As they walked through the hallway time seemed off. The torches on the wall began flickering. Not just the flame but as a whole, the sconce and flame began blurring. This continued until it became a straight line of light, stretched across the entirety of the wall.
Then there was a door in front of them, heavyset and enormous. It was far too large to fit within the hallway and yet it did. As they grew near, the door opened while sliding back.
Light cut through the dimly lit hallway. It spread with the shuddering of the door. Sliding open like a twisted blade to a wound.
When they could no longer avoid the illumination it blinded them. It was so bright it bled through both the eyelids and the hands trying to protect their sight.
Kirby felt a hand on his shoulder, guiding him forward as his eyes were still readjusting.
As the light cleared the duo found themselves at the entrance of a courtroom. Empty except for the jury and bench clerk. All of those present turned to view the newcomers, their eyes more defined than all of the other features on their bodies.
"What are we doing?" Kirby whispered, the events before this led him strongly in the direction of caution. No longer daring to anger others or presume himself knowledgeable. Erring on the side of caution he decided to wait on Tien's word.
"You. You are being judged. We need to get this so that you can officially become recognized. This will give us access to some grants and gets into the towns and cities of the current world." Tien replied, looking like a kid who was caught putting something in the shopping cart.
"Pfft!"
Kirby, even in a situation like this, he couldn't help but let out a short laugh at Tien's expression.
Tien smiled when he heard Kirby. His previous statement's seriousness was obliterated by the attitude Kirby held towards the situation he was in.
"Alright, get up to the stand and wait on the verdict," Tien said, attempting to be as serious as possible.
Kirby walked down into the shockingly normal room, only taking note of the regal-looking furnishings.
As he arrived at the lectern, the jury finally took heed of something other than the two newcomers. Their head turned to the judge's seat where a man in simple garb had appeared. He appeared to be the most impassive man possible. Passing over even the uncaring face of Kirby. The only thing different between the two is that the judge presiding had a very defined brow line. This resulted in him having a very angry unibrow.
Once the judge had seated himself, he spoke. "Kirby Spero, we welcome you to our lands. We will now analyze your case, stay still."
*What do they mean? I haven't said anything yet… Unless they can read my mind they shouldn't know anything about me.*
The room didn't fall into silence. Nobody talked, but the tenseness in the air was so palpable that a faint ringing was audible to Kirby.
As the pressure further increased, the ringing began to become louder, deafening him. The pulsing made its way from the very base of his skull to his eyes. His head felt like it was in a vice.
*Oh god, that's exactly what's going on.*
Kirby was trapped in his own head. Not knowing what to say and being worried that even just a sneeze might offend all present was driving him stir crazy. He raised his head, looking at the Jurors. Some wore impassive expressions, some sympathetic, one had an extraordinary shocked expression, while the final one had turned green.
*It looks like I hold no secrets to these people. I hope that they have stronger stomachs than everyone else that had seen it.*
As the jury got up, one by one, the pressure faded. This left Kirby alone with the bench clerk, judge, and Tien.
They went through a small door on the opposite end of the jury stand. And as the last one made it through the door their remaining composure broke.
"What was that?" Asked the first Juror.
"He was just abandoned at birth right? How is that special in any way?"
The twentieth and final one was looked visibly shaken.
"We were each only able to process small parts individually, did anyone else see how he got here?" She was barely able to keep herself still while asking this question.
"No, what does this mean?" Asked the second, having no clue as to what it meant.
The third deduced the situation and promptly explained it. "We're able to each process about ten years of information, but this kid has more going on in his head than any actual event. He just thinks really fast and It's throwing us off."
"So, you guys haven't seen what happens around the eighth year yet?"
The group looked over to number eight and began the process all juries undergo.
-----
They were only gone an hour or so. Kirby was overjoyed at the sight of them. Since he had no idea of the conventions he stood stock still the entire time.
When they arrived, Kirby noticed something off about them. Their countenance changed to sympathy rather than the previous tone of oppressiveness.
They sat and nodded at the judge. Who promptly addressed Kirby.
"Make your case."
Kirby was stunned for a moment, entirely unclear as to what was going on. He paused for a moment and made the first movement he had since stepping up to the stand by pointing at himself.
The judge gave him a funny look and said two words.
"Yes, you."
Kirby was completely stumped. After racking his brain for a response he finally concluded that he had absolutely nothing to say. They had all of the things he had ever thought so he couldn't lie or bluff. This left him with the final option he had, following his father's lessons and just telling it as it is.
"I was thrust into this courtroom with no knowledge outside of the end goal. I am here to get citizenship as far as I know. I've taken up your time and I ask that my illiterate actions aren't held against me."
As he finished the courtroom grew tense, the judge and bench clerk were visibly taken aback. Tien put his face into his hands, blushing a little bit before he managed to cover his face.
The angry unibrow of the judge tightened further before he spoke.
"While you may be a member of the primitive, new lands you speak humbly and true. Once you gain knowledge of our culture and serve on a mission you may integrate. You will be given an exception and will receive citizenship that can be revoked at any point in time."
When he finished his statement he raised the gavel to end the session, only to be interrupted by the jury. They waved him down trying to get his attention, which they did. He stared them down and slammed the gavel against the desk, shaking the room.
"You may now step down, case dismissed."