Madella and Teerom went to the school to meet up with the orphans. They were going to the courthouse as the victim's party. As they walked to the entrance, Madella slowed down hesitantly.
"Are you okay, mom?" Teerom asked, matching her pace.
"Yeah, it's just that..." She winced anxiously.
"Is it Miss Yilba?" He referred to the receptionist of the school, the old woman with chained spectacles. Madella nodded, feeling stupid for getting anxious over such a thing. But she hadn't seen Yilba in over 10 years.
They had only spoken through letters and even those they sent rarely. Both of them became so busy they had no time to meet up. Madella had to take care of the orphans, and Yilba only recently moved back into Gouon after taking care of her ill husband on the southern shores of Eri.
He was sick with the Emerald Plague and wished to die at sea. Yilba fulfilled his wish and put him to sleep with a Sleep Potion, then sent him off into the ocean on a burning boat. Her brother, a merchant, abandoned his work to give her company during it.
Seven months later, she sits back in her reception at Hillred school, still grieving, of course. But a familiar face came through the doorway, lightning up her dull day. It was Madella, the young noble girl that ran from her family. Yilba took care of her for a time until she found a young girl on the brink of starvation and decided to raise her as her mother. That girl was Jurie.
After her, came the little Dark Conjurer she found face-down on the fields near Rukae. He was now much taller than Madella, having grown nearly three whole feet.
"Madella!" Yilba jumped from her seat, bolted out of the door despite her elderly pains, and hugged Madella tightly.
"Mom..." Madella cried joyously, embracing her mother figure tightly.
"It's been too long!" She turned to Teerom, "Wow, look how you've grown, Teerom." She pinched his cheeks, having to stand on her toes to do so. The last time she saw him was when he was just 12.
"Hello," Teerom greeted, surprising her with his voice.
"You've become a man, Teerom!" She laughed and turned back to Madella, "I'm truly so happy to see you." She quickly hugged her again.
"I missed you a lot too."
Teerom left the two women to catch up and began exploring the school. There were about five minutes left until school ended, so he saw the others in their classes. First, he saw Amasha speaking enthusiastically to his friend Ruben. Then, he saw Bacha and Rauba hanging out at the back. Reben was by himself, passing the time by spinning his pen around his thumb.
And then he saw Paley staring out of the window at the back of the class. Adimia was slightly out of view, but he could tell he was sleeping. Dillie began looking around cautiously before practicing her magic under the table.
Teerom was jealous. He wanted to be there with them, but he couldn't because of his age. He sighed and left just as Paley looked over in his direction.
After school, Libon's parents picked him up in a carriage but didn't say a word to him. Madella watched the awkward carriage disappear behind a corner with pity.
"Nobles are such idiots. Reputation is everything to them." She said.
"Agreed." Teerom nodded. The courthouse was on the northwest side of Gouon, near the tall wall surrounding the entire city. It was a large building with a shallow roof, small muntin windows, and four yellowish-white pillars in front of the door supporting a balcony.
They entered and found hundreds of people waiting on the long spectating benches. All of them looked back at the orphans - most of them looked at Paley. Libon and his parents stood behind a desk with their lawyer, a rugged, tall man. A slender old woman sat behind an elevated desk; she was the judge.
The orphans stopped hesitantly, then followed Madella as she walked, trying to ignore the stares around her. Everyone murmured about Paley, unaware that he could hear them clearly. Unlike the orphans, who kept their gaze straight, Paley's eyes were darting around calmly. He examined each person, finding that most of them were commoners.
They reached a fence separating the spectators and the defendants. A guard opened it for them, and they walked to their table.
"Let us begin the trial," The judge said monotonously, "The defendant, Libon Jeice, has been accused of the use of runestones in a magic duel when it was clearly stated that it was against the rules. Is that correct?" She asked, eyeing Libon's family.
"That is correct, ma'am," Libon answered before his father or lawyer could.
"Libon!" His mother whispered and grabbed his shoulder.
"Carura, let him be." His father ordered. He had become cold and uncaring.
"My client was indeed accused of such a thing, yes." His lawyer fought for control of the conversation.
"And as a result, was the opponent in the duel, Paley... Is it just Paley?" She was intrigued that he had no surname.
"Yes, I am an orphan." Paley's words made the spectators gasp. They knew he was a peasant, but they had no idea he was an orphan, "Biologically. She is my mom." He pointed to Madella.
"I see. Well, were you, as a result of Jeice's cheating, injured severely?"
Before Paley answered the question, he glanced at Libon, who nodded at him readily.
"Hmph," Paley laughed and turned back to the judge, "No, I wasn't. And Libon didn't cheat." His statement took the spectators by surprise, especially the students from school, who had come too. "That was a lie, spread to make me seem like some powerful, heroic mage."
"Libon?" The judge turned to Libon, examining his every move, "What do you have to say about this? Is this true?"
Libon stared at Paley, shocked and beginning to tear up. Paley winked at him coolly.
"No way..." Tugas, Paley's apprentice with oversized glasses, began. Elhom, the brown-haired one, sat next to him.
"What's going on?" Elhom asked.
"Master's lying for Libon's sake." Tugas took off his glasses and wiped his teary eyes, "Incredible. Just incredible!"
"Paley..." Libon muttered weakly. He was hiding it well, but he was terrified of being charged guilty because it meant that he would no longer have his family's noble title. That, for nobles, is the equivalent of being disowned (which his father would have done too).
"Yes! It's true!" Libon bowed his head to hide his tears, making Paley smile pridefully.
"So, are we done?" Paley asked, feigning exhaustion.
"We are done." The judge caught on to what Paley was doing, thankful that she wouldn't have to go against Libon's father, "Libon Jeice is charged not guilty and will not have his title of nobility taken away." She announced, expecting the crowd to cheer.
Paley wasn't surprised that they weren't satisfied. After all, most of them hated nobles, especially the Jeice family. Also, the students present had all witnessed the duel, so they were confused as to why Paley would lie. All he could do was cross his fingers and hope that they didn't say anything.
"You're a failure." Libon's father insulted loudly, "You now owe a peasant your life." He began walking away.
"I now owe an orphan my life." Libon retorted louder, going against his father for the first time in his life. The orphans were stunned by his sudden change. Even Paley was shocked. "I've always been trying to impress you. I've always wanted to make you proud. But nothing pleases you!" He suddenly burst out, crying.
"Libon!" His mother raised her voice at him.
"I studied so hard just to see you smile and say you're proud of me! That duel? I thought I was going to win it for you, father. I thought you would be happy; boast to all of your friends that your son won his first magic duel! But nothing I do makes either of you proud... Nothing!" He ran off, wailing and wiping his tears.
Paley now realized why Libon was so competitive and why he bullied Paley just because he got a higher score than him. It was to please his parents. Even the students that hated him felt bad for him.
"I'll go talk to him," Paley said to Madella and walked after him.
It was nearly night when Paley found Libon. He sat by a river outside of Gouon but still near the walls.
"There you are," Paley flew down, surprising Libon.
"You can fly?" He asked, wondering why Paley didn't use Air Magic at the duel.
"Yes, I am a Quimnia," Paley said casually, taking a seat next to him.
"Eh!? You're joking, right?"
"No." Paley sighed and showed him he could use fire, air, water, and earth magic. He hoped that Libon would believe him just by saying it, "See?" He said, slightly frustrated.
Libon's mouth hung open in pure shock. "So that whole duel you could've beat me instantly?" He asked.
"Yeah," Paley said bluntly, making Libon's head drop from disappointment.
"You should've been born in my place. My parents would've loved you." He said melancholily.
"Being rich sounds great, but I like my family."
"Wish I could say the same thing." Libon stared at the river water that flowed so slowly it looked still. Some crickets chirped quietly around them, filling in the awkward silence slightly.
"You're trying too hard. If someone doesn't love you, don't waste your energy trying to make them."
"Even parents?"
"For parents, it's meant to be unconditional love. In your case, you tried time and time again, but they never reciprocated those feelings. If your parents don't love you unconditionally, then you shouldn't either." He paused, realizing that Libon was probably planning on running away, "You should stop trying to make them proud. Instead, focus on yourself. Make yourself proud. Make yourself happy. That's my first order as your Master."
Libon looked at Paley and nodded.
"I'll take you home." Paley stood up, and so did Libon, "Brace yourself." He took them into the air, making Libon scream in terror. Eventually, Libon put his trust in Paley that he wasn't going to fall, and gave him directions to his mansion outside of Gouon.
It wasn't as big as Paley thought it was going to be (about ten times smaller than the Lord's mansion), but he was still impressed by it. He dropped Libon off at the steps leading to the big dark wood front doors.
His older sister came out after seeing him fly there through the window. She had only her translucent nightgown on. She was slightly shorter than Paley and good-looking, though Paley didn't care much about that.
"Libon!" She ran over to him and hugged him, "Are you alright?" She, unlike her parents, cared for Libon.
"Yeah. He saved me during the trial." Libon looked back at Paley with a thankful smile. Paley waved politely in response.
"Thank you!" She rushed over to Paley, taking care not to fall since she wore her mother's high heels in a rush. Paley turned his head up, avoiding looking at her body through her gown. She realized and smiled with her hand over her mouth. "My, you're quite the gentleman, aren't you?"
"You could say that. And you're very welcome." Paley said cheekily.
"What's your name?"
"Paley. Just Paley."
"I'm Sorafer. A pleasure to meet you." She found his hand for him and shook him.
"Pleasure to meet you too. You're the nicest noble I've met."
"Hahaha, you jest!" She made her way back to Libon, "See you, Paley." Paley still didn't look down since her butt was in full view. As they spoke, Carura, Libon's mother had come out.
"Sorafer, Libon, get back in. I don't want you talking to peasant filth." She tried to shut the door behind them as they entered, but Libon held it open.
"Paley?" He called out as Paley began walking, making him turn around, "Thank you for everything- Master!" He said Master with pride and joy, grinning at Paley before the door shut on his face.
"What an idiot." Paley laughed to himself and took to the air.