Awakening Domination System: But I'm a Slave?-Chapter 265: Elections [4]

The election day arrived with unusual stillness.

No last-minute campaigning was permitted on this day itself—Academy rules were strict about that. All materials had to be down by midnight. All speeches concluded. Now it was simply a matter of waiting.

The voting itself was conducted through essence-secured ballots in the Grand Hall. Students filed through in organized groups by house and year, each casting their vote into enchanted urns that would tabulate results automatically and prevent tampering.

The process took most of the day.

Alaric voted early, selecting Verelia’s name with calm deliberation. The essence seal activated, confirming his choice was recorded, and he left without fanfare.

He spent the rest of the day observing.

The nervous energy in Silver Crown was palpable. Students clustered in groups, speculating about outcomes, making last-minute predictions. Some were confident their candidate would win. Others seemed resigned to disappointment.

Verelia spent the day in the library, reading. As if this were any other day.

Kaelen held court in the dining hall, surrounded by supporters, projecting confidence that seemed slightly forced around the edges.

Aurelia moved through campus with her usual grace, accepting well-wishes from supporters but showing no obvious concern about the outcome.

Verin seemed genuinely relaxed, as if he’d already accepted whatever result came and was at peace with it.

By late afternoon, voting concluded. The enchanted urns were sealed and moved to the Administration Building for final tabulation under faculty supervision.

Results would be announced at sunset in the Grand Hall.

As evening approached, students began gathering. The Grand Hall filled to capacity, lining the balconies above.

The candidates stood on the raised platform at the front, spaced evenly. Verelia’s expression was neutral as ever. Kaelen smiled with practiced confidence. Aurelia stood with regal composure. Verin simply waited.

Headmaster Zardric Thornhaven, an elderly man with silver hair and piercing gray eyes stepped forward. The crowd fell silent.

"Students of Phoenix Academy," his voice carried easily through the hall, enhanced by subtle essence projection. "You have cast your votes. The results have been tabulated and verified."

He held up a sealed scroll.

"Before I announce the outcome, I want to commend all candidates for their dedication and effort during this campaign. Leadership is not easy. Pursuing it demonstrates courage regardless of the result."

He broke the seal and unrolled the scroll.

"Your new Student Council President, serving for the coming year, is..."

An absolute silence fell upon the hall.

Everyone held their breath.

"Aurelia Glimor."

The hall erupted, cheers from her supporters, groans of disappointment from others, stunned silence from some.

Aurelia stepped forward with perfect composure, accepting the result as if it had been inevitable. She bowed slightly to the Headmaster, then turned to address the crowd.

"Thank you for your confidence," she said, her voice clear and controlled. "I promise to serve all students, with dedication and integrity. This Academy’s success is our collective responsibility, and I look forward to working with everyone to achieve it."

Alaric watched from his position in the Silver Crown section. His expression remained neutral, but his mind was already working.

Beside him, Oliver let out a low whistle. "Well. That’s that."

"Yes," Alaric said quietly.

Further along their row, Verelia stood motionless. Her expression hadn’t changed. She simply... existed in the moment, processing.

Then she turned and walked out of the Grand Hall without a word.

The crowd continued celebrating or commiserating as the Headmaster concluded the ceremony. Aurelia was officially sworn in, given her new Council President badge, and swarmed by supporters.

Alaric slipped out quietly.

He found Verelia in a secluded courtyard behind the library, standing alone, staring at nothing.

"Verelia."

She didn’t turn. "I lost."

"Yes."

"By how much?"

"They haven’t released detailed numbers yet. But if I had to guess, probably not by much. A few percentage points."

"Close enough to hurt. Not close enough to matter." Her voice was flat. "I failed."

"You made it farther than anyone expected a first-year to go." Alaric stepped closer. "You shifted the entire conversation about competence versus connections. That’s not nothing."

"It’s also not winning."

"No," he agreed. "It’s not."

Silence stretched between them.

Finally, Verelia spoke again. "Our agreement. I didn’t win, so I can’t fulfill my end."

"No, you can’t." Alaric considered that. "But you tried. And you came closer than you should have been able to. I’ll consider that... partial credit."

She finally turned to look at him. "Partial credit?"

"I’m not walking away empty-handed from this campaign. I learned things. Made connections. Positioned pieces." He met her eyes. "And you’re still the most competent person in our year, President or not. That’s worth something."

"Is it?"

"To me? Yes."

Verelia studied him for a long moment. Then, something flickered in her expression, not quite gratitude, but acknowledgment.

"Thank you. For your help."

"You’re welcome."

She turned back to staring at nothing. "I should go. I need to... process this."

"Understood."

As she walked away, Alaric remained in the courtyard, thinking.

Aurelia won. Expected, but still problematic. She now has official power and legitimacy. Challenging her just got significantly harder.

But that concern was for later.

He turned and headed back to his room as night fell over the Academy.

*****

In the absolute darkness, near the eastern wing of the Administration Building, a figure stood, alone.

Their eyes tracking the brown-haired girl, who just left the staff quarter and was moving to some specific location.

They followed, their form melting into shadow.

Elena navigated the Academy with practiced ease, avoiding patrol routes, staying in blind spots. She reached a side entrance to the restricted archives, an area students weren’t permitted without faculty escort.

She produced a key from somewhere in her uniform and unlocked it.

Interesting.

Nyra slipped through behind her before the door closed, staying wrapped in shadow, her presence undetectable to normal senses.

The archives were dark, illuminated only by faint lamps that activated at minimal levels for navigation. Rows of shelves stretched into darkness, filled with old records, restricted texts, historical documents.

Elena moved deeper, clearly knowing exactly where she was going.

She reached a specific section marked with warning sigils and pulled out several leather-bound volumes. She opened one, scanning pages quickly, then produced a small crystal, which glowed as it recorded whatever was in those books.

Nyra observed from the shadows, memorizing titles, noting which sections Elena accessed.

Student records. Historical disciplinary cases. Sealed investigation files.

Her eyes narrowed.

What are you looking for?

Elena finished with one book, returned it, pulled another. The process repeated.

Then she stopped.

Completely still, in the middle of reaching for another volume.

Her head tilted slightly.

"I know you’re there."

Nyra froze, holding her breath.

Elena turned, looking at the shadows, and smiled.

"You’re good at hiding." Elena’s brown eyes gleamed. "And have been following me for days. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?"

Nyra remained motionless, calculating. Should she reveal herself? Retreat? Attack?

"Your essence signature is interesting," Elena continued conversationally, still addressing the shadows. "Not quite human. Something... else." She tilted her head. "What are you, I wonder?"

The question hung in the air.

Nyra made her decision. She stepped out of shadow, materializing into visible form, her violet eyes meeting Elena’s brown ones.

"I could ask you the same thing," Nyra said quietly. "Your essence signature is wrong too. Like you’re wearing something that doesn’t quite fit."

Elena’s smile widened. "Perceptive."

They stood facing each other in the dark archives, two predators recognizing each other.

"We’re both playing games here," Elena said. "The difference is, I know whose side I’m on."

"I know exactly whose side I’m on."

"Do you? Or are you just following orders without understanding what’s really happening?" Elena’s expression was almost pitying.

"What do you mean?"

Elena laughed softly. "If I told you, it would ruin the fun. Besides..." Her form began to shimmer, distorting. "You’ll find out soon enough."

"Wait—!"

But Elena was already gone. As if she’d never been there at all.

The memory crystal remained on the shelf where she’d left it.

Nyra grabbed it quickly, pocketing it, then made her own exit, moving fast, alert for any other presences.

She returned to Silver Crown dormitory, her mind racing.

-----

Knock! Knock!

The knock came at nearly two in the morning.

Alaric was still awake, reviewing election analysis, when Nyra entered looking more disturbed than he’d ever seen her.

"Young master. We have a problem."

He set down his notes. "What happened?"

Nyra told him everything, the tracking, the archives, the confrontation, Elena’s disappearance. She produced the memory crystal.

Alaric took the crystal, examining it. "Can you access what she copied?"

"I can try."

They spent the next hour reviewing the crystal’s contents.

"She’s researching something," Alaric said quietly. "Looking for... precedents? Examples? People who did something specific?" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Or people who were caught doing something specific," Nyra suggested. "What do you want to do?"

He was quiet for a long moment, thinking.

"Tomorrow, I start investigating personally. Elena knows you’re watching her now, so we can’t rely on that approach. But there are other ways to gather information." His eyes were sharp, calculating. "If there’s a coordinated group operating in this Academy, I need to know who they are, what they want, and how it affects my plans."

"And if they’re dangerous?"

"Then we deal with them accordingly." Alaric stood, moving to the window. Outside, the Academy grounds were dark and still. "But first, we learn what we’re actually dealing with."

Nyra nodded. "I’ll continue monitoring what I can. Carefully."

"Good. And Nyra."

"Yes, young master?"

"You mentioned Elena said you’re ’not quite human.’ Is that true?"

Silence stretched for a moment. Nyra bit her lip at the tongue slip.

"Does it matter?" She asked quietly.

Alaric turned to look at her. "Only insofar as it affects whether I can trust you."

"Then no. It doesn’t matter." Her violet eyes met his. "Because you can."

He studied her for a moment longer, then nodded. "Alright. Then we work with what we know and find out the rest."

Nyra bowed and left.

Alaric stood alone at his window, staring into darkness.

The election was over. Aurelia had won.

But that was just one game among many.

And he was starting to realize he’d been playing on a board far larger than he’d understood.

Time to figure out the real rules.

And who’s actually moving the pieces.

He returned to his desk and began making notes.

The night was far from over.

And answers wouldn’t find themselves.