Extra's Descent

A few weeks before the festival.

Inside the tavern, Brandon sat at the counter as the familiar bartender entertained him.

Smith was wide eyed as he looked at Brandon.

"You want to climb the organization's rankings?"

"Yeah."

"Why…?"

"I need more people like you. People who won't hesitate to get their hands dirty."

"...I see."

Brandon knew he couldn't bring any people from the Academy with him once he became a Primordial member.

What he needed were people from the underground channels of society.

But all he could access were the public taverns of the Twilight Syndicate.

He needed an invitation.

An invitation to enter the syndicate's main circle.

Which is why he needed to climb the ranks.

To get the syndicate's attention.

"There's one thing you can do."

"Tell me."

Snap!

Smith snapped his fingers.

Brandon rolled his eyes in response.

Clink!

And a gold coin landed on a table.

Smith nodded and went on to elaborate.

"There are certain ways to shoot up the rankings. But if you really want to get the heads' attention, then do something unthinkable."

"..."

Brandon pondered as he pinched his chin.

He had several ideas in mind.

But his moral compass wouldn't allow it.

"What's with that look?"

"...?"

The hell was he talking about?

Brandon was clearly wearing a mask.

"Uh?"

"It's your gestures."

"..."

Weirdo.

"Anyway, do something unthinkable."

"Like?"

Smith pondered for a few seconds. But then he looked back at Brandon with a smirk.

Noticing the sly smirk on his face, Brandon flipped another coin.

Clink!

"Fucking cheapskate."

"It's business. Anyway, there's a new group in the syndicate who's trying to make a name for themselves. Bunch of deviants."

"Oh?"

"They're planning on obstructing this Academy called Astrea during their festival. Maybe you can use them as a reference."

Brandon's eyes widened behind the mask as those words left Smith's mouth.

Smith may have not known, but the information that he gave was worth more than a gold coin.

"...What are they planning?"

At that, Smith flashed him another smirk and Brandon rolled his eyes.

Clink!

"I heard they've been messing with companies that'll be involved in the festival, threatening their families and stuff."

"..."

Brandon's eyes widened once again.

This…

He could definitely use this to his advantage.

"Do something unthinkable, huh?"

***

The present.

After working for two hours, Rachel was finally relieved of her duties.

Changing into her usual clothes, she stepped out of the changing room.

"Good work today."

'Good work, Rachel."

"Thanks."

She nodded at their appreciation.

With a smile plastered on her face, she left the lecture room shortly after.

Yes,

Finally.

It was time to explore the festival.

An image overlapped in her mind. The thought of exploring the festival with him made her excited.

"I wonder where he is."

She didn't know where he was.

But she was resolved to find him.

The festival was lively, and it seemed to be fun. But it would be more fun if she spent it with him.

She wasn't exactly sure about confessing. It all depended on how he would react once they did spend time.

Walking around the halls, her gaze landed on the window.

Approaching it, she peered down to find several stalls in the gazebo area.

Right.

She ate a bit before working, but she was still quite hungry.

With such thoughts, she walked down the flight of stairs.

The lively chatter of the students reached her ears as she continued to walk each step.

"Did you see those two earlier?"

"The ones wearing formal attire?"

"Yeah, them."

Formal attire?

Brandon was wearing formal attire.

Could it have been him?

She approached the two students. A boy wearing black framed glasses and a girl with green hair.

"Oh, Rachel?"

They seemed to recognize her. But it wasn't surprising.

The top rankers of their respective years were quite famous after all.

"The one you were talking about. What color was his hair?"

"Uh…"

"Wasn't it white?"

The girl answered while the boy found himself pondering.

"White? Was it Brandon?"

"Brandon?"

Now the girl was pondering.

"Now that I think about it, he did look like Brandon. But—"

"Do you know where he is now?"

She unknowingly cut her off.

"Hm… I think someone saw him in the gazebo. Not sure."

"Okay, thank you."

Excited.

After waiting for half a day, she could finally see him.

She wanted to approach him during his work hours, but refrained from doing so.

In case he would shoot her down under the premise of, 'Sorry I can't. I'll be busy later,' she decided to put it on hold.

There were too many people at the time.

It would've been embarrassing.

She left the two to their own devices and walked towards the gazebo. The pleasant aroma wafted in the air and reached her nose.

She looked around and as she did so, she found herself disappointed.

"I can't find him…"

Just where could he—

"Rachel?"

A voice called out to her. From one of the stalls, a familiar figure stood as he met her gaze.

"Ah, Liam."

Recognizing him, she approached the stall.

And the first question on her mind was…

"Have you seen Brandon? I heard he was here."

"Yeah. Though, he left a little while ago. He was with—"

She unknowingly cut him off and left shortly after.

She returned to the building and sported a frown.

"Haa…"

She breathed out a sigh.

Clearly, she wasn't going to find him anytime soon.

That must've meant he was busy with committee duties.

With such thoughts, Rachel returned to the gazebo and ate by herself.

***

The meeting lasted for a total of three hours.

As members of the student council, Belle and Adrien continued to entertain Louise, guiding him around the Academy.

While Brandon left the committee room to meet up with a certain someone.

Due to the fact that he had slept during his shift, his schedule was moved to 3:00 - 5:00.

Not just his, but also his partner's schedule.

And as he gazed ahead, a familiar figure, with brown hair and green eyes quickly entered his peripheral vision.

Noticing his arrival, he turned around to meet Brandon's gaze.

"Oscar, thanks for waiting."

"No problem."

Oscar nodded with a smile and leaned forward.

Brandon quite liked the guy.

He was aloof, just like him.

During the time of their meetings, Oscar would often give him tips on how to manage and lead.

Brandon could admit that he was a good senior.

The two engaged in conversation as they roamed the halls.

The committee had certain privileges. One of them was the privilege to use magic on academy grounds.

There were already several complaints of unwanted guests, and problems arising.

And as if the world had jinxed him, it happened shortly after.

"How unprofessional."

Inside one of the lecture rooms, a voice reached them.

As they entered, what greeted their sight was a guest whose clothes were drenched.

"This suit cost me a fortune. I hope you have the means to pay."

"Sir, it was an accident. We're still students, so we can't pay. But we'll offer a refund instead."

"Refund…? Your drinks were shit."

Students encircled him with a horrified expression.

"What's going on here?"

Oscar approached the man and grabbed his attention.

"Who the fuck are you?"

"I'm a member of the Disciplinary Committee."

He sternly stated.

"If you continue acting like this, then you'll have to leave the premises."

"What? I'm the victim here. These kids dropped juice all over my suit."

"I understand. But please be civil, they're kids. They can't pay a fortune."

"Why not?"

The man spat out.

"You're Astrea students. Your tuition is a hefty sum. And you can't pay for my suit?"

"Some of us are under scholarship."

"Excuses."

Oscar frowned as those words left the man's mouth.

"Fuck, I'm leaving."

The man turned around and left after muttering curses under his breath.

And that was the end of it.

The situation was dealt with quite smoothly.

"Ahhhh…!"

But then a scream echoed from the other lecture room.

Looking at each other, Brandon and Oscar rushed out of the room and followed the source of the scream.

What greeted their sight was yet again, another man whose hands were raised at a student.

There were glass shards on the floor. With cracked plates scattered all over.

Students sported a horrified expression as they stood and watched.

The man seemed like he was about to slap the student.

But that was until…

Woosh—!

As Brandon retracted his arm, a powerful gust of wind yanked the man backward.

Thud!

"Ukh!"

The man fell on the ground with his front facing the ceiling.

He got up and looked at the two with his eyes wide open.

Brandon's cold voice followed shortly after.

"Get out."

Brushing his clothes, the man sprinted and left the room.

When they thought they could finally rest for a bit, another scream ensued.

"Ahhh…!"

And they followed the source shortly after.

Thud!

"Akh…!"

Thud!

"Ahhhh!"

Clank—!

"Fuck."

"Ahhhhh!"

Problems after problems.

After managing to resolve each situation, Brandon breathed out a sigh.

"Haa…"

"Tired?"

"Nope."

Brandon shook his head.

"I don't blame you."

Oscar leaned on the wall with his arms crossed.

"It wasn't this bad during the previous festivals. For some reason, there were more uninvited guests this year."

"I see."

Brandon nodded.

Indeed.

Though the Academy was open to the public, they still needed confirmation that they were a family member of a student.

An invitation needed to be checked by the guards. On it, there'd be a stamp that confirms the validity of their invitation.

But Brandon was well aware of the reason why this was happening.

There was a rat.

Invitations were sent out like flies, allowing anyone to enter the academy.

How did he know all this?

That was because…

Brandon was the rat.

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