Archangels of War

According to the main office-which was more of a royal lounge-the way to get to the student council room was to head up the winding pair of stairs that was in the center of the school's Main lobby. The steps would take you all the way up to the 7th floor of the building, where you would find all of the different student service rooms. They also told us that that once you go up there, "You couldn't miss it." My legs were a bit tired from all the walking I had done already, and I grumpily mumbled to myself as I ascended the stairs. 

Kami, who was a few steps ahead of me on the staircase, must have heard me, because she suddenly stopped and turned around, staring at me with an unreadable expression. "Brother, this is the third time that you've began mumbling dark things to yourself on this very short journey to the student council office." 

I stopped, a bit surprised that she had been able to notice. "What of it?" And this is the third time? 

"Well simply enough, its rather unsettling. It also rather not has to explain to the entire student council why my brother is mumbling too himself." She said it in a joking tone, and even her words themselves could be taken as a joke. However her gaze had suddenly turned piercing, and I knew for a fact that this wasn't a joke. I also knew exactly why she was so concerned about it. It wasn't the fact I was mumbling. No, she was more concerned with what I was mumbling about. 

I sighed. "Yeah, I get your message loud and clear. Can we, keep walking now?" 

"Hmph. As long as you know that having a constant pessimistic attitude isn't good." She turned around and continued to ascend the stairs, humming something too herself. 

Jeez, she is seriously perceptive. I continued to trudge myself up the stairs, this time making sure I didn't let any negative thoughts slip. 

When we got to the 7th floor, the first thing that we noticed was the student council room. Just as the reception lady in the office had said, "You couldn't miss it." The entire rectangular hallway which had rooms lining each side, all lead up to the one large white door at the end of the hall. It was decorated in gold accents and had different colored gems lining the edges. There was also a large plaque right next to it that designated it as, "Student Council Affairs." As we slowly approached the door, I took a look at some of the other rooms. "Counseling. Recreation. Student Government. General Services." A majority of rooms were empty at the moment, which probably meant that they had head to find people to head those branches.

When we finally made it to the end of the hallway and in front of the door, we stood ad paused for a few seconds. Just admiring its beauty. Now that we were closer, we could see something that was nearly impossible to see from afar. An inscription just below the handle of the door. Amor vincit omnia.

"Love conquers all. Pretty fitting." I spoke. 

Kami nodded. "Well then, shall we go?" 

I looked over at her for a second, before shaking my head slightly. "I should be the one asking you that. You look like you're shivering. Which should be impossible considering the fact that your whole ability is ice." Before Kami could aim an Icicle for my jugular, I pulled open the doors, and blinding light greeted us. 

Inside the student council room, there were three massive windows at the back of the room, that let in sunlight, which reflected off glass prisms which were structured at every corner of the square room, giving the entire place a colorful tinge. In the center of the room, there was a long rectangular table that extended from a few feet away from the door, all the way to a few feet away from the windows. There were 10 total seats. one heads on each of the shorter sides, and 4 seats on each of the longer sides. Bookshelfs packed to the brim with large encyclopedias and magic texts lined the walls, as well as file cabinets. Sparsely spread in between those, were different abstract paintings, swirls of color that seemed to depict multiple things at once. 

When we opened the door, all eyes in the room turned to look at us. They seemed to be doing nothing special prior to our entrance. Kami was standing behind me, obviously pretty nervous. My eyes flicked quickly at each of the faces in the room. I couldn't recognize most of them, except for Suijin Hajimoto, and Yuri Hanamai. He was standing to Suijin's left. As I locked eyes with him, I could feel the distaste coming from his glare. 

Suijin was the first to her speak, her smiling expression shining just as bright as the sun which blasted in from the windows. "Welcome, Kami, Raiden." She said it as if she wasn't surprised that I came. 

I gave my best smile and held a hand up. "Thank you. Its n-nice to meet you all." Christ, i'm not built for this social interaction stuff. 

"Good afternoon." Kami was about to bow when she remembered what Suijin had told her earlier. words from earlier. Instead, she offered her brightest smile. 

I took a look at the clock and noticed that it was quickly approaching 4. She'll fucking kill me if I'm, late. I decided to speed up this whole interaction. "So, according to Kami, you guys had summoned for her?" 

Suijin nodded. "Yep, but before that, I'd like to introduce you to the other members of the student council." She gestured to Yuri. "You've already acquainted yourselves with Yuri." She then pointed to the person to her left, going down the row until she reached the other head of the table, and coming back up her right side. "Riko Shibai, head of the magical engineering committee. Ichijo Nakamura, head of extracurriculars, Ayung Shibai-Riko's little sister-vice president of the magical engineering committee and sitting directly across from me is the student councils vice president, Genji Yukimura. 

Riko and Ayung could've have been mistaken for identical twins if it wasn't for the height difference. They both had shoulder-length black hair and storm gray eyes. Riko was a third year, and Ayung a second. Now that I think about it, I remember seeing her in my class. She was one of the people who had been utterly baffled at my dumb reason for being late to class. "Oh, it's you." Was all she said. Her sister shot her a sharp glare before turning back to face me with a smile. 

"What she meant to say was, it's nice to meet both of you." 

"Pleasure's all ours." Me and Kami said at the same time. Some snickers. I turned to look at her. Thats another soda, she said telepathically. 

Ichijo was of average height, and had red hair, though it was darker and more dulled than Erikas's fire red mane. Interestingly, he also had red eyes that peaked out from behind the curtains created by his hair. He was a third year. "Hey there, any questions about joining clubs goes to m-" He was interrupted by Genji, who shot him a glare. 

"Already trying to recruit them and they've been her for no less than a few minutes. How depraved can you get, Ichi?" 

Ichijo just shrugged his soldiers. "What can I say, I've always got my mind on the prize." 

Genji wheeled his chair around, to reveal a fairly tall guy, with snow blonde hair and blue eyes. He looked at us cynically. "So, these are the two who managed to get through the magic forest unscathed? Nice to meet you." 

"Nice to meet you too ma'am." That made everyone freeze. Even Kami looked at me like I had lost my mind. Genji's face twisted into an expression of shock and anger. 

"Ma'am? Wh-" Before he could finish, I snapped my fingers. Immediately, her spell was undone, revealing a girl with the same snow white, blonde hair that reached down to her waist, and an unbelievably flat chest. 

She froze for a few seconds. Unable to get any words out. Her face began to redden. She finally turned around, mumbling to herself. "You win." 

Riko began to laugh, unable to hold it in anymore. "I can't believe it! He saw through your disguise first try!" Genji was glaring daggers at her. 

Suijin interjected before an argument could break out. "Alright alright. Calm down. I'm sure that display at least gave you an idea of what kind of magicians these students are?" No one on the table objected. She then turned to Kami. "We have a lot of upcoming events, and we're a bit short-staffed. So, Kami Chisaki, we have called you in her to offer you a position in the student council." 

That made Kami freeze. I was also a bit surprised too. That just didn't seem like something that was sensical. "W-What do you mean?" Kami asked. 

Suijin continued to look at her with a warm smile. In this light, I could notice small eyebags under her eyes. "Exactly like I said. We want to offer you a position here on the student council." 

"B-But. I'm a first year." Kami protested. Suijin simply looked at her with an expression that read, So what? "Kami continued. A-and I-It doesn't make any sense. First of all, you barely know anything about me. What could I have done in one day of school that could possibly make me qualified to join the student council?"

"You managed to cross the magic forest." 

"Y-yeah I guess, bu-"

"And you also received a direct recommendation from two teachers." 

"Two?" 

"Your own teacher, Mr. Jacque, and" 

I filled in for Suijin. "My own teacher. Mrs. Elmer." I figured that it was suspicious that she had asked for my sister's name. But to think she would give her a personal recommendation for the student council. 

"O-ok. But, what about others? I'm sure that people won't be happy to hear that someone first year got a position on the student council before them." Kami argued weakly. She probably still couldn't bring herself to understand why she had been chosen. 

"I'm sure they would be able to understand why you were chosen. Passed through the magic forest, unscathed at that, and received two recommendations from teachers. Besides, do you remember what I told you this morning, as well as what I had said in my speech? Any potential member who would get angry at someone else for getting the job because they were, below them, isn't someone I want on my student council." 

Kami could not find any other reasons to argue. 

"So, will you be joining?" Suijin asked." 

Kami nodded. "Who am I to refuse. This is a great opportunity" She then seemed to remember something. "On one condition." 

Yuri Hanamai seemed more than a bit shocked at that, but before he could speak, Suijin held up a hand, still smiling. "Go ahead." 

"I'll only join if you offer my brother a position." 

In sighed. I knew this was coming. Kami was always the type of person to do things on my behalf, even if I was adamant, it was okay. I really would have been fine not being offered a position on the student council. But Kami wouldn't. 

Suijin nodded. "it's reasonable. And I'm sure we have no objections, right?" Everybody nodded. She then turned her shining purple eyes to me. "So, Raiden. Will you join the student council?" 

I didn't even think twice. I shook my head no. 

That made Yuri do a double take, and every one of the student councils members seemed to pause. Even Suijin seemed shocked. "Why?" she asked.

"Simple, because it doesn't align with the mission I was given." The answer made complete sense to me, though I'm sure it would confuse the rest of them. 

Suijin paused for a few seconds, analyzing me. "The goal you were given?" 

I nodded, feeling no need to further explain. "I apologize for Kami's ridiculous request. With that be all?" I really needed to get going. 

Suijin nodded, though she seemed to still be in deep thought. "Tomorrow will be your first day on the job Kami. As my assistant."

We nodded our thanks and said our goodbyes. Just as we opened the door to leave however, Suijin said, 

"You said it doesn't align with the mission you were given, but what about your heart?"