"I'm guessing you told them a slightly different version of what happened." Zephyrion said calmly. "Something about the evil southerners torturing your poor, innocent cadets?"
"Do you honestly think anyone here is stupid enough to believe this shit?" Malach said. "They know me! They know I would never do something like that to my own people!"
"Hm? But you just did."
Zephyrion glanced pointedly towards the golden barrier surrounding the fortress.
"You locked your own people outside the barrier while they were right in front of you. You could have opened the gates. You could have gone out and fought beside them. Instead, you locked yourself safely inside and left them to us." His gaze returned to Malach. "So tell me, Malach. Which part am I supposed to be lying about?"
"That's not true!"
Malach clenched his fists as he noticed the dark looks several of his cadets were now giving him.
His expression immediately shifted, the anger giving way to something far more pained.
