Po-rat fidgeted as she watched a bunch of old fogies assemble. Just another boring day of watching meetings sitting in the decorative fires they lit up for no reason. At least this one was a high-level meeting. So she had some bruised egos to look forward to.
Though she had volunteered to keep watch on the meetings in this oh-so-important conference hall, she hadn’t expected it to be so boring. Po-rat would rather be back home and trouble her bond at this point.
But no, Ariana had to go run from that horrible husband of hers. Po-rat had always hated him, but Ariana thought that she could bear him. “Well, he’s not exactly bad on the eyes, you know.” she’d told her when they’d gotten married.
Po-rat had rolled her eyes. The man was a brainwashed fool that could not tell a phoenix from a firebird. As a phoenix, Po-rat was particularly offended by that. A mere animal was mistaken for her glorious species? The man had to be punished.
But whatever, the meeting was beginning. The most useless old fogie, the Mage Academy’s Dean began it, “I would like to welcome all of you to this emergency conference to plan the Academy and its affiliate colleges’ response to the System. Now before we begin, are there any complaints with our handling so far?”
Po-rat almost laughed. Had the old idiot finally lost his head? The question was even worse than the one he’d asked last time. And they’d blown up a conference room last time.
“Yes, the College has increased their potions prices, again.” the Mage-Warrior order's idiot began.
“Yes, we’re facing some financial difficulties and felt that increasing the prices-” the College’s Armourer began his cookie-cutter statement, but was cut off by the Mage-Warrior idiot.
“Oh, shut up. The College was in financial ruin the second it decided to float in the air. No, it was when you appointed that idiot with a massive ego. Tell me, where is your Dean? In his dick-shaped tower making strange potions for the banned list again?” the Mage-Warrior idiot sneered.
Po-rat peered closer, this was good. The Academy idiot had caused some good drama for her to enjoy.
The Academy idiot banged his staff, causing the room's fires to dim. Po-rat hid deeper in the fire, she might be powerful, but even she would suffer against this bunch of old fogies if her camouflage failed. Well, just the Academy’s old fogie really. The rest were still too weak.
“The representatives will maintain decorum. The emergency meeting has been called to discuss an unprecedented event in the history of the Empire. Should the representatives be unable to do such a simple thing, then perhaps the Academy will reconsider their affiliation.” the Dean stated.
Po-rat looked at the old man with surprise. Huh, he was pulling out the affiliation card. The System must have irritated him. Or was it something else? Had the young miss been up to something? Po-rat rubbed her beak against the wing as she tried to figure out what her young mistress had been up to.
The last questionable thing she’d done was visit that Fae brat. Po-rat wondered if he knew what he was now; she'd kept what he was secret for a long time, but it was bound to come out eventually. To her phoenix vision he looked like a multi-colored blaze that shone brighter than anything Po-at had seen before. And she’d seen Anita Salazar, the void princess.
Po-rat had wanted to eat the baby-sized ball of energy just to see if she could gain just a little of that energy. But she couldn’t. Not just because there was something wrong with eating babies, but because the Fae would hunt her if she did so.
The number of memories about the Fae among her inherited memories was massive, far more than any other race. The dragons and phoenixes feared the Fae more than any other species, and for good reason. The other races may forget, but they remembered. The Fae Empire was fresh on their minds, and the fact that none of the people that ran it were dead was not lost on them.
But that was enough reminiscing for one day, the old fogies had finally recovered.
"Now, what moves have the affiliate colleges taken to curb the influence of the System." The Dean asked.
"The Order of Mage-Warriors has had to do nothing of that sort yet. In fact, our disciples have increased in power with the System in place. " The Mage-Warrior idiot replied. Po-rat had to suppress a giggle, he’d have to do something if he’d actually allowed any commoners into his Order.
"The Army training camp has had to curb commoner recruits' access to the woods. The officers raised a concern that they might get more powerful than them. The System has allowed commoners and Rebels to gain in power, Dean Farriss, this must not be allowed to stand.” The army General said. Po-rat looked at him, wondering if there was any brain remaining in that head.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“So you’re promoting the weak over the strong? Are you sure you’re able enough to be a General?” the Mage warrior idiot sneered. Po-rat was at the tip of her flames, excited at the new drama.
“Not all of us have an elite placement that caters to only those of noble birth. But if you have any way of curbing the Commoner threat then I am all ears.” The General replied.
“Just be better than them. I managed to do it.” the Mage-Warrior idiot said. Po-rat wondered if he would like to meet the Rebel Queen. The woman would slice him in two as if he was one of Matilda’s cakes. Hmm, Matilda’s cakes, Po-rat should get Ariana to get some when she visited her new bakery.
“The Alchemic College has been forced to increase prices for entrance to our labs. The fallout has not gone well.” The Armorer said.
“Oh? So you’re failing too? Well there’s a shock, the Alchemists cannot handle some commoners.” the Mage-Warrior sneered back.
“The Mage-Warrior representative will keep decorum or he will die. The Mage Academy has also had to levy restrictions on commoner students. The commoners cannot be allowed to rise. Not now when the situation is so delicate.” the Dean said.
“I think we should start giving titles,” the Armorer stated.
“What do you mean?” the Dean said.
“The commoners rising up have proved that they can contribute to the Empire, and that they are better than their counterparts at doing so. Just give them some titles, convert the threat into a resource.” the Armorer proposed. Po-rat’s hackles rose, that was actually a good idea. Not good, if they did that then she wouldn’t get to kill them.
A pity if she couldn’t kill this bunch of xenophobic idiots. Po-rat would like to leave the flames one of these days. The flames were nice and all, but a bird wanted to fly sometimes. Not everyone was a High Fae with enough mana to simply blind any detection devices by existing.
“And pollute our bloodlines. I didn’t expect this even from your lot, but I see you will stop at nothing to save face. Can you not just admit that you’re a useless bunch of weaklings that just want more money?” the Mage-Warrior idiot said.
Po-rat wanted to see if he still had a brain in there. The chances of it being air were high, he still thought commoner’s weren’t a threat despite every other person in this room saying so.
“Is the Academy useless then?” the Dean asked, his tone dangerous.
“I mean, you’re not the one wanting to give titles to some filthy commoners. Do this, and tomorrow they’ll think they can refuse us! The foundation of society is that we, the nobility, are better than them. And this lot”- he pointed at the Armorer- “Will have us bow and scrape to some gutter-born kid that will pollute our bloodlines and reduce our talent.”
“As impassioned as your speech may be-” the Dean began, but was interrupted by the Armorer.
“So this is about my unknown origins again?” the Armorer said.
“Yes, unknown origins,” the Mage warrior idiot snorted, “how do we know you’re not a filthy commoner, huh? Tell me, why is someone with such a disgusting name walking in the streets of the Nobles’ District” the Mage-Warrior said.
“Oh, you don’t. But by your own admission, commoners can’t be more powerful than you, so what do you make of this?” the Armorer said, revealing his aura and pressuring the other old fogies. Or at least trying to. Po-rat would be very disappointed if they had trouble against a Tier 19 aura
“The representatives will keep decorum.” the Dean said, banging his staff. The Armorer ignored him.
“I don’t listen to you, or your little so-called elite band of thugs. Do you think anyone still thinks that you follow that little code of yours? I happen to know enough of your students to tell you that none of them even give a thought to it anymore.
The order has become little more than band of thugs, and the College is no longer interested in helping it. The price for potions has increased by thirty percent.” the Armorer said.
Po-rat wondered if the Mage-Warrior’s idiot was thinking yet, even his air-filled brain had to realize that he was just making things worse.
“I don’t need your little potions anymore you fool, you let filthy commoners have enough power to start selling potions outside of your little College. I am going to buy up that little bakery in the Commoner’s district and get those commoners to make me potions.” the Mage-Warrior idiot sneered.
“The Marchioness’ foster son lives in that bakery.” the Armorer stated, looking at him like he was a fool. Po-rat was on the edge of the fire. Was she finally going to get a chance to kill him?
“And? I do not fear some woman whose only claim to power is money. Do you really think that she would go to war with me over some charity case?” the Mage-Warrior idiot continued his idiocy.
“The representatives will-” the Dean began, but was once more cut off.
“Oh, keep your affiliation. I should have cut you lot off long ago. A bunch of weaklings! I don’t need the Academy anymore! I have the Emperor!” the idiot said leaving the room.
“The College has a five percent discount on fire-resistant potions. The potions might save the life of anyone caught in the vicinity when the Marchioness burns down that Order.” the Armorer offered the other old fogies. Po-rat was already on her way out.
Perhaps killing this guy was what she needed to get to Tier 21, she doubted it, but maybe there was some truth to his boasts of power. A few minutes later, she could only conclude that there wasn’t.