Chapter 385 – Atlantis City Council
When morning came, they ate breakfast as a family before Damion headed off to find who was in charge while Mage Teft was away. He was not sure who it would be, Mage Fletcher, Chaparro, Strand, Levine? Or would Mage Thresbane be the one in charge? He was the strongest.
While he was heading into the Avalon school complex, he could not help but compare it to Silver Spire and wonder how it compared to the other two magic schools. Avalon was new, there were no scuffed floors or blast marks from errant spells in classrooms. But what struck Damion most of all was its emptiness. They had yet to accept their first class of students and if they kept with the tradition of accepting only students at the beginning of the year for a new school term, it would be a few more months before any classes began. That, he supposed, would be the deadline to make sure everything in the city was running smoothly.
Since the school was technically the owner of the labyrinth and thus in charge of the operations of the city as well as the school, the council chamber for the Atlantis City Council was in the central tower of Avalon. When Damion finally reached his destination, which took longer than he expected due to not being able to fly straight there as he had become accustomed to in the wild and in Realm Breaches, he found not a deserted room, but a room filled with people.
“Mage Wells,” Ingrid Fletcher, the S Rank Spatial mage greeted him as he arrived. “It is delightful to see you. Have you decided to help us break the tie?”
“Break the tie?” Damion asked, seeking clarification.
As he looked around the room, he quickly began to piece together what was happening. The four S Rank mages of the city, aside from Mage Teft and Mage Thresbane, who was SS Rank, where sitting at the council table and there were two groups of people at the partitioners table, which was setup opposite the arc in the table, so all the council members could be easily seen and addressed by the partitioners.
“Yes, unfortunately, since Mage Teft has gone into the labyrinth to selflessly scout ahead for the rest of us when it is our turn to venture in, we are left at a deadlock.”
“I don’t understand, why would you need me to break a deadlock? Wouldn’t Mage Thresbane be a more appropriate choice?”
“Mage Thresbane has elected to be excluded from the City Council. As he put it, ‘the Protectorate does not govern, they protect.’ He has, however, graciously accepted responsibility over the Justiciar Order branches being set up in the city and the Crimson Order branch. Which leads us back to you. While you may not be aware, since you are the co-founder of Atlantis and Avalon, as well as the discoverer and owner of the labyrinth, you have a seat on the City Council.”
“I do?” Damion did not recall it ever being mentioned that he had a seat on the council.
“Yes. Mage Teft no doubt forgot to mention it to you. On most issues the four of us are able to come to an easy agreement and settle the issue. However, since we are an even number, it is impossible to come to an agreement on this issue. Hence, you will be the deciding vote.”
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Hearing that he was a member of a city council when he was only B Rank made him swell with pride for a moment, before remembering that all the time he would spend on the council would be time not spent training. Still, since he was a council member and they needed a decision made, he would step up to his responsibilities. He just hoped he would not make a blunder. Walking over, he began to sit in one of the end chairs of the council, but Mage Strand stopped him.
“Take the head seat. You might be young, but you have earned the right.”
After Damion took his place at the center of the curved table and looked out at the two groups before him he turned to Mage Fletcher to see what he should do next. Thankfully, she helped things along.
“Since you have just arrived, let us summarize the issue before us. While we have agreed to accept the Justiciar Order, to administer justice fairly and the Crimson Order, to manage those convicted of crimes. We are at an impasse about accepting a branch of the Mage Association into our city.”
“It is my understanding that we are in negotiations with the Adventurer Association regarding the setting up of a branch here,” Damion said. “Their purpose I understand. A central group to manage disbursement of missions and even act as a bank and providing identification to people. Being connected to their network across all human controlled Zones is essential. I do not, however, understand the need for the Mage Association to have a branch. If the in-favor party would please present your arguments.”
“Thank you Mage Wells,” a man in the group on the right said, True Sight told Damion he was an A Rank Nature Mage. “I am Raymond Weylin and the representative sent by the Mage Association to petition the council of Atlantis to allow the opening of a Mage Association branch in your fair city.
“The Mage Association helps to keep mages in line as well as provides a Repository of magic seals accessible to members. While it is true that every mage is considered a member, earning the right to access the Repository is reserved for those that actively assist the Mage Association with tasks. Only by allowing a branch of the Association in Atlantis would the members here have the opportunity to access the Repository.”
“Are you implying that members of the Mage Association that have relocated here will not be allowed to access your Repository if they travel to another city with an Association branch should we deny your petition?”
“Of course not!” Mage Weylin replied quickly. “Every Association member can access the Repository at any branch.”
“I see. If that is the case, not having a branch office here is not important. The citizens of our city are free to come and go as they please and we can arrange a Portal to send them to another White Zone of their choosing, if not their previous city.”
“I concede your point, Mage Wells. Having a branch in Atlantis would be a convenience, not a necessity.”
“What are your other arguments?”
“I am afraid most of my other arguments will fall into the same category of convenience and not necessity.”
“Such as?” Damion prodded. He was not wholly against the Mage Association having a branch in Atlantis, he was certain that one day they would, just possibly not today.
“Taking and turning in missions. Responded to and receiving assistance in the event of large beast waves.”
“Both of those tasks can be managed by the Adventurer Association. Is there anything else?”
“Just one task. This task is one we normally assign to the magic academies, the testing of children. The Mage Association is against our testing crystals from being dispersed to a city where we do not have a branch. Without the testing crystals, it will be impossible for your school to determine the proper affinity of your students, making it difficult to train them in the ways of magic.”