Professor Werrin thumped her cane forcefully, and the shouts stopped, subsiding into loud rumbles. “Communication both into and out of the school will also be severed.” She held up a hand as more yells greeted that pronouncement. “I know all of you have family beyond these walls. Rest assured that important messages, such as those concerning the health and well-being of your loved ones and other related emergencies, will be allowed through, but those communications will be screened by professors and doled out as needed. Non-emergency communication will be suspended until further notice. No balloons will be sent or received. No river ships will dock.”

More shouts.

“This ban is only in place until the end of the festival, and the prime minister has decreed that the date for the festival will be moved up by four days, to prevent any interference. It will be occurring tomorrow. I know these measures sound extreme to some of you, but the festival is important to the morale of all Alorrians.”

Tomorrow! Mina thought. But they hadn’t reached all the guardians!

“Many people have worked long and hard to create an event designed to delight and inspire, and the prime minister won’t allow their efforts to be in vain to satisfy the whims of a handful of misinformed radicals.” Professor Werrin fixed her gaze on Jyx and Mina’s friends, frowning especially at Kita. “I hope those of you who have made these extreme measures necessary think long and hard about what you have done. Actions have consequences. Ideas—​flawed, wrong-headed, hurtful, and hateful ideas—​can be just as damaging as fists. I am only sorry that the few have ruined things for the many.” She then swept out of the dining hall.

Three seconds after the headmistress left, everyone exploded into shouting. Vira, screaming at Kita, Jyx, and their friends about how they’d ruined everything, launched herself across the tables, and dozens of her friends joined her. Screaming back at them about how hateful and selfish and shortsighted and stupid they were, Kita, Jyx, and dozens of other students threw themselves into battle. Sparking, their storm beasts slammed into one another.

A few teachers yelled at them to stop, but other teachers, like Vira, were in the thick of it. Mina, unable to run, unable to move, stared as students and beasts fought in front of her, over the tables, and up on the metal ladders, chains, and other obstacles.

I did this, she thought in horror. This is my fault.

Beside her, Pixit was growling and sparking. «I want to help!»

No! Mina thought sharply. This isn’t helping!

«Those are our friends!» Pixit howled, and then he charged into the fray. She felt pain shoot through her arm as another beast bit into him.