A True Genius Worries

by Sophia Schmidt

"Bolna's reports were all fake. The unrest is growing, many took their children failing grades

  or being expelled as personal attacks. They can't stand anymore not being in control."

  She took out several folders from a dimensional ring, passing them to the old wizards, for

  them to see with their eyes how dire the situation was. According to the documents and the

  transcribed conversations, the Kingdom was on the verge of a civil war.

  The new nobles, those who had risen in status thanks to their talent and achievements, be

  them of military or magical nature, weren't willing anymore to live their lives under the heel

  of an unfair system.

  The old nobles, instead, felt their position threatened, and feared losing some of their

  privileges, or even worse, being forced to share resources that up to that point had been their

  exclusive.

  The two factions were now too close in numbers and power, it was only a matter of time

  before the old balance crumbled.

  "I know that despite being loyal to the Crown, many of you do not really support my idea."

  Sylpha sighed.

  "But I need you to understand how much is at stake. No matter what your personal beliefs

  are, if the White Griffon turns out to be just another failure, we'll have a generation at best,

  before the Kingdom plunges into chaos."

  Chapter 99 Information

  After finishing the lessons, everyone was in Quylla's room, waiting for Yurial to begin

  practicing dimensional magic. Lith was very nervous, tapping with his foot while counting the

  seconds.

  "Where the heck is he?" He grumbled.

  "We have been waiting for him for¡" Lith realized that without the sun, he had no idea how

  much time had passed.

  "Barely ten minutes." ¨C Solus mind-rolled her eyes at his impatience.

  "Over ten minutes! It doesn't take that long to fly over here. Maybe we should start on our

  own."

  "Why so anxious? Don't tell me that you let that Rudd guy get under your skin." Friya mocked

  him playfully.

  "He can believe whatever he wants. As long as he judges the students semi-fairly is fine by

  me. I don't fear the Professor, as much as his subject. Is nothing like I ever done before, and I

  will not relax until I know I can do it."

  "Is the same for all of us, yet you are the only one freaking out. Do you know why?"

  "Because you are all a bunch of children that still believe in unicorns and rainbows. In real

  life, only results matter. No one cares for the reason why you failed or succeeded. The

  magical power of friendship has never solved anything, unless in works of fiction." ¨C

  "Because despite all of your talent, you are so single-minded on a task at hand to become

  obsessive. Ten minutes aren't going to affect our chances with dimensional magic. Try to

  relax. Sometimes one has to stop and smell the roses.

  Who knows, maybe he has met someone special. I mean, any other guy I know would be

  delighted to be in your place, surrounded by girls. Yet you just nag all the time like my

  grandpa."

  Lith didn't miss her poking Quylla's back, probably to encourage her to say something instead

  of staring at her own toes. She had been awfully silent since he had entered her room.

  "Is not like there's something embarrassing around. This place is as empty as mine. I wonder

  if I was so awkward at her age too." ¨C

  Despite she really wanted to join the conversation, Solus kept silent. Having access to all of his

  memories, she knew that the twelve years old Derek's past was better forgotten. There was

  only pain and misery there.

  "I'm flattered by your feelings." Lith replied. "But it's better if we stay friends. It's not you, it's

  me."

  Friya was left speechless, while Phloria was rolling on the bed laughing.

  "KD after the first move! You better stay down, sister."

  Before Friya could scold the two of them, they heard knocking on the door.

  Lith quickly opened it, eager to begin, letting a groggy Yurial walk inside. He was leaning on

  the wall just to stand on his feet. His eyes were semi closed, like he was about to fall asleep

  any moment.

  "Are you drunk?" It was the only explanation he could find. Yurial shook his head, while Lith

  helped him reach the bed. He clearly needed to sit down.

  While the other girls started worrying, asking him what was wrong, Quylla used one of her

  personal diagnostic spells, finding that he was perfectly fine, just like Lith did with Invigoration

  while supporting him.

  "He is not drunk." She said. "For some reason Yurial has barely the strength to walk."

  "I can easily fix that." By using a tier four light spell, Lith gave him some of his life force.

  Yurial finally managed to speak, telling them what had happened, down to the last detail.

  "That b*astard beat me so hard that the healing spell drained all my remaining energy. I had

  to fight just to put one foot in front of the other. It's a miracle I managed to get here without

  fainting."

  "What a scheming son of a swine!" Phloria snapped.

  "By healing you not only he covered his tracks, but also left you so weak that even if you

  managed to call for help, it would have been too late. He can be anywhere at this point."

  "Yeah. I need to inform my father of what happened. If I were you, I'd do the same. You come

  from a magic bloodline too, I'm surprised they didn't try to recruit you already."

  "Maybe they did." Friya suddenly realized.

  "Do you remember the cute guy that seemed wanting to talk with you, but walked away as

  soon as he noticed we were together?"

  "The one we joked about being too afraid to confess in public? Yes, I do, but what makes you

  think he was one of them?"

  "Nothing, just that it seems too odd to be a coincidence. We have attended the same classes

  for months and he chooses today to make his move? Also, was he afraid of me or my Ballot?

  Everyone knows I have one."

  "It makes sense." Yurial nodded. "I think at this point is better if we all get one. Our family

  names make us targets. It could happen to you too, Friya. Contact your mother and see where

  she stands in this matter."

  Lith was shocked contemplating all the possible consequences. It was ironic how he and

  Quylla were the least affected from the sudden turn of events. Being commoners, they had no

  value in a political struggle, at least for the moment.

  If they really wanted to hurt Linjos' reputation, their existence as the top students of the

  Master Healer class would make them targets too, sooner or later. The other class wasn't a

  problem, there were better Forgemasters than him.

  Or at least, it was what he had made them believe.

  Friya, Phloria and Yurial took out their communicator amulets to inform their parents of the

  current predicament.

  "Mind if I use the bathroom?" Lith asked. In a world were underwear did not exist and the

  uniform was the only dress they wore, it was unlikely there was something embarrassing lying

  around. But he wanted to make sure to not invade her privacy.

  Quylla nodded, and after entering Lith used his Hush spell to prevent being heard before

  calling Marchioness Distar. Despite answering immediately, she seemed annoyed by the call,

  but as soon as she heard the news, her attitude changed.

  "Good gods, those b*stards dared to
involve their own sons. This is even worse than I

  thought."

  "I'm sorry, your Ladyship, but you do not seem surprised at all. Can you please tell me what's

  happening exactly?"

  Marchioness Distar drummed with her fingers on the desk for a while before answering.

  "What happened today, is just a side show of the real struggle. It goes on from decades, with

  new powers demanding more equity, and the old ones fighting to keep things as they are.

  Every year, commoners rise to the status of nobles thanks to magical or military

  achievements.

  But getting lands and titles means nothing if bureaucracy stands in your way at every step.

  Kings come and go, but paper pushers are forever. Over the centuries, all such positions have

  been taken over by the old powers, and they use it as a bottleneck to others' authority.

  No one gets anything, unless they agree. And that made many people angry. In a way, they

  can even overrule the Court's orders, simply by delaying everything as much as they can.

  So, the Court has started to replace bureaucrats, and that also made many people angry. The

  conflict between old and new powers keeps escalating, despite all the attempts of mediation.

  Why do you think my family is under a constant death threat? Because in my Marquisate

  there is not one, but two of the six great academies, and they are key points in the balance of

  power.

  Both factions want me dead, hoping to take my place and further develop their agenda."

  "Both of them? Then what side are you on?" Lith asked in confusion.

  "The Court's side. I believe in compromises. Radical changes lead to chaos on the short term,

  and the neighbouring countries would exploit the opportunity to invade us. No changes,

  instead, mean the collapse of the system.

  If no matter how powerful you are or how much you contribute to your country, you do not

  get a proper reward, then you have no reason to remain loyal. Not when other countries work

  much better. That's why so many defect."

  "But what does this mean for me and my family? Are we safe?" He had little to no interest

  towards political struggles, unless they involved Lark.

  "Yes, you should be. Believe me, very little can get past the Queen's corps, and in the scheme

  of things you are insignificant. No offense."

  "None taken." Lith sighed in relief.

  "This is not the first attempt of sabotage, Linjos knows what to do. I'll let him know

  everything, so stay away from his office and don't draw attention on yourself. Stay out of it as

  long as you can, but keep me updated if anything else happens."

  He promptly agreed.

  "If this goes on from so long, then I just need it to last a bit longer. In less than two years

  from now, is none of my business anymore." ¨C

  Chapter 100 Family Matters

  While Lith spoke with the Marchioness, everyone was having a conversation with their

  respective families, deciding how to face the incoming storm.

  Everyone but Quylla, of course. She had no relatives, hence she never spent precious points

  for a communication amulet. Yet it was the second time already she was considering getting

  one.

  The first time had been during the four days break. While the others had returned to their

  homes, she had remained in the academy. Even in her old village, she had always been

  surrounded by people.

  The bustling noise of the daily activities had become part of her life.

  But during the break, she had no lessons to attend, nowhere to go, and no one to talk to. Ever

  since Quylla had got her Ballot, she had become an outcast, but she never really noticed up

  until that point.

  She would always spend so much time with her friends, that being alone once in a while was

  actually pleasant. During those four days, though, the silence had started to scare her.

  Walking along the empty corridors, Quylla felt like she was traveling through the belly of a

  giant dead beast, with only her steps' echo to keep her company. Being apart from Yurial or

  Phloria was meh, while from Lith was actually good, it gave her the time to sort her feelings.

  The emotional rollercoaster she went through every time they met, was so frustrating that

  more than once she almost confessed, just to get rid of the uneasiness. Until the fear of being

  rejected kicked in, making her thank the gods for stopping her.

  What she really missed was Friya's company. She didn't know if Lith was her first love or just a

  crush, she never had experienced anything like that before. What she did know, was that

  Friya was the closest thing to a family she had ever had.

  They would spend hours together, not only for studying, but also talking about their dreams

  and hopes once they graduated from the academy. She would listen to all the stupid little

  things that crossed her mind, her fears and anxiety and never judged her for that.

  And now, seeing them talking to their parents, gave her a sense of estrangement.

  "I know it's stupid, but maybe if I had one too, if I could call them whenever I want, I

  wouldn't feel so¡ different. ¨C She thought.

  Velan Deirus, Yurial's father, was so outraged that his eyes almost popped out.

  "That Lukart scum. How dares treating my son like a dog? I was willing to remain on the

  sidelines, to see from which side we could profit the most. But this blatant lack of respect

  shows that if those old farts have it their way, there will be no future for us but servitude."

  "What do you want me to do, father?"

  "Tell Linjos what happened, get a Coward's¡ I mean a Ballot, and then wait for my

  instructions. Don't try to get revenge, if he is smart, Lyam has a Ballot too.

  That little act was probably meant to either make you submit, or anger you enough to

  retaliate and get you expelled. Trying to recruit you like that makes no sense, unless they

  wanted to make us an example for other young magical families.

  To show that they can reach us both on the inside and the outside. Would be a good plan, if

  we were some stuck-up self-righteous idiot nobles. I'll play this game by my rules.

  Don't do anything stupid, son. Think before you act, and if anything new happens, contact me.

  Love you."

  The conversation between Friya and his mother, Duchess Solivar was of a different tone.

  "Sabotaging a new Headmaster? It has always happened, even to the most insignificant, petty

  bootlicker. Let alone to a young radical, uncaring for political gains." Her voice was bored.

  "Everyone with half a brain knows there is a huge storm ahead, and I don't plan getting

  caught in the middle of it. We will remain neutral. In every war, the real winner is the one that

  does not take part in it, profiting from both sides.

  Whoever comes on top, I'm covered.

  Contact me only if you need to get out of the academy. You are the first real mage of

  household Solivar, act as one. Take no unnecessary risks."

  Then she hanged up the call.

  "Well, I love you too, mother. Thanks for asking me if I was all right or if I needed something.

  F*ck you and your precious Solivar household! I'll do whatever I want. For once, I am in

  control. You need me, not the other way around! ¨C

  Friya was so angry that only Quylla's worried face prevented her for throwing the

  communication amulet against a wall.

  Phloria's father, Orion Ernas
, was of course well informed too. He was deeply involved in one

  of the factions that were closest to the Queen, so nothing she said was actually of any

  relevance, outside the attack on Yurial.

  Orion had kept her in the dark, because he didn't want her to grow up scared by the rumors

  about the impending civil war. He had hoped for the stalemate to hold until she was big

  enough to choose what to do, but time was running out.

  He told her the same things Marchioness Distar had explained to Lith.

  "I think that they are closing ranks. Attacking a member of a magical bloodline means that

  they are not willing to tolerate neutrality anymore. Either you are with them or against

  them."

  "What can I do for the Queen, dad?"

  "You?" Orion laughed for the first time since that conversation started.

  "What can you possibly do? You are just a kid, the real battle is out here, what has happened

  is barely a ripple effect. This is but the last attempt to sabotage in a long line. They have

  simply raised the ante a little.

  Instead of worrying for the Queen, here is what you can do for me. Pick a Ballot, stay out of

  trouble, and if push comes to shove, attack first and ask questions later. Always go all out, no

  one can get killed in an academy, the castle does not allow for that."

  "It's the first time I hear about this. How do you know for sure?"

  "It's supposed to be a secret, but when your daddy was younger and hot blooded, someone

  dared to draw his sword against me. I lost my temper and¡

  well, let's just say that the academy's arrays saved a lot of people that day. Things escalated

  quite a bit."

  "If it's a secret, aren't you breaking some rule by telling me?"

  "Do you think I would put a 'secret' that the gods only know how many idiots like me know

  above my daughter's safety? I would rather see you safe and expelled, than let anyone put a

  finger on you."

  At that point, Lith had already returned in the room. Not exchanging any pleasantries saved

  him a lot of time. Only Friya was already done with her amulet.

  Lith didn't know what to do, being a commoner was a double-edged sword in that situation.

  It meant that he and Quylla were more likely to be left alone, but at the same time that they

  had no way to help their friends.