given to someone else and they are ineligible to re-enroll. They can somewhere else, but not here.”
The large auditorium went completely quiet. A fly farting could have been heard, it was so quiet.
“You can’t think to enforce that, Edelman,” a woman argued.
“We can if we stand together,” he replied. “Say a senior gets kicked out of here. Our programs are on the same track and line up well. What if a senior from the next-ranked school takes that place?”
“You’re serious,” someone whispered.
“As a heart attack,” I purred. “If your top student got a shot here, it wouldn’t be the parents against the school, but the parents against parents. You think they won’t fight for their kid to get that spot and push back on the current system?”
“That takes power away from elites—somewhat—but you said councils too. How would you do that?” a voice from the back asked.
“What is the one threat all the supe students worry about the most?” I gave them a few moments to think about that, seeing from the glances there could be a few options. “Not graduating and getting their conduit so they can use magic as needed, not simply what their species can.”
“The councils are crystal clear that those without a completed education cannot have them. You will never get them to budge on that,” the person agued.
“Who said I was going to?” I smirked out at them. “Does it say they have to get the education at designated ages? I didn’t read that. Who’s to say it can’t be done later in life like the humans have programs for adults out in the real world?”
“You know that’s not the intent of the councils laws,” that first guy snapped.
I crossed my arms over my chest and stared him down. “So what? Does that make it right? The councils don’t protect you, they control you. You’re either with them, or you can’t have your conduit, and you’re an outcast. Or you’re with the Underground or a sympathizer. It’s insane there aren’t normal options.
“You—and maybe those who came before you—gave them too much power by not pushing back. I get it; it wasn’t over night. But that’s where we’re at, and it’s time to stop letting them control you, and your lives, because they are getting worse. Everyone here has seen how councils have lost their minds because I’m staying undeclared.
“Or they’re outlandish in how they’re treating me because they don’t think they have to fight a council or get backlash for what they do to me. It’s brought their corruption right to the surface and shown who they are in unflattering lights. And most of them are completely unapologetic in it, ignoring evidence we’ve submitted of corruption and horrible crimes.
“They aren’t a council of elders, but tyrants and puppeteers, and they plan to continue it or worse.” I smiled when there was a loud—but muffled noise—most of the people flinching. “And if I needed to prove my point, we have uninvited guests.”
“What are you talking about?” Edelman demanded.
“You set spy traps, didn’t you?” White asked, looking like she might throttle me when I smiled. “Any member of any council may step onto any campus at anytime they want and—”
“That’s true, but their aides and employees have to check in with security and schedule an appointment to meet with the headmaster,” I cut in with a bright smile. “I don’t think any of the headmasters have other meetings for right now, and those sorts of guests would have security alerting the headmaster they were here.” I glanced at Edelman. “Has your phone rang?”
He pulled it out of his pocket and shook his head. “No, and the portals at the student union and faculty lounge are both locked, given we’re all here.” He gave me a long stare. “How did you specify traps for that?”
“Trade secret.” I shrugged at the shocked looks and upset murmurs. “I went through a lot of old books, grimoires, and journals to put those together. And put a lot of power into them. I’m not handing the answers over to anyone as I keep needing to use them.”
Edelman immediately understood what I was saying and backed off. “Who did you catch?”
“I have no idea, but they’re council stooges, since I specified persons who were here against the rules. The council members can always come on campus, so it’s not them.”
“Smart, very smart,” the nice guy praised. “How would you set up this continuing education program?”
“The point of this meeting is to discuss that,