Bloem was a peaceful island at first, but now people from unknown islands come there to take their resources. The Queen decided that Eron's actions hurt a lot of people, and he will have to face trial.
The nobles, dignitaries and high ranking officials where all invited while Lysander, Orion snd Eron were still on the way. So getting there in time was no problem at all.
The guards were still holding the trio captive, and they were not planning on letting them go anytime soon.
…
To the common folks of Iwahai, the Queen's Court was a distant, almost mythical realm – a place where the elite gathered, where power and influence were wielded like fine-edged blades. From the bustling streets and humble dwellings beyond the palace walls, the court was a world unto itself, a gilded sanctuary that few had the privilege to witness firsthand.
For those on the outside, the court was a source of both awe and trepidation. Tales of its grandeur and splendor were passed down through generations, whispered in hushed tones over steaming cups of tea and shared around crackling hearth fires.
The Great Hall, with its soaring ceilings and intricate murals, was spoken of in a reverent hushed, as if merely uttering its name could summon the imposing presence of the Queen herself.
When word spread that Lysander, Orion, and Eron – three young men from the very fabric of the common folk – had been summoned to the court, a ripple of excitement and concern swept through the kingdom. What had these three done to warrant the attention of the Queen? Were they in trouble, or had they somehow managed to earn the privilege of an audience?
The people strained to catch glimpses of the trio as they were escorted through the streets, their eyes wide with curiosity and a touch of envy. To stand before the Queen, to face the judgment of the court – it was a fate that most could only dream of, a chance to perhaps influence the very course of the kingdom.
And as the minute of the trial arrived, the streets surrounding the palace buzzed with anticipation. Vendors hawked their wares, their voices mingling with the excited chatter of the gathered onlookers.
They speculated about the nature of the trials, the fate that awaited the two young men and this middle age-looking guy, and the potential consequences that could reverberate through the kingdom.
…
Now, the time for the trial to begin had arrived.
As Lysander, Orion, and Eron stepped into the Great Hall, the atmosphere shifted. The air was thick with anticipation, and the murmurs of the gathered nobles faded into a tense silence.
The trio stood at the foot of the dais, Eron's heart was pounding in his chest, each pulse echoing the weight of his impending judgment.
Lysander's stomach growled audibly, a stark reminder of his hunger, but the sight before him quickly overshadowed that primal need. The Queen's throne loomed above them, a dark silhouette against the shimmering light filtering through the arched windows.
It was a throne that promised power but also demanded sacrifice—a stark reminder of the consequences that awaited those who dared to challenge the crown.
Suddenly, the heavy doors of the hall creaked open, and the Queen entered. Her presence was commanding immediate respect, and everyone turned to look at who opened the door. Except for Lysander, he was still holding his stomach and showing that he is hungry.
Dressed in a gown that flowed like liquid night, adorned with jewels that sparkled like stars, she exuded an aura of authority that sent shivers down Eron's spine. Her gaze swept over the trio, piercing and calculating, as if she could see into their very souls.
She sat on the throne, and wanted to start with the one with the worst deeds of all three.
"Bring forth the accused," she declared, her voice echoing through the hall like a thunderclap. The nobles shifted uneasily, their eyes darting between the Queen and the trio, eager to witness the spectacle that was about to unfold.
As they were led forward, Lysander felt the weight of countless eyes upon him, each one a judgment waiting to be passed. He glanced at Orion, who stood stoically beside him, and Eron, whose expression was a mix of defiance, fear and dread. They were in this together, but the uncertainty of their fate loomed large.
"Do you understand the gravity of your actions?" the Queen asked, her tone icy. "You have disrupted the peace of this kingdom, and for that, you must face the consequences."
Before anyone from the three accused could respond, a figure stepped forward from the shadows. It was a tall man with a gaunt face and eyes that glinted with a sinister intelligence. It was Dr. Insan Voss, the infamous government doctor rumored to have conducted countless experiments in Forest Nercia but came out unscathed.
To the point he built a lair in that forest, a lair that had a 3.7% chance of being found. Hence Lysander & Orion could not find it anywhere in the forest. Insan's presence sent a chill through the hall, and whispers erupted among the nobles.
"Your Majesty," Insan began to speak, his voice smooth and persuasive, "these young men are not merely troublemakers. They are potential threats to the very fabric of our society. I have seen the things they are capable of, and monstere that lurks deep within them, and I propose a solution."
Eron's heart raced as Insan continued, weaving a tale of fear and manipulation. He never spoke of the experiments he was conducting in the forest, of the monstrous creations that had emerged from the shadows, and how the trio's actions could lead to further chaos.
The nobles listened, enraptured, their expressions shifting from curiosity to horror.
"I would be very honored if your majesty could just give them to Iwahai's best doctor and let them be subjected to my experiments," Insan suggested, a twisted smile creeping across his lips.
"I can harness their potential, transform them into something greater, or just simply eliminate the threat they pose entirely."
The Queen's gaze flickered between Dr. Voss and the trio, weighing her options. Eron felt a surge of panic. This was not just a trial; it was a trap. Voss's intentions were clear, and the stakes had never been higher.
"Your Highness," Orion interjected, his voice was nothing short of calm and resolute. "We are not monsters. We acted out of desperation, not malice. Please, if Your Higness would just give us a chance to prove ourselves."
'Tch, who does that idiotic guy think he is? Coming in here and planning to use us as experiments, I can't tolerate it.' Orion thought.
The hall fell silent, the tension palpable. The Queen's expression remained inscrutable, but Orion could sense the shifting tides of her judgment.
Would she see through Dr. Voss's manipulation, or would she succumb to the fear he sowed?
In that moment, the ground beneath them shook and trembled, and a low growl echoed from the shadows of the hall. The nobles gasped, and Eron's heart sank as a monstrous figure emerged. This was a creature born from Insan's failed experiments, its form was a grotesque amalgamation of human and beast.
The creature lunged forward, its eyes filled with rage and pain, and chaos started to erupt in the Great Hall. Nobles screamed and scrambled for safety, while the guards rushed to contain the threat.
Lysander, Orion, and Eron stood frozen, with Eron and Orion realizing that their fate was now intertwined with the very monstrosity that Voss had unleashed.
"Now, do you see?" Voss shouted over the chaos, his voice dripping with malice. "This is the true cost of your defiance, Iyohohoho iyohohoho!"
Queen Seraphina was always well informed, however she did not know anything about Insan's experiments. And witnessing it first hand, was something else.
'Hey, I see meat.'
As the creature charged, Lysander felt a surge of adrenaline in his veins and arteries. They had to act right at that instant, not just to save themselves but to confront the threat that threatened to consume them all.
In that moment, Orion understood that their trial had transformed from a normal trial into a fight for survival. He did not think bad about the situation at hand, but he saw that this was a chance to reclaim their destiny from the clutches of fear and manipulation.
With a fierce determination igniting deep within him, Lysander turned to his friend and Eron. "Are you ready to fight guys? We fight together! For ourselves, for the creature and for my stomach!"
"No way you idiot, you can't possibly think you can eat such a disgusting thing," Orion scowled at Lysander.
"Huh, what's the big deal Ori? I'm sure it tastes amazing, hahahahaha."
And as they were prepared to face the creature, the echoes of their resolve reverberated through the hall, a testament to their courage in the face of overwhelming odds. The true battle for their lives and the fate of the kingdom had only just begun, their previous battle fatigue?? It was there, and they knew it as well.