[ she comes over to walk with him, mostly so that he doesn't have to come closer on his own. jeez. ]

Miserably, as I'm sure you're surprised to hear.

I was not thrilled with Manwol's decision, but I understood and I accepted it.

[ speaking of it actually has her trembling with repressed fury. ] And they - took even that from us.

It is. There must be a beacon somewhere, no matter how dim.

We are still learning the rules of this place.

[ but given that the executioner seems to be chosen at random, she can't exactly say this information is helpful. it doesn't help that the person voted for has a chance to live when it means someone random dies in their place. ]

Well. It is a school, after all.

[ with just zero amusement in her voice. ]

I preferred school, even if it was only for a short time.

Not this school, mind you.

... If they were in control of themselves, then I hope that they are miserable.

What?

... I hope that it will encourage them not to make the same mistake twice, then. If that is the best we can shoot for.

Hard to believe there is anything more they could hope for when our graduation already promises us some impossible, limitless wish.

I wouldn't know what to do with such a thing, anyway.

It's not that I'm above using such a power. After what this place is putting us through, we'll have earned it.

Rather, I can't figure out the logistics.

I know the problem that I wish to fix.

But it's a problem that has existed for a long, long time. I don't wish to only fix a symptom of it, but to change too much seems... Impossible to predict the effects of.