Chapter 10: The Handover
The assembly hall of Blackridge Academy had never been louder. 6,000 students filled the room, each chatter and murmur growing in anticipation for the annual handover ceremony. The old wooden walls, lined with towering shelves of books and trophies, reverberated with excited voices. Every student was eager to find out which peers would ascend to the ranks of the Elites—the group of top students at Blackridge Academy who commanded power, respect, and influence.
The sheer energy in the room seemed to electrify the air as groups of students laughed, pointed at one another, and speculated about who would take the top spots. The clamor was deafening as groups of friends stood or sat together, trading stories, debating about the coming changes, and wondering whether their favorites would win their spots among the 12 highest-ranked students.
Despite the uproar, the 300 teachers present at the event sat in their assigned rows quietly, their posture disciplined and expectant. At the front of the room stood the long, imposing table. Principal Waller, the towering figure at the center, exuded an aura of authority. She stood there with her arms folded, her black pantsuit as pristine as always, and her long afro framing her face. Next to her were the 20 heads of department, including Gym Instructor Bob, a colossal figure with an odd sense of humor. Despite his massive frame—clad in an obviously tight 3XL suit—his movements were swift and surprisingly agile, giving him an air of unpredictability. His specialty, though, wasn't agility alone. He possessed a unique and almost terrifying ability: the power to distort sound with a single clap, rendering anything or anyone within his reach temporarily mute. It was an ability that earned him respect and fear, and it was one he rarely used—except, of course, on days like today.
Near the middle of the hall sat Jordan, Naomi, Amara, and Leo. Their seats weren't far from the action, but they stayed quietly to themselves, casting occasional glances at the stage. Jordan had been training relentlessly the past week, pushing himself harder than ever to control his unpredictable powers. His body was sore, his mind focused. The last few days had been a blur of self-discipline, trial, and error, but he could already feel that his control was improving. He still had a long way to go, but today wasn't about him. It was about the Elites.
The tension in the room only grew when Principal Waller stood up, signaling for the ceremony to officially begin. However, the sea of voices didn't die down immediately. The students, caught up in their excitement, continued their chatter as if the ceremony were yet to start.
Principal Waller's eyes narrowed slightly, but her composure remained unshaken. She glanced toward Coach Bob, who gave her a knowing nod.
Bob raised his hands high in the air. In one swift motion, he clapped his hands together, and the sharp crack of sound that followed rippled across the hall. The noise hit every student like a sonic boom, distorting all sound waves and leaving a complete silence in its wake. The impact was immediate: all the students and most of the teachers fell silent, mouths moving but no sound escaping. The effect was so instantaneous that even the most excited murmurs stopped. Only a few people, including the Elites and Bob himself, remained unaffected.
Jordan felt a rush of surprise as the noise faded away, but he wasn't distracted for long. Principal Waller, undeterred, smiled faintly as the room settled into an eerie stillness.
"Ah, yes since you have all now decided to keep quiet," she said, her voice cutting through the silence with calm authority. "Now we can proceed."
She paused for a moment, looking around at the expectant faces of both students and teachers. "Welcome to the 708th Annual Handover Ceremony."
The tension in the room eased slightly as her words reached the gathered students. All eyes were on the stage now, everyone focused, waiting for the ceremony to begin.
"As always," Principal Waller continued, "this ceremony is to mark the transition of leadership in our student body. The Elites will pass on their duties to the next generation, and with that comes the hope that Blackridge Academy will continue to thrive, grow, and adapt."
Her words hung in the air for a moment before she took a step forward and began to speak more somberly.
"But before we begin," she said, her voice lowering just enough to signal a more serious tone, "there are a few matters we must acknowledge."
A few students, still reeling from Bob's sonic clap, fell into silence as Principal Waller continued. "This year, we lost one of our own: the 12th Elite, Helan Shinigakawa. She tragically passed away during a mission with Vice Principal Alexander. They both gave their lives in service to this school, and we shall forever honor their sacrifice. To commemorate them, we will be naming the new school common room and the library after them respectively."
A collective murmur rippled through the students at the mention of the 12th Elite's passing. Helan had been an elusive and quiet figure among the Elites, but her absence now felt like a void that no one expected.
"There is another matter," Principal Waller continued. "The 1st and 2nd Elites are not present today. Their power is... considerable, and as such, it is deemed unwise to award them in front of the entire student body. They shall receive their honors privately, as is tradition."
The students exchanged confused glances, trying to digest the weight of the words. The 1st and 2nd Elites had always been the most powerful and enigmatic figures in Blackridge, their presence commanding respect. Their absence only added to the weight of the ceremony's significance.
"And lastly," Principal Waller said, her voice cutting through the silence, "the 10th Elite is currently out on a mission. She will be joining us the week after next."
There was a brief pause as the students processed the absence of the 10th Elite, whose powers had often been a topic of discussion among the student body.
Principal Waller's gaze swept across the room, and the crowd fell silent in anticipation. She took a deep breath and then called out, "Let us begin the handover."
With a wave of her hand, the ceremony started.
---
The Announcement of the Elites
Principal Waller cleared her throat, commanding the attention of the entire hall. "Now, let us welcome the students who have earned their place among the Elites this year."
The large screen behind her lit up as the first name appeared in bold letters.
Got it! Here's the announcement in ascending order:
—
One by one, the Elites were called to the stage, each student stepping forward to receive their cloak and badge, signifying their new position of power.
"The 3rd Elite, Hanzo Takeda." Hanzo's presence commanded immediate respect as he stepped up.
"The 4th Elite, Tyler Brandon." A few cheers erupted as Tyler took the stage.
"The 5th Elite, Amber Nakamura." Amber moved with precision and grace as she accepted her rank.
"The 6th Elite, Zookie Mars." A few murmurs rippled through the crowd as Zookie made her way up.
"The 7th Elite, Ace Adams." Ace gave a casual nod to the crowd as he stepped forward.
"The 8th Elite, Deborah Anderson." The moment her name was spoken, Deborah walked up with confidence, her smirk ever-present.
"The 9th Elite, Iris Holloway." Iris moved smoothly, her gaze unreadable.
"The 10th Elite is currently on a mission and will join us the week after next."
"The 11th Elite, Anastasia Williams." She stepped forward with a composed expression.
Then, Principal Waller's tone shifted slightly.
Because there was one more name to call.
"The 12th Elite," Principal Waller said, her voice carrying more weight than the rest. "We've already made the decision regarding this position."
The crowd fell into a hush as all eyes turned to the stage, unsure of what was to come.
Principal Waller's gaze shifted toward the large screen behind her, where Jordan's name appeared in bold letters: Jordan Carter, 12th Elite.
There was a moment of shocked silence before murmurs began rippling through the crowd. Jordan had expected this all 5thanks to Deborah's warning.
Reluctantly, he rose from his seat, his heart pounding in his chest. Naomi, Amara, and Leo glanced at him in surprise as he made his way toward the stage. He could feel every pair of eyes on him as he climbed the steps.
Jordan stood before Principal Waller, but instead of shaking hands with the teachers as tradition demanded, he walked directly to the microphone. He leaned into it, and the hall fell silent again.
"I decline," Jordan said firmly, his voice clear and unwavering.
The room seemed to freeze, and a collective gasp echoed through the hall. No one had ever turned down a position as an Elite before.
He turned on his heel and began walking back down the stage, his footsteps heavy in the tense silence.
As he passed by Deborah, she flashed him a triumphant smirk, her eyes gleaming with a hint of satisfaction.
Principal Waller, clearly stunned, recovered quickly. "Well… since Jordan Carter has declined the position, we will announce the replacement for the 12th Elite before midterm."
The words seemed to hang in the air, but no one could fully process what had just occurred.
---
Aftermath
As the ceremony concluded and students began to filter out of the hall, Jordan, Naomi, Leo, and Amara walked side by side, each lost in their own thoughts.
Suddenly, Jordan felt a hand grip his arm. He turned to find Mateo standing before him, his expression furious.
"Why?" Mateo spat, his voice low and dangerous. "You turned down the position? Do you have any idea what you just did?"
Jordan met Mateo's gaze, unflinching. "I know exactly what I did."
"I don't think you understand what that position means. It's not just power. It's influence. It's control."
Jordan shook his head. "I don't want it. You can keep it."
Mateo clenched his fists, his anger palpable. "You're making a big mistake, Carter."
Without another word, Mateo stormed off, leaving Jordan to watch him disappear into the crowd.
Amara glanced at Jordan, concern and curiosity written on her face. "Do you think he'll come after you for this?"
Jordan shrugged, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Let him try."
But as the group left the hall, the weight of the day's events was only just beginning to sink in. Jordan had made his choice, and the consequences of that decision were only just beginning to unfold.