"One...Two...Three...Four..."
*PUNCH*
"One...Two...Three...Four..."
*PUNCH*
"One...Two...Three...Four*
*PUNCH*
This had been going on for hours. Since Alex was taken by the guards, they decided to do some "enhanced interrogation techniques" with Alex, as he hadn't spoken a word since being taken in; however, one of the guards had, let's say...a personal grudge against Alex. His nephew was apparently one of the guards that was stationed at the church during Raven's "wedding" and Alex killed him during the rescue of his sister. So the guard was working out some personal grief on Alex. The thing is, Alex could stop this anytime he wanted; he was letting the guard do this.
After another hour passed of similar treatment, the guards eventually dragged him into a large room and chained him to a post. In the room were people of many different statuses. Church members, high-ranking soldiers, and even the headmistress of Xymaris Academy, as well as several other teachers and students, including Raven, Freya, Anna, Lyanna, and Amelie.
Many were shocked to see his appearance, including his family, who looked as if they were ready to tear the heads off the guards. Even the headmistress looked displeased about Alex's condition.
Soon after several minutes of murmurs and whispers, two giant doors at the end of the room opened, and in came a man dressed in a medal-decorated black coat with black dress pants. He was bald and had a long silver beard.
"We gather here today to discuss the matter of Mr. Alex Blackwood's crimes and if he should be allowed to attend Xymaris School of Magic." the judge said. "Have both sides written their arguments?"
The first to speak out was the head of the church. "A murderer cannot be allowed to attend a prestigious academy named after one of our divine goddesses. He should be punished as soon as possible."
"Ironic..." Alex thought to himself.
The next to speak out was the headmistress. "Xymaris' teachings say we should give everyone a second chance, or have you forgotten that, Father Pasternak?"
"Headmistress...while I respect your position, his attendance would violate the sanctity of—"
"Don't I get a say?" Alex said, gathering everyone's attention.
"You do." The judge said. "Now Mr. Blackwood, witnesses have said you killed Mr. Oliver Tarren and Duncan Tarren along with several guards protecting the ceremony. What do you have to say for these charges?
"I'm definitely guilty of that." Alex said calmly.
The people in attendance were shocked. Alex just plainly said he killed them without even trying to defend himself.
"You do realize the punishment for murder is death?" The judge said.
"Yes, I do. But it wasn't murder. It was self-defense." Alex said.
"Self-defense?" the judge asked.
"Lies!" The Father screamed.
"And if I could prove it?" Alex asked.
"Then these charges would be cleared." the judge said.
"Then I call on my first witness... Ellen Tarren." Alex said with a smile. As soon as the judge was about to say it would be impossible to get her down to the capital in time, Ellen opened the doors behind Alex. She had grown more beautiful over the past year and even more graceful.
"Single life has treated you well, Ellen." Alex commented.
"That it has. Alex." Ellen said with a smile. "I see you could be in better condition."
"Oh, I'm fine. Don't let the black eye fool you." Alex said.
"Mrs. Tarren? What are you doing here?" the judge asked.
"It's Ms. Tarren, your honor. And I'm here to clear Alex of all charges." Ellen said.
"He killed your husband and son?" The judge looked shocked.
"No, he killed an evil man and a boy who would've tried to force himself on his sister. Everything he did that day was to protect his sister Raven and myself from my husband's hand." Ellen said. "These are documents also stating that he paid off each guard to personally listen to him rather than their military commander."
"I..." The judge said as he looked at the papers, shocked. "If the widow herself claims it was in self-defense, then I suppose that's that."
"THIS CAN'T BE!" The father yelled.
"Next charges. The deaths of the citizens of the village of Haven." The judge said. "The surviving witnesses claim you were the one that destroyed the village."
"I have a witness for that too." Alex said. "Claire."
Suddenly in the shadows Claire appeared and walked to the stand.
"Who are you, miss?" The judge asked.
"Claire. No last name." Claire said emotionlessly.
"And how did you witness what happened in the town?" The judge asked.
"I was there."
"Okay...could you describe what happened?" the judge asked.
"Alex and I were on a mercenary job. Killing monsters outside of the village, while we were gone, bandits attacked the village and began to burn it down. Many innocents died in the process, and after we evacuated all the survivors, Alex destroyed what was left of the bandits and the village." Claire explained.
The father, having enough of this, yelled out. "He still killed so many! The goddesses would-"
"They allowed me to do it." Alex said.
"LIES!" The father once again yelled.
"Claire, if you would." Alex said to Claire as she walked up to him. Claire then unbuttoned Alex's shirt, and many people were looking very confused about this until they saw it. Three marks on Alex's chest. One a bright silver, another a bright purple, and the final one, a bright yellow. Everyone knew what these three marks represented.
"He's been... blessed?" One of the church people said.
"Not just by one... but by three goddesses?!" another one said, desperately confused.
"So you claim the goddesses wouldn't allow me to attend their schools for an act they themselves allowed and even blessed me in the process. Man...how stupid do you look, Father Pasternak? Alex said.
Just then the headmistress smiled before speaking. "As Mr. Blackwood has been blessed by the goddesses, it is clear his attendance at the Xymaris School of Magic should not only be allowed but encouraged. Anyone with an argument to that?"
Nobody raised their hands, and the judge had no choice but to slam his gavel.
"Alex Blackwood is cleared of all charges and shall be allowed to attend the Xymaris School of Magic as he pleases."
Alex's family cheered in response as Alex was unchained, but he was not done shocking people. Alex took a deep breath, and suddenly all of the wounds he had suffered had sealed up and healed; even the black eye had completely vanished, almost as if it were never there.
"...What?" Father Pasternak said in shock.
Alex turned his attention to the guards, specifically the uncle of the boy he killed.
"Next time, you won't even have the opportunity to hit me. So just know that the first few shots were free."
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