Lily's gaze drifted to the courtyard below.
There, by the fountain, Ryan stood with the new girl — Elera.Her mind tangled with jealous thoughts. Elera was composed, elegantly dressed, clearly educated… yet something about her radiated a subtle, dangerous edge. In Lily's eyes, it wasn't just confidence — it was the kind of dark presence that didn't belong in a school uniform.
"President?"
Lily blinked and turned. Adrian Chew, the vice council president, was watching her with mild concern. "Are you alright? Shall we proceed with the meeting?"
She smoothed her expression. "Yes. Let's continue."
The discussion shifted to the main topic: the growing problem of Crestwood Academy's bullies.
For years, the underbelly of the school had been divided into four factions — Northern, Eastern, Western, and Southern — each ruling its own wing. There was an old understanding among them: no crossing into another faction's territory, keep business within your own wing, and avoid open fights on school grounds. The Student Council acted as the mediator, ensuring the balance held.
But recently, reports told a different story. The factions were ignoring the council's authority, frightening students with unchecked, aggressive behavior. Complaints of harassment, extortion, and vandalism had piled up. Yet every attempt to catch them in the act had failed — no proof, no witnesses, no leverage.
Lily folded her hands on the table, her voice calm but edged with command. "If they think the council can't touch them, they're wrong. We'll find a way to make them listen again."
Outside, Ryan leaned casually against the fountain, speaking quietly to Elera and John.
And though the rest of the council didn't know it, Lily Rose — daughter of Marcus Rose, one of the Sinclair family's Dragons — was already deciding how to deal with them.