Chapter 691: Faction Wars

Drax handed the Zphone Tablet back to Clive Morgan.

Clive moved behind Drax as the other Faction Heads left the stage.

The Student Council members who had stepped forward earlier returned to their previous positions, leaving the Faction Heads to rejoin their respective groups.

Below the stage...

The students continued talking among themselves, discussing the candidates whose names had been announced.

Some were already making predictions about the elections, while others waited for Drax to continue.

"With these names listed, before this week ends, all factions who haven’t chosen one representative should round up their elections, because next week will begin the campaigns."

Drax Drakes began explaining.

"The election to pick the General Representative of each Year will be held the week after next. As for the Student Council positions that will become vacant because we Third Years are graduating this semester, the candidates for the spots have already been chosen from each faction, and their names will be presented at the end of this month. The elections will start in the second week of the second month. So, good luck to all factions."

He spoke straightforwardly, laying out the schedule without making the announcement more complicated than it needed to be.

His words reached the students gathered across the assembly grounds, and those who had been talking quietly turned their attention back towards the stage.

The schedule gave them plenty to think about.

The factions that had yet to settle on their representatives had only a few days left to complete their elections.

After that, the campaigns would begin, bringing the candidates into the spotlight before the students eventually chose their General Representatives.

The Student Council elections would follow later, with candidates from the different factions competing for the positions that the graduating Third Years would leave behind.

"Enjoy your semester."

Drax finished speaking, then turned and left the stage.

The other Student Council members followed behind him.

A few exchanged brief words as they left, while others simply continued towards the exits.

Their departure marked the end of the assembly, and the students who had been waiting for the announcements were finally free to return to their own business.

With the Student Council members leaving, the volume of the quiet discussions increased.

"It’s starting."

A Third-Year student said excitedly.

"This is why I always love Second Semesters."

Another student agreed, his excitement evident from the way he spoke.

He seemed far more interested in the coming competition than in the formal announcements that had just ended.

"But with the number of names, this semester will be quite dangerous, don’t you think?"

The Third-Year student standing with the group looked towards the stage, his earlier excitement giving way to caution.

The number of candidates had caught his attention, and he seemed to understand that the elections would involve more than simply choosing the most popular students.

"At least we Third Years just have to focus on ourselves. Plus, we who are just background characters have nothing to do with the heavy politics that are about to begin."

"Yeah."

The others gave short replies.

One of them glanced towards the departing Council members before looking back at his friends, while another seemed content to leave the coming trouble to the younger students.

Their position was different from that of the First and Second Years.

With graduation approaching, the Third Years had their own concerns to deal with.

They would soon be leaving the Academy, and the coming struggle for student positions would not affect them in quite the same way.

Not everyone shared their relaxed attitude, however.

A First-Year student looked at his group of friends, confusion apparent on his face.

"What is going on? I know the elections will be super exciting, but why do so many of our upperclassmen look serious and wary?"

He had noticed the difference in their reactions.

While some students were eager to see the elections begin, others spoke as though the coming weeks would bring trouble.

The announcements had sounded straightforward enough, so he couldn’t understand why the older students seemed so concerned.

"Don’t you already understand what is about to begin?"

His friend replied, placing her hands on his shoulder.

She looked at him as if the answer should have been obvious.

Before she could explain further, the words were already spreading through the mouths of other students.

Conversations rose across the assembly grounds as the students began discussing the coming competition.

Those who understood the way the factions operated needed little explanation.

They knew the elections would affect more than the names displayed on a list, and the campaigns would be only the beginning.

For those who had yet to experience such a period at the Academy, however, the situation was harder to understand.

They had heard about the factions and their influence, but there was a difference between knowing that the factions held power and witnessing how that power could affect the lives of the students who belonged to them.

The Second Semester had only just begun, yet the atmosphere was already changing.

At the side where Ezra was...

He was already walking away from the assembly grounds with Cyrus at his side.

The crowd behind them was still busy discussing the announcements.

Some students had begun leaving the grounds, while others remained in their groups, exchanging opinions about the candidates and the positions they would be competing for.

Their voices followed Ezra and Cyrus for a while, gradually becoming less distinct as the two moved farther away.

Lucy was already waiting at the place where the ordered Noble Steam Carriage was parked.

"So, that means you are about to get into many unwanted troubles from now on, My Lady Ezra."

Cyrus said calmly, a teasing smile on his face.

Ezra looked at Cyrus plainly.

"I mean, aren’t you Prince-Two’s favorite enemy?"

Cyrus shrugged, raising his forearms and hands slightly.

His smile widened as he considered the situation, seemingly amused by the thought of the trouble Ezra might face during the coming semester.

"Who knows what kind of scandal he has planned for you this semester?"

He spoke as though the prospect were entertaining.

Given Daniel’s position and the influence he could bring to bear, it wasn’t difficult to imagine that Ezra might have to deal with more than a few troublesome situations.

Cyrus appeared quite happy to point that out, especially since he wasn’t the one being teased about it.

"Says the Lady who already has a beef with Prince-Fifth."

Ezra countered in his usual plain tone.

"Prince-Fifth? That’s actually funny, but damn, I actually forgot."

Cyrus’s scarlet eyes widened in surprise.

The teasing smile on his face faltered as the reminder sank in.

He looked at Ezra, then seemed to reconsider the situation from a different angle.

For a moment, he didn’t say anything.

The thought of his own circumstances had apparently slipped his mind while he was busy making fun of Ezra.

"We both are screwed. Ahhhh."

He sighed tiredly, his shoulders dropping.

The two reached the place where their Steam Vehicle was parked.

Lucy stood nearby, ready to assist Ezra as he approached the carriage.

Cyrus’s earlier amusement had faded, and he no longer looked as though the coming semester would provide him with an endless supply of entertainment.

"Just continue surviving as always."

Ezra said calmly before entering the carriage.

Lucy closed the door behind him, then lowered her head to greet Cyrus.

Cyrus waved lazily in response.

He wasn’t in a joyful mood anymore.

The reminder had brought his thoughts back to Tristin Aethelmont.

Tristin’s power within the Academy had increased now that he had become a First-Year Representative in his faction.

His new position would give him more influence, and it was obvious that he would use that power to come at Cyrus with full force.

Cyrus had been joking about Ezra’s troubles, but the same problem now stood in front of him.

The thought left him with little reason to keep smiling.

He could already imagine how unpleasant things might become once the faction struggles began in earnest.

Now that the...

Faction Wars were beginning.

"Ahhh."

Cyrus sighed again before leaving to board his own arranged ride.

***

The Faction Wars...

As you already know, all students of the Royal Academy needed to belong to a faction if they wanted their lives at the Academy to be peaceful enough for them to grow.

They had to join one faction.

And that was because of the power all the factions held.

They were not merely gatherings of friends or random students who happened to share similar interests.

Each faction brought together Nobles and Non-Nobles who shared similar goals and a common vision for their futures.

Connections would be made.

And protection would be given.

Within a faction, students could build relationships with people who might support them in their studies, ambitions, and future careers.

For those without strong connections of their own, belonging to a faction could offer a measure of protection and access to opportunities they might otherwise struggle to obtain.

Of course, that did not mean every student would enjoy the same benefits.

A faction’s strength depended on its members, their positions, and the influence they could bring together.

The more capable and well-connected its members became, the more power the faction could wield within the Academy.

And with the election period beginning, this was the time for the power and influence of the factions to display their true strength.

The title of General Representative of each Year was one of the most important positions a student could gain.

This was because of the number of Academy Points awarded to the student every month.

But that was not the only benefit.

The student holding the position also gained a direct path to becoming a candidate for Student Council President without needing the faction to gather and choose a candidate first.

Even for other Student Council positions, the student needed a record of leadership, either within the Academy or within their family.

And if the student managed to become a member of the Student Council, the Points they earned every month would be greater than those awarded to the General Representative of each Year.

The difference in rewards alone made the positions worth pursuing.

For students who wanted to rise within the Academy, every point could matter, especially when competing with others who were just as determined to advance.

However, the value of these roles extended beyond the Points they provided.

The influence and reputation that came with the titles were highly valued by people in major industries, companies, and ministries.

A student who held an important position at the Royal Academy could gain recognition long before graduating, allowing them to build connections that might prove useful later in life.

The titles could also help in the battle for an Heir position.

And in the pursuit of other powerful titles outside Academy life.

For Noble students, such achievements could strengthen their standing within their families.

For others, they could serve as proof of their ability to lead and compete with people from influential backgrounds.

Whatever their circumstances, students who hoped to make use of these opportunities had good reason to take the elections seriously.

That was why students who needed these roles and titles had to fight with everything they had to gain the positions.

And it was the factions’ duty to assist them in achieving those goals.

Because the factions would also benefit from their victories.

A successful candidate could bring greater recognition to their faction, while a member who secured an important position could strengthen the faction’s influence within the Academy.

Their success would not belong to them alone.

It would also reflect on the people who had supported them and the faction that had helped them rise.

This was why the Faction Wars were known to be so frightening.

Fights.

Schemes.

And even worse...

Deaths, if hidden well.

The Second Semester of the Royal Academy was truly about to commence.

And it wasn’t going to commence in peace.

Not in the slightest.

***

A few hours passed before Ezra and Lucy finally arrived at their Academy residence in the East Wing.

The Noble Steam Carriage carried them through the Academy grounds before reaching the residence.

By then, the excitement surrounding the assembly had been left behind, and the roads were no longer as crowded as they had been earlier.

The steam carriage continued towards its destination, carrying Ezra and Lucy back to the place where they would be staying for the semester.

Once they arrived, the steam carriage stopped in front of the residence as they unpacked.

"Is that it?!"

Lucy pointed excitedly at the covered vehicle inside the garage of the residence.

She had barely finished looking at it before dropping the luggage she was carrying and running towards the garage.

Her attention was completely drawn to the covered vehicle, and she seemed to have forgotten everything else for the moment.

The sight of it was enough to bring out her excitement.

She had been waiting to see the finished product, and now that it was finally before her, she couldn’t resist getting closer.

"Master."

She turned towards Ezra, her eyes bright with anticipation.

Ezra looked calmly at the covered vehicle.

"Let’s check it out."

He spoke with a hint of interest.

Although his expression remained plain, he was curious to see whether The Eclipse team responsible for working on his customized Royal Phantom Rolls had managed to get everything right.

The vehicle had been made according to his specifications, and he wanted to see how closely the finished product matched what he had requested.

There was no need to hide it beneath a show of excitement.

He simply wanted to inspect the result.

Lucy, on the other hand, was already eager to see what lay beneath the cover.

She had dropped the luggage without a second thought and was standing beside the vehicle, ready to reveal it.

Without wasting any time...

Lucy grabbed the cover and pulled it off.