Chapter 21
A room where others sit in the judgement of another is opened to settle an issue that never should have become one in the first place. Eyes settle on the defendant and their Legist as they step forward into their box. Red eyes gleam with annoyance and anger as they glare at the gallery that came to watch the show.
Many were here. Unsurprisingly, there were few that Zarracen could place by name and face. The ones that matter most are Moe Bates with RIM and Ulruk Praer who stood as a member of the adjudicator panel. The amount of anger that fills the knight at the sight of the man who had been her mentor once upon a time looking down at her with a sneer would feed a wraith for years.
She knows that type of sneer. The type of look he gives her. A jealous one. Which this is likely what this entire thing is about. Noble jealousy for a commoner from the slums gaining the honor of slaying a dragon. To achieve something, they would have only dreamed of.
Disgusting.
As a film shadows her eyes, she smirks at him not allowing her rage to show come out clearly. She instead stands calmly on the stage presented for her. Malachi to her right. The head of the adjudication stands. Eyes stare at him waiting for him to speak.
"We are brought here today for the conclusion of case 782 of the year in regard to the accused murdering without causes several other knights in the town of Arthwa," every word he said felt like he was blaming her for everything.
It is true. She did kill them. Slaughtered them really like a bunch of farm animals up to be put on a rack. The cause is clear however, no matter how they would like to spin it.
"High Adjudicator who brought this case forward? I was under the impression that from my own case notes given to me for Galt Ahktan's defense that this incident had been thoroughly investigated and showed that there was no such murder in place and was simply an execution of duty by a Grand Knight of Valor."
"New evidence came to light," in other words a noble paid the right pice to push this.
"What new evidence because from the notes presented the evidence appears to be the same as before," Malachi points out speaking to the Adjudicator.
"The fact that there was a witness to the events to where she killed them all without question and not once inquired if they were attacking her."
Malachi glances at Zarracen who leans forward and advises she presented knight code 1 to them and that they simply tried to fight her instead of surrendering.
"Knight Code was recited if they chose to attack or keep their swords steady afterward as my client claims...a claim that was verified via a truth orb then that is no fault to anyone but their own."
Silence then.
There was no case here. And they knew it. This farce was meant to make a statement and perhaps muddy the waters around Princess Isabella. Of course, Grand Knight Praer likely has his own stakes in this for his student/family member that Zarracen killed.
Zarracen is beginning to slowly understand the stakes of her position just through this. It's not her time to be heard it's Malachi's time to be Princess Isabella's mouthpiece. An assertion of her own power showing she's capable of protecting her in this political climate.
And she hates it. The tongue is important. She knows this but she dislikes it all the same.
Zarracen could only listen as people who look down on her are ready to judge her to be killed because with this would not be imprisonment. She was too strong to imprison. The only option is death.
"Are you calling the vetted witness a liar?" The High Adjudicator states.
"No but what I am saying is that only one of them gave testimony utilizing a truth orb. A truth orb that pinged no falsehoods when they Galt Ahktan said this quote: I woke to the creaking of floorboards outside my room. The sounds of now dead knights entering my ears. They spoke to one another. One saying how they would kill me and take the heart the other saying they'd lie to the emperor's inquisition stating thieves took me out. The fools no mere thief could steal from."
And when Malachi finishes the quote, the silence echoes. Because she was right. No mere thief would steal from her and get away with it. What such weaker knights were thinking was clear? They'd get her off guard while she was sleeping hoping that she was exhausted from the solo travel foisted upon her.
Instead, they met an awake tier 2 martial master who ripped them to shreds before they could fix their lips to even yell for help. The High Adjudicator frowns deeply and convenes with his others. It's clear from what Zarracen can hear herself they didn't want to let her off freely.
And yet, that's what they do.
It clearly irks them as they state she was free to go.
Zarracen is automatically full of relief when the manacles are off and most of her strength returns to herself. She thanks Malachi who as she was being relieved of her chains ensured that her position as a royal guard directly under Princess Isabella was notarized then and now. Her transfer completed.
She didn't know the paperwork aspects of such things it was too bureaucratic for her despite her high position within the active-duty members of the Valor Order but she from the smacking of teeth she hears from a few in the crowd she knew that they were unable to stop it at this point.
"You're good at your job," Zarracen compliments the man with an easy smile feeling relaxed now that she wasn't in such a position anymore.
Malachi laughs easily and waves his hand off on the compliment.
"Don't make that out to be my skill. That was easy because you never give them anything to help get you," the man replies.
"Never? Did research did ya?"
"Yes, even with my loyalty to her highness it puts me off to represent individuals with a lacking morality."
"And I did not?"
"Oh, you most certainly don't have much of one seeing as you decided to kill them all instead of chaining them. But, given the circumstances...eh." Malachi shrugs his shoulders at the last part.
"Mm. True I'm glad you see it my way. Besides I'm not the type to leave struck dogs biting at my heels."
"Clearly, though I'd advise you to be careful getting involved with the princess. I know it's not out of loyalty to her like mine is, but you'd do well not to betray her."
"Thanks for the advice, never thought about it in the first place."
Betraying Isabella would give Zarracen nothing. If she's being honest, being at her mansion has been the freest she's ever been since she joined the Order of Valor. At all times of night or day she would be sent on missions sometimes solo and sometimes with a group that felt like they were designed to kill her.
Her battle with a Grand Lion of Sunmen was one such fight. A solo mission given when she was not more than a nearly achieved tier 4 martial master. She almost died but killed it within a day. Not without luck and ingenuity of course. The main reason is because she was smart enough to spend most of her money on a single use artifact that delivers a jolt that knocks off its paralyzation ability through extreme pain.
Praer called missions like this testing through fire or whatever. Yet, it always seems to end with her near dead or so exhausted. Sure, she was given accords for it, but it wore on her.
Working under Princess Isabella she was finally in command again. Able to direct soldiers herself and not just be given a herd of sheep who could barely follow an order or swing a sword to defend from a large company enemy soldiers encroaching the border. She's able to rest. Even in her barracks she felt like she was likely going to explode from such a tense sleep.
Truth, is she wants to trust Isabella despite how the woman makes her unsettled. She wants to trust Fiella who constantly stalks her. And she knows for that trust they'll have to trust her. And that type of trust doesn't come without surrendering something important to them.
The only thing important to Zarracen outside of the trinket given to her by Desma when she was a child is her very life. And neither will she part with.
Zarracen sighs thoughtfully and looks to Malachi who was watching her as she lost herself in her thoughts as the two walked towards the front of area. He seems to not care much for the fact that she didn't continue the conversation.
"I have a question," Zarracen exhales out lowly.
"Go ahead," Malachi states.
"I suspect you know Princess Isabella somewhat, so I ask you this what does she want with me?"
The woman didn't have to go through the lengths she did for Zarracen. In fact, she gave her far too much time to get her shit together to even be a proper 'captain' of her royal guard. It doesn't honestly make since why a demi-god would even stoop to such a defensive measure for someone, she knew barely a day.
Yes, Isabella mentioned wanting a power to wield for herself outside of whatever political power she has. But Zarracen by nature is a blight to the nobility. It isn't a... win so to speak to her on your team or speaking on her behalf. So, she can only ask why to Malachi.
And from the look on Malachi's face, he didn't know the answer either.
"I don't have an answer for you, but it could simply be that she feels like she can trust you,"
"That's funny," Zarracen quickly denies that sentiment.
"You may think so but..." he trails off looking away.
She follows his eyes and sees Kayiback hovering near the entrance to the Military Tribunal building.
"I hope to speak to you again I have a prior commitment it seems."
"I'd hope not because if I were to see you again," Malachi looks back at the building solemnly and it doesn't take much for her to guess what he is to say.
"Outside of working hours of course,"
"Perhaps."
The two walk their separate ways. Zarracen towards Kayiback and Malachi towards the building again. Perhaps, there is another poor knight that needs defending.
Zarracen reaches Kayiback before long part of her wishes to ignore the man. But he was her friend wasn't he. Yet, she didn't want to speak with him. So, she stops in front of him.
"I don't wanna talk to you Kai I'm too pissed off about that shit in there and I've taken it out on you once already. Both of us can be two hotheads when we're already pissed, I don't want to fight not right now," Zarracen states this plainly.
Kayiback opens his mouth to retort. But he deflates his mouth set in a thin line to highlight his displeasure. But, Kayiback has always been understanding of space when she needs it.
"Yeah, just don't be a stranger. Fuck Zari I don't want us to not be us," she smirks when he says this. She punches his shoulder lightly.
"Yeah, I ain't that mad Kai. I'm just dealing with shit back-to-back okay."
"Right. Okay. Um, if you need help with that land you got too, I can give you some advice owning some on my own."
Zarracen blinks at him before shaking her head.
"If I ever get time to go over there, I'll be fine on my own Kai. Later."
She waves him off and walks off into the distance feeling his gaze on her. She also feels a slight pulse of his Videle leak out. It felt off. Like it was riled up for some reason. She wonders about idly before just not bothering to think about it.
Instead of the mansion where she knows she should be. Her feet carry her to Romantic Garden. The mercenary guild wasn't as lively as before. The warriors inside quietly drinking and playing card games. Zarracen's eyes dart around searching for Prawm or one of the Sulkan Mercenaries.
She finds Prawm easily drinking alone which was odd of course. Zarracen pays for a few pints before approaching her. She sets the drinks down and chugs her one before Prawm could even speak before drinking some from the second. The third she slides towards the woman who was nursing an empty mug.
"You seem, down," Zarracen points out. Prawm grimaces.
"No more than you yeah? Word is you were arrested."
"That's already circulating? Nothing new is it though not the squeakiest of the Grand Knights am I."
"True."
"I came here for a distraction so please distract me with your issues."
"Not much of an issue. Jack got injured badly a few days ago on what was supposed to be an easy means of transport. Fucking nobles."
Zarracen back tenses up.
"What happened?" Zarracen questions concerned. She hates nobles, that's a fact but to hear such vitriol is odd even in frustration at them not being fully forthcoming in the mission.
"A rat pack of a job."
A hidden job within a job huh. One that clearly turned south if she's drinking alone without the rest of her group. Jack's injury must've been extremely damaging and the others must be with them.
"What was the rat?"
"Supposedly transferring over an alive Fen that was supposed to be sedated. One of the noble's family members supposedly wanted to try to tame it. Turns out the Fen was full."
'Drugs' Zarracen thinks to herself. Very few were illegal to need to use something like a Fen for a pack mule.
"How full?"
"A super charge," Zarracen immediately regrets bringing her drink to her lips after her previously asked question. She almost chokes in shock.
Exl. Exl was banned by most if not all countries.
It was originally supposed to be creted to increase the capabilities of warriors. In fact, it was created within Ixmtaraza but the alchemist behind it didn't disclose the madness factor when the drug was used too often. And for fighters who wanted to get strong as quickly as possible in a world that breathing wrong could get you killed in people were taking it like mad.
Ixmtaraza saw an uptick in fighting capabilities across the board. But what also increased was violent crimes between knights and citizens. More citizens went into hazed frenzies.
"How and who?" Zarracen inquires. She's not the type to get involved.
"Oh, it was handled." Prawm waves her hand with a grimace. Zarracen blinks in understanding.
"Who died?"
"Just the idiot who requested it. And of course, it was written off as an accident by nobility. Jack's injuries are being treated with upmost care which is really shut up Vixtra."
"Damn."
Zarracen leans back. It was a bit suspicious, but she understands certain people still made band items because there was a demand for it. So, it's not a surprise that nobles paid the price with their lives. Sometimes with the number of exotic pet accidents they have if they actually do care about them.
"My offer is still on the table if you want." Prawm leans forward a grin.
"I'd rather not be tied to a specific person."
"Fine then,"
Zarracen orders them another round. She steers the conversation to an update on how her former comrades were doing with her. To which Prawm was happily enjoying if it kept her mind off other things.
They talk for hours afterwards about work and stories from some of their jobs. It's an ease which Zarracen hardly felt with anyone before. She finds herself genuinely enjoying the company of the woman she was so hostile too weeks before.
By the end it understood between the two of them that a friend was made here.
Zarracen leaves after Prawm starts slurring words and needs an escort to her quarters. She returns to the mansion finding it to be quiet. A few of her guards were roaming around on watch. It looks like they immediately got to work without her direction.
She really wanted to do get together with her squad at least to feel them out. It had to be ruined over course. Still, the day was yet too old for her own training.
Zarracen goes to her bedroom to relax. She readies herself for the night conducting a routine she was very much so used to. Instead of sleep however, she settles on the couch to begin to meditate.
Her inner mindscape brings the feeling of her aura back. It's raging as always. The white aura blazes within her as she coaxes it to mix with her eye. She can feel it slowly open again. Her mind taking over as instinct rules.
Outside of her body a flurry of colors surrounds her. Gold, white and red flicker about. Dancing an unseen dance across her skin. A heat simmers around the area. The metal on the couch slowly melting.
Drip!
Drip!
The sound was a mere speck to Zarracen. It's thought to be nothing more than just water from her bathtub that drips still despite being shut off minute's prior. The alcohol is soon burned out from her system given her more clarity as she stacks the power or bs inside her body.
Her chest. Her legs. Her arms. Her head. The orbs emanate with energy the martial mastery she has clear as the orbs slowly seep into her very being itself. Strengthening her body. A process that she learned instinctively when she was young and mastered as she got older.
A process that due to its very nature made it so difficult for her to utilize the mind's eyes for magic. But she does it. Finally. She directs videle to eye within her mind. It opens very slowly. A new feeling unlocks. Like Videle but not like it all the same. It felt like a dragon.
The way its breath washed over her as it expelled its fire. The way it's magic hurtled at her in the midst of their fight. Before she exhausted it to be the killable thing it was in the end.
Knock!
Knock!
Two quick raps at the doorway to her room slowly pulls Zarracen out of her meditation. Her eyes slowly open and she recedes her aura slowly inside herself to not damage the work she just put in. It'll open soon.
Zarracen inhales sharply smelling Isabella on the other side. Her senses too keen with the heightened videle training to not smell the woman. She stands swiftly. Stumbling. Not from tiredness. No her body felt a bit off. Not like she was taller but like her perception has changed slightly. Everything looks clearer. This has happened before but not like this.
She shakes the feeling away. Zarracen then walks to the door and opens it.
She bows lowly in greeting the princess.
"Princess. To what to I owe this pleasure?" Zarracen asks her and steps aside in invitation.
The cloying scent of darkness is about her. Cold. She shudders as the woman passes by. Zarracen blinks it away with a struggle. Isabella looks at the couch she had been sitting on prior. And she's looking at a certain area. The arms.
The metal arms that had cushion shaped around it looked to have melted. The floor held a pool of metal. The spot where Zarracen was sitting was scorched a bit as well.
"I'll order you a new one," Isabella remarks not even questioning a thing.
She settles at the edge away from the scorch marks. Zarracen sits on the other side of the couch area.
"You didn't answer me princess," Zarracen says once sat.
"I know." She's silent before she looks at Zarracen. The woman's eyes wander to her chest. "That necklace," Zarracen didn't even get the chance to think about Isabella staring at her breast.
"Ah a memento from when I was young. A friend gave it to me."
"I see."
Isabella was frowning though as she stared at it. She didn't look all too pleased with it.
"It seems to have some magic in it."
"Yes, I guess my friend was some type of magic user."
"Rare in the slums isn't it?"
"Is there a reason for that question," Zarracen's shoulders are tense. Too tense. Isabella simply smiles.
"None at all." Isabella looks off her eyes searching her nearly bare room. "Malachi gave word hours ago that you can now fulfill your duty to me in the fullest."
"Yes." Zarracen affirms.
"What took you so long to confirm? Fiella could not track you."
"She didn't look hard enough."
"Did she need to?"
"No, I grabbed few drinks to celebrate."
"Hmm." Isabella hums thoughtfully.
"Did you get to know your new guardsmen in my absence?"
"Avery kept them on a rather short chain."
Enthusiastically likely. Though Zarracen isn't mad about that. Glad someone took charge.
"She's the only one they respect though."
"Wouldn't respect her much for her clergy background if they knew the truth."
Zarracen chuckles after she says this. Isabella's face pulls into a smile as well. An easy one at that.
"Yes even I was rather disturbed at her reason for excommunication."
An easy silence comes over them at this. But, it has to end because Zarracen wants no needs to know this.
"Why did you really come? Don't say anything bout my little tribunal as the reason."
"I sensed you. Your Videle transforming into mana. It was powerful."
"Thanks?" Zarracen arches an eyebrow.
"The more powerful you are the more powerful I am. I would like to offer you magic lessons when I can."
Zarracen stiffens. She leans forward. The idea of learning from her isn't distasteful at all. The ease at which she had utilized her mana nights before in defense of herself comes to Zarracen's mind. Of course, with her late learning she doesn't expect to be as adept with magic. She'd just rather not be out of depth with a few sensing and enhancement magical skills.
She doesn't even have to think about agreeing to this. She just does.