"All right. Since everyone's busy, let's get straight to it."
Elkario leaned forward, speaking slowly and clearly, as if worried someone might miss a word.
"So. There's only one thing to discuss today: should the Academy go to war with the Royal Family?"
The glintstone lamps shone brightly, washing the entire room in near-daylight.
Yet inside this old chamber, the heated argument one might expect never came.
It wasn't that the proposal had stunned the sorcerers into silence. For them, war had always been a matter of time, an unspoken certainty everyone understood.
But when the choice was finally laid out in front of them, each of them carried reservations they couldn't easily put into words.
The silence dragged on until the ambitious Elkario had to strike the table again, hard, trying to break the suffocating stillness.
When no one answered, he glanced—almost helplessly—toward the person present who knew war best.
"Preceptor Oled. What does the Haima Conspectus think?"
Oled blinked as if pulled back from his thoughts. He lifted his head and looked calmly around the table.
He was enormous, well over two meters tall, his powerful build stretching his robes until they looked ready to split at the seams.
As the Academy's enforcer and an expert in war magic, he was the obvious one to speak first.
"Ahem…" He cleared his throat and spoke in a measured tone.
"The Cuckoo Legion has thrown in with the Academy. In terms of manpower, we have the advantage. If we start the war now, our odds are good."
"My only concern is this: if Radahn becomes the new Lord, what happens to the Academy?"
His voice was rough and heavy, like a siege cannon grinding into motion.
Chesterrow, seated to his right, nodded along.
"Exactly. No matter what, Radahn is the Queen's son, the Lunar Princess's own brother."
"He may not have time for us right now, but once his hands are free, he'll come back for payback."
Seluvis gave a thin, contemptuous smile.
"Payback? Even if he takes Leyndell, he'll still have Volcano Manor and the Haligtree to deal with."
"No matter whether Radahn or Rykard comes out on top, how much strength will either of them have left to waste on us?"
"As long as the Demigods are still alive, they'll recover sooner or later. It's only a question of how long," Chesterrow added, unease plain in his voice.
"But they may not even win," Seluvis cut in. "Don't forget, the Haligtree Army is said to be unbeatable."
"Preceptor Seluvis, a reputation doesn't win battles," Oled snapped, raising his voice as he slammed his broad palm down on the table.
"An army is only as strong as the Demigod leading it. And don't forget, those two princes are blood brothers."
"If they join forces, even the Haligtree Army may not be able to stand against them."
"And once Leyndell falls, the Valkyrie will likely be the first Demigod driven out of this war."
Seluvis's confidence collapsed. He sat there, unable to find a reply for a long moment.
Oled wasn't wrong. Of the three legions marching on Leyndell, the Haligtree Army was unquestionably the strongest. But even it might buckle if two lords moved as one.
If that was the case, then win or lose, the Academy wouldn't come out of this well. So why fight at all? Better to find the right moment and slip over to the royal side.
The professors fell quiet again, and the room grew even heavier.
After a long time, a low, solemn voice finally spoke.
"Rykard and Radahn haven't returned to Liurnia of the Lakes in years. Maybe they've stopped caring about royal affairs."
It was Oled again, but this time his voice lacked conviction. He clearly knew how shaky the guess was.
The professors, usually buried in their books, traded looks. Each weighed his words in silence, and the room sank back into stillness.
Then, all at once, a crisp clap broke the silence.
Everyone turned toward the sound and saw Seluvis wearing a strange, twisted grin as he clapped his hands, speaking in a deliberately mocking tone.
"Preceptor Oled is absolutely right!"
He kept clapping as he continued, drawing out each word.
"The Academy is still holding onto the Iron Virgin Rykard sent us."
"Well then? Is the Haima Conspectus willing to kindly return it to Volcano Manor on the Academy's behalf?"
"Oh, and a friendly reminder. Our esteemed Queen is still in the Grand Library."
The remark made everyone present feel as though their intelligence had been openly insulted, yet none of them could find a solid argument to refute it.
In matters of scholarship, they were unmatched. In everything else, they were clearly lacking. It wasn't a question of intellect, but of experience.
They were effectively keeping the mother of the Golden Order Dynasty's judicial authority under soft confinement, and Ranni was one of the Demigods closest to her by blood. Who would dare go knocking on that door?
"Enough. Let's put this pointless argument on hold. Take a look at this."
Elkario let out a sigh. He could no longer stand listening to a discussion that was spiraling further out of control and cut it off decisively.
He took a letter from his robe, the seal of the Two Fingers Church still pressed into the wax.
With a grave expression, he said,
"This was delivered by a secret envoy this morning. It carries the will of the Two Fingers."
The others eagerly unfolded the letter. Their eyes skimmed over the contents, and shock and confusion slowly spread across their faces.
Seluvis rubbed his chin, doubt flickering in his eyes as he muttered,
"The Two Fingers are supporting us? What is this supposed to mean?"
Chesterrow frowned, thought for a moment, then spoke cautiously.
"Could it have something to do with the struggle among the Empyreans?"
In this land, Empyreans were not unique, and there was more than one Two Fingers.
Yet in the end, only one could ascend to godhood.
Whether it was claiming a throne or becoming a god, the Lands Between worked like a brutal contest of survival.
The Two Fingers each supported different Empyreans. The seat of godhood was something to be fought over.
After a moment of contemplation, Elkario gave his conclusion.
"There's no need to overthink their motives. No matter which lord becomes the new ruler of the Golden Order Dynasty, having this letter means we hold a pardon we can't be denied."
The Two Fingers were the mouthpieces of the Greater Will itself. If even they couldn't represent the stance of the Golden Order Dynasty, then who possibly could?
He paused briefly before continuing.
"As long as the Queen and the Princess are not harmed, even rebellion can be settled with concessions. Once the Carian Royal Family falls, we'll finally be free of all restraints."
"I agree."
"Agreed."
"I never thought the Two Fingers would involve themselves in something like this, but if that's the case, then fine. I agree."
One by one, the professors raised their hands. This was a rare opportunity. If they let it slip by, who knew how many more years they would have to wait.
"Time won't wait for us. Once a new Lord takes the throne, it'll be too late. Order the Cuckoos to mobilize and prepare for war immediately."
Elkario looked firmly to his right, his voice resolute and unyielding.
"Professor Oled, once the war begins, it will be time for the Haima Conspectus to fulfill its role. The Cuckoos will also need your supervision."
With those words, Elkario placed the burden squarely on Oled's shoulders.
"I understand."
The battle mage nodded heavily. The Haima Conspectus had been founded for the sake of war, and now, at last, it was time to put that purpose to use.