The silence in the chamber was unbearable. Elaine could feel the robed figures' eyes boring into her, though their faces remained shadowed. The crown above the pedestal radiated a faint hum, its light pulsing with an unnatural rhythm.
She realized she had no choice but to speak, and carefully.
"I…" she began, her voice trembling.
The Nexus glitched again, displaying an unsettling overlay in her vision:
ANALYSIS: "Crown of Truth" detects deviations in heart rate, neural activity, and magical resonance to expose falsehoods. Critical honesty threshold: 73%. Suggested tactic: Construct technically truthful response.
A bead of sweat ran down her temple. Construct technically truthful responses? The sheer audacity of her situation was almost laughable. But Elaine wasn't laughing—she was scrambling.
"I plead… misunderstanding," she said carefully. "I never intended treason."
The crown dimmed slightly, its light stabilizing, but one of the robed figures stepped forward. "Misunderstanding? Do you deny sabotaging the royal alchemical supplies destined for the northern garrisons?"
Elaine bit her lip. Sabotage. Supplies. Northern garrisons. It was all meaningless to her, but lying wasn't an option.
"I… don't deny actions that may have caused harm," she replied, her mind racing. "But they were not done with the intent to betray the Crown."
The crown flickered again, but it didn't glow brighter. That was good—right?
A new notification appeared in her vision:
NEXUS REWARD: Incremental Stability Achieved. Analysis ongoing.
Incremental stability? Elaine didn't have time to unravel what that meant. The robed figure leaned closer, scrutinizing her. "Your words tread the edge of truth, Caldara Vess. Be warned: the Crown's patience is finite."
Another figure spoke, their voice sharper. "If her intent was not treason, then what was her intent? Answer directly."
Elaine clenched her fists. Her mind darted back to the earlier Nexus message about Caldara's actions—sabotage, emotional volatility. She inhaled sharply, making her gamble.
"I acted… out of desperation," she said, letting her voice crack for effect. "I believed… the supplies were compromised, corrupted. I thought I was preventing a greater disaster."
Her words hung in the air like a fragile thread. The crown emitted a low, steady hum, its light neither flaring nor dimming.
One of the robed figures exchanged a glance with another, their expression unreadable beneath their hood. "If what she says is true, she may not be the traitor we assumed…"
"Or," interrupted the first figure, "she is a liar who has grown skilled at dancing around the truth."
Elaine swallowed hard. Her gamble had bought her time, but she could feel the tribunal's suspicion growing.
The guard behind her grunted. "Enough of this. Let the crown decide her worth!" He shoved her forward, closer to the pedestal. The crown's light intensified as if reacting to her proximity.
[DIVERGENCE MANDATE UPDATE]
NEW SUB-OBJECTIVE: Engage the Crown's Inquiry to Redirect Judgment.
She wanted to scream. Redirect judgment? The Nexus seemed to delight in giving her impossible tasks.
The crown began to rotate slowly, glowing brighter. A deep, resonant voice echoed from it—alien, mechanical, yet suffused with eerie sentience.
"Caldara Vess," it intoned, "what is your purpose?"
Elaine froze. Purpose? She didn't even know who Caldara Vess truly was, let alone her purpose in this world. Her mind churned, seeking a response that wouldn't doom her on the spot.
"I seek… clarity," she said finally.
The crown's rotation slowed, its light flickering. "Clarity?"
"Yes," she continued, her voice gaining strength. "I have made mistakes, yes. But I seek to understand, to uncover the truths behind those mistakes so that I may atone."
The tribunal murmured among themselves, their voices low and indistinct.
The crown's voice echoed again: "Do you pledge loyalty to the Crown and its justice?"
Her stomach turned. This was a trap. Any oath to an unknown entity could shackle her—or worse. Yet hesitation could cost her everything.
"I…" she began, searching for the precise phrasing. "I pledge loyalty to the pursuit of justice."
The crown stilled. Its light dimmed, then flared briefly, as though considering her words. Finally, it returned to a steady glow.
"The subject has spoken," the crown declared. "The truth is… sufficient."
Relief washed over her like a tidal wave, but it was short-lived.
One of the robed figures stepped forward, their voice grim. "Sufficient, but not absolved. Caldara Vess, you are hereby sentenced to probation under the watch of the guild overseer. You will fulfill tasks deemed necessary for the Crown's interests. Any deviation will result in immediate execution."
Elaine's heart sank, but she kept her expression neutral. Probation was better than execution, but it was still a leash.
"Take her," the figure commanded.
The guard yanked her to her feet again, dragging her out of the chamber. As the heavy doors slammed shut behind her, the Nexus interface reappeared:
DIVERGENCE MANDATE COMPLETE.
REWARD: +15% Nexus Stability. Temporary Class Unlocked: Cognivore.
Her vision blurred as exhaustion hit her like a sledgehammer. Whatever came next, she would need answers—and soon.