"Regarding Prince Agni's health."
Ignatia's voice shifted—just slightly—losing some of its sharp edge. The room's attention snapped back to her.
She pulled up a new document on the holographic display. Medical charts appeared, glowing faintly in the afternoon light—heart rate graphs, mana circuit diagrams, color-coded vitals that pulsed gently like a living thing.
"According to the most recent evaluation from Grand Physician Aldous," Ignatia began, her tone measured, "His Highness's condition has not deteriorated. In fact, there are new, visible signs of improvement."
She paused, and her expression became more serious. "However, Doctor Aldous has stated explicitly that the timeline for full recovery is now dependent on Prince Agni's own will to regain consciousness. All physical obstacles have been addressed. The rest is... psychological.
A collective exhale moved through the room—quiet, subtle, but there.
Michael shifted in his seat, looking uncomfortable. "So he could wake up tomorrow, or he could remain unconscious for months?"
"Essentially, yes," Ignatia confirmed.
Ignatia adjusted her glasses, moving on. "While this continues, regarding the academy evaluation of the prince—his written exam results have been marked as standard C-Class by default."
Michael winced. Darius remained expressionless, but his fingers drummed once against the table.
"As usual," Ignatia added, "he will have opportunities to climb to higher ranks through promotion exams."
Darius tapped his fingers once against the table, a thoughtful rhythm. "When does the academic year officially start?"
She tapped the display again, pulling up a calendar. Dates glowed in golden script, counting down.
"The academy year officially begins in one week. In four days, we'll have the results announcement and Freshers' Party. If Prince Agni awakens in time, he will be permitted to write his exam under supervised conditions—new paper, separate hall, standard protocols."
"That's... optimistic," Suzzy muttered quietly.
The room nodded. It was mostly expected, but the underlying concern was impossible to ignore. If Agni's health didn't improve soon, the political fallout would be troublesome—
Silence settled over the table like dust.
Ignatia straightened, her expression hardening again. "Now. Let's talk about what caused Prince Agni's health to be at such risk."
Her heterochromia eyes—swept across the assembled group.
"Senior Raul Pheobos ," she said, and the name alone seemed to lower the temperature in the room. " Pheobos Duke's son from the Moon Empire. He has been suspended for six months—for breaking Class Selection Exam rules and using excessive force."
"Permanent suspension was considered," Ignatia continued, her voice clinical, detached. "However, it was avoided due to a counter-conflict that took place during the same exam."
She pulled up two holographic images side by side.
On the left: Whisper Jr. Pale skin, sharp features, dark hair that fell across calculating eyes. A senior student from the Talent Advancement Program, in his final year at the academy.
On the right: Prince Cassius. White hair, sliver eyes, regal bearing even in a still image.
"Between Whisper Junior," Ignatia stated, "and Prince Cassius of the Moon Empire."
The room went completely still.
"As you may or may not know," Ignatia said, her tone taking on an edge like sharpened steel, "Whisper Junior also broke academy rules by using excessive force—with clear intent to kill Prince Cassius."
"The issue was stopped before Prince Cassius could be put into a similar state as Prince Agni. However, the intent was undeniable."
Michael leaned back in his chair, processing. "What provoked Whisper Jr.? That doesn't sound like him at all."
"The point of conflict," Ignatia continued, "that provoked Whisper Jr. was the Vassal Reconditioning System."
The words landed like stones dropped into still water, sending ripples of tension outward.
"As you all know," Ignatia said, her voice quieter now but no less firm, "the Vassal Reconditioning System violates consent and the sanctity of life. It has been condemned by the Temple of Light. However, it does not have complete agreement across all realms."
She pulled up a map—the Nine Realms, glowing faintly, color-coded by policy stance.
"The Fairy Realm and Dragon Realm have banned it outright," she said, gesturing to two territories marked in green. "The other realms have stated it's a matter requiring 'further discussion.'"
"That discussion," she added, "has been continuing for the past three hundred years."
Of course it has, Lyralei thought bitterly. Because no one wants to admit they're complicit in slavery with a fancy name.
Ignatia gestured to the Sun Empire's territory on the map. "The Sun Empire banned the practice generations ago. Old vassals from before the ban are maintained as-is—most human vassals have died out. A few from longer-lived races remain."
Then her finger moved to another section of the map, outlined in silver.
"The Moon Empire," she said slowly, "is one of the human kingdoms that has not banned the practice completely."
The silence was suffocating.
Lyralei nodded . No wonder Whisper Jr. snapped. If Prince Cassius said something about reconditioning...
"Regarding all the escalations," Ignatia continued, her voice returning to its clinical tone, "His Majesty has stated that such minor conflicts take place all the time in the academy. No further issue should be made of it."
Michael's head snapped up. "Minor conflicts?"
Ignatia met his gaze evenly. "Those are His Majesty's words. The Moon Empire has issued a similar response. Hence, both Senior Raul and Senior Whisper are serving six-month suspensions with mandatory community service."
The room fell silent again, but this time the silence felt different. Heavier. Confused.
Darius broke it first, his voice careful. "So... that's it? Equal punishment for both, despite the circumstances?"
"That's it," Ignatia confirmed.
Lyralei's mind raced. This doesn't make sense. Why would the Majesty let this go so easily?
On one side, Prince Cassius was completely fine. On the other, Prince Agni had been put on a near-death bed.
Both had faced seniors. Both had broken rules. But the results were completely different.
And the message the Majesty was sending by treating them equally was... uncomfortable.
It's about personal strength, Lyralei realized, the thought settling cold in her chest. Prince Cassius resolved the issue himself. Faced Whisper Jr. head-on and survived. Prince Agni didn't manage to. He needed the teachers to intervene.
Her fingers drummed once, twice against the armrest.
Is the Majesty saying that weakness invites consequences? That if you can't defend yourself, even attempted murder is just "a minor conflict"?
The implication was brutal. Cold. And terrifyingly pragmatic.
Ignatia's voice cut through her thoughts. "This matter is not up for debate. I'm simply passing along information. All issues have been resolved at the highest levels."
Lyralei nodded slowly, her face carefully neutral. "Understood."
Ignatia inclined her head. "Then I'm finished with my segment."
She sat down smoothly, adjusting her silver glasses one final time, and gestured toward Darius.
Darius stood, pulling a thick stack of papers from a leather case beside his chair. The documents were bound with a red ribbon—official seals stamped across the cover in wax.
"Information regarding Dhaga," he said simply. "The student personally scouted by His Majesty."
Every eye in the room turned toward him.
Then, without warning, masked figure standing at the back of the room moved.
His hand rose slowly, deliberately, and gripped the edge of his black mask.
And pulled it down.