Indeed, human existence is full of surprises, and time and again, naive notions about the world, that "things cannot be any other way," are deliberately shattered by the mocking reality. Less than a week had passed when the harsh and seemingly unshakeable regime of the deranged monarch began to crack and crumble before their very eyes, once again giving way to the return of Levizia, who appeared out of nowhere, like the last ray of light dispelling the already thickening darkness. Fate spared their classmates; the deranged general was relegated to the dustbin of history; the academy buzzed with rumors of the return of their departed comrades; and even the atmosphere seemed cleaner and brighter, as if the fantastic, villainous mechanisms that had been poisoning the emotional atmosphere over the entire school had suddenly stopped working.
From comedy to thriller, then to drama, and finally to detective – Nira had never witnessed such a mixture of improvised genres in any performance, and the adrenaline rush of conscious reality only added more vivid colors to this show. However, solving puzzles at a friendly gathering is one thing, but when your future and career depend on it, it's quite another. Fortunately, the atmosphere of the following days did not encourage friendly get-togethers, and the girl could calmly devote herself to her own reflections, without any need to explain her pensive appearance: after all, who looked cheerful now?
But the more questions she asked, the fewer logical answers she could find. If the rumors circulating in the air were true, then none of their comrades had actually ever left Alma; this could also apply to the teaching staff. And if the elderly ruler of Sakuramoria was really behind all this, why did he suddenly decide to retreat in his intentions? After the circus he staged during the elections, it became clear that the opinion of a couple of dozen test subjects meant absolutely nothing to him, but what then explains the exile of Duncan? Perhaps the general was behind it all, overstepping the bounds of his own authority? But why then was he not stopped all this time by Levizia, or anyone else among the teachers?
Looking once more at the notebook page, covered with vague notes of her own investigation, Nira shook her head unconvincingly:
Title
...Thus, it turned out that Futaba was actually a powerful dark sorceress, who had enchanted the poor old king and seized half the country. Simply a brilliant deduction, Nira!
Crossing out the entire page, the girl tore the notebook sheet, ripped it into small pieces, and threw it in the trash can. Be that as it may, both state factions currently presented a pathetic sight: it would be a shame if any of their friendly neighbors guessed the true state of affairs in the country. The defeated king, whose dark shadow still loomed over the entire academy through the re-fitter-curator sent to their class to guard the newly appointed queen. The peace-loving Levizia, who had lost all her supporters and looked no less broken by the events of the past month. A crowd of spineless sycophants among the teachers, ready to bow to the strongest. Futaba and Alidum – two mysteries shrouded in darkness.
The first faction was held together only by the frail shoulders of the elderly monarch. With his departure, the young queen would not be able to hold the throne, neither the state nor even the academic one. The second faction looked no more attractive: to sell out to demons and foreign interventionists, and it seems that Levizia herself has resigned herself to her fate and abandoned her claims to power. Perhaps her first impression of the royal granddaughter was correct after all?
Putting the notebook aside, Nira took out a familiar Avaritan tome from her bag and opened it to the marked page. "Money should not lie idle," both her father at home and the scholarly priestesses on the pages of the book told her in unison. "Capital must be invested in power and support, before those who already have it take it away." But nowhere could she find advice on how to choose a side from two projects with equally high financial risks. Even if she had a hundred, or even a hundred thousand reiks, the choice would not become any easier. To try to ally with everyone or to remain inactive in the hope of a better outcome – both remaining paths would only postpone the inevitable.
All that remained was to hope that the fickle winds of the past few weeks would not subside in the hot August days and that the best of the goddesses would soon send a long-awaited sign to her faithful servant.
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Ple-Sen