You want a leader, right?

Lot’s words echoed resoundingly. They all knew what this meant.

"Let’s hear it," he said.

He expected they’d be shy at first. He was right about most of them. Not all. Finna was willing to talk if the others weren’t.

Lot wanted to know Modred’s opinion as well as the others’.

He wasn’t building his students up to be codependent like Solomon was.

He wanted individuals who existed as individuals and not as part of some group.

Finna started talking.

"Modred’s ranking went like this," she said.

"Myself. Then Morgause. Edward would follow. Kathra next. Gandy after. Sigman comes up, Modred, then Zach at dead last."

"You didn’t have to say it like that," Zach thought.

He didn’t want to attract unwanted attention.

Lot smiled. He was smiling as she called out the so-called ranking. He only stopped after he found no pattern.

His expression changed.

He wasn’t impressed.

"And your problem is?" he asked.

Finna immediately got timid.

Lot made it seem like she was wrong. Like her method was insufficient.

"Don’t you get it?" she shouted.

She saw Lot’s expression and immediately knew.

He didn’t fancy her tone.

"I’m dead last in his list."

"I don’t have time for this," he said.

They were all seated. He stood up, almost like he was preparing to leave.

"Okay, so how would you have ranked it?"

"Wait before you start. I think I should preface this. I’ll likely not want to know what you all think about the rankings. There’s really no time for all that," Lot said.

"First off, I’m not dead last. I mean, how could you even—"

She stopped briefly before continuing.

"The ranking, Finna. The ranking."

’Does she always talk this much? Or is she like that when pissed?’ Zach thought.

"If we’re to be fair, based off everything we’ve done as individuals..."

"Gandy should obviously be dead last."

Everyone turned to Gandy.

He made no comment. He was just shocked anyone would think this.

"Sorry. I mean right after Zach. I keep forgetting the little guy," she said.

Zach didn’t react.

He just hyped himself up internally.

’You’re used to this. Come on, Zach. You’re used to this.’

"Following Gandy has to be Kathra, then Morgause. This is where I see myself. I don’t think it’s biased or anything."

"I’m right after Morgause, who he put me below. He also thinks Kathra is stronger than the other two girls. No offense, girl, but you can’t move like I can."

Lot got intrigued.

"So you’re fine with Sigman and Modred being placed ahead of you, though?"

She chuckled uncertainly.

"I mean, it’s not that I’m fine with it, but I think we can all unanimously agree that this is the case."

She turned to the others for encouragement.

For them to reassure her.

She got none.

"Guys, come on. You know I’m right."

Lot looked at the others.

They didn’t seem to agree with that statement.

However, no one was speaking up.

He wanted things to be more interactive, at the very least, but his students seemed to not want that.

"Okay, that’s enough," Lot said.

"None of you are countering what Finna laid out."

No one responded.

He was getting visibly irritated.

"Fine," he said. "Since you all agree, then let’s vote. Who should be the leader?"

They all cheered.

They knew being the leader of a set could get them opportunities to interact with other teachers if they played their cards right.

Opportunities were sure to follow.

Everyone with a working brain wanted in.

No one was really going to pass up such an opportunity.

"Oh, you’re all excited."

"Okay, so let’s start the voting with you, Gandy, seeing as Finna’s already established the hierarchy."

Everyone was still excited.

Lot hissed.

"Sorry. Zach. Who’s your pick? You go first, then Gandy may follow after."

"Well, I think it’s obvious. Modred. I pick Modred," Zach said.

"Okay. You?"

"Gandy?"

"I’m thinking Edward."

Lot laughed.

Edward didn’t quite understand.

He wasn’t shocked anyone would pick him.

He kind of expected it.

’Call it cocky. Call it confidence. Same thing,’ he thought.

’Does Master think I’m not worthy? Unsuited? Is that why he laughs?’

Gandy was also shocked.

He thought Lot was laughing because he wasn’t confident enough in himself to pick himself.

Lot stopped.

"I’m disappointed in all of you."

’I called it. It’s because—’ Gandy thought.

"You’re the fellows who didn’t redact Finna’s rankings, and now you want to vote for your representatives."

"Representatives not selected from strength are unfit, and by all your logic, Edward seems not to be suited."

Modred and Sigman sighed simultaneously.

They both knew what this meant. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

It was as clear as day.

A sad thing, really.

"Wait," Lot said.

"Is there anyone else who thinks Edward would be suitable?"

’I know this will go nowhere, but whatever,’ Sigman thought as he raised his hand.

Edward raised his hand as well.

Modred was shocked.

He didn’t believe Edward would beat Sigman.

Sigman was probably using some other criteria to judge himself.

’Sigman is good. I know he is.’

"You would have been leader had you confronted Finna’s rankings head-on and refuted them. But rather, you chose to be complacent."

"That ’I don’t care’ attitude this generation so willingly embraces. Disgusting."

"The opportunity for you is gone. Drop your hands," Lot said.

Edward was disappointed, but he finally caught on.

The others still hadn’t.

It was really just Edward, Sigman, and Modred who knew what was up.

"That applies to the rest of you as well."

"None of you can make the candidacy. It’s just the two of you who didn’t refute."

Everyone now understood.

"Zach, your vote still stands. Now, Gandy, can I get your vote?" Lot said.

"I’ll go with Sigman then."

His logic was simple.

Sigman had also supported Edward.

He’d support him in Edward’s place.

Everyone voted.

The candidates were asked if they wanted to vote for themselves.

This election was very unconventional, but Lot knew exactly what he was playing at.

Six people had already voted.

The score was an even three against three.

The other two would do the tiebreaker.

"So how do we settle this?" Lot asked.

Modred wasn’t really interested in leading.

It was his leadership that led to this.

He made the call that triggered a teammate.

In his mind, leadership would probably be really boring.

"Let’s vote," Sigman suggested.

"Fine. On the count of three."

"One."

"Two."

"Three."

Simultaneously, both spoke.

"Sigman."

"Modred."

The names followed one another.

They didn’t vote for themselves.

Modred voted for Sigman, and Sigman voted for Modred.

Both smiled.

Modred knew Sigman was messing with him.

’That’s why he nominated we vote. Lousy guy.’

"So what do we do now, Lot? How do we settle this?" he asked.

Lot’s brow twitched.

He didn’t want this.

These kids were testing him.

"We’ll settle it the only way mages can."

"Staff for staff."

"A head-on clash."

"The Code. First Combat of Merlin."

Everyone was shocked.

’The Code,’ Zach thought.

The Code was described by Merlin as a means for mages to settle conflicts through battle.

Sigman and Modred were going to fight.