Guardians Of The Arcane Chronicles

Chapter 4: Injustice

The sound of pages shuffling filled the air as soberly dressed magis murmured under hushed breaths, hastily flipping their documents. 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." Vice President Alcaeus Vulcan stood up. "What you are proposing will render our meta population disadvantaged for at least twenty more years. The meta employment rate is already at an all time low. If we carry on with the current system, our economy will plummet beyond recovery."

"Warlock Vulcan has the right of it," another cabinet member said. "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'; 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."

"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 gestured 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 Angelo is at the top of it. Take him 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.

"Will this be enough? It all seems too easy," Vulcan muttered to himself. He looked at the image again. "His ability is... 'Physical Augmentation'? What does that mean?"

"I assure you, Alcaeus, this is anything but easy," Benedictus said. "This man's ability allows him to match the speed of our quickest airships, and shatter our most protected buildings with a single blow. It will take thorough planning and the full might of our most elite magi to take him down. Titus Angelo has a kill count up into the hundreds, but I believe you are up to the task, Alcaeus."