrid, he is not your boyfriend. So stop playing those drama."

Astrid blinked and then smiled wider "In my heart, he is."

Clarisse just stared at her blankly.

The blonde girl beside her finally broke into soft laughter "Let her dream. It’s entertaining."

Astrid pointed at her proudly. "Exactly! Thank you for understanding my noble love story."

"That wasn’t a compliment," Sehra murmured.

Astrid ignored it completely.

She hopped once on her heels, spun halfway toward the door, then paused "But President... This year’s tournament will be interesting."

With that, she stepped out of the room with a big smile "Boyfrieeend! Wait for me~ I’m also coming with you!"

Clarisse stared at the closed door ’Brandon’s growth rate is exponential.. in just few weeks of joining, he was taking down B-rank aberrants.’

’I wouldn’t be surprised if he is a powerful A rank now.’

She closed her eyes for a moment... she is in her final year in Academy with a good reputation for being the strongest student in the academy.

And this year, she will graduate... she doesn’t want to lose that title before graduation.

A smile appeared on her lips ’I am also excited for the tournament.’

---

As Brandon walked out of the room, Astrid quickly followed him and hopped on his back.

Hm? He instinctively grasped her thighs around his waist and glanced back at her. "Astrid?"

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she nuzzled onto him "Lets go to the cafeteria, boyfriend. Buy me something to eat..."

With a soft sigh, he spoke "Why are you still clinging to this ’boyfriend’ thing? You wanted to be close to Aunt Ravene."

"Now that you know her and are in connection with her, you can drop this act."

She pouted her lips and muttered "No, I really do love you, boyfriend."

He pushed her face away from him ’She is kinda annoying.’

With a deep breath, he obliged "...Come on."

"Yay, I love you boyfriend, you’re the best."

Students in the hallway stared at them as Brandon carried Astrid on his back.

"Is that... Astrid Valgard? The Ether Analyst?"

"She’s clinging to him again."

"Does he allow that??"

"Maybe they’re secretly dating?"

"No way. I heard he is already dating someone else."

---

Brandon leaned back in his chair, elbow resting casually on the table while his other hand held the glass of juice.

The cafeteria around them was loud with students chatting about matches, rumors and gossip.

Beside him, Astrid sat cross-legged on the chair like a child perched on a throne.

Her plate was already half empty, crumbs scattered like she had fought the dessert rather than eaten it.

Cream smudged the corner of her lip, not that she cared enough to wipe it.

She took another big spoonful, humming contently.

Brandon watched her for a moment, then finally spoke "Did you join the tournament?"

Astrid didn’t even look up. She shook her head, cheeks puffed with cake.

"Mf-mno."

She swallowed, then added more clearly "I mean, I did join... but I don’t do anything. My partner duo President takes care of the matches."

’Oh Clarisse...’ He lifted his juice again, taking a slow sip as his eyes lingered on her.

"...Did you see through my rank?"

This time she did pause and nodded her head "Mhmm. I saw it."

Astrid tapped the table rhythmically with her spoon, "You have... a lot of ether in you. Layers. Different structures, different frequencies."

She tilted her head "It’s fascinating. But dangerous. If someone without a compatible body structure tried that, they would collapse."

"You really have a great adaptable body to hold those five ether signatures in your body."

"Hmm, one of them seems to be strong... but others are week."

Brandon’s eyes narrowed ’So she

did

see it. All of it.’

’That must be the ether signature of the girls I copied from...’

’But till now I have only copied Eira’s skill permanently; the others will still fade.’

’No one knows that I can permanently get the skill I am copying with enough exposure... the only one who can check my body and see through that is Astrid.’

’She can see my ether in plain visible sight, so if she focued enough... she can see if the ether signatures are slowly disappearing or permanently staying in.’

’She is... really dangerous. Glad I am not on bad terms with her.’

’I can use Ravene to put a leash on her maybe...’

Astrid resumed eating, her voice muffled through another bite "But don’t worry," she said, waving her spoon dismissively. "I’m not telling anyone."

He stared at her for a second too long "...Really?"

She reached up to pinch his cheek between her fingers and stretched it gently "You’re

so

cute when you’re suspicious."

She continued eating her dessert "Relax. I don’t snitch on my boyfriend."

Then, without shame, she tapped the empty plate with her spoon "Now... buy me another dessert and my silence is guaranteed."

"You know..." she added softly, "if I really wanted to expose you, I would’ve done it already."

Brandon hummed under his breath "...And yet you’re blackmailing me with cake."

Astrid’s face brightened "Exactly. See? Mutual trust."

He let out a sound somewhere between a sigh and a laugh "...Fine. I’ll get you another one."

Her smile widened "Good. Because betrayal is free, but loyalty?"

She tapped her spoon to her lips with a playful smile "Costs sugar."

Brandon stood, shaking his head as he walked toward the counter.

Behind him, Astrid swung her legs and hummed like a child waiting for candy.

Anyone watching would think they were a couple.

But Brandon?

He had no idea whether he was sitting with a genius ally...

...or the most unpredictable threat in the Academy.