"Riley, you can't lie here."
"Lying?
…I'm not capable of that, Aerith."
"Y—"
"The witness is not allowed to talk to the criminal!"
Aerith's slightly frustrated groan traveled through the air. No one heard it, however. Not even a single themarian, a species that was capable of hearing an ant from a mile away if they want to, was able to hear her frustration.
All of their eyes, ears, and every fiber of their attention were on the orb that the bailiff was holding—most of them waiting for it to light up in red.
A second.
A minute.
A themarian could stand in silence for hours, and yet not even notice it. The audience, however, did not need to wait for that long as the bailiff shook his head—gesturing to the jury, as well as to the audience that Riley was not lying by raising the orb in the air.
