Greyashe chapter 278 is entitled 'Strict rules and regulations. II'.

Previous chapter 277: Strict rules and regulations.

Next chapter: 279: Strict rules and regulations. III

Summaries page.

-Short summary-

Magicans gather as the election begins. Meanwhile Iselia has to make a tough decision, but it won't be without backup.

-Long summary-

Aicha Nightshade makes her way down the lower levels of 'Dover tower', each step deepening a growing sense of intimidation. Her hair is snow white along with her skin. Her once blue eyes are now blazing red, and probably the one sense of comfort that being inside 'Dover tower' brings her is that she's not outside in the sun. Despite the weather being fairly sunny and warm, ever since her transformation of sorts after the events of the Witch war, her body had started becoming more and more sensitive to being outside. Even now she wears a coat to protect her newly sensitive skin from the sun's rays.

If one were to say she was similar to Kani, they'd be right -since she can no longer utilize agape and to a further extent; magic. The doctors had said her situation is rare, but not unique as it had happened to several others...mainly women. Their magic would suddenly disappear, and they would gain an imperviousness to magic attacks. Most of these people would end up dying out of despair, but the few who manage to live all have one thing in common...they had all been very close to death. 

Putting all that aside, Aicha had somehow become a war hero and spurred a worldwide interest in researching agape and magic, so it isn't too strange for her to be invited to the election for the next kaiser mage since the current one had lauded her with high honors, although the young lady wasn't and still isn't sure how to feel about being so popular. For now at least, she would try her best to live up to everyone's expectations despite not having a single idea of what it is she should be doing.

Upon reaching the basement of 'Dover tower', she sees several other magicians getting seated or speaking to each other about various topics. Aicha immediately feels like a fish out of water, and considers leaving before anyone sees her, but before she can Hydon appears behind her and puts his hand on her shoulder. He welcomes Aicha to the election and gestures for her to take a seat with the other magicians. He's still making preparations, and will start in due time. Escape now impossible Aicha slowly makes her way to the seats and looks for a place to be seated. A voice calls out to her and beckons to come up to where it is, and despite herself Aicha does as it asks. She finds the voice belongs to a man wearing a brimmed hat and trench coat with his entire face covered in bandages, giving him the image of a mummy. He remarks that he's seen her on television....the war hero right? Aicha waves her hands defensively, proclaiming that she didn't do anything but survive to the end of the war....she doesn't deserve such praise. The man tells her to be calm and quiet down. She's going to be a part of something important, so she should act as such. Besides if she shows any weakness, the other magicians will eat her alive. She's just a child to them, but Acheron's endorsement of her as a war hero had at least made them wary enough to keep their distance. If she denounces her title publicly, there will be nothing keeping them from pouncing upon her.

Aicha quickly quiets down and nods in understanding. She would have to make a point to stay around this man, since he seems to know so much and doesn't mind telling her....though she wonders what his motives are. Aicha's the kind of straightforward tomboy-ish type of woman that she would just ask what he wants flat out, but settles for his name instead. The  man grins, his mouth the only thing visible under his bandages and introduces himself as Desmond Larter, a magic collector. Aicha recognizes his name, and begins to ask more about him when another man behind her speaks up and tells Larter to drop the innocent act. He just wants a chance to experiment on the girl with the 'agape affliction', right? Aicha turns and looks into the eyes of Alekto the beast tamer.

Iselia turns to Delaney who tips his hat and winks. She glares at him and commands the teenager to stop Willard from killing any more people. He replies in turn for her to denounce her candidacy, and he and his siblings will disappear without harming a hair on her head. Iselia raises her voice, claiming that she can't do that as Acheron was the one person who bothered to look past her hatred to find someone who could be taught and is more than her powerful agape. Delaney gives her a sharp look and shrugs, telling the girl to suit herself as it's not him that's going to lose sleep knowing these people are dying because she won't denounce her candidacy. Iselia has had enough and prepares to dash past Delaney to stop Willard herself, but behind her she can feel a tremendous flare of magic. Aithne has bent over and is in a fighting pose, the 'aura' around her darkening and becoming more sinister. Her voice has lowered an octave, and she dares Iselia to move from where she's standing. Delaney reminds his half-sister that they aren't supposed to actually kill the successor, just keep her from going anywhere until she denounces her candidacy. Although her last comment about their absentee Dad had served to annoy him as well, it would do her better to shelve her emotions. 

Aithne doesn't seem to be listing to her half brother, and remains in a pose that's ready to strike Iselia down. The GMAGY student gauges how fast she might be able to counterattack Aithne if she were to move and allow her to get off one attack. She decides the risk is too high after some thought especially since she doesn't know what kind of magic she uses nor does she have the strength she used to. Another scream permeates into the alley where the three are residing, and racks Iselia from the inside out with guilt. These people are dying because of her selfishness....maybe she should just go ahead and do as they say...

Iselia lowers her head and considers her options...they did say they wouldn't hurt her, and more importantly the police who are simply doing their jobs wouldn't have to suffer any more. All she'd have to do is say the words and then...

Suddenly a familiar voice rings out and commands Iselia to stay quiet. She lifts her head up slowly and before her sees Cayden standing at the mouth of the alleyway. He points at Iselia and tells her to shut up, and then realizing how harsh that sounds, politely changes it to don't speak. He'll take care of the bad guys, and she should keep her sights on becoming the next kaiser mage. Delaney looks truly vexed for the very first time and hopping off his trash can perch asks who Cayden is. The snow user -not without blushing- loudly announces that he is Iselia's boyfriend-to-be, and therefore won't allow them to hurt her. Delaney points out that he didn't intend on hurting her in the first place, to which Cayden amends his statement to 'not hurting her chances of becoming kaiser mage'. Iselia's face is bright red, and she's unsure of whether she'd like Aithne to kill Cayden or allow her the pleasure of doing it herself. Deep down however she's moved to tears that someone would come for her in her time of need, unlike many years before.

Willard stares at Damien and Harrow who stand between him and another law enforcement officer ---or victim. Damien asks Harrow if he has a plan, to which he replies in the negative. Damien smirks and replies that he hates improv, to which Harrow remarks with a smirk of his own that life is improv, so man up or get out. Willard readies a lighting strike which the two boys avoid. Harrow stomps on the ground which causes a mini-quake and stops Willard in his tracks. Damien points out that Willard is channeling his all into his electric strikes, which means both he and Harrow will have to man up or he seriously will kick them out of life itself.

Cayden assures Iselia of his victory, and without thinking she asks how he could possibly know? He suddenly weaves to the side barely avoiding a thorny vine whipping off his neck. The vine strikes the building beside them and leaves a gaping hole.  Cayden whistles and taps his ear thanking a person who doesn't seem to be there. The truth is however, Frieda is looking down upon the alley from a window in the building, her glasses resting on her head, and her farseeing eyes working their magic. Apparently Damien, Harrow and Frieda had caught up to Cayden and convinced him to take their help. Cayden's boast isn't an empty one with a farseer able to telegraph his opponent's moves, and with his element being ice; he has a natural advantage over Aithne's plant based magic. His hands glow ice white and crystals form around them as he proclaims to Iselia that he will ensure that she gets to 'Dover tower' and takes her seat as the rightful heir of the kaiser mage mantle.

Alekto yawns and takes his seat behind Larter and Aicha. He suggests to the young lady to stay away from Larter, since he's probably only trying to be nice to get into her 'genes'. He's always curious about magics and other anomalies, and a girl who can't use or be killed by magic has to be a tantalizing prospect indeed. Aicha glances over at Larter who chuckles to himself. He tells Alekto to mind his business, and find a panda to play with or something. Alekto grits his teeth and starts towards Larter, but another magician sporting a cloak and a strange limp suddenly stands between them and in a hushed voice commands them to respect the dead. The two begrudgingly look down at the floor and take their seats. The third magician walks away stopping only to take a brief look at Aicha. After this ruckus is over, the young lady glances around the room and sees that maybe 2 dozen magicians have appeared, which is a feat considering just how aloof those who practice the art can be. Hydon then takes the mic in the center of the room and welcomes the magicians thanking them for taking time out their busy schedules to be here. The means of invitation had been mostly secret, but as per Acheron's instructions, anyone who does come in can cast a normal vote, although until the election is over they cannot communicate with anyone on the outside which would mean no leaving until the election is over.

Before he can continue further, he is interrupted by a WITCH operative who bursts into the hall and in a loud voice proclaims that he has news for Hydon. Hydon stares in his direction which prompts the WITCH operative to announce that the investigation into Acheron's murderer had been completed and they know who the culprit is. The man who had committed the serious crime of killing the kaiser mage -the leader of all magicians, the man who stood the most chance of averting the end scenario, was none other than Niels Aschner: the headmaster of GMAGY itself.

One could have heard a pin drop after this news is conveyed to the audience. Hydon thanks the WITCH operative, and then asks everyone to keep their minds on the election. Aicha is surprised at Hydon's composure upon finding out who killed his boss. Alekto who's still behind her noticeably grimaces, something that Larter picks up on and files away in the back of his mind. Larter then tells Aicha the reason why the magicians had come despite not having any sort of bond to each other. It's all because of one Langston Hydon, the kaiser mage's right hand. A man like Acheron who had tried his best to change his image from one of power and violence to knowledge and benevolence would need a right hand who operated behind the scenes and continued to wave the proud and bloodstained flag of threats and power. Hydon is that man, one that magicians fear for the magicians who do not fear him usually live truncated lives. Upon learning it was Aschner who killed Acheron, it wasn't just highly likely he'd hunt him down and kill him...it was a fact newly etched into the fabric of existence itself. Although Hydon continues the processions of the election, he had already created a new to-do list after the proceedings are done. Aicha glances at the kaiser mage's right hand man and true enough, the agape around him has become dense and shadows seem to creep around the crevices in his face. Aschner's time had been decided, and Hydon would be the grand high executioner.