The Council's decision took less than eight minutes.
Not because it was rushed.
Because it had already been made—long before Rinvale Village walked to the gates.
"Deploy enforcement units," Akihiko said, voice steady. "Non-lethal force authorized. Disperse the assembly."
The words entered the chamber like a verdict.
Valen nodded immediately. "Academy response teams are prepared."
Mizuki did not.
"You are ordering sorcerers against civilians," she said calmly.
Akihiko turned to her. "I am ordering order."
Masako's cane struck the floor. "You are teaching the world exactly what you fear."
Akihiko ignored her.
"Transmit command to affiliated academies," he continued. "Unified response. No exceptions."
The signal went out.
That was when the fracture began.
Eastern Academy — Response Log
Command received.Assessment: Civilian origin confirmed.Decision: NON-COMPLIANCE.Reason: Council mandate exceeds defensive charter.
The message was flagged.
Then another arrived.
Northern Bastion Academy
Command acknowledged.Response units mobilizing.Note: Subject Kurogane absence noted.Query: Is lethal escalation authorized if resistance persists?
Masako closed her eyes.
"They've already separated," she said.
Akihiko's voice hardened. "List defectors."
Valen hesitated. "…Five academies. So far."
"So few," Akihiko replied. "Acceptable."
Mizuki stood.
"No," she said. "You don't understand. Those five academies train thinkers. The rest train obedience."
Silence followed.
Then the second wave hit.
Not magic.
Politics.
Foreign Channels — Priority Interrupt
A crystalline seal flared to life in the chamber, bypassing Council filters.
A man appeared on the projection—dressed in state regalia, not academy robes.
"This is Minister Corval of the Meridian Union," he said. "We have observed your actions regarding Rinvale."
Akihiko straightened. "This is internal Council jurisdiction."
"No longer," Corval replied. "Rinvale citizens hold dual protection under Union law."
Another projection activated.
A woman with steel-gray eyes followed.
"High Strategist Luroth, Northern Coalition," she announced. "Any elemental force deployed against civilians will be considered an act of aggression."
Valen's blood ran cold.
"They were waiting," he whispered.
Masako nodded. "Everyone was."
Akihiko raised his chin. "The Council maintains sovereign authority over elemental governance."
Corval leaned closer to the projection.
"Then govern carefully," he said. "Because if elemental academies become instruments of suppression, states will respond."
Mizuki spoke quietly. "This is your final chance to de-escalate."
Akihiko looked around the chamber.
At the divided screens.At the missing allies.At the absence of one lightning-wielding boy who refused to be shown.
"No," he said.
The word echoed farther than intended.
"Issue declaration," Akihiko commanded.
Valen swallowed. "Formal wording?"
Akihiko didn't hesitate.
"Preemptive Stabilization Mandate," he said. "Effective immediately."
Masako whispered the truth no one else would:
"That's a war announcement."
Far from the Council chambers, Kurogane watched the sky darken—not with storm clouds, but with movement. Carriers. Portals. Unmarked transports.
Raishin stood beside him, grim.
"They've crossed the line," Raishin said.
"No," Kurogane replied. "They erased it."
The presence stirred faintly—not pleased.
Attentive.
Now the pattern spreads beyond control.
Kurogane exhaled slowly.
"Then this isn't about stopping lightning anymore," he said.
Raishin looked at him. "It never was."
Across borders and banners, the same notification appeared in different languages, carrying different justifications—but the same meaning.
Strategic elemental forces authorized.Civil compliance expected.Resistance will be neutralized.
It wasn't called war.
Wars never are at first.
But somewhere between villages refusing to kneel and academies refusing to obey, the Fourth World War quietly took its first breath.