Chapter 4 Thou Shalt Not Betray Thy Father #2
In true Pride fashion, or more accurately, my father's fashion, we are the last to arrive.
The council is used to that now. My father opens the intricately carved double wooden doors to the courtroom, striding in with an air of arrogance.
Not looking at anyone in particular—no, that's my job.
His job is to remind everyone that they are so far beneath him, he doesn't need to acknowledge their presence.
It has been a very long time since I have seen the councilors all together.
I sit on one of the middle benches facing their raised dais.
They occupy a lengthy, semi-circular desk overlooking the courtroom.
My father takes his seat in the center, and they say terse hellos and brief each other on new faction developments.
Although none of it is truly new, as they all have Envy spies to keep them updated, each councilor will only discuss what they know the others are already aware of.
A door opens towards the front of the room, and Dean Bellows walks in, followed closely by a familiar red head. Arwen….
Disappointment and something close to rage flood me. So, it is her.
She purposely deceived me, lied to me. My pride nature has me seething that someone would fool me like that, especially a commoner from a lesser faction.
Maybe she knew who I was the whole time?
What was her endgame? Did she think she could use her looks and shy glances to get me to put a word in with my father?
I can feel myself scowling in her direction, but she hasn't noticed me yet. She is standing at the front of the room, looking around the raised dais with her head held high and portraying a fake air of confidence just like I told her to, but I can see her hands trembling.
The tug in my sternum returns faintly, like it wants me to move closer to the front of the room. I can't afford to think about that right now; I need to use all my attention to observe for my father.
"Councilors," Dean Bellows says with a respectful nod. Despite not being a councilor herself, Dean Bellows commands all their eyes and respect. She is powerful, respected, and well-known among all the factions. Arwen takes a seat in the lone chair facing the raised dais.
"I'm sure you all know why we are here, but for the sake of transparency, I will repeat the basics.
Following tradition in Wrath for academy entrance, they tested Miss Davies's power level yesterday.
She has not manifested a sin, despite being over the age of 20.
Miss Davies' power level was tested multiple times by different machines.
I myself tested her with no one else in the room.
Each time, her power level came back the same: 100%. "
100%?! My eyes go wide, and my father risks a quick glance at me.
He left that vital part out of his little story on purpose.
Her power level is incredibly higher than his, and he would never mention or acknowledge anyone, especially a commoner with no known ties to Pride, of having anything more than he does.
Not a soul in Vail has tested that high.
Even in past generations, when power levels were higher, was there ever a citizen with 100% power?
100%... That would mean an endless well of power.
No need to recharge and the ability to go as big and as far as you want to, but quite useless without a manifested sin.
I understand now why my father seemed so passionate about some common girl attending the academy.
It's not normally something he would give attention to, but if this girl manifests a sin, she could be dangerous.
A direct power against him or a useful alliance for one of his adversaries.
No… it's much better for him if this girl goes away quickly and quietly.
"Are we sure the girl isn't lying? How do we know she hasn't manifested a sin?" Councilor Blaise asks. As leader of the Greed faction, the second most powerful faction in Vail and Pride's biggest enemy, it makes sense for him to question. He has the same concerns as my father, no doubt.
"Why would I lie?!" Arwen speaks up angrily to Councilor Blaise, speaking out of turn. Dean Bellows gives her a stern look, and she huffs, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. Yeah, this girl is a spitfire. Definitely a wrath trait. How did I miss that before?
"Miss Davies' accounts have been validated through the residents of her city and the teachers at her school.
She has no manifested sin powers," Bellows responds.
Councilor Blaise raises an eyebrow in speculation.
He wouldn't dare challenge Dean Bellows in front of the other councilors, but he is no doubt questioning her account in his mind.
"I believe, as does Igor…" Dean Bellows continues, gesturing towards Councilor Drow the Wrath's leader, "that we should allow Miss Davies to attend SinVail Academy to continue her education."
"And do what?" my father questions. "She has no sin to practice. This would be a waste of time and resources that could go towards students who will actually contribute to Vail in the future."
"Augustus, you know as well as I that sin practice is not all we teach at the academy.
It is my belief that in this academic setting, under the direction of our staff, Miss Davies' sin could manifest. If that happens, there is no doubt that she would be a productive member of Vail society at her power level. "
Dean Bellows drones on, like she is teaching a student material they should already know.
My father is clearly fuming at her casual use of his first name. His dark eyes look like they could sprout lasers at any second.
"And if she doesn't?" He responds in a scathing tone.
"I will not condone wasting valuable resources for four years.
The academy is a significant drain on our funds and materials, but it is worth it for the select few who will be leading this country.
We can't allow the common rabble to go running amok in your prestigious institution. "
"I hate to say it, Dean Bellows, but Councilor Willshire could be right," Councilor West of Gluttony replies lazily as he sits back in his chair and spins a pen on the desk. "It sets a precedent. We have kept academy entry strict for a reason."
He would agree with my father. My father considers Councilor West, leader of the Gluttony faction and a mafia boss, to be his top ally outside of our Pride faction.
"Then I put forward a proposal," Dean Bellows responds.
"A compromise. Miss Davies will be allowed to attend SinVail Academy for her freshman year, during which she can work towards manifesting her sin.
If her sin does not manifest by the end of her freshman year, she will not continue at the academy.
I think this is a fair compromise given the anomaly of the situation and her vast potential should she develop a sin. I put it to a vote."
Father glances quickly at me again. I know what he expects me to do. It's clear he and Councilor West will vote no. Councilor Drow will vote yes.
That leaves four Councilors with unknown votes. I wish they had continued to discuss so I could get a read on the other Councilors, but truth be told, hardly anyone gets a word in when my father and Councilor Blaise are in the room.
"Motion accepted," Councilor Drow starts the vote.
"Motion denied," my father barks, tossing a glare at Councilor Drow.
"Motion denied," Councilor West is quick to follow and prove his loyalty to my father. I swear that man has his tongue so far up my father's ass, he can taste his breakfast. It's pathetic.
"Motion accepted," Councilor Baylen of Lust pipes up. I'm not sure what's going on there... she might need Igor's soldiers. Her territory is close to a known large outcast group of forbidden magic users. This will probably earn her a favor.
"Motion accepted," Councilor Leopold, leader of Sloth, murmurs.
I should have seen that coming. Councilor Leopold holds the least amount of power because of the dissent and division in Slot.
Sloth faction is divided into those who choose a scholarly path and those who rebel by dabbling in forbidden magic.
Only those with the sloth sin can practice forbidden magic, and it was clear long ago that they could never hold a position of power, or Vail would perish entirely.
Councilor Leopold leads those in Sloth who devote themselves to the study of our world and its magic, most of whom teach at the academy itself. It makes sense that he has strong ties to the Dean and would vote her way.
"Motion denied," says Speaker Villanox, Envy Faction.
Maylo Villanox is the only one on the dais who is not a Councilor.
He is my age and speaks for the Councilor of Envy.
No one has seen the Envy Councilor in decades.
He prefers to live his life in secrecy, ruling from afar through a few respectable speakers.
Every faction needs the use of Envy's spies, and thus the Councilor gets away with his lack of attendance on council matters.
No one knows how powerful the Envy Councilor is, but he never stirs up trouble like the rest of the faction leaders, so he is left to his own devices.
Maylo Villanox is the youngest speaker for Envy in history, a powerful role. He's at the top of the list of those I need to keep a close eye on while at the academy.
That just leaves Councilor Blaise.
It would make sense for Councilor Blaise to vote no and have this motion thrown out, since he questioned her ability along with my father during discussions.
But as I slip into his mind, I can tell he is conflicted.
That's likely why his mental shields are so weak right now.
Working quickly, I try to make sense of the churning thoughts and flashes that are happening.
I can't read someone's mind, but I can get a sense of what they are going to do and manipulate aspects to compel their choices. I see the same fear I recognize in my father, but there is also… intrigue?
No, not intrigue. A hunger.
A glimpse of manipulation. A glimpse of control. A glimpse of power.
He thinks he could have a powerful ally in Arwen. Maybe even one he could control fully. Someone he could control with enough power to rival my father for dominance. I can tell that he is leaning toward approving the motion.
It's time to get to work. I need to maneuver his thoughts and ideas to compel him to vote no.
I take a second and look towards Arwen. She still hasn't seen me, and I can only see the back of her head, but my tug is growing stronger, as if it wants me to go to her.
She has her hair pulled over her shoulder, and I gaze down the delicious line of her neck.
I watch her little muscular shoulders rise and fall as she pants. She is truly entrancing.
I refocus on the task at hand.
His ideas and thoughts are within my grasp now. I just need to manipulate them enough to convince him this is not going to end well. One little shift and it will be done. I will make my father proud. Maybe he will finally see that I am worthy of his legacy.
So why haven't I done it yet? What is stopping me? The seconds tick by in slow motion.
"Motion accepted." Councilor Blaise finally speaks as he drops his gavel. The motion passes in a 4 to 3 vote.
It's done. The motion has passed, and Arwen will attend SinVail Academy. I have failed my father, and there is nothing I can do now.
"Fine," my father barks, displeased. "But if Miss Davies does not manifest a sin by the end of the year, she will not only be forced to leave the academy but also exiled from Vail itself, with no additional resources other than the clothes on her back.
I will not continue to waste any resources on a sinless individual, regardless of whether she is in the academy. "
My father bangs the gavel again. No one will argue with him when the vote was so close that she could even attend.
He swiftly rises from his seat and walks down the center of the courtroom, through the benches, and out the door without looking at anyone. Without looking at me. His disappointment in me rings clear.
I will just tell him I couldn’t get past Councilor Blaise's mental shields.
I'm sure that is what he thinks anyway, and there should be no way to prove me wrong.
Which is good, because I'm pretty sure if my father ever found out that I betrayed an order, that he couldn't trust me, he would kill me himself.