Chapter 34: A Trial
"The law is reason, free from passion."
— Aristotle
The Divine temple was built to impose judgment—high ceilings, cold marble, and rows of elevated seats designed to remind all who entered of their place.
Much like a tribunal, and the place every nation devoted to the Judicial Triune would carry out their judgments.
"Do deny committing treason against the nobility of Uthean?" Sard Helel, the count of Uthean's voice rang out.
Yet…
He continued to stare at him, likely absent minded.
"I take your silence as a yes then." Sard nodded.
"Do you accept the charges that you were in cahoots with the crime lords and are the infamous godfather?" Sard questioned once more, this time, he didn't expect an answer… he only wanted was a reaction on Adrian's face.
"Boy," Ravon spoke. This meeting did not only concern the lords, it concerned every single one in Uthean, and they were represented by such influential people. "answer the questions."
With this Adrian turned to face him, his eyes aimless, no purpose, nothing.
"All evidence points to the fact that he is the cause of all our beloved county's strife." Maxim said. "Whether or not he accepts. We are the supreme law in Uthean, and he has defiled us."
"Well that concludes it then… I Sard Helel, the 29th Count of Uthean sentence you Adrian of House Wilbert to death. I also hereby strip House Wilbert of its nobility. It's position shall be handed over to House Thorne." Sard declared, causing a smile to rise unto Maxim's face.
"It is high likely that he is Mr. O." Seline spoke. "I'd recognize his mana signature from anywhere."
"And if truly he is him, I doubt you have the strength to do that…"
A pause.
Then all the lords and nobles present turned to her.
"I'm on a pilgrimage… violence and death on my part is out of the question." She debunked their thoughts.
"Lord Vaelthore – " Maxim begun, but he was cut short.
"Do you see the look in his eyes?" Ravon asked. "That is the look of someone who has given up."
Then there was a quiet…
Not because they were taking time to meditate on Ravon's words… No.
But because, there stood a man at the doors… no, not a man.
A reptile that had taken that form.
"Who are you?" Ravon asked.
"God." Zethar spoke one word, taking steps towards Adrian.
"Blasphemy!" Seline roared.
"Well, at least the closest thing to a god any of you would set your eyes on." He yawned lazily, flashing a glance at her.
"House Wilbert officially denounces its noble name." From behind the lords, Tobey walked in, dropping a folder before the count.
In it was every force the House possessed.
"We hereby declare that our domain remains ours, and any noble found crossing into Haven city's borders has committed a cross-regional offence." Tobey continued.
"Once you step foot on our land, you are in the care of my hands." He said.
"Also, since Outer city was never officially part of Uthean… all atrocities committed there have nothing to do with Uthean."
"What about the gangs?" One of the lords fumed.
"You may visit Zenon and Ophelia in their graves and ask them… though sadly they possess none." He added.
"So this becomes a highly political affair then." Ravon said, his eyes never leaving Zethar.
"But I'm not prohibited from wiping out the evil I see fit in any domain." Ravon said again.
"In accordance of the bye-law enacted 7 years ago, guild leaders of rank c and above guilds aren't held by the laws of domains below that of a dukedom." Tobey nodded.
"Let's get master out." Valhalla appeared in violet fog, and stepped by Adrian.
Adrian stared at the exchange, a warm glint appearing in his eyes, but quickly, just as it appeared, it disappeared.
"This is unnecessary." Ravon shut his eyes.
"You may leave." Sard said his voice shaky and hands trembling as he placed the folder down.
"How!"
"This is unacceptable." Some roared.
"We still have the strength to overcome them." Some said
"It's just two weird looking beasts… our mages can handle them." The ignorant ones amongst them dared to speak.
In all, it was chaos amongst the ordinary noble… but Maxim was greater than that, he looked to the file.
[ Current force under Lord Adrian
300 trained elite dark knights 200 shadow strike 200 of Wilbert's original forces 700 beasts of The Uthean forest. 30 being intermediate. 20 bombs planted all over Uthean. Also each lord's family has a designated shadow strike. ]
Maxim looked at this and froze.
"If there is nothing else, we'll be taking our leave." Tobey pushed his glasses up and phases to Adrian's side.
_Creak_
A portal was summoned,
"I'm glad I have you." Adrian said, almost a whisper… but they heard it.
A pause.
Then they walked through.
"Those two were dragons." Seline said.
"I know that." Ravon said, his eyes opening as he stared at the spot they just stood.
"He reminds me of my nephew." Ravon muttered amidst the frightened murmurs of nobles who had just realized how powerless they were.