I folded the glowing slip into a tight little square, creasing it until the mana trace buzzed like static against my fingers. Then I carefully placed it into Mei's wooden chest when it came my turn, careful not to glance at Hailie. Because no one needed to know what I wrote, not her, not Olga, not anyone…
Less guilty this way, it is dehumanizing to practice democracy because you feel like your voice matter, but if the worst actually came, you don't feel like you're the one that turned on the electric chair.
The chest swallowed the vote with a dull clack, and just like that the weight in my palm was gone. I sighed and sat back down.
Pearl said that everyone was free to leave at anytime because when votes are concluded, they do not need to stick around to watch the final verdicts, but if they wish to, please continue to stay quiet for the next few minutes like they have been.
