Ride the Right Line
"The war among the students is intensifying."
It was just before entering the professors' meeting room. The moment I cracked the door open about a handspan, the topic drifting out was war—not the external conflict between the kingdom and the Elf Forest, but a civil war brewing right here in the academy.
"You know about that clash between the mid-tier factions at the academy's back gate a while ago, right?"
"Was there something like that?"
"It wasn't announced to all the professors. Professor Magapi insisted on keeping it under wraps—said there was no upside to letting it spread."
"Speaking of which, has Professor Magapi not arrived?"
"That guy's been too busy lately to even show his face."
Serious talk was flying back and forth, but I had no clue what they were on about.
"So, is everyone here?"
"Yes. Everyone who was coming is here. Those who didn't show know which line they're on. But who's out there by the door? Come on in."
I hesitated for a second before pushing the door open.
Around a long oval table sat the professors packed shoulder-to-shoulder, while along the walls were rows of observer seats filled with assistant professors. Even a few students were visible among the assistants.
"Ed... Education Officer?"
"Damn it all! Who's responsible? Which idiot invited the punishment instructor?"
"S-Sorry. You said to call all the professors, so I just..."
The room erupted in murmurs at my entrance. Their hostile welcome didn't exactly put me in a good mood. I scowled, scanning the room, then raised my voice for no good reason.
"Looks like my presence is making things uncomfortable. Should I just head out?"
"No, forget it. Just sit down."
An elderly professor grimaced but gestured to an empty seat—not at the table, but among the observers. I slunk to it, dodging uncomfortable stares. The assistants on either side and behind me squirmed away, inching their hips back.
"Is this okay, Professor Hachi? The education officer's an outsider—not aligned with anyone."
"What's done is done. But if that instructor has any brains, he's already picked up on the academy's currents."
The academy's currents? What the hell did that mean? They were whispering loud enough for me to hear, and it grated on my nerves. I'd only come because they said all professors were summoned. I crossed my arms, glaring with obvious displeasure, when I suddenly noticed one key person missing from what was supposed to be a professors' meeting.
"Why isn't the principal here?"
Every head turned my way. A heavy silence crashed down. I couldn't fathom why they were staring like I'd seen a ghost.
It's a professors' meeting—shouldn't the principal be here?
"Why are you all looking at me like that?"
"Ahem. Cough! This meeting doesn't require the principal."
"Why not?"
One professor, unable to hold back at my innocent question, lowered his voice and snapped at the elderly Professor Hachi.
"Damn it, Professor Hachi. Just send him away. The education officer doesn't know a thing right now."
"Cut it out. If we boot him now and word gets back to the principal, we're the ones who suffer."
"We've already been seen. We're in deep shit as it is. Sending him off clueless now is..."
"Enough! I don't want to hear it."
Professor Hachi fixed me with a steady gaze. Unlike the others' hostility, he showed me a measure of respect.
"He's a person too. He can think, read the room. Once he grasps the winds blowing through the academy, he'll figure it out himself."
Hachi turned fully toward me, lecturing like a stern teacher to a student.
"Education officer, mark my words. The academy is carved up between two massive factions and a bunch of smaller ones. That balance held for years, but now it's starting to shift."
My eyebrows twitched involuntarily. I'd thought this was just a routine meeting, but the atmosphere was thick with tension.
"You've been wandering around as the education officer, hearing bits and pieces, noticing changes yourself."
"Yeah, I've caught wind of something like that."
"Then no need to explain further."
Hachi straightened up and tapped a small gavel on the floor—thud thud. The meeting began.
"Let's get started. Professor Riblenoo."
A middle-aged female professor placed a small jar on the table and scattered white sand from it across the surface. The grains floated up, gathering in midair to form two human shapes. The faces were blurry, but the silhouettes gave them away.
"The current power structure boils down to these two. Elias Quinnel. Ios Savin."
Eri's petite, arrogant stance. Ios's tall, elegant poise. The two figures stood at opposite ends of the long table, glaring daggers at each other in standoff.
"In terms of faction size and combat prowess, Ios holds the edge."
As Hachi spoke, Ios's form grew larger. Once it towered like a giant, Eri's figure flinched in panic. That's when a young professor piped up proudly.
"The Savin family is a renowned noble house in the kingdom, specialists in combat magic—a true pillar of prestige."
The young professor clenched his fist, glaring fiercely in one direction. Whoever sat there had enmity burning in his eyes.
"No matter how big Eri's faction or her pedigree, it can't match Ios's personal might."
"You there! Who gave you leave to spout off like that?!"
A middle-aged professor shot to his feet in fury at the remark, jabbing a hairy finger accusingly.
"Ios Savin's excellence is one thing—we get it. But do you even know what kind of family Elias Quinnel hails from?"
"Eri's magic skills are average at best—nothing special among students. Ios excels with her superior talent, and her followers match that level."
"Enough, enough. Things are heating up again—cool it."
At Professor Hachi's mediation, the two grumbled and fell silent. Once they did, Hachi continued.
"As you say, Eri's grades don't stand out much from the average student."
Hachi extended a hand toward Eri's form. She remained dwarfed by Ios. But suddenly, she struck a haughty pose.
"Yet somehow, Eri crushes countless factions to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ios. You all know why."
Eri didn't grow. Instead, a massive mountain erupted from the base beneath her, elevating her a head above Ios. Ios's figure recoiled in surprise.
"An enormous backer we can't even fathom. And everyone knows the political clout her family wields."
"You think Ios has no backers? Magicians value individual skill above all!"
"Hey! Even if personal power matters, isolation leads to downfall! What counts is a backer who can clean up after the war!"
The young professor ranted wildly, only for the middle-aged one to fire back. With professors this divided, what good were they? As the chaos showed no sign of dying down, one observer raised a tentative hand. A slender male student with round glasses.
"May I venture a word?"
"Gregory. Speak."
With the two still fuming, Hachi seized the chance to pivot and allowed it.
"Does there have to be a winner between those two factions? We should focus on the mid-tier groups too."
A few assistants and professors nodded in agreement. But the young professor suddenly widened his eyes in rage, grinding his teeth at Gregory.
"You! Gregory! What the hell? If you're under Ios, you should be rooting for her victory!"
"I do want Ios to win. I believe she will in this war. But we can't rule out variables."
Gregory's gaze flicked sideways—for a split second, it felt like it landed on me.
"No matter Eri and Ios's strengths, there are students in the academy who could crush those advantages."
"Who?"
"For instance..."
Wait. Was this guy staring right at me now?
"...Student Sena Michele."
A silence so heavy it chilled the air descended. Every eye turned to me instinctively. The students might not get it, but the professors knew full well whose servant I was. Professor Hachi let out an uncomfortable groan.
"True enough. No matter how talented a magician, none can rival the Michele family."
No one contradicted him; they just shifted uneasily, murmuring. Then, a middle-aged professor from Eri's faction spoke cautiously.
"But Sena's not involved in this. She's consistently stated from the start she's uninterested in the war and won't interfere, right?"
Gregory replied instantly.
"Yes, professor. Sena's shown zero interest in the war. That's why the factions split around Ios and Eri. However."
Some who caught on smacked their foreheads or rubbed their chins thoughtfully. Gregory eyed me steadily.
"Eri and Ios both provoked Sena—through this very education officer."
Ah, so he meant that time those two dragged me in and blew up? Yeah, that happened. Ios even warned me to pick a side and stop waffling. She knew full well it'd drag me—and Sena—in.
"It'd be nice if she stayed out, but those two are headstrong—we all know that. They'll pull Sena in for sure."
"What if we strike Sena first?"
I'm sitting right here, and someone's floating that idea? I scanned for the culprit but couldn't pinpoint them.
"Are you insane? Strike Sena Michele?"
"It's just one student. No matter how skilled, can she take on numbers?"
The young professor from Ios's side shook his head vehemently, rebutting.
"Impossible. Michele family magicians operate on another level entirely."
"What's that little girl got that has even professors scared?"
"You must've missed the previous magic contest. Sena entered right after enrolling—no prep—and what she did."
The young professor's clenched fist trembled.
"Top magicians from prestigious houses, a dragon from the White Mountains, an ancient sorcerer awakened after centuries—all fell to her hand."
Bang! His fist slammed the table.
"Dozens of elite students scattered like leaves before a single spell from Sena. If they wanted to live, they forfeited!"
"...All to one tiny student?"
"She surpassed professors from day one. Everyone knows Michele magicians are like that. Hell, even our principal's from the Micheles."
Someone murmured softly then.
"But even she's just one person. Shunned by her family. No interest in the principal's seat. Not an immediate threat. And lately, there's that rumor, right?"
Eyes sharpened—predators scenting blood.
"The principal's growing weaker."
"Reliable intel?"
"Who knows. She's still the principal. But if it's true... you get it."
In the hush, Professor Hachi spoke up.
"The Michele family's lock on the principal's seat seems to be ending. Time to ride the next one's line."
Hachi's eyes blazed. Youthful looks, but a feral edge sharpened his face.
"Everyone. Stop agonizing. Decide now—who do we push as the next principal?"