The Court's session had long been decided by the Grand Minister. As such, all the Officials were in their places, and the open stands were full beyond the max capacity. The open stands now held fifteen hundred officials, instead of the usual one thousand. It could be seen that many bishops were keeping the peace in the stands, as per orders handed down by their Archbishops.
Many Officials were talking and debating how The Holy Witch King would solve the current court agenda, some brave Officials even questioned if he COULD solve them. One topic above all others was that the court room had a new addition. A new Throne appeared to the left side of The Holy Witch King's. What did this mean?
It could be seen that the House of Undeath Officials were deathly quite, as they were missing a seat. Marquis Mark was absent from the court. All the Officials of Undeath knew what this meant, and it did not bode well for them.
Soon the Choir could be heard, as Hymns sounded, and the announcement rang out!
""Let it be known, that The Holy Witch King will grace us with his presence!""
The court went silent, and all the Officials turned their collective gazes to the Holy Entrance. Clink... Clink... Clink... Again, like last time, The Holy Witch King emerged out of the white smoke. The solemn sound of metal on stone echoed in the large courtroom, heralding his arrival. Not only did The Holy Witch King emerge... but his Consort Leslie, hand in hand with The Holy Witch King, emerge, as well.!
She was wearing a long white dress, with long sleeves that draped wide at her wrists, only exposing her pure ivory skeletal hands. Her white dress was embroidered with elaborate gold Holy runes, with gold trim. The dress's pattern looked very much like The Holy Witch King's Bones. She wore a long white ribbon belt around her thin waist, that was tied into a large white bow behind her back. This apparel was truly befitting of her status, the newly appointed consort.
The female Officials were happy for Consort Leslie. Her love for The Holy Witch King had become legendary in the kingdom, and now they could see that it had been successful. They also thought that the Holy Witch King must have been smooth to soothe his consort, after that... proposal. In addition, her attire was amazing, many of the female Officials that were close with Consort Leslie planned on meeting with her after court to exchange ideas on fashion.
The male Officials had no opinion one way or the other concerning The Holy Witch King walking out with his Consort, as this was to be expected, with the exception of the House of Undeath.
The Holy Witch King walked with Consort Leslie, from the Holy Entrance to the front of the two Thrones. He lead Leslie to her Throne, and at the end of their walk, he lifted her hand to her Throne. She paused her step, but only for a moment, it almost seemed she didn't pause at all, with only Jack noticing this hesitation. She ascended her Throne. Jack, in turn, nodded to Lucius, who was standing to the right of Jack's Throne just like last time and ascended his own Throne. Leslie did not sit until Jack had.
Jack sat down, upon his black bone Throne. Left hand propped, and right hand holding the Femur Ferula. He surveyed his court, and couldn't help but notice the absence of Marquis Mark. He remembered him, specifically because not only was he one of the Officials that showed up at his re-awaking, but also that he asked such a stupid question, in Jack's opinion, last time. [The guilty one skipped town... This will be interesting. He was either a rat or a mastermind... There can be no in-between.] Jack had seen too many shows for this to not make sense. It was just a matter of having it revealed.
Leslie took her seat, just as Jack's vision swayed to hers. He hated that he couldn't smile to reassure Leslie... However, Leslie had looked into Jack's eyes and seen the dancing flames that seemed very gentle to her, causing her to be more at ease. Ever since his return, Leslie didn't question the dancing wisps in his eyes, as High-level cultivators would sometimes have body changes due to their Cultivation, but she had come to rely on them, to understand Jack's feelings.
Clink... Clink... Clink... Jack once again rapped his staff rhythmically, on his Throne. When the House of Undeath seen those bright flaming golden eyes from within the darkness of The Holy Witch King's hood, they all felt they had slipped into a cold hell. Some of the Undeath Officials, who were in fact reanimated undead, felt that they were getting that feeling as when the had first died... A truly horrible feeling of dread, it was.
Jack stopped his rapping. "Like last time, let me remind all the Officials that the court will be scrutinized. Any corruption found will be met with judgment. In most cases the Officials will be dismissed, in the most server of cases, I, personally, will preside as judge, and a True Death is not out of the question. When I said cleansed... Well, you know what that means."
Many of the Officials that had dismissed the thought that The Holy Witch King was going to create a killing spree started to rattle and others to sweat. They now believed, his Grace! He really meant to purge the corrupted. Many of the Officials that had questionable governance practices these last thousand years thought it might be a good time to leave, immediately after court.
Almost on queue, "I know many of the Officials that have played the fool in my absence are planning to make like Marquis Mark, and leave the kingdom. Let it be known now, that all exits to Our Holy City of Saigunrai are closed. Any that want to leave without my seal of approval shall be granted a true death without mercy. No exceptions!" CLANK!
Jack stroke his staff on his Throne with force! This served to cause a few of the Officials that had little forbearance to faint while sitting, thankfully undead where already a stiff people. These Officials were fated while kneeling, and no one noticed. Either due to watching The Holy Witch King or from this announcement, these Officials would later be thankful to not lose face from this event.
Leslie sat upon her new Throne. At least she dressed for the occasion, this made her feel more at ease, as she felt very out of place even with her beloved's reassuring gaze, as she had always stood at the base of The Holy Witch King's Throne. She had been helping her Dear for at least five hundred years prior to his entombment, and then another thousand years after. Though, because of the ridiculously long unlife of undead, five hundred years was considered to be a short period of time.
"Before We start court, We have some business that needs to be addressed. As part of Our first moves to cleanse the court of... corruption, I would like to call upon an Official to come before my Throne."
Lucius heard this, and knew what it meant. The last time he heard this he was extremely happy as those Officials that had been abusing their power and getting away with it were going to meet judgment, but now, he felt a slight fear. The changes in The Holy Witch King had worried him. He wasn't the same after his re-awakening. Just how far was he going to go, and to a lesser point... Who could stop him?
Leslie failed to straighten up in her seat, as she was already sitting straight as an arrow. She also knew what this meant. She was very concerned; even if she tried to hide her expressions, she couldn't help but furrow her brows.
"Undeath Official Jordan, please come before the Throne," Jack spoke coldly.
In unison, all the Officials in the court turned to look at Undeath Official Jordan, at one time. Undeath Official Jordan was an average size zombie undead, wearing a nice English suit. He even had a chain on his vest attached to a small watch, that was tucked into his pocket. The most distinctive feature he possessed, that under his eyes there were large black bags. How odd this was, as undead didn't have a need for rest.
He paused sitting in his seat, as He knew he wasn't without sin. For many years, he had been indulging himself in pleasures and excess. His forehead had already beaded up with black sweat.
Thankfully for him, Jordan had already talked to the Clan head of the Grimnight Clan. He was assured that The Holy Witch King wouldn't do anything without evidence, even if he could execute him without said evidence.
"Undeath Official Jordan, need I call you again..." Jack was already impatient. [Jordan... Just a bit more, give me a reason...] Jack thought darkly.
Jordan rose from his seat and walked to the front of the Throne where Jack and Leslie sat, at a snail's pace. He wanted to believe in his Clan head, but his Clan head didn't see The Holy Witch King in the last session... Jordan left a trail of black droplets of sweat on the white carpet that separated the court, many Officials inwardly frowned at the stains left behind.
Finally, Jordan had approached, he looked up into the darkness of The Holy Witch King's hood... What he saw left him shuddering. The golden flame eyes of The Holy Witch King looked onto him with cold indifference!
"Undeath Official Jordan, I'm going to be more than fair with you... You have the chance to confess to your crimes against the kingdom, and against undeadkind." Jack pressed down on Jordan.
It was sink or swim now, and Jordan needed to save face. He wasn't going to confess to anything. Why tell on himself or his clan? That would be stupid to open his mouth. Now, like his Clan head told him, Jordan just hoped he could make it through this trail. It had to be said that Jordan had better constitution than many other Officials. He was able to stand before The Holy Witch King, and not break down. His inner thoughts and brow of sweat might betray him, but his expression neither showed him as arrogant or fearful.
Jordan stood there silent.
"Undeath Official Jordan, I am giving you face by asking. You have one last chance to confess, least I remove your ability to resist." Jack spoke apathetically.
Many Officials sat up straight when they heard this blatant threat. That was what this was.. a threat, just what did the ability to resist mean?
Jordan continued to stand, silently.
[I sure hope this works...] Jack thought to himself.
"Undeath Official Jordan, I gave you a chance, but you didn't take it. I commend your ability to resist, but I will now take this privilege, away.
Jordan was unsure, what The Holy Witch King was going to do. He figured he was about to be carted off to the Jail Quarters. His Clan head had already figured this and had a way to bail him out, by process until judgment. Everything was going just like his Clan head said; however, the ring of black sweat that fell to the white carpet betrayed Jordan's stoic statue.
Jack hummed his newest Holy Hymn. He had developed this Holy Hymn just for this situation. He wasn't sure how strong Jordan was, but he was counting on Jordan being weaker than himself.
Jack extended his left hand toward Jordan, and before he could react, Jack hummed "Solxeees"
Shock! Utter shock! The Holy Witch King just cast a spell against one of the subjects of the kingdom. This wasn't an enemy; this was a subject!
A beam of light descended down upon Jordan, enveloping his form until he was washed out by the luminous effect.
Many of the Official's shielded their eyes, but the ones that could still see were horrified, including Grand Minister Lucius.
They witnessed as Undeath Official Jordan fell to his knees, appearing to be in severe pain, as he was shaking all over. He soon curled up into the shape of a prawn, still on his knees. They watched as his body was invaded by many tendrils of Holy Light. As the last of the Holy Hymn took effect, the tendrils appeared to pull out something from within Undeath Official Jordan's back, as he crouched on the white carpet.
As the light subsided, all the Officials finally had a clear view of the aftermath. A dark smokey wisp was tugged out of Undeath Official Jordan wrapped in golden light.
Jack's left hand was still out reached, as the light warped dark wisp flew to his hand. This wisp floated a few centimeters above his hand.
Many Officials were familiar with this dark wisp... This was a soul! More importantly, this was Undeath Official Jordan's soul!