CHAPTER 46: THE TEACHER'S CONFERENCE A big round table surrounded by numerous seats dominated the room at the top of the tower. The room, with its high ceiling and grand windows, overlooked the sprawling grounds of the gifted academy. Here, the prized teachers, the protectors and mentors of the nation's most promising youths, gathered for a crucial meeting. "We have to make sure the tournament this time around goes well," said one of the teachers, his voice tense with the weight of the responsibility. "Since when has it never gone well?" another teacher replied, a hint of exasperation in her tone. She was a veteran, having witnessed many such gatherings, each fraught with its own set of challenges. "The circumstances in Saceria make this even harder on us," interjected a third teacher, his brow furrowed in concern. "The faith of the people in us is very weak at this moment. They doubt our capabilities more than ever." "But we are the only line of defense for the people," ano