Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume18 Chapter6 (section)

===Part 2===

In a hall of the imperial villa, the other team members were already seated at the table. Apart from Rubia, Fianna and Rinslet, Muir and Velsaria were also present.

Muir looked quite drowsy, nodding off to sleep.

Spread on the table was a large map.

On further examination, it seemed to be a map of the Ordesia Empire and the surroundings.

"You are late. What on earth were you doing?"

Just as Kamito was looking at the map, Rubia suddenly scolded him.

"Nothing, just sleeping in my room..."

"He was apparently enjoying a spirit rotation until late night."

With a cold tone of voice, Claire told on Kamito to her sister.

"What did you say?"

Hearing that, Rubia glared strictly at Kamito.

"...F-Forget that. What the heck happened?"

Kamito hastily changed the subject and cast his gaze on the map.

There were a number of wooden colored pieces placed on the map. These pieces were also used by the Academy during lessons for tactical training.

"Last night, a student rebellion broke out at Areishia Spirit Academy."

"...What?"

Kamito's groggy mind was jolted fully awake instantly.

Taking a closer look, he saw that there was a piece placed at the Academy's location indeed.

"...And the cause?"

"It started with the Imperial Knights arresting students who were protesting against them. The existing embers of discontent flared up even more as a result."

"So from there it sparked into a full blaze?"

Rubia nodded slowly.

"Reportedly, the students rallied around the Sylphid Knights and erected large scale barriers in the Academy town's Undine district. Their resistance is still ongoing."

"Still ongoing? So the knights haven't deployed militarized spirits yet?"

As Ordersia's proper army, the Imperial Knights should find it a piece of cake to squash a student rebellion if they were serious. Since they had yet to take action, it meant that they were still observing the situation.

"I suppose. If they were to attack students using militarized spirits, they would be criticized not only within the Empire but by all the other nations. I presume they are passing this off to the outside world as just a student protest instead of a rebellion."

"I see&mdash;"

...However, it was just a matter of time.

Even without using militarized spirits, the garrison at the Academy were proper spirit knights, after all.

"What about the Academy town residents?"

"They have already been forced to evacuate. The Empire has sealed all town gates, refusing entry to everyone."

"So they are gearing up for a suppression battle."

Claire murmured.

"What comes next is the real deal."

"&mdash;How so?"

"Rallying to support the rebellion at the Academy, the nobles in the anti-Emperor faction have mobilized their forces."

Fianna spoke up.

Kamito now understood that the pieces scattered across the Empire represented these nobles.

"The students at Areishia Spirit Academy are all daughters from noble families. Oppressing the Academy has caused resentment against the Emperor to explode."

"My homeland of Laurenfrost seems to be ready to march too."

Rinslet pointed at a wolf-shaped piece.

"House Fahrengart is on the Emperor's side."

Ellis murmured sadly.

The great noble house of Duke Fahrengart's had served the Ordesia's imperial family for generations. Ellis' grandfather was probably planning to remain loyal to the very end even if the Emperor was incompetent.

"Do the nobles of the rebellion have a chance of winning?"

Rubia shook her head at the question.

"The rebels are all minor lords. Given their present numbers, it is futile."

She spoke in a merciless voice.

"However, if a leader were to make an appearance in this rebellion, perhaps the neutral nobles who are observing the situation might be swayed to join us."

"You mean Fianna?"

"Indeed. The Empire's many citizens are hoping for the second princess' return."

Rubia nodded.

Kamito looked at Fianna, only to see her nod as well.

(...So she's committed her resolve already, huh?)

"If I do not return now, it would be tantamount to forsaking the rebels who had stood up to resist Arneus."

...She was right. However, everyone present apart from Muir must be thinking the same question right now.

Even if Fianna returned to her country, facing the powerful Empire, was there really a chance for victory?

Presumably guessing what everyone was thinking, Rubia spoke up.

"The situation will develop very differently as soon as we secure a stronghold to serve as a symbol for the resistance."

"You mean the Academy, right?"

Claire said.

Indeed, Areishia Spirit Academy was a symbolic location in Ordesia.

If the rebel army took control of this place, the map of allegiance could change completely.

"Are the rebel nobles marching on the Academy?"

Velsaria, who had been silent until now, asked. If they were rallying to support the students, they ought to be sending reinforcements&mdash;

"No, the Academy is surrounded by territory under the Empire's direct control. It would turn into full scale war if they sent troops there. Currently, they are probably at the stage of mustering their forces and observing the situation."

The lords in the anti-Emperor faction were probably waiting to see Fianna and Dracunia's next move.

Arneus was probably doing the same.

"So what do we do? From the position of Legitimate Ordesia."

Towards Kamito's question, Rubia picked up a piece on the map.

"We will split up into two parties. Fianna and I will march on the imperial capital to draw the Empire's attention."

Saying that, she placed a piece on Laurenfrost territory.

"The rest of you will head to the Academy."

Then she placed another piece at Areishia Spirit Academy.

"To the Academy&mdash;"

"Just us, is that correct?"

"Indeed."

Seeing Claire and Rinslet surprised, Rubia nodded in confirmation.

"Hasn't the Academy turned into a stronghold held by the Imperial Knights?"

Spirit knights were elite elementalists. In addition, they were equipped with militarized spirits.

Rushing into that kind of place would be totally reckless.

"There is no need to seize the Academy. All you need to do is fight alongside the resisting students and defeat the Imperial Knights attacking them. Once the resistance has gone on for some time, the neutral nobles will be swayed to our side."

"That sounds simple."

Velsaria commented.

"First of all, how do we enter the Academy town?"

Ellis asked. According to what had just been said, Areishia Spirit Academy and the surrounding territory were under the Emperor's direct control. In the current situation, passing through there to reach the Academy was probably difficult.

However, Kamito guessed what Rubia would say next.

"Through the Spirit Forest."

Ellis and the others looked at each other.

The vast Spirit Forest was part of the Academy's lands. Powerful spirits inhabited the forest, preventing trespassers.

"Indeed, no one would expect that route."

Claire concurred.

A large invading army was definitely impossible. However, pushing through the forest with a few elementalists might be doable.

"No matter what, the rebellion of mere students will be easily crushed as this rate. Let's do it."

"...You're right."

"I agree."

Hearing what Claire said, everyone resolved themselves and nodded.

"&mdash;So it is settled. Make preparations immediately. Time is of the essence."