2025-01-24 17:00:05The trial had begun.
“Your claim is the existence of beings called Shards. Do you have any evidence to support your claim?” Revner asked. His stress on the word ‘beings’ was sarcastic. Revner would rather believe a liar than this nonsense.
“Exalted Nobles, I have to admit that I did not have any proof of my claim.”
“So, you admit that you’ve spread lies to cause chaos?” Juggen said.
“Like I said, I did not have any proof of my claim. Until this morning.”
Voyne directed to a holographic screen. On it showed Luthen kneeling on the rubble amidst fires and bodies and roaring with red, dripping hands. Many Nobles averted their heads. Others clenched their fist in anger.
“What is this? When did this happen?! Who did this?!!”Revner was enraged.
I have your attention now. Voyne smirked. His plan was coming together.
“One of them has come out of hiding. He was responsible for killing hundreds of innocents this morning at a mall.” His face turned to the seat reserved for the ruler of Luthen’s home region “In Rhyne.” His eyes locked with Sophia Augusten.
Mass explosions? Sophia thought.
In truth, Sophia’s father did not tell her why he left in a hurry. Only that she was to take his place in the proceedings and then come straight home.
Is that what happened?The entire hall looked at her, silent. It was awkward.
Revner asked her “Duchess Augusten, can you confirm this?”
Sophia looked redder. “Y-Yes, Archduke. It is true.” She wasn’t sure, but it looked true.
“It could just be a rogue Ability user. Why do you think otherwise?” Soran asked.
“Because, my Lord, no Ability user of any Aspect has ever manifested a soul sign. Look carefully.”
True enough, an infinity sign made of intangible but visibly glowing material floated atop Luthen’s head.
Soul sign? Klare frowned. The Legend did say something about that!
“How did you know– ?” a Noble asked
“Does it matter?” another responded.
It did not matter as long as it was true.
Duchess Klare calmed the hall and addressed Voyne. ”You plan to defeat them. How?”
“There are some requests, my Nobles” Voyne responded confidently and slowly. No need to rush. He had the hall in his palm.
“Speak then.”
“Firstly, that all forms of persecution against the Church and I cease immediately.”
“Secondly, one-tenth of all Soul Aspect users currently known and yet to be discovered will be placed under my command.”
“I will reveal my third request before the High Council only.”
The damn snake! He is exploiting us! Revner thought.
*******
The High Council.
A special branch of the Great Circle made up of the Seven Great Nobles alone.
For Voyne to ask for a High Council audience, his request must be something only they can grant.
Sophia looked at Voyne. He looked calm and composed. She looked till she thought she could almost see his sheepskin peel off and expose his inner wolf. Voyne turned to look at her with a smile.
“The defendant should leave us while we discuss the verdict.” Juggen said.
Commotion ensued again immediately Voyne left. The Circle was divided.
“This! From only one of them? How many are they?”
“My region is closest to Rhyne. Who do you think they’ll come for next?”
“The Emancipation Church is a fraud!”
“Did you see the way the Shard shouted after killing them?”
“So twisted!”
“The evidence could be fabricated!”
“Why does evidence suddenly show up after 2 days of trials, huh?”
“That’s a coincidence!”
“Currently, only Dryne accommodates the Church.”
“Carry on with the agreed verdict!”
“Klare, what do you think? What did you see?” Huften asked.
Klare looked unsettled. “He’s not lying but…I sense something underneath, an angle he hasn’t told us” She composed herself and looked at the entire Circle “He can’t be trusted. Not completely.”
“What should we do about the Shard? If we do not do anything, the people would think we are afraid or weak.”
There’s was a pause.
“We should create an investigation into these ….. Shards and reassure the people. Also grant’s the Church’s first request.” Archduke Huften said “We kill two birds with a stone.”
“I put it to vote.” He continued.
So it was decided.
*******
A messenger ran to Voyne’s residence with a letter. On knocking the door, a cloak received it and delivered it to Voyne.
He opened the letter and grinned. “They’ll come begging soon.” he said and flung it into the fire.
Renée looked at the fire and saw the seal of the Circle on the letter’s envelope. It was their response.
She knew that the timing of the attack, was too perfect to be a coincidence.
She knew he had some hand in this. It was just too convenient for a mass explosion to occur on the final day of Voyne’s trial.
Thousands to die for this?
*******
Sophia left the trial room and headed straight to the airport. A plane was waiting to take her.
“Good evening, Duchess” her attendant, Kleia greeted
Sophia responded with a smile as she entered her cabin, her mind reliving the events of the afternoon.
The United Nobles had granted Voyne a pardon and set a time to meet and discuss his demands. The world was flipped over in one afternoon. The United Nobles was caving in to the demands of a religious terrorist.
But what did he want?
The existence of Shards, how he presented them as villains, how convenient the attack was.
The only true thing about what Voyne claimed was that Shards were powerful. Each Shard represented an ability Aspect. Soul, Energy, Matter, Space, Time, Force and Null.
She represented the Soul Aspect. Voyne had targeted her and the others directly with his reveal of their existence.
She had to protect both herself and others.
First with that guy at the explosions.
“It is time.”
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