Dark Clouds Over Happy Skies

The Chinebar Republic was divided into several factions. The conservative faction was composed of nobles who wanted to preserve the current status quo and noble family lines. This faction was notorious for corruption and bullying as well as their vast hereditary wealth and power.

The progressive or reformist faction was different. It was composed of highly educated, typically commoner individuals who wanted to remove the nobility and City Lords to create a true democratic society. They were known for their new wealth and innovation as well as for their disdain of all nobles and those who don't agree with them in general.

The neutral faction preferred to keep out of the fighting. Most belonged to this faction, and desired peace and growth. They were in favor of steady changes and allowing commoners into the nobility, especially magically talented commoners. This faction was known for its fractured leadership and indecisiveness.

The last faction were the magical extremists, also known as the True Order, who had radical beliefs on magic supremacy and eugenics. To them, those with more magic were born to lead. Those with less were sheep to be shepherded or culled. Finding, maintaining, improving and growing magical bloodlines was key. This faction was known to kill any person or cross any line.

Now, all of these factions were in an uproar. Nafriton students flunked out or withdrew all the time due to the difficulty. Expulsions were rare during the reigns of the past couple of headmasters. An expelled student being immediately arrested was almost unheard of! The gossips and news outlets wished that they could directly warp onto campus.

Angela Morvell was excommunicated from the family then sentenced to a lengthy prison term on multiple charges. Her father was removed from his position as heir apparent. Alice's mother became the official heir. Her first act was to reveal the incompetence of her brother and his secret dealings with the conservatives. Support quickly swelled behind her to solidify her position.

This close connection was taboo for the neutral, progressive leaning Morvell family. Rumors suddenly flourished that the conservatives pushed all of the blame onto Angela for the boutique incident. Enraged, the current family head agreed with his daughter to completely cut ties with the faction. Angela's father was placed on permanent house arrest.

The conservative faction was in chaos. Previously riding the high from stopping the True Order, they were caught unprepared. The scandal lasted for several days before it was finally hurried.

*********************************************************************************************************

Aayla spent her days holed up in the residence hall or classes. She had no idea about the chaos swirling outside. Her magic lessons with Ramona were proceeding smoothly. Her practical skills were almost at middle school level. With Deputy Downer taking the lead in the maze investigation, Ramona spent plenty of time with Aayla over the past few weeks ever since it was discovered.

Many strange residents now lived in the resident hall. Almost every important aristocratic snob seemed to have transferred in. They got into conflicts everyday. From minor issues like cutting in line to full blown duels, each day had a new problem.

Daren was extremely annoyed. His peaceful life had vanished ever since the new residents transferred in. Vanessa had disappeared recently, but The Butterflies were still among his most ardent pursuers. He constantly begged Ramona and Deputy Downer for work to avoid the bootlickers and vixens badgering him.

Ramona happily gave him more work. She only had so many hours in the day, and more free time meant more lessons Aayla. The medical exemption can only be used for so long. Nurse Rouse would only extend it until the end of the semester. After that, Aayla was on her own.

Like any other day, Aayla was practicing magic in the basement. After a bit of persuasion from Ramona, the gremlins quickly vacated their basement headquarters. There was just over a week left until the third exams. If she wanted to build up her skills enough to pass the practical exams next semester, she would need to reach high school level magic by the end of the semester.

Aayla slowly breathed in and out while focusing on the energy around her. Energy gathered around her as she meditated. It slowly trickled through her body and into the bracelets on her wrists. Those bottomless pits would suck up as much mana as she would give to them.

Though not at all as painful as when she first started, gathering mana was still strange for Aayla. It was like feeling the blood flow through all of your blood vessels. Even with her complete focus, her internal mana would often go astray or get clogged.

Just as Aayla finally wrestled her mana under control, she lost focused for a brief second and the mana around her dissipated. Aayla gnashed her teeth as she rubbed her temples. If she focuses on her internal mana, then the external energy will dissipate. If she focuses on pulling in external mana, her internal mana will go astray.

"Alright, that's enough for now. Let's take a short break. We still have a couple of months until the next semester. That time is completely useless if you can't learn to absorb enough energy to cast more advanced spells."

"I know, I know. I'm just thankful that I have one semester to figure things out. How's the maze investigation going?"

"Slowly. Deputy Downer's a bit of a blockhead with delicate research. From what we've seen so far, that maze should be some sort of trial for students. The contents change every day, and they get more challenging based on those who enter."

"It changes? But I was the only one who entered at first and it was already so difficult! How much more difficult could the designers make it?"

"That's because you didn't have magic. With some of the tricks that I've taught you, handling the maze would be much easier now."

"Since it's a trial, is it going to be open for students eventually?"

"We're aiming to reach the center next semester. There may be a way to gain control over it. If so, then I'm sure that the headmaster will approve. Those involved in the research have become eager to use it as a testing tool. Nafriton has yet to build an immersive trial exam like the other international schools of magic. Even the national university has one."

"Why not?"

"A certain b***ard of a former headmaster blew several decades worth of the budget on useless extravagances on campus."

"The one who lost the keys to the maze and nearly ruined Nafriton?"

"Yes. Just so you know, that idiot is responsible for the Central Administration Building."

"Eew. I still don't understand why anyone would want to build such an ugly monstrosity. Blowing through several decades worth of money is kind of amazing though."

Tiny claws scratched on the door outside. Aayla pulled herself off of the ground and opened the door. A tiny green furball gazed up at her with a folded piece of paper in its tiny paws. Despite acting like a fiend from the depths of the underworld, gremlins had a strange sort of cuteness. She pulled a tiny cookie out of her bag.

"Good Matcha! Here's a yum yum cookie~! Would you like to trade my yum yum cookie for your letter?"

(￣A￣) =3 -- Obviously foolish cookie hooman. Why would I want paper when I can have a yum yum cookie instead? --

Matcha inhaled the tiny cookie and happily went on her way. Aayla carefully picked up the letter. It looked surprise free but with gremlins you can never be too careful.

"It's amazing how well you've been able to tame them. They don't listen as well to any of our staff."

"Well, none of them can thicken their faces enough to speak in baby talk and offer 'yum yum cookies'. Gremlins will never accept normal treats."

Aayla unfolded the letter to read it. She finished it withing a few seconds.

"Today's lesson will need to be paused, Ramona. It appears that I have a visitor."

When Aayla and Ramona arrived in the office, Junius and Renee were already talking with the visitor. They all quickly stood and bowed when Ramona arrived.

"Good afternoon, Deputy Heston."

"Good day to all of you. I understand that there is a visitor?"

"Yes ma'am. I have a summons request for a Ms. Glowery from the Student Council. Don't worry, it's nothing serious! It should be for a job! The headmaster approved it!"

The poor messenger stuttered for several minutes under the gaze of Ramona. She thought that she had made it clear to keep Aayla out of the university's politics. Perhaps she thought wrong, or they need a little reminder.

As soon as Ramona dismissed the messenger, they left in a hurry. Ramona had a pensive look on her face.

"We should leave now, Ms. Glowery. Eileen does not like to be kept waiting. Renee, you can stay to take care of your duties here. There's no need to worry, Deputy Heston. I'm sure it's only a small request. I'll escort Ms. Glowery there and back."

Heh. Just 'a small request'? No request is ever 'small' when the headmaster gets involved. Ramona ultimately decided to stay after Aayla reassured her that she would remain cautious and respectful during the meeting.