The Great Hall remained in disarray for several minutes following Lucius's statement, the normal aristocratic discipline giving way to unprecedented dispys of emotion. Noble houses clustered into increasingly distinct factions, their physical positioning in the hall reflecting their philosophical alignment. Traditional vampires gathered around Archduke Orlov, while moderates moved closer to Count Sebastian. The small progressive faction, including Viscount Gabriel and Count Dominic, maintained diplomatic distance while exchanging meaningful gnces.

  Hargrove attempted to regain control of the situation, approaching the designated speaking position once more. "Your Grace, with respect, the discussion has strayed from the immediate cssification question. Perhaps we should return to established precedent rather than philosophical detours."

  Lucius's expression remained unreadable as he surveyed the assembly. "An excellent suggestion, Duke Hargrove. Let us indeed consult legal precedent." He gestured toward the court archivist, a thin vampire with parchment-like skin who had maintained his position since the earliest days after the outbreak. "Master Archivist, please present the relevant historical cssifications as they have evolved since Subject 23's transformation."

  The archivist rose with the careful movements of one who had spent decades in libraries rather than hunting grounds. His formal attire was not that of nobility but of schorly authority—simple, traditional, and commanding its own form of respect.

  "Your Grace, esteemed nobility," the archivist began, his voice carrying the dry precision of one accustomed to cataloging facts rather than engaging in rhetoric. "The evolution of our cssification system provides several relevant precedents for today's considerations."

  He activated the same projection system that Dr. Vahn had used, dispying ancient documents and legal codices dating back to the early years after the outbreak. "The initial cssification division occurred in year three, when the formal separation between vampires and resources was established by the Council of Seven."

  Several younger nobles shifted uncomfortably at this reminder of early vampire history, still processing Lucius's casual revetion about their origins. The archivist either didn't notice or chose to ignore their discomfort, continuing with schorly detachment.

  "The subsequent recognition of wereanimals as a distinct category occurred in year seven, following the discovery of transformation variants resulting from animal-bite transmission of modified viral strains." The clinical description stripped away the mystique that vampire education typically attached to the emergence of different supernatural beings.

  "Most relevant to our current deliberations is the Cssification Crisis of year fifteen," the archivist continued, dispying a document bearing Lucius's ornate signature. "When variant vampire strains producing different abilities were discovered, the court established the Fundamental Principle of Cssification—that demonstrated capabilities rather than origin determine legal category."

  This historical fact created another subtle ripple through the assembly. Many nobles had assumed the hierarchy of vampire abilities reflected inherent natural order rather than deliberate legal construction.

  "The precedent was further reinforced in year twenty-two," the archivist added, "when vampires with unusual daylight tolerance were formally cssified as vampires despite their atypical characteristics. Archduke Lucius's procmation specifically states: 'Deviation from standard vampire traits in specific areas does not negate vampire status when core vampire characteristics remain predominant.'"

  The direct parallel to Kieran's situation was unmistakable, causing low murmurs throughout the traditionalist faction. The archivist completed his presentation with the same schorly detachment with which he had begun. "These represent the most relevant cssification precedents established since the outbreak, Your Grace."

  As the archivist returned to his position, the court legal schor rose—a more recent appointment who approached legal matters with philosophical rigor rather than historical reverence. Her aristocratic bearing contrasted with the archivist's schorly demeanor, though her formal attire simirly emphasized authority rather than nobility.

  "If I may eborate, Your Grace," she requested, continuing after Lucius's nod of acknowledgment. "Beyond specific precedents, the legal principles that have guided cssification decisions provide insight into how we might approach this unprecedented case."

  Her presentation style contrasted sharply with the archivist's dry recitation, incorporating both legal analysis and philosophical implications. "Our cssification system has consistently emphasized function over form, capability over origin. When faced with ambiguous cases, vampire w has prioritized demonstrated traits over theoretical categorization."

  She paced carefully as she spoke, her movements precisely calibrated to engage different sections of the assembled nobility. "The hybrid before us presents a boundary case that tests our cssification principles. But it is not the first time our legal system has encountered such challenges."

  Digital dispys shifted to show comparative analyses of different cssification decisions throughout vampire history. "In each instance where new categories emerged, the court established measurement criteria to determine appropriate cssification. Those meeting vampire criteria received vampire cssification, regardless of origin or additional characteristics."

  Her analysis systematically dismantled many of the traditionalists' objections by pcing them in historical context. "The fear that cssification flexibility undermines hierarchical stability has been raised repeatedly throughout our legal history—yet our society has consistently strengthened through precise rather than rigid categorization."

  The legal schor turned toward Lucius, her expression thoughtful rather than advocating for a specific outcome. "The principle of measured inclusion based on demonstrated capability has preceded every major advancement in vampire governance. Whether considering wereanimals as separate from resources in year seven or recognizing variant vampire strains in year fifteen, our legal system has evolved through refinement rather than rejection of complexity."

  Her conclusion carried particur weight coming from a legal authority rather than a political advocate. "The current case represents a continuation of this legal evolution rather than a fundamental disruption. The question is not whether our cssification system can accommodate complexity—history demonstrates it can and has—but whether we will apply our established principles consistently in this instance."

  As the legal schor returned to her position, philosophical discussion erupted throughout the Great Hall, temporarily overwhelming aristocratic restraint. The combination of historical precedent and legal analysis had transformed what many had viewed as a simple categorization question into a referendum on vampire legal philosophy itself.

  Court observers noted the assembly dividing into increasingly defined factions as nobles aligned themselves with different interpretations of vampire w:

  The traditionalist faction, gathered around Archduke Orlov and Duke Hargrove, maintained that cssification boundaries must remain absolute regardless of demonstrated traits. Several ancestral noble houses clustered within this group, their formal attire featuring subtle elements dating back to the earliest decades after the outbreak. Their position emphasized cssification purity over measurable characteristics, viewing Kieran as an aberration regardless of his vampire traits.

  The moderate faction, led by Count Sebastian, occupied the center of the hall. Their position acknowledged the scientific evidence while advocating for carefully controlled recognition—a new cssification category with strict limitations rather than standard vampire status. Their rational approach rejected both complete exclusion and unlimited acceptance, seeking bance between tradition and evidence.

  The small progressive faction, including Viscount Gabriel and Count Dominic, proposed the most radical interpretation—that Kieran should be cssified as a vampire without special categorization, allowing his unique traits to expand rather than threaten vampire identity. Though few in number, their perspective carried weight through scientific and philosophical reasoning rather than political influence.

  As debate continued, Lucius remained silent, his ancient eyes revealing nothing of his thoughts. Unlike the emotional reactions surrounding him, his expression maintained perfect composure, neither endorsing nor rejecting any of the perspectives presented. His earlier intervention regarding vampire origins had fundamentally altered the discussion, yet he offered no further guidance as the court wrestled with its implications.

  Throughout the proceedings, Kieran maintained the same dignified composure that had characterized his presence from the beginning, standing beside his father with perfect vampire control despite being the central subject of increasingly heated debate. This composure itself seemed to influence some of the moderate nobles, who occasionally gnced toward him as if reassessing their preconceptions based on his demonstrated behavior rather than theoretical concerns.

  The division within the court transcended simple political calcution, reflecting fundamentally different visions of vampire society itself. Was it a rigid hierarchy requiring absolute boundaries, or an evolving system capable of adapting to new realities? As legal precedents collided with cherished assumptions, vampire nobility found themselves confronting not just Kieran's cssification, but the very nature of the social order they had constructed since Subject 23's transformation had changed their world.