Following the revelation of Eleonora's betrayal, Umbria was plunged into a state of shock and disarray. The figure who had been its guide and protector for decades had revealed herself to be a manipulator, willing to sacrifice one of her students to achieve her own ends. Trust, a fundamental pillar in a school of magic, had been shattered.
Eleonora's trial was not the grand ceremony orchestrated for Aria. It took place in a smaller room, before an impromptu tribunal composed of Umbria's most senior and respected professors, those who had not been influenced by Eleonora's web of lies.
Eleonora, stripped of her elegant robes and dressed in a simple gray outfit, stood tall, but her gaze was dull, her spirit broken. She did not defend herself. She did not deny her actions. She simply reiterated her justification: the Lumina Stone was too dangerous to be in anyone's hands, and she had acted, according to her twisted logic, to protect Umbria.
Professor Alatar, an elderly wizard specializing in Divination, with a long white beard and piercing eyes, acted as the tribunal's spokesman. "Eleonora," he said, his voice deep and resonant, "your actions have caused irreparable harm to Umbria. You have betrayed the trust of your students, manipulated the truth, and endangered the life of an innocent young woman. Do you recognize the gravity of your actions?"
Eleonora nodded slowly. "I recognize it," she said, her voice a whisper. "And I accept whatever punishment you impose upon me."
There was no debate. The evidence was overwhelming. The tribunal, after a brief deliberation, rendered judgment.
"Eleonora," Professor Alatar announced, "for your crimes against Umbria, your title of Master is stripped and you are stripped of your magic. You will be exiled from this place, and your name will be erased from the records of Umbria."
Exile was a severe punishment, but stripping a mage of their magic was a sentence almost equivalent to death. It was an irreversible act, leaving the person vulnerable and stripped of an essential part of their being.
Eleonora was unfazed. She accepted the sentence with grim resignation. She knew there was no going back.
The stripping ceremony was swift and brutal. Eleonora was placed at the center of a magic circle, surrounded by the members of the tribunal. They spoke the ancient words, and Eleonora's magic, the life force that had animated her for so long, was ripped from her body.
Eleonora screamed, a scream of pure pain and despair. She collapsed to the ground, trembling, an empty shell of her former self.
Then, she was escorted out of Umbria, through the enchanted forest, into the mundane world, where she would have to live out the rest of her days as an ordinary person, without magic, without power, without the respect and admiration she had once enjoyed.
Eleonora's departure left a void in Umbria. The need for new leadership was urgent. Professor Alatar, as the oldest and most respected mage, took over as interim headmaster, but made it clear that he did not desire the position permanently.
"Umbria needs a fresh start," Alatar said, gathering students and faculty in the Great Hall. "We need leadership that is transparent, fair, and puts the well-being of the community above all else. Therefore, I propose the creation of a democratically elected council to govern Umbria into the future."
The proposal was met with enthusiasm. The idea of a council, where decisions were made collectively, represented a radical change from Eleonora's autocratic leadership.
The rules for the election were established. Any member of Umbria, student or teacher, could stand as a candidate. Debates would be held, proposals would be presented, and finally, a secret vote would be held.
To the surprise of many, Aria stood as a candidate. Despite her recent experience, or perhaps because of it, she felt a strong desire to contribute to the reconstruction of Umbria.
"I know I made a mistake," Aria said during her introductory speech. "I was manipulated, it's true, but I was also naive. I believed in an idealized vision of power, and that blinded me. But I have learned from my mistakes. I have learned that true strength lies not in magic, but in community, in trust, in transparency."
Her honest and passionate speech moved many. Aria was not the only candidate, of course. Several teachers and senior students also presented their own ideas and proposals.
The debates were intense and revealing. Crucial topics were discussed: the safety of Umbria, the responsible use of magic, relationships with the outside world, and transparency in decision-making.
Finally, voting day arrived. The students and teachers, one by one, cast their votes in a
a magical urn, which guaranteed anonymity and impartiality.
The tension was palpable as the votes were counted. The result was announced by Professor Alatar.
"The new Umbrian Council will be composed of..." he paused dramatically, "...Professor Minerva (herbology specialist), Professor Thorne (protection spell expert), Student Kaelen (for his bravery and sense of justice), Student Lyra (for her connection to nature and her wisdom), and... Aria."
Aria gasped. She hadn't expected to win. She had run hoping to contribute to the debate, to share her experience, but she didn't truly believe she would be elected.
But the members of Umbrian Council had spoken. They had elected a diverse council, representing different ages, skills, and perspectives. They had elected Aria, not despite her mistake, but because of it. They had recognized her growth, her repentance, her commitment to truth and justice.
The new Umbrian Council met for the first time the next day. There was much work to be done. They had to restore trust, rebuild the school's defenses, redefine the rules, and establish a new, fairer, and more transparent system of governance.
Aria, sitting at the council table, felt a deep sense of responsibility. But she also felt great hope. Umbrian had been through a trial by fire, but had survived. And now, with new leadership, with a new vision, she was ready to face the future, a future where magic, friendship, and truth would guide her path. The school of magic, reborn from the ashes, was ready to write a new chapter in its history.