Chapter 35: Council of Magic makes changes
Translated by XianPiete
In the days and weeks that followed, due to the Wütendes Menschenreich Emperor sending the head of Prince Andre to the capital as a declaration of war, Pays Des Abrutis obliged them and started their own preparations for war. A command was sent to the Council of Magic to assist in the conflict. The Council of Magic replied stating their autonomy and that they would assist in the defense of Pays Des Abrutis only. The Council of Magic started to have a big problem, people were asking to join even if it was to work as staff just to be a part of the mysterious organization. When rumors and reports from the battles came in detailing the power and strength of the Council, it became even more revered than the various orders of knights.
First Mage Diggory called a meeting of the Council to order with his own suggestions he started, "I believe that we should start to groom apprentices and also start to think about a staff of normal people to handle paperwork, cleaning duties and food production. I believe that it will become a necessity in the future as Kings change and the outside changes around the tower that future generations of Mages will need to have a level of self support."
Olivier nodded and said, "I will ask my father to allow us to purchase the Academy entirely and make the school and the tower all one entity. We can offer a class at the Academy with strict requirements and then pick worthy apprentices from that class."
Guy nodded and then looked at Madeline and said, "I concur."
Madeline smiled and said, "I as well."
Alicia the asked, "I believe that we should make some changes to the Academy if we are to go this route. First of all the name of the school should be changed, and then I believe that we should have a school uniform."
Everyone nodded in agreement and then First Mage Diggory said, "Then we are in agreement. Fourth Mage Olivier will acquire the Academy."
*****
In the King's palace of Pays Des Abrutis the various ministers were in an uproar, "They can't pick and choose how and when to act, they are our Council of Magic!" A fat minister hollered.
Duke Harcourt sat back in his chair and then said, "Minister, do you wish to see this palace destroyed by offending them?"
Another minister blurted out, "Our Academy trained those brats and paid for their little group to learn magic in the first place! They owe us their loyalty!"
The King laughed softly and then said, "It was I who asked them to remain free of the Kingdom, which is why I asked that each of them give up on their claim to inheritance with their families."
Duke Taillefer stood up looking flustered, "Even the Crown Prince?"
The King nodded and said, "Even Prince Olivier."
Duke Aumont said in his deep voice, "I believe that a Council of Magic that is free of royal influence is what is best for our kingdom and the rest of the world. We can't see the future, but keeping an alliance with the Council is a wise decision, because none of us here wants to see a future where a King has the Council use its power on one of our families for some random insult or slight."
The three other Dukes nodded in agreement. Duke Montfort spoke out next, "The current Council would be heavily biased in favor of my family and Duke Aumont's family for instance, would you accept a King in prince Olivier who was also on the Council, Ministers?"
They all sat back down and kept quiet.
*****
First Mage Diggory frowned and then growled in a scolding tone, "The next time you stab your fiancé, I am not giving him a potion." He turned and stared directly at Guy, "And you, next time you want to dress up a member of the Council in a skimpy outfit for your own amusement, make sure I am there first!"
Madeline looked guilty at first and then scowled at Diggory, she blurted out, "Perverts!"
First Mage Diggory raised a finger high in the air and said, "It's for my research young lady, research!"
While Madeline's attention was on Diggory, Guy quietly slipped away.
*****
Olivier, Claude and Alicia were on one of the lower floors looking through the spell books for a useful spell when Claude asked, "The words written in the books look like gibberish, how do you read them?"
Olivier and Alicia looked at each other and said, "Guy showed us the key words to look for so now when you look at the gibberish, we see how the spell works, it's almost like learning a new language. Then when we use the spell, we memorize the gibberish and use the keyword to activate it."
Claude scratched his head and said, "Guy was right, I am too stupid to learn magic. I haven't ever been able to memorize poems for instance. I can read them just fine, but memorizing things has always been too hard for me, its why my grades are so low. The funny thing is that I can easily memorize sword stances and styles, because I use my body."
A page came running up to the Tower of Magic, he rang the bell by the huge doors. Claude who was near the door, walked over and opened the viewing window and asked, "State your business for the Council of Magic."
The young page who was out of breath choked out, "M'lord, I've come looking for Lord Rouvroy, I have urgent news from his father, the Count!"
Claude quickly opened the door and ushered him inside, "I am Lord Rouvroy, what news do you bring?" He showed his ring with the seal of Rouvroy.
The page dropped to a knee and spoke out, "M'lord, Rouvroy keep is under siege by forces from El Pais De Lotharios, Count Rouvroy said to tell you it is an army twice the size of the last siege, also he said to report how long I took to reach you. M'lord, I was delayed by the guards at the gate, it has been three days."
Claude turned pale and then ran over to Olivier who said, "I heard him, I'll grab the others. The five of us will be enough."
Claude looked doubtful, "Shouldn't we ask for assistance from the Dukes?"
Olivier chuckled and said, "Claude, allow us to show you the true power of the Council of Magic." He grinned.
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