Power struggle


 * Following the verdict, demonstrations continued daily and progressively intensified.
 * At this point, the academy was losing its ability to function.
 * The military was dispatched to help restore order despite being outnumbered.
 * As a result, the school has closed down until things have settled.
 * All of the Order has assembled in their meeting room.
 * Rod led the report as given from the administration.
 * They deemed that the safety of the noble students could not be guaranteed under these conditions.
 * Claire brings up the verdict, stating that she believes it was insufficient.
 * Irritation dripped in her voice.
 * As a person thoroughly brought up with Noble values, despite her prejudice towards commoners, she believed the punishment to be unacceptable.
 * Sein brings up how perplexing the verdict has come as it was glaringly obvious how divisive it would be received.
 * Even then, there were still nobles that appealed the decision, asking that the punishment be further reduced.
 * Rodd laments that they were not prepared enough to avoid such a conflict.
 * Lambert also adds that the Church had an influence on the outcome of the verdict.
 * Misha asks for more information but Rod replies with it all being due to politics.
 * According to Rod, the Church's real intention is to replace the Royal Family in terms of power.
 * Officially, the Church supports the commoners but, off the record, will work with Nobles as well.
 * Yuu adds that their sole intent is to tarnish the reputation of both Royalty and Aristocracy.
 * In this world, the Church carries bona fide influence from their charitable contributions.
 * They also are willing to use that political influence with some in the organization willing to use every tactic available to them.
 * Sein states how the Church can gain from the current predicament.
 * He also asks Yuu if Lishe, Yuu's mother, is related to it.
 * Yuu hopes that she is not yet also uncertain.
 * Rei notes that Yuu appears evasive in answer.
 * The current Queen, Lishe is the second wife to the king and also a former cardinal.
 * Yuu is third in line but Rei states that Lishe ultimately wants to make Yuu the head of Royalty.
 * Because of how inheritance works, Lishe is most likely looking for alternative ways to swiftly achieve her goals.
 * Yuu may not want to think about it but can't outright deny it.
 * The group sat with an awkward silence.
 * Claire interjects that the Church might be attempting to fracture the relationship between the royal siblings.
 * After an initial shock, the siblings were able to recollect themselves.
 * At most, the Order can only assist the military; aside from that, everyone agreed that there was nothing else they could do at the moment.
 * As Claire and Rei were returning to their dorms, Rei had a request for Claire.
 * Rei asks that Claire not leave until tomorrow's night.
 * Claire is confused as despite classes being suspended, she still had Order of the Academy tasks to complete.
 * Rei insists that Claire take a day off.
 * Claire still did not understand and argued that now, more than ever, was the time to be active for the Order.
 * Lene asks Rei if there was a particular reason for the request.
 * Rei does but answering honestly would complicate her plans.
 * Seeing that Claire would not relent, Rei pushes a finger on Claire's forehead, causing her to lose consciousness.
 * Lene rushes to Claire in both concern and shock.
 * Rei assures Lene that Claire is only asleep; caused by water magic spell, Enhanced Sleep.
 * It allows the user to put a person into a deep sleep to restore stamina.
 * An higher level version allows a user to put a person down as Rei did.
 * When pressed for the reason, Rei tells Lene that there will be a riot.
 * Rei asks Lene to hide with Claire in the dormitory and not to do anything reckless.
 * Lene asks why but Rei counters by checking how dedicated Lene is to Claire.
 * She then asks Lene to believe her.
 * As Rei begins to head off, Lene asks the question, "Are you... the same as me?"
 * Rei notes that this question only makes sense to people that already know.
 * Rei answers that she is not.
 * Rei knows that denial would only mean that she understands what Lene wanted to ask.
 * Lene mumbles an apology to both Rei and Claire to which Rei pretends not to hear.
 * That night, the academy gate was breached.

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