Ag's Perspective
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Given everything that has happened to me recently. There isn't too many differences from my normal life. Wake up before birdsong, morning run in the training field, return in time for breakfast, report to my superior (Zackaria), then perform the tasks that have been handed to me.
In this case it's to track down Ave. The last team returned last night. A day earlier then planned. Which is fine, better even. Can't have them showing up during some big meeting and spooking the delegates.
The real problem is finding him. He's surprisingly illusive. Every attempt at divination magic to find him has either failed or pointed me to the other side of the palace.
I personally think it was sheer luck that I crossed his path in the halls.
"Ave. It's good to finally speak with you." I match my pace with his as we continue moving forward, to where, I don't know.
"Keep it brief. I have things to do." He says in a low monotone voice.
"That was the plan. Zackaria needs us to go on patrol around the capital." I needed a decently convincing lie. This lizard has a strong air of a sharp mind to him.
"Then go. You have no need of me to join you."
Stubborn one, huh? Fine, I'll play to him instead.
"What are you doing that's so important that you can't join me for a patrol."
"Because I'm fixing the wards and barriers around our nest. A beast lurks on it's edge. One that followed us here, and it's hunting one of us." His words are precise, yet seem so cryptic.
"Then we kill it. Simple." I suggest.
"You don't think I've tried? It's caught on to my divinations and has set up it's own wards, and every attempt at manuel tracking has come up with nothing." He pauses for a moment. "Woe to the one it's hunting."
"That is quite the problem." I reply, though I can't say I wholeheartedly believe him, but something tells me he wouldn't be commiting so much effort to a lie.
For our entire conversation from the beginning I've been trying to read his flame.
He doesn't have one. He has three.
Three wildfires attempting to snuff each other out with no winner in sight.
Grey, Black, and White in a monochrome dance.
Grey, the soul of a beast.
Black, a soul of corruption.
White, a soul of purity.
I wish I could tell which is his.
The white magic we get from my Order, "Phoenix's Eye", has it's limits after all.
I've seen flames that are duel colored before. Many of my new companions have them. Such as Gala; pink with wisps of black, and Reggie blue with a green center. But Ave has three completely separate flames all vying for control.
Concerning, to say the least.
"Large one." His voice breaks me out of my internal thoughts. "If you want my aid on your patrol, you must aid me with these wards and barriers. Do you know sigilcraft?"
"No." I reply humbly.
"Then you will supply mana."
XXXXX
Time: Long before the summoning.
Location: Courthouse of Eingail City, Tillmono Province, South of the Wuth Empire
Trial of Dragonkin Krosis Norixian, Paladin of the Order of the Eternal Flame against Dwarf Horus Bowman, representing the people of Eingail for the unlawful public execution of his late Majesty, King Revix Tiomare the Third.
Trail oversaw by High Judge Omarc.
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"Prosecutor, you may proceed." Judge Omarc, a much older human man motioned to a middle aged dwarf in a finely dressed suit.
"Thank you your honor." The dwarf bowed.
"People of Eingail, we are gathered here today because of a very unfortunate event. The death of our great King Tiomare. Beheaded on the very steps of this building infront of the public. Numerous people gave witness, including women and children who are forever traumatized watching their king's head roll down the street."
Horus adjusted his outfit with a solemn look, then made a fierce angry point towards the blue Dragonkin on trial.
"Luckily we know the culprit; Krosis Norixian. A so called 'Holy Knight'..."
Krosis simply cleared his throat in response.
"...He and his band of zealots stormed into the King's throne room with only the most slim amount of evidence of governmental corruption. And when his majesty Tiomare denied such claims, they dragged him off his throne and into the streets where they committed their dastardly deed. The verdict is simple your honor. This 'thing' isn't a man. It's a murderer."
Omarc twirled his greyed mustache in contemplation. "Does the defendant have a rebuttal?"
Krosis looked up to the judge with his calm, yet piecing blue eyes. He raised his hand slowly which caused a tension to fill the court room. His hand reached up to scratch his horns that crossed like an X at the back of his head.
"I think the prosecutor is missing a few details in his claim." Krosis let out a small laugh. "I worked alone."
"So he admits it!" The dwarf yelled. "I don't even know why we're having this trail, he's gui-"
"Calm down Horus!" The judge shouted, still twirling his stache. "If he were a common man, he'd be executed on the spot. But this crime was committed by a holy order. One recognized by his majesty himself. So we must have a trial to discern if it was proper divine justice, or a vendetta guised as holy duty."
Horus was seething, but collected himself. Judge Omarc spoke again.
"Please Mr. Norixian, finish what you were saying."
"As I said, I alone dragged King Tiomare from his throne and castle, but Sir Bowman here has drastically downplayed the evidence we had gathered. Several nobles houses' ledgers were forged or faked. Allowing some to be exempt from paying most if not all of their taxes. It even showed that many servants of the aformentioned nobles have gone days, weeks, and some cases months without pay."
"Preposterous!" The dwarf claimed.
"Oh really? I had all of the files on my person when I was arrested. They should still be with my belongings. You can look at them if you like."
The judge leaned over and motioned for a guard to do just that. Horus began speaking out of turn again.
"So some nobles go without paying taxes, and maybe some servants go without pay, but what does that have to do with regicide in broad daylight!?" He directed the angered question once again at the dragonkin.
Krosis didn't answer. Instead he raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "That's a nice watch you have on your wrist there Bowman. Where'd you get it?" He asked with a grin. This caused Horus to almost explode has he attempted to hide the watch with his sleeve, to no avail.
"Irrelevant." Omarc interjected.
"But it's very relevant your honor, once you read my evidence."
"Then please explain how nobles dodging taxes, and failing to pay servants have to do with the murder of his majesty?"
"Because when I presented this evidence to him, his flame turned purple."
There was confused murmurs amongst the courtroom.
"What does that mean his flame turned purple?" Judge Omarc sat up and leaned forward. He was no longer twirling his mustache.
"The way us Phoenix Knights suss out motive, intentions, and emotion. We read the fire that burns inside the soul of every living creature. A red flame means passion, drive, or fury. A green flame; envy, desperation, dependence. A blue flame; sorrow, grief, melancholy."
"And purple?"
"Dread, regret,... and fear."
"Your honor, this is utter nonsense!" Horus attempted to interject but was silence by a single bang of the judge's gavel.
"If you were in his position and found out over 75% of the taxes you use to keep your city prosperous was going straight to noble pockets... wouldn't you feel angry? Devastated? Betrayed?"
The was a slight uproar of murmurs in the audience. Judge Omarc nodded in silent agreement.
"But he felt fear... He had been caught, knowing full well of the crimes he committed. If he wasn't pocketing the lost taxes, he was at least allowing it. Either as a pawn or for political favor. I admit, I don't even know that. What I do know is that every game of chess is lost if you lose your king."
The judge leaned back in his chair, and back to twirling his stache. A door opened as the guard sent out had returned with papers in hand and placed them infront of Omarc.
"May I ask what you have there, your honor?" Horus asked with trepidation. Omarc didn't reply as he was focused on reading, instead Krosis spoke up.
"It's your day of reckoning, Bowman. That's what he's reading." Krosis cocked his head snidely and gave a wink.
The dwarf's blood ran cold as he was physically sweating in panic. Judge Omarc's face went from that of contemplation, to that of scorn.
"Sir, Horus Bowman. Would you care to explain where the 3,000 gold pieces you owe to the kingdom are? Because if all these files are to be believed, and my several years as a bookkeeper lead me to believe them, then you've been using it all of it as pocket change for decedent and debaucherous expenditures."
"L-lies!" Horus stammered. He then tried to make a mad dash for the door, but was quickly halted in place as one of the mage guard drew a green rune, and the stone reached up clasping upon Horus's ankles.
"Release Krosis and remove his wards..." Omarc ordered. "...I want to know what color Horus's flame is."
The mage guard focusing on Krosis had dropped his rune. Krosis's eyes flickered for a moment as he peered into the deepest reaches of Horus's soul.
"Black, your honor. Corruption, sin,... evil. Only death will sooth his vile soul." Krosis bit with an angered growl, a cool mist of frozen air escaping from his lips.
"Guards! Take him to the dungeon. I hereby declare Krosis Norixian innocent of his charges."
"Thank you, your honor."
"And Krosis..."
"Yes?"
"Tell the Order of Eternal Flame they have my thanks for helping cleanse this city."