SSHS 197 The familiar clunk coming from the glass tube of cryptex can be heard throughout the room. Hestia and Albert looked at each other at the resonance of the sound. A signal that the crypotex has been solved and the message can now be accessed. Hestia carefully extracted the piece of paper inside the glass tube cryptex and put the cryptex down the desk of Albert. With bated breaths, Albert waited for Hestia to read what was written at the piece of paper out loud. “What is in it?” Albert lost his patience and asked his spy partner. But instead of reading what was written, Hestia simply showed him the paper. There were no letter written in the paper--- only symbols to which they are vaguely familiar with. Some strokes and commas and circles: one small and one big circle. The more that the two of them stared at the piece of paper, the more they remembered the symbols are about. Or how to decode them. “We often see this when we get dragged to a trial to watc
SSHS 198 At the final week of the month of September, the clubs were busy compiling all the files they needed with regards to their new recruit from last week--- the Recruitment Week. They were gathering all their new recruits from the freshmen year and they were making things quick for the filing of the documents. Some clubs were actually clever as they were able to compile the documents in a fast manner: by making their registration an online one, with the use of forms and from there, they input the information to a template document, thus, making the work much easier for them and actually submitting the documents for the Student Council to review before it heads to the faculty for encoding. One of these clubs were the Gaming Club, the Tech Club and the Photography Club. It was very efficient for them as the Student Council members themselves when they knocked on the office doors first thing in the morning that Wednesday. Then there are those clubs who like to pass
SSHS 199 Hestia was alone in the Student Council Office, all silent and quiet and peaceful for her— just the right atmosphere. The right atmosphere for her to study all the things that she needed to know. After all, midterms are on the way and she has a lot to catch up. Then there was the mission about Freya whom she and Albert were thrown in a stupid rabbit hole and tumbled deeper and deeper until they can no longer see the light. She and him talked about this in their call. That if ever this felt like something that is similar to the case of Yulia Don Brook, they will call the assistance of the ISO spies. As they did from back then— although the mission was forcefully taken from them when they only asked for backup. This time, they are still only going to ask for backup, and if ever the case will be taken to them, they shall give it back— in the condition that they still be partially involved, ‘partially’.
SSHS 200 It was halfway through the day and Hestia was near giving up on the things that she needed to do for the day. Of course, all of her Student Council Secretary duties were done with lightning fast speed, as well as her reviewers and whatnot that are related to her schools and studies. But what tolled on her the most was hers and Albert’s mission that is about Freya. There were a ton of information to absorb and she nor even he was halfway there. It was so much with even just a folder containing various pictures of Freya in different angles, and some pictures not only containing her but also other people in the frame. Some they can identify, but the others were not familiar at all. Hestia let out a deep sigh as she slumped down the sofa and tried to relax her body. She has been so tensed for the past hours that her muscled were craving some stretch and relaxation. She agreed with what her muscles were craving. She stood up and began stretching for the best tha
SSHS 201Hestia walked that familiar spot that leads her to that same place that she spotted and talked with the retired veteran spy last time. She does not know if she hopes that the older man was there, or if she knew a hundred percent that the retired veteran will be there. Nevertheless, Hestia let her feet take her there with no second thoughts. That gravel path should have made a sound with her feet, but due to her being trained to be stealth and sneaky, no sounds were produced. She walked more and more until she was in the same spot like last time, to where she shared some smores with the older man and Damian as both of them were seeking the wisdom of a wise old man.
SSHS 202 That part of the school was colder than the rest. Aside from the cold breeze that is flowing from the upcoming autumn in October, it was very cold there as it was isolated, covered by the shadows of the trees nearby and there was no existing machinery nearby that would generate some kind of heat. No wonder the retired veteran spy decided it was the perfect place to enjoy some s’mores in front of a fire. The heat of the fire was well appreciated due to the coldness of the place. Then there was the peace and quiet that was present at the location, since it was very isolated and it seemed that few students knew that such a place exists in the school premises. Hestia walked some more until the full view of that open shed was in view of her eyes. And as she had predicted, there was no Mr. Ben present in the place. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe the retired veteran spy does not frequently go to this place. Maybe the purpose of this place for Mr. Ben was to only enjoy
SSHS 203 Now that such a phenomenon was raised to her sight, Hestia was baffled that such a thing was possible to happen to her. Though the change was gradual and baby steps, it was still a significant change to her. It was true that if she was the same as last year, she would not be intervening like she did. It would be like how Damian had described: either she would grab the Montague siblings and go to their usual spot--- near the heater--- or maybe bark a command at the Basketball Team; it is as a way to solve things easier and faster so as to not waste any time. As it was her nature to do things in an efficient way since she does not like wasting time at all. But now, she did really take the time to mediate the situation and solve it in a way that both parties understand the situation (in this case, it was mostly the Basketball Team that were hit with the realisation and understanding). But still, this is either a huge milestone for her or might be someth
SSHS 204 The things that the Montague siblings said resonated with Hestia. Although the statements made by the older Montague were indeed on a philosophical level, still, to her, it was somewhat shallow. And yet it was able to offer some assurance to her mind that change is indeed a good thing. Nonetheless, putting her mind at ease after such an explanation, she continued reading on her tablet. Pretending to be doing a review for the upcoming midterm exams. This was followed by Excami and soon was done by Damian, and they all enjoyed the silence for the remaining time of the lunch period before going out of the Student Council Office and then went to their classes. The walk towards the second year building was a bit quiet between the two second years: Hestia and Excami. Excami was lightly whistling as they walked leisurely towards their building. Hestia listened and let the Student Council Vice President do her thing. Which fascinates the rookie undercover sp