"You're going to be prosecuted this time," the minister of defence smiled smugly.
"Have you just heard a word I said?" Michael protested.
"Yes, yes. The world will be destroyed," the minister scoffed. "Save it for the trial,"
"Fine," Michael gritted his teeth, "When will I get to speak?"
"Soon enough,"
"Can you be more specific?"
"A month, a day, a year. Who can say?"
"A year?" Michael swallowed hard, "Why so long?"
"So we can gather the appropriate evidence," the minister sneered.
It was obvious what his words meant. For some time the court had been conspiring to have Michael ejected from the palace. No doubt it was a blow that he only received dismissal in the first instance. They had the evidence. What they wanted now was to punish him.
The minister surveyed the dungeons with an air of disgust. In spite of his title, he rarely had to condescend to actually be in the dungeons himself. Michael had his hands to the bars waiting impatiently for him to meet his eyes.
"And the charges?" Michael probed.
"Treason. Theft. Terrorism,"
"Terrorism?!" Michael was taken aback. "Isn't treason a death sentence on its own? Why bother to add anything else? Are you going to kill us twice?"
He quickly contained himself under the minister's arrogant smirk.
"The court feels that since you were so...intimately acquainted with the palace, it's only right that charge fits the punishment," the minister answered drily.
It had been that way all along. He had to be punished for having the power they did not. He had to be punished for being an outsider. All these years fighting against the grain could only amount to this much.
Michael released his hands from the bars. Though a dark shadow was cast over the length of the cell, he could make out Bird and Ace still passed out. They weren't supposed to be punished for things he had done.
In the end, he was the one who had incited Ace to recover the necklace. There was no way the court would believe claims from any of them. There would be punishment and then there would be death.
Michael turned back to the minister who looked ready to depart.
"I want to speak to the sword saint," he said gravely.
The minister of defence let out a derisive scoff, "Why do you think I'm here?" he remarked."The sword saint has asked to be excused from this proceeding. He's on leave,"
Michael's eyes widened.
"What? Why?"
"Why do you think?" the minister turned on his heels, "The palace was just attacked by his own apprentice. Not to mention your involvement. You're old friends aren't you? If he took the stand for you, wouldn't it look like he was involved too?" he started to walk away
"Surely, he hasn't left yet has he?" Michael's breath became unhinged.
"First thing this morning,"
"But I need to speak to him!" Michael insisted.
"You must be misunderstanding something here," the minister glanced back, "I don't care what you need. I'm here because the Emperor commanded it. If it was up to me, both you AND the sword saint would be rotting in this dungeon. The fact the emperor allows those of your class a place in court is beyond me. Just look at what happened this time. The sword saint is just an honorary title. It can be taken away. Just like yours. If you know what's good for you, you'll keep your mouth shut till the trial,"
The minister took off briskly down the hall. Michael blinked rapidly. He turned back to the dark cell and began to pace. If Albaric couldn't be brought to reason, there were few options remaining.
They could proceed with the trial, but without backing, they would certainly fail. Michael stared down at his hands. He could already feel his magic returning. They could try to escape, but with Bird and Ace decommissioned they wouldn't make it far.
A day had passed. If the necklace was in the tower, they would have found it by now. That meant Kalandra wouldn't be returning any time soon. In a way it was better they didn't know the location of the necklace. It wouldn't be long before they were tortured into revealing it. They might still be tortured nonetheless.
This was the worst-case scenario.
Michael shook his head in aggravation. Then it hit him. A wave of revulsion took hold of him. There was only one option remaining. Michael inhaled sharply. No. There must be another way. Anything but that...
Thankfully, another solution presented itself by the end of the day.
It was hard to tell what time it was in the dungeon. It was engulfed in constant darkness. The barely lit shroud of light emitted from the candles barely reached the depths of the cell. However, Michael's eyes had begun to adjust.
He could make out Bird still reclined against the stone floor. He hadn't woken in almost two days now. Ace, on the other hand, sporadically regained consciousness then passed out again. Michael was glad for the silence. He couldn't bear any chatter in such a situation. Once he had explained the minister's news, Ace went quiet and remained that way.
It was in this silence and darkness, that a sudden bright light flooded the dank cell. Michael stood up to find its source. At that moment, Sister Rena reached the barred entrance to the cell and stood as stoically as when they had first met. She was followed by royal knights who stood to her rear but not far from reach.
She still bore the wear and tear of the previous day's battle. Not just on her flesh but in her countenance. Her expression was severe, but as her eyes quickly surveyed the cell, something of a change occurred.
"I heard that one of your party has not woken," she said flatly.
"What would you care about it?" Michael returned sceptically.
"Usually I would provide aid under such circumstances," she answered. "however, since we have not been able to recover the necklace you stole, you put me in a difficult position,"
"So you've come to blackmail us, is that it?" Michael scoffed.
"It's simple. If you want us to heal him, tell me where the necklace is," Rena responded coolly.
Michael was about to rejoin but he felt a hand pull him back. Ace struggled up to the bars.
"I don't know where it is," Ace breathed unsteadily.
"I find that hard to believe," Rena remarked.
Ace's black eyes came to survey Rena with a desperateness Michael didn't expect. Reluctantly, he let Ace speak.
"Rena," Ace continued, "I'm telling you the truth. I honestly don't know where it is. Please, you have to help Bird,"
"That is a pity," Rena stated. There was a sincerity in her manner that told she meant the words.
"Why are you doing this?" Michael interrogated.
Rena turned to him. He was caught off-guard by the veracity of her eyes.
"It is the Emperor's orders," she began to retreat.
"Wait!" Michael exclaimed, "Do you know where Albaric is?"
He didn't expect an answer but it was worth a shot.
"What if I did?" Rena dismissed icily.
"We need to speak to him," Michael said seriously.
"You really have no shame," Rena turned abruptly on her heels.
"Sister Rena," Ace said in a low voice, "Did you know what the necklace really did? Did you know it would destroy the demon world?"
Rena froze in place. She glanced back at Ace. Her expression was fixed stiffly.
"Yes," she answered outright, "You may not understand this yet, Ace. You are still young, but one day you will. There are times when you have to weigh the greater good against your own personal feelings."
"Please," Michael scoffed, "Be honest, sister. What did Leila offer you in return for your loyalty?"
"I do not and I have never served the princess." Rena rejoined, "I serve the Empire. Perhaps you've forgotten what that means,"
"Do you really think you'll be serving the Empire by destroying it?"
Rena turned to face them both.
"The only thing that will be destroyed is the demon world," she answered unwaveringly.
"I wonder what the Emperor offered you?" Michael smirked.
However, instead of answering him her eyes fell to Ace. "It is a shame. I meant what I said about you, Ace. I did believe you had great potential. I imagined that you and I had a similar upbringing. I saw a lot of myself in you. It is sad to see that you've fallen under the influence of this man."
"Is anything he said wrong?" Ace replied. "I thought you cared about us, but you would have let Clover die?"
"Saving the demon world will not save Clover," Rena replied. "You know better than anyone how they suffer, how they make others suffer,"
Ace's eyes slowly fell to the ground.
"It is kinder to end it." Rena went on, " We've been at war since the beginning of time. It will never end while the two worlds are at odds. This is our path to peace."
"You're mistaken sister," Michael said soberly, "Even if we manage to survive the blowout from destroying the demon world, our enemies will swoop down to feast on the remains of the Empire. We'll be attacked from all sides. The Empire of Rotan has held dominion over the continent through power and bloodshed. Without this power, the Empire will crumble."
"You are incorrigible," Rena said unflinchingly, "This Empire has not survived by power alone. For those of us who have lived outside its walls, it is more than simply blood and money. This Empire has been a shelter. It has continued to flourish even under the darkest of times. There is a light here. Not in the palace or the court, but in the eyes of ordinary people. My time as a sister has taught me that much. The times are changing. The era of war and brutality will end soon - of that I am certain. And someone like you cannot be in power when that time comes,"
"And you should?" Michael said slowly. "Do you think because you are a sister that you are somehow chosen? Neither the gods nor the court or even the people for that matter will be interested in hearing your talks of peace when the vultures are circling,"
"It sounds as if you are certain the Empire will survive," Rena smiled.
"Perhaps part of it will: A desolate wasteland, even worse than the demon world," Michael answered resentfully.
"The Gods will not allow such a thing," Rena said flatly.
"The gods do nothing to earn such reverence. They are just as selfish and evil as the demons," Michael said bitterly, "If you rest your faith in them, you're a fool,"
"You're blinded by anger," Rena said softly. "That's why you blame the gods,"
Michael's eyes shot up.
"I wonder how Albaric feels about your faith?" he said viciously. "Or will you even give him a choice in the matter?"
"Have you ever given him a choice? You tried to drag him into this against his will" Rena countered, "but Albaric will always do what is right in the end. The only reason I haven't told him is because the Emperor ordered it so. But even if I did, he would see as I do. You only want to keep things as they are for your own selfish reason,"
"Perhaps," Michael smirked, "but who are you to decide that? You might have known Albaric before, but how well can you really say you know him now? "
"Isn't it obvious? Albaric is one of the few holy magic users on the continent. You cannot practice holy magic without faith - you must know that,"
"If you're so confident," Michael smiled darkly, "Why don't we see for ourselves? You must have guessed that I intend to reveal to the court your plans. However, I would be happy to remain silent on one condition,"
Rena's eyes remained steadily on Michael, "You want Albaric to decide, is that it?"
"How much harm can it do? You wouldn't be breaking the Emperor's orders if we told him. If you know Albaric as well as you say you do, then you must have faith that he will reach the same conclusion as you," Michael grinned,
"What do you say, sister? Shall we see who the Gods side with?"