The payback began quietly that evening, exactly as planned.
Lira had spent the previous days doing what she did best, sitting in the garden, listening warmly to students who came to relax or vent. She never pushed. She simply planted seeds with gentle questions and soft comments.
By nightfall, the rumors were flowing naturally.
"Did you hear what really happened in the corridor? Three of them on one girl who was already on the ground… that doesn't sound very Purist-like."
"Apparently they only act brave when the numbers are on their side."
The whispers spread through neutral students and even reached some Purist sympathizers, chipping away at their image of untouchable superiority.
The sabotage was the fun part.
Kai'sa handled it personally, her sixth-circle water magic making the act feel almost effortless. She didn't cast a spell in the traditional sense. She simply reached out with her affinity, and the water in the Purists' private courtyard fountain listened.
