The Arcane Guardians Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Injustice

Read chapter 5 of The Arcane Guardians by Mercynarie on NovelPedia.

The sound of pages shuffling filled the air as soberly dressed Magis murmured under hushed breaths, hastily flipping their documents. The room they were in was equally solemn. Its walls were a boring dark brown, and in its centre stood a single rosewood table long enough to accommodate at least twenty people. In the far corner of the room, a circular clock hung on the wall. It was not unusual to have a parliament meeting at eleven in the evening, but the cabinet members were beginning to think that the day’s exhaustion had gotten to their president. “Mister President, if I may.” Wood scraped against the floor as Vice President Alcaeus Vulcan stood up. “What you are proposing will render our Meta population disadvantaged for at least twenty more years. The Meta unemployment rate is already at an all-time high. If we carry on with the current system, our economy will plummet beyond recovery.” “Warlock Vulcan has the right of it,” another cabinet member added. “We have enough data and experts to confirm that the increase in Meta criminal activity is directly related to their unemployment rate. It is unfortunate that our society has developed in such a way that we do not have much use for their rigid and unique abilities, but we can remedy that by adopting our neighbours’ governance system.” “So what you’re suggesting is that we forcibly collect monthly Arcani from every single household and distribute them equally to everyone, regardless of their contribution?” A wizened, yet healthy-looking Mage clanged his staff on the floor. “Have you not seen the states of the countries that adopt this system? Have you not seen how their ideological weakness only leads to the rampant laziness of their Meta population? Although their Metas also offer labour to help the Magi in turn, the Magi population are still unhappy about having to work for Metas for free.” The surrounding air temperature dropped by a hair. “Members of the parliament, we cannot allow the hostile actions of our minorities to tread on the order we have built over the centuries,” President Cosmo Benedictus continued. “I’m well aware of what the world thinks of us. ‘Rigid’ , ‘Discriminatory’ . These are sweeping statements that only reflect their lack of understanding of our domestic policies. Integrating this new system adapted from them would only mean upsetting our Magi majority. This bill will not be passed.” “And what are we to do with the problem of increasing Meta criminals in our society?” Vulcan raised his voice. “Civil unrest grows increasingly problematic every day. This toxic bubble will explode in our faces if we continue to deny them respite from their unfair working conditions!” “Funny you should ask that, Alcaeus. Isn’t that why you’re in charge of the Elite Guardian Council?” Benedictus said. “To punish and deter future Metas from travelling down the path of crime?” “The Guardian Council is nothing more than a healing salve to a festering wound; it cannot serve as an elixir to the root of our problems. We have a systemic problem, not a social one.” “I have a report here that says the contrary.” Grand Mage Benedictus hit the floor with his staff again, conjuring a large image of a green-haired man. “ That is the root of our problems. His name is Titus Angelo.” He turned to Vulcan. “I believe your team has had a run-in with his sister recently. Our constables have uncovered that this man is behind the serial kidnappings of Metas, turning them rabid with some sort of cursed spellcraft. Most Meta criminals are part of organised crime, and the Angelo Syndicate is at the top of it. Take its leader down, and we may very well have dismantled the entire criminal hierarchy. You know what to do, Warlock Vulcan.” The parliament fell silent, collectively staring at the Guardian Council leader deep in thought. “Taking down the Angelo syndicate… Will this be enough? It all seems too easy,” Vulcan muttered to himself. He looked at the image again. “Titus Angelo’s ability is…