Chapter 4: Ch 4: The Council

I woke up and the next day had arrived and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. I lifted my head and my research paper stuck to my cheek. I had drooled over it while asleep… This problem could be fixed with magic and I decided to hand in my paper in the afternoon. I wanted to look at my best when I did that. Dressing up is easy but braiding my hair will take forever! It took 4 hours of attempting to braid my hair to get a satisfactory result. I made sure that my research paper was drool-free, changed and cleaned up my lab. All this won’t be necessary after I submit this paper. There is a possibility that the council points out flaws in my research but I had been meticulous in eradicating mistakes.

I went to my bookshelf and activated a secret door. It led to a small garden in which I was growing Mistflowers. The scent of this garden always calmed my nerves.

“It’s ok Ayaru, they might be conservative but they can’t argue against the objective truth.”

I slapped my cheeks and made an [Ice Mirror] to make sure I looked presentable.

“Oh, I’m such a hottie! Today will be just fine!”

With boosted confidence, I got everything I needed and left my lab. I walked through the corridors and ignored the looks I got. I had discovered that I was able to use charm magic so I was throwing it around. Normally I would want people to leave me alone but today was a special day. All eyes are on me today! Some Misha followed me.

“So, you have decided to turn the students into mindless zombies?” My rival had appeared. I looked at her attire and smirked. I had out dressed her.

“And what is the problem with that? I have to somehow counter your stupid rumors. Now stop raining on my parade, today is my day.”

“Stop making everything about you! How did you even avoid punishment for turning the courtyard into a swamp?!”

I grinned. “You wouldn’t understand anyways.” I flicked my hair and passed her by.

“Give up Ayaru! Nobody likes your research!” I ignored that fire bitch because I knew better. She doesn’t even know what I’m researching.

I went to Remi’s office. “Oh, I had expected you to oversleep again.”

“I did… I had planned to submit this yesterday. I came to deliver the copy to you.” I handed the copy of my life’s work to Remi.

“Sit down Aya, we need to talk.” I sat down. Did I do something wrong?

Remi was fidgeting with her light green hair. It seemed that she was uncomfortable.

“Look, I know this is your life’s work but I don’t think submitting it is a good idea. You know how the council reacted the last time… I don’t know what else you have found out but I’m sure they won't like it.”

I calmed down before I spoke up. This is not what I want to hear but I realize that she means well. Lashing out at her won't get us anywhere.

“Thank you for trying to look out for me Remi, but this is important to me. If they don’t like it, I will bring this to a race that does.”

Remi grabbed my hand. “Please, I know how difficult the main members of the council are, they will rip you to shreds!”

“I know that but I still want to put it out there. You remember what you taught me right? The truth will always find a way.”

“Yes, but it doesn’t have to be through you! They are already treating you so poorly, it will only get worse after you submit this! They won’t be able to let you do as you please anymore!”

“I am used to it. Thank you for caring but I have to do this.” I got up. I was about to leave when I halted. “Remi, if anyone ever tries to continue my research, please help her. Can you promise me that?”

Remi wiped off a tear. “I will do my best to support her. I promise!” I smiled and headed over to the council.

The council resided in a separate building. I suppose they feel like they're too important to reside between the students. I was pulling gazes as I walked by and was gathering confidence with these stares because I am sure it will get shattered before the council. I have to steel myself.

Remi teleported over. She nodded at me and went in first. I exhaled and took a Mistflower out of my handbag. I allowed the soothing scent of the Mistflower to spread out and calm my nerves.

I stepped inside the building and headed toward the submission counter, identified myself and filled in a document. My research was officially submitted. I headed over to possibly the scariest place on the planet, the council hall. I will have to defend or clarify my research. Hesitation set in but my paper was submitted. I walked inside the large hall. It had seats on the side for Misha like me. The centre front had special seats for all the 37 council members. I saw Misha older than me sitting down and listening to how one research after another was getting ridiculed by the council members. The council members would have an hour of ridiculing or praising research to then take an hour break to read new submissions and continue. The Misha standing in the middle, trying to defend her research ran out of the hall crying. I hope that won’t be me in several hours. I took a seat far from the other Misha and sat down.

A Misha had researched the inner and outer workings of fire magic. She had come to the conclusion that it was more accurately temperature magic. However, she couldn’t provide any useful and concrete methods for dropping the temperature with current magic circles known as ‘Fire magic’. My research could help her with this but the council was merciless.

“Why would we bother with dropping the temperature with this ‘Temperature’ magic if we can just do this with water magic?”

“W…well for those without a water affinity…”

“Why would someone without a water affinity attempt to drop the temperature?”

“It could be a necessity given the circumstances!”

“And why was that Misha not better prepared for a situation where temperature control would be needed? Why not bring a colleague who can?” The council members looked down on this Misha, literally and figuratively.

“But… that’s not the point of my research…”

“Rejected! I can’t believe that you wasted research funds on this garbage!”

The Misha walked out of the hall. The council was as harsh and unreasonable as ever. Most of the research got harshly, and in my opinion, unfairly criticized like that. Only research that delved into subjects that were well-known or well accepted, has gotten any positive critique.

The hour break had started. I might be up after this break. I relied on my Mistflowers to stay calm. I decided to stay in the hall. I won’t risk encountering Misha I don’t want to see. I had fully memorized anything in my research paper. They shouldn’t be able to catch me off-guard with anything I have written. The time crawled past. The area in the middle was quite large. Why is it so large? Only the Misha responsible for the research paper presented will be standing there. I had counted 312 chairs in this hall. Only 40 seemed to have been used when I had entered the hall. Maybe this is for research that has a large impact or for well-known Misha when they submit a paper. It is also possible to just listen to what happens in here.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

The hour had passed and the first Misha returned to the hall. I saw a red-haired bitch and her friends enter the hall. I bet they’re here to laugh at me. The council uses magic to swiftly read through the papers so they are rarely late. It just added to my anxiety. The council members finally entered 10 minutes late.

“Ayaru Mistflower! Topic: Mana runes and magic circles!” I hastily got up. I didn’t expect to be up first.

I heard the bitch and her friends snickering. When will they grow up?

“We have read your paper and we are shocked. The information in this paper was organized, concise, and well-put together. However… it is an abomination.” I had gotten my hopes up in the first part but my joy immediately died out.

“You still insist that the magic that we use is unsightly and inefficient?”

I hesitated. Come on Ayaru! you re here to defend your life's work! “With all due respect, I did not mention that the magic Misha use is inefficient, all races have this problem. I have never put down the word ‘unsightly’. And I am not insisting on anything. I am just stating an objective observation.”

“If it is an objective observation why have none other than you observed this phenomenon that, according to you is, ‘objective’?”

“There has at least been one, I have referenced 2 of her literary works.”

“And the vast majority is referenced from your own works. I can’t agree that this is very objective.” All the Misha showed signs of disapproval.

“Unfortunately, there is nobody that has researched this subject before so there is nothing to fall back on…”

“Don’t you think that the reason nobody has delved into this is because it is simply untrue?” Now they seemed to get angry. I don't understand. I was clear in my research paper, what is there to get angry about?

“I would love to go into a discussion about this. I have provided proof that this is not the case, I would gladly discuss and examine the evidence you ha…”

“Don’t be so conceited! I have 3 millennia worth of experience more than you! You aren’t even 200 human years old! An infant is telling us how magic works?!” The Misha that was leading this exchange had gotten fired up.

“I am not telling you anything, I am just reporting the results of my research.”

“And we’re telling you that you are wrong! You even stated that Misha can combat without catalysts! Have you truly gone mad? Misha have attempted that for millennia and without success! Do you truly believe that you could find the solution in a mere 27 years?”

I suddenly realized why this area was so large. “I can give a demonstration if you would like.” The infuriated Misha looked at me. I’m sure she didn’t expect this.

“Fine! I will have an excuse to teach you a lesson!” The black-haired Misha floated down and opposed me with the wand.

“I hope you’re ready.” The Misha didn’t give me a chance to respond because she started casting [Fracture], but I interrupted the cast. I used [Azure Flower] and attacked the elder Misha. She blocked it with an [Earth Shield] and I turned the petals inside of her shield into blades and assaulted her.

She let out a mana burst to push them away.

“Very impressive, I don’t sense a catalyst on you, at least your paper wasn’t complete hubris.” Something inside of me snapped. This Misha had insulted my life’s work, my baby. I wouldn’t let this slide.

I took a bottle of water out of my handbag. I had modified it with spatial magic so that it could hold 100 times its volume of water. I opened the lid and used [Tsunami], followed up by [Azure Sharks]. I wasn’t holding back like I was against the bitch. The elder’s earth shield got broken by the [Tsunami] and the sharks rushed into any attacks she sent toward me.

“So, speeding up magic circles wasn’t a lie either!” Why can't they just accept that my research is correct? I’m demonstrating to them that my research has applications.

I used a shark to body block a [Fracture]. It is good that it doesn’t have any bones, they would all have shattered. I threw an [Azure Spear] at the elder. It dug deep into the [Earth Wall] she had erected. I used [Azure Mist]. The elder screamed as every attempt to use magic caused an [Azure Spear] to strike at her. She was unable to get a clear view of anything around her due to the [Azure Mist]. I coated my right fist with fire and walked over to her. I threw the hardest and most satisfying punch ever. The Misha screamed as she flew into the row of empty chairs and got lodged into the wall.

The [Azure Mist] lifted and it was just me in the middle. The elder Misha was still unconscious.

I directed my attention to the other council members. “As seen during this demonstration, it is possible to fight without catalysts.” The council started to talk with each other.

“We have decided. Your research will be categorized as taboo and banned! We can’t have anyone as dangerous as you walk around. We will also be stripping you of your accolades for harming a council member!”

“But that’s unreasonable! I just gave a demonstration! And you never even gave my research a chance!”

“The fact that you can defeat Gertrude at this young age makes you a dangerous individual. Unless you provide us with a useful research paper, we will have to withhold your accolades. Failing to provide a useful research paper will get you exiled from Witchaven! Take her away! I don’t want to see her unsightly figure again!”

“Wait! You never gave me a fair chance! Please! Just read it, this is to better everyone!”

An angry glare. “So, you are insinuating that we Misha are imperfect? You are too insignificant to determine that!” She waved her wand and forced me out of the building.

I was perplexed. I had expected this to be rough but never have I thought that it would be this bad.

It started to rain. Normally I love rain but not today. It perfectly represented my mood though. I looked at the grey sky. I have nothing left. Do I comply and provide useful research or do I accept my exile? I had big words against Remi, stating that I would go to other races with my research but that’s because I thought deep down, that it would get accepted. I slowly walked through the rain. I was unsure if it was because of the rain or my mood but everything seemed colorless and hazy. I couldn’t even enjoy the smell of fresh rain and was too occupied with attempting to keep my tears back. Everything I have worked for had been brutally invalidated. I looked at the beautiful dress I was wearing.

“What was I thinking… My day. All eyes are on me… I am nothing special. Just another tool for the council to abuse and thrown away.”

I stripped in frustration. I didn’t feel pretty, I felt unsightly and dirty. I felt insignificant. The rain was cold but there was no difference between walking through the rain in my thin dress or naked. The streets were empty but I wouldn’t care even if someone saw me. I dragged myself home. It felt as if my house was at an infinite distance. I could teleport but for what? It is not going to make me feel less miserable. I heard footsteps through the rain.

“Aya! I’m so sorry! I couldn’t convince them of the merits of your research. Here put on your clothes… you will catch a cold.”

I took the dress Remi had picked up and threw it to the side.

“There is no point… it’s over. Thank you for trying Remi, I’m fine…”

“You’re not fine! You got threatened with exile and they turned your research into a taboo! There is no way you are fine!”

Remi put her hand on my shoulder and teleported me to my front door. I just stared at my door.

“Aya, please open the door.” I used [Azure Spear] to open my door. Remi helped me inside. She dried me off, went through my outfits, and used some incantations to put the clothes on me.

“I will attempt to talk to the council again, maybe they will reconsider.”

“Thank you, Remi. I…I think I need to be alone for a bit.” Remi prepared some Mistflower tea for me.

“Just call me when you need anything, please don’t give up.” Remi waited at the front door for my reply but I didn't reply. I kept staring at my tea.

“Please take care of yourself…” Remi left.

I was alone again. This time with no research. Tears fell into my Mistflower tea. Did I choose the wrong subject to research? Should I have chosen a different subject? Maybe my wording had antagonized the council? I had made sure to eliminate anything that could be seen as antagonizing, exactly because I would expect this to happen otherwise. Did I mess up? Or maybe they are right, maybe I am wrong? I looked at my hands and created the magic circle of [Azure Flower]. I dynamically changed the magic circle to what it had originally started out as. This magic circle of [Waterball] is unimpressive. I changed it back to [Azure Flower]. The magic circle isn’t perfect but it is superior in every possible way. Lower mana cost, greater ease at supplying it with mana, lower mana control requirements, lower cast time, to the point it’s almost instant. Is there a flaw in thinking that this is better than a [Waterball]?

Maybe the council consists of mana purists. They believe that magic skills should be used exactly as how they are learned. In that case, my paper is something they would instantly stamp as taboo. I tried to make my tears stop but my body wouldn't listen. I decided to head to bed. It is unlikely I will be able to get anything done today. I will cry myself to sleep and figure out something later on. I will head over to the library once I feel better.