Chapter 144 - The Council Meeting (2)

"We have always had these concerns Isidorus; that is why we have put forth so many pure bloods for the crown," said Mihr. "If you ask me, I don't think the crown will accept a half blood. Her mother was a wayward one. Otherwise, we would have gotten a pure bloodline." 

Adrianna had been listening in on the entire conversation. Even though she had never met her mother, she became furious when she heard the man slander her mother's name. "Before you all say anything, remember I have the best of both bloodlines running through my veins - making me twice as powerful! Do not speak ill of my mother!" 

"Oh really! This twit dares to challenge me now?" mocked Mihr. 

Adrianna looked at Mihr and found him extremely strange. Was he filled with jealousy or was he simply angry? "I have no interest in challenging anyone." 

"Of course you can't challenge wizards as experienced as us!" replied Mihr. 

Adrianna looked at Isidorus and then sighed. 

"Isidorus, if you want to crown Adrianna as our queen, she needs to first prove to us that she is capable of being our queen. Does she know any spells? Our children have been taught spells starting from their first day at school. By the time they reach her current age, they are already extremely powerful. Do you think she can stand a chance against them?" spoke another witch who was sitting right next to Mihr. 

"I may not know the spells, but-" Adrianna was about to say that she could do whatever she liked by just thinking about it, but she was cut off by Isidorus. 

"So are you all suggesting that she should join the wizard academy and learn spells?" asked Isidorus. He knew that if didn't propose this plan, the jealous council members would try to oust her. While some simply did not want her, there were some who genuinely simply wanted to see her skill and were concerned about the fact that she didn't know any spells. By throwing this idea towards the council members, he would be able to buy time for Adrianna. 

If she were to stay in the wizard academy, she would be able to understand the ways of the wizard world and form friends. 

The witch who had been acerbic about Adrianna's accession to the throne was satisfied with this idea. She was Lia, Shira's older sister. When Shira had been crowned, Lia hadn't even been asked about it. Her jealousy had only grown multifold over the years. Ever since Shira's disappearance, Lia had tried to stake her claim to the throne; however, Isidorus had not allowed her. Lia's husband wasn't a council member, but he was an extremely influential businessman living on the second level. They had a son and a daughter. Lia's son was a young boy at the age of twenty-one and Lia had been aggressively campaigning for him to be the next king of the wizard kingdom. Because he was an intelligent boy, Isidorus could only keep quiet about Lia's efforts because he was in favor of finding the right heir of the crown, which was Shira's child. Lia's daughter was in her last year of the wizard academy and was a year younger than Adrianna. 

"Yes, I think it would be best if Adrianna joins the wizard academy," said Lia, resting back against her chair. Although she had never liked Mihr who was Cy's loyal, she knew that he didn't want Adrianna to be the queen and that shared purpose brought them closer. They had a deal that in the case where Lia's son does become the king, Mihr would be given the position of the military general. 

"Even if Adrianna joins the wizard academy, do you think she will be able to learn spells that fast? There is a lot more than just spells. There are other subjects that she should know about. It takes a lot of time! For how long will she stay in the academy?" spoke another wizard, furious at Isidorus's suggestion. 

Isidorus glared at him and said, "Let Adrianna join the academy for a month. She will be taught only what she needs. I will personally chart out a course for her. During that one month, she will be given vigorous training as a witch. After one month, you can all test her as much as you like before we proceed with the crowing."

Lia started laughing. "Just a month? Isidorus, a month is nothing! She should be there for at least a year. Do you think that we have spent so many years in that academy just to be beaten by some half-witch? Is this some sort of joke that you are playing on us?" 

Isidorus looked at Lia with knitted brows. He gave her a cold stare and the temperature of the hall suddenly dropped. The entire hall was engulfed in mist. The council could sense how cold Isidorus was being towards Lia. They all became quiet and Lia shivered a bit; she was afraid of Isidorus. 

"Do I look like I am joking Lia?" asked Isidorus looking straight into her eyes. 

She gasped and shook her head slightly. 

Isidorus banged his fist on the table and shouted, "So, it is decided that Adrianna will join the academy for a month. After that month, the crowing will take place." 

Adrianna bit her lower lip. Softly, she asked Isidorus, "What about college? I have already missed a lot of classes..." 

Isidorus gave her a warning look to shut down and dismissed the meeting.