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The meeting chamber of the student council was lit by low lamps. The air was still, heavy with the weight of unspoken decisions. Most of the seats were already filled when Damien entered. His posture was calm, his expression unreadable, and his eyes swept across the room once before he sat in his usual chair at the head of the table.

Thora was already waiting, arms folded tightly across her chest. The disciplinary head never wasted time with pleasantries, and tonight was no exception. Her jaw was set, her sharp eyes cutting across the room with a mix of impatience and irritation. Harley Sapphire sat a few chairs away, her hands folded neatly on the table, her expression as calm and composed as always.

The others sat silently, watching.

Damien broke the quiet. "We begin. Tonight's session will address the ongoing matter regarding Amelia."

The tension in the room spiked instantly. A few shifted in their seats, but no one interrupted.

Thora leaned forward, her voice sharp. "We've delayed long enough. The rumors have spread across every year, even reaching the second-years. The academy's reputation is already suffering. If we fail to act now, it will only worsen."

Damien didn't flinch. His voice remained steady. "You are asking for action without proof."

Her eyes narrowed. "Proof? The testimonies are everywhere. Students talk openly in the hallways. The issue isn't lack of evidence, it's whether we're willing to acknowledge it."

"That is not proof," Damien said flatly.

One of the members shifted, glancing nervously between them. Another cleared his throat quietly but kept his opinion to himself.

Thora didn't back down. "Our duty is to protect the academy. Waiting for some perfect evidence while rumors spread unchecked is negligence. Discipline requires firmness. She should be summoned formally and questioned under council authority. If she resists, that alone proves guilt."

Damien's gaze sharpened. "And if she is innocent?"

The room fell silent for a moment. The question hung heavy.

Thora scoffed. "Then she can defend herself. But right now, perception matters more than her feelings. Parents will hear of this. Noble houses will hear of this. Do you expect them to believe we stood idle while whispers of misconduct infected the academy halls?"

Damien's expression didn't change. "Perception matters, yes. But destroying the credibility of a staff member without clear justification is reckless. What you call firmness, I call haste. I will not allow this council to be reduced to a mob chasing shadows."

The clash of their voices echoed through the chamber.

Harley finally spoke, her tone softer but precise. "Both of you are correct in parts. The situation has grown far too loud to ignore, but Damien is right — we cannot afford to act blindly. The noble houses are already watching us. A rash decision could fracture their trust more than rumors ever will."

Thora turned toward her, frowning. "So your solution is what? Another week of silence while the academy becomes a circus?"

Harley shook her head. "No. We must be seen as engaged. That means gathering controlled testimony. Summon those closest to her, not Amelia herself. Make the process orderly. Show that we are taking steps without prematurely condemning her."

A murmur spread around the table. The idea carried weight.

Damien tapped his finger lightly on the table, a rhythm of thought. "You propose interviews."

"Yes," Harley replied. "Start with representatives of the noble houses, then extend to key student groups. If we are to move, it must be with balance. We must appear neither blind nor bloodthirsty."

Thora gave a sharp laugh. "So another delay."

"No," Harley said, her eyes firm. "A structured path. You mistake deliberation for weakness."

Damien looked at Harley for a long moment, then nodded faintly. "Better than summoning Amelia prematurely. If she is guilty, proper testimony will lead us there. If she is not, restraint will protect us."

The others shifted again, visibly relieved that the clash had eased slightly.

Thora, however, remained unsatisfied. She leaned closer, her voice low but cutting. "Mark my words, Damien. Every day we wait, the academy loses more respect. You care too much about rules, not enough about results."

Damien finally met her stare directly. "And you care too much about punishment, not enough about justice."

The room froze under the weight of his words.

For several long seconds, neither moved. Then Harley interjected gently. "We vote, then. That is why we sit at this table. Discussion has its place, but so does decision."

Reluctantly, Thora leaned back, though her glare didn't fade. Damien's expression remained neutral.

The vote was brief. When it concluded, the majority sided with Harley's suggestion: interviews first, action against Amelia postponed until a clearer case was established.

Damien spoke once more, his tone final. "It is settled. Formal action will not proceed until we have gathered testimonies. Letters will be drafted. Names will be chosen. And until then, Amelia remains under observation, not accusation."

Thora's lips pressed into a thin line. Her eyes burned with silent frustration, but she didn't speak again.

Harley exhaled quietly, smoothing the sleeve of her uniform.

The rest of the council nodded, some with relief, others with lingering unease.

The meeting adjourned, but the division in the room remained clear.

As Damien left, the sound of Thora's chair scraping back echoed harshly against the chamber floor.

****

When he stepped into the quiet corridor, Damien's expression was unreadable once more. The night air filtered in through tall windows, carrying the muffled sounds of distant academy life.

He knew the matter was far from over.

The council had delayed, but Thora's pressure would not disappear. And outside these walls, the rumors only grew stronger.

For now, though, Amelia had been spared.

And Damien had no intention of letting haste destroy what little order remained.

Author's Note

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