Bellinor turned her head to make sure she could see King Cesar’s face at that last statement, and I wondered what she was expecting as she went silent, waiting for something. Whatever was expected, the king just gave a measured nod.

  “You’ve the right to speak your piece, Bellinor, and make your arguments, so long as they remain civil and grounded. Please, continue.”

  Bellinor turned to me with a smile that seemed out of a soap opera, eyes radiating with intensity that I tried to defuse with a nervous smile of my own…

  It, uh, did not work, as she began to pace in front of me with measured agitation. “My fellow noblemen and noblewoman, I will start with the most obvious falsehood in my eyes. The death of dear Revanche, my nephew.”

  I gave a sigh of relief. “Oh, he’s not dead? That’s good news! I’d heard…”

  Bellinor turned and fixed her gaze on me with the psychotic eyes of a hunting owl as she started to lurch forward… and I shrank from that gaze, leaning slowly back from my kneeling position. She pulled back after a moment, and it took me a moment to realize that the small sounds from the audience I noted were people trying to hold back either laughter or anger… maybe both? It was honestly hard to tell.

  “As I’m sure you likely know, druid.” she spat, running her tongue across the word like she was saying something dirty. “My Revanche expired in prison. Dark magic running through his body and contorting it in a ghastly figure, his spine…!”

  Bellinor’s voice caught in her throat for a moment. Putting a hand to her heart, she placed her other against her forehead. “Oh, to think of it would bring me to faint… But there is no mistake! I have confirmed earlier with the Archwizard Achaeus himself that this was dark magic that killed him before he could explain himself properly!”

  “I have spoken with Achaeus and heard this myself, Lady Bellinor. Continue to your accusation, while the sun remains in the sky.” Cesar replied with a frown, as worried murmuring and muttering flooded through the nobles - quietly, very quietly, but as I was mostly standing here getting talked at, I had time to pick up the general distress I was hearing. Dark magic was apparently a very big deal.

  “Forgive me, King Cesar. I merely wished to ground everyone here in the reality of what is now going on here! The importance!” She replied, holding a hand to her heart.

  “I do not make light of your loss - Revanche was a member of your family - but remember you are here to convince me, not the court.”

  “Of course, King Cesar. I would not forget my place. I shall be more pointed, then.” Bellinor replied. “That is, that I believe Revanche had died after he uncovered a plot against thee, mighty king, one embodied in the form of Noah!” She turned sharply, fixing me with a death glare on par with a bird of prey “- if that is your real name!”

  “It is!” I replied with a cheerful tone that I then realized… should probably be dialed back a bit. “That was… rhetorical. Right. My bad.”

  “Should I need witnesses, I will be glad to call them forward. But I think in the light of Revanche’s death, it should be obvious that the culprit was one who wished to hide his tracks. Many have spoken of a greater conspiracy, something that threatens to take away the kingdom’s heroes. I submit that I have no idea what dear Revanche was thinking, but that Noah's story, his alibi, and his status as a hero is full of holes!”

  King Cesar slid back, as the rest of the room looked on in outrage. “...You know well the import of such an accusation, Bellinor Ravencroft, so continue, swiftly, and make your points well.”

  Bellinor strode in front of me like a tiger stalking her prey, staring down at me. “Let’s start with the obvious. I have helped raise Revanche from a baby, and I have seen every step of his life. I am no fool as to his abilities. Revanche Ravencroft was an accomplished duellist and while he may have been known for his bluster ‘round the court, he is no fool. His blade is swift and his strikes are true. While there may be some truth to luck playing a part, there is no way this man standing before me lacks martial skill, despite his feigned humility.” Bellinor accused.

  “Revanche is - was, a thin, muscled man who lacks a taste for sweets. He would not happen upon this murderer in a bakery idly. Nor does he lack so much in money that he would need to take a contract for assassination. I know that Revanche often kept to himself - perhaps he was in odd company - but I do know that he was a chivalrous man who was above an attack from behind unless he felt the matter was greater even than his personal honor!” she spat, her gaze intense as she finished that, glaring at me as if she was ready for me to challenge this. I didn’t know the guy, so I didn’t really feel like doing that, of course.

  Bellinor strode back and forth with increased agitation, clasping her hands together behind her back as she continued. “But Revanche… often tried to do things by himself. Especially when he saw an injustice before his eyes. It was a side of himself he often kept hidden. He would not evilly strike a man from behind, and he would choose his moment carefully. Far from the amateur ‘assassination attempt’, that Noah has put forward for us to believe.”

  The King leaned forward at this, his eyes flashing dangerously. “Many of these details are confirmed - by Lord Victor and Lady Calia as well. If you dispute their statements, you will need evidence.”

  Bellinor looked with a shocked gasp at both Victor and Calia, giving a bow as her posture changed from aggression to humility in an instant. “Forgive me for implying such, my king. I view Lord Victor and Lady Calia as manipulated pawns in this endeavor - potential victims of a plot laid by this so-called druid that have yet to come to fruition. But I realize my hasty speech has unintentionally created offense where none was meant - I can only beg your pardons most humbly. It would be far from me to doubt the great four noble heroes. I have come here to defend you, as I believe dear Revanche wanted as well.”

  I just blinked at this woman going from side to side, emotion to emotion. Was I in the middle of a historical drama… Well, I was in the middle of a medieval courtroom, using powers that literally came from some videogame analog, within a 2000’s fantasy movie plot. I suppose it’d be crazier if this all came across positively mundanely at this point.

  “But even there, Victor’s testimony mentioned something you left out.”

  “I… did?” I asked with a frown, a little nervous.

  “Victor the Hero did make sure to note that he was suspiciously avoided by the attacker. My Revanche had singled you out, and you out alone. What’s more, even when Victor the Hero attacked him, he refused to defend himself. There was something he cared about more than his own life, and he demonstrated that when he attempted to sacrifice his very being in service of his cause.”

  “Oh. Well… yeah. I’m sorry. I forgot about that part…” I admitted, putting a hand to my ear as I blushed. “I did think it was weird at that time too. He even said he was trying to help Victor…” I added with a frown.

  “Convenient you remember this now.” Bellinor snapped.

  “Well…you did uhh, remind me.” I retorted, but there was some murmuring as I spoke, and I realized with a pink face that she kinda had a good point.

  “Then, there’s the matter of your supposed class. I’ve been thinking about your escort since you came in, and it finally brought me the last piece of what your true power is.” Bellinor spoke.

  “I could’ve just told you I was a druid-” I started to inform her

  “-Which is a lie convenient for a dark sorcerer!” she interrupted, before pointing to Luster. “As only reinforced by the monster you have charmed as a pet!”

  I gave an earnest shake of my head, with a glare forming across my face. “She’s not a monster! Luster is a Giganotosaurus!”

  “Is that what you call that breed of drake?” Bellinor asked, giving a raised eyebrow. “For, I have had suspicions since the moment I learned of your existence! I have heard of several times where you were supposedly asked to learn shapeshifting, and yet you’ve seemingly avoided it, never using the skill once! Every druid in this kingdom knows of shapeshifting, and yet, you’ve apparently avoided learning the power, despite being repeatedly encouraged to do so!”

  I blinked in confusion and concern, my eyes unable to meet Bellinor’s gaze as her eyes bored into me. “W-well…” I sputtered. “I sort of didn’t pick it initially by accident. And then I just... Haven’t wanted to, really. It’s just that. I can summon plants…”

  “So I’ve heard. I spoke to the guards after your ‘tree’ was created in the palace garden. One that no man could identify, that had scales like chainmail… I submit that it was not a plant of this world!” Bellinor challenged.

  “...Well, that’s actually of curiosity to me, since it might or might not have existed here at some point,” I started to explain, hoping not to get interrupted-

  “-And therefore could be a form of plantlife corrupted or summoned from the void!” Bellinor interrupted. “You used your alleged ability in the middle of an area filled with vegetation. Our texts of the even-now encroaching darkness speak of them changing our environment, twisting our plant life or bringing beings from their own world into ours!”

  “Wow, really! That’s terrifying… is there any still about?” I asked, but realized as Bellinor’s stare dug into me that it was perhaps a stupid question.

  “...You would know better than I, dark summoner! And we still have statues and stories of the dreaded reapers, utilizing scythes to butcher entire ranks of good men… yet here we see you preferring a sickle, and with enough skill to best a noble who is a prime duellist! Not only that, but well enough to prevent your skills from being read due to your ‘clumsiness’! All of it feigned and planned as you hid behind a fellow Hero!”

  “...So you’re saying I planned to get stabbed and almost sploded?” I asked. Honestly, as much as I was kinda terrified, and that was going through my head, there was something kind of impressive about how she’d taken my bungling idiocy and turned it into this grand plot, and I was a little invested.

  “I should say you planned to defend yourself when you realized you were being tailed. I cannot imagine what you planned for Calia - but I know that you likely decided to wait on it after you realized my dear Revanche had you in his sights. I don’t know if he was lying protectively in wait or already on your trail - but I am convinced he was acting as a guardian angel for her!”

  Bellinor had set both hands on her fairly wide hips, her black hair swishing behind her as she pointed an accusatory finger “You are an incarnation of evil playing at the title of Hero! From the start there’s something wrong with your story as a fifth hero we hadn’t expected to be summoned! Your existence was unheard of, yet you appeared under mysterious circumstances, a break from the otherwise flawless predictions of the wall of prophecy.”

  “Despite this, the kindness of our great King Cesar…” Bellinor stopped to give what I assume was an appreciative nod to the king, one which gained no reaction as he simply sat at attention, utterly impassive, so she simply continued.

  “-Who allowed you to make your case for who you were, despite appearing from nowhere, and you fabricated the guise of a druid, spending time working among the peasants rather than training your skills here, making it clear you wish to avoid the frontlines, and spending your time coming to and fro the castle but rarely…”

  Bellinor had a smile of satisfaction as she continued, looking at me like a cat would a cornered rat! “All while never displaying a single druidic skill, and now bringing a monster you’ve summoned and controlled brazenly into our midst! I know not whether you’re merely a corrupted mage or some kind of dark Hero! Perhaps instead a monster we’ve never fought before! But I accuse you of being one with the enemy, an envoy of The Black Court, and of conspiring against the kingdom! Revanche died a hero, staking his very life on this idea, and I do not intend his sacrifice to be in vain! So now, dark one, can you defend yourself?”

  I cleared my throat awkwardly, aware of the sea of eyes now focused squarely upon me, wracking my brain for a good answer. This was surprisingly well thought-out, and I felt myself shrinking under Bellinor’s gaze. Trying my hardest to find myself a complex answer, I was reminded quickly that my brain didn’t really work like that.

  “Mmm-mm.” I cleared my throat again. “...Outside of a simple denial. And uhhh, I do deny all of this. I really am just a druid.” I spoke up, as murmuring came from those around me. It didn’t seem like every noble was staring at me with hate or condemnation, many simply looked curious, confused, or thoughtful, but enough did that I wiggled in concern as I replied. “...Those who may know me here, few as they are, would know that I’m simply too stupid, shortsighted, and scatter-brained to manage the conspiracy being presented here! I have spent time around several people here, from Victor, to King Cesar, to Ionos the former archwizard, and the credit required to be given to me that I would be able to convince all of them that I am a buffoon, without simply being a buffoon, seems simply too unbelievable to me!”

  I ended up turning to my small dinosaur as I continued, .”As for my Luster, the Giganotosaurus you keep calling a dragon… I actually have some of her egg bits with me in my wallet, if you wanted to see.” I replied, patting my wallet. “She hatched only a few days ago, so I don’t think that qualifies for summoning. That might clear a little bit of my name, right?”

  “You could have summoned it as an egg.” Bellinor replied, her glare not faltering as she crossed her arms in indignation.

  “...Can I do that? Like, could hypothetical evil me do that? Is that how summoning works?” I asked with surprise, something that got a mixture of accusatory murmurs and barely suppressed laughter.

  To my surprise, Bellinor stumbled. “...If you could summon plants and animals, there is no reason you would be unable to summon one from an egg.” She snapped, a vein bulging on her forehead.

  “...so you don’t know either?” I asked.

  This did actually cause someone to give an impassioned snort, loud enough to fill the room, along with the embarrassed clearing of a throat, from the crowd. I didn’t know if that helped or hurt my case, but I just decided to bring out the egg fragment and continue anyways.

  “...You can see here that it’s not particularly evil-looking. Her shell was a whole lot thicker than a chicken egg. I really like the soft green combined with the blue specks here, and I think this bit here looks a lot like the Orion's Belt constellation - ah, right, you guys don’t have those stars here, I don’t think…” I started to babble, before Bellinor spoke over me.

  “As I said, I don’t believe this clears you one bit. Do you have anything else to say to defend yourself?” She spat with anger.

  “Uhm.” I sputtered. “You know, I was nervous coming here. And I still am. I was planning to do whatever I needed to go home and get back to farming, forget this even happened.” I managed to string together. “...But I wasn’t kidding before, I am stupid, and I have to admit, that’s basically the only hole in your story I can see. I guess, me being this stupid makes sense for deciding to become suspicious at the end, purposefully getting attacked, and blundering into your sight. But it doesn’t make sense for how I got there, at least to me.

  I cleared my throat, buying time to try and compose my next words. “But I, for sure, did not do it!” I do add with a frown. “I really am looking for a peaceful life for me and Luster, and I promise I didn’t want to hurt lord Revanche, nor anyone else. Well… outside of when the assassination was attempted, at least. I’m not a noble, I can’t do these back-and-forth loops. I’m just a… I’m just a dude! Practically a peasant! But I swear I am an innocent one!”

  My proclamation gave way to a bit of murmuring between the nobles, and the court was still looking at me with suspicion. Bellinor, for her part, looked at me with her composure regained in seconds, a small smile that looked triumphant as people murmured. I guessed my defense wasn’t particularly good, but it was all I had.

  “Is there anyone else who would like to speak up in his defense?” Bellinor asked.

  Calia, to my surprise, was the first. “I… would like to point something out. I think there’s something I know that proves Noah’s not a bad guy!” She points out with a voice that was… stronger than I’d ever heard it before

  Bellinor gave an exaggerated curtsy as she inclined her head towards Calia. “I see. Do enlighten us, Lady Calia. All perspectives will help us see the truth of the matter.”

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  “I… Well, I know when we were walking together, we started talking about things that we knew. From our world. We talked about songs and people and, just, things, that just do not exist outside of our time. Really specific ones. So I can vouch for him.”

  Bellinor tapped a hand to her chin in a way that seemed just too mechanical to me, and I got a bad feeling as she opened her mouth. “Many powers are known to be a part of dark magic. Seeing things from beyond. Reading the thoughts and intentions of those around you. Knowing or doing things not as a result of some natural process, but simply making them happen… all with usually awful results. It’s very well known from our history that practitioners of dark sorcery, and even a few kinds of living monsters, can read minds. I am so sorry to think of your privacy being invaded so, Lady Calia…” Bellinor noted, placing her hand to her mouth in mock sympathy and horror. “And if everything is as I said, I fear it might be good of you to be checked for any lingering effects, along with Lord Victor. For all we know, residual magic still plagues your minds and bodies...”

  To my surprise, even at this distance I could see something weird happen with Victor’s face. Something like a wince as that pleasantly impassive face became completely stone, before turning… quite pleasant. “...So it seems. Perhaps our good archwizard could give us a check. I might’ve had something to say in your favor, Miss Bellinor, but if we’re being affected by such residual magics, I suppose there’s no way my word is reliable.”

  Victor’s annoyance hung in his tone, but the murmuring of others in the court seemed to go more Bellinor’s way, from what little I could catch, a lot of nods and ‘now I see’s filtering out through the crowd’s low murmur.

  “...In the absence of anyone with such abilities currently in the court, I suppose we shall have to await an investigation to be completely sure.” Bellinor replied, as I noticed her smile crack just a tad.

  King Cesar gave a nod. “Were that true, we might need to pause. However, I have invited someone to the court this day in advance that can confirm many aspects of this story. Sage Ionos, please step forward and give your account of your recent works.”

  To my surprise, Ionos stepped forward from behind the throne, the wizard looking to me - and from the looks of surprise and whiplash on many of the nobles, I was not alone in my shock.

  Bellinor, in particular, looked like a surprised frog as she gave an off-center wave, her eye twitching before she turned to face the old man standing next to the king.“...Ionos! What an unexpected surprise from a retired hero. I’m so glad to see you well.”

  “Indeed. It’s been years since I’ve seen you over for tea, Bellinor. But we are not here for pleasantries.”

  “I heard you’ve been investigating the magics used on my dear Revanche with your son, Achaeus. Is that not right?” Bellinor asked quickly.

  Ionos’s whiskers twitched from side to side as he began scratching his beard. “Indeed. Quite well informed you are, Lady Bellinor. I must admit I find your investigative talents quite capable. Were you to lend them to the investigation properly, I feel that this all may have been quite unnecessary, and we would have already caught the culprit.”

  “What are you accusing me of?” Bellinor asked with a glare, before Ionos simply waved it off.

  “Using your time unwisely.” Ionos replied smoothly, stroking his beard as he continued. “Now, on to the matter at hand. Several days ago, I was asked to study the remains of the dark magic on Revanche Ravencroft’s body. Once I had obtained a good sense of it, there were, of course, suspects on who could have placed the mark that he had obtained on his body.”

  Ionos cleared his throat, giving a shake of his head. “While my professional opinion was quite firmly that it was unlikely that the mark had been made any earlier than within the month, and quite frankly, no one in the kingdom proper has such a fantastical understanding of magic to do so within the inner kingdom, Archwizard Achaeus and King Cesar were firm in that we were required a thorough check-up on the other two heroes related, however distantly, to the incident…”

  Ionos paused in his telling, staring right at Bellinor with those eyes he used to give me when he was a few steps before ‘yelling’. I did notice briefly that Victor seemed rather pleased with himself, the look I’d expect on a kid who got a test question right. “What I am pleased to say is that I found no trace of dark magic in either Noah’s magic casting, and no trace of what I’d expect of a draconic beast’s aura from his strange reptile.”

  “...I am grateful to hear from your peerless wisdom, Ionos. And I will admit, this certainly… clears some things up, or at least attempts to. But there is quite the possibility that dragons have changed, since last we have seen them. And while this Noah being able to confuse your senses alone is, perhaps, impossible… this does not exclude him from help from someone else.” Bellinor replied, her voice slow, measured, and calculating now. Whatever anger she’d previously exhibited had vanished under a cold, impassive exterior

  “Indeed, it doesn’t!” Ionos replied… cheerfully, and the swelling in my chest that made me sit up a little straighter in hope left me as my heart sagged. “Despite being the oldest wizard here, I submit that dark magic may yet hide from me, or simply be cast from someone nearby. And I do not know every dragon by heart, nor how they may change. Even Lord Champion Alessandro Vasquez lacks the sheer comprehension we once had about dragons. The siege of Lead Keep ended with much of our literature on the subject being burnt to cinders, and even before that calamity, we’ve never in the history of humanity been able to say we truly understood the dragons.”

  I expected Bellinor to look triumphant, but instead, she had a frown that could have curdled milk, as Ionos continued to speak with a confident posture.

  “Yet just as you have pointed out the flaws in young Revanche’s logic, if this was merely a matter of outside help, or subtle spellcasting, much of this assassination need not necessarily happen at all. An associate could have headed off an impetuous Revanche at the bakery when spotted, for instance. Noah could have used some manner of illusions to appear a shapeshifter, to appease those who found this odd. Indeed, for a man who is purported to be using his position to sneakily look upon the wealthiest, he has been using little of his official position as a lord to do so publicly, when such would be looked on as actively embracing a mutually beneficial place in our courts. Instead, he has been putting distance between us that some have found grating.”

  Bellinor would give a nod. “...You… have a point, master Ionos, but it does not change my own.”

  “Indeed, it does not. Merely adds a new complexity to spin within the wheel. And you’ve no need to call me master, though I find it touching. You have not been my apprentice for many years, after all.”

  Bellinor looked… I stopped for a second, and the trial left me as the woman whose face had seemed so performative, looked legitimately hurt for a moment as Ionos spoke. For the first time since meeting her, she seemed human.

  Then a glare of righteous anger was fixated on me, those barriers back up as she continued her attack. “I believe that this was done intentionally, with such evidence built, in order to attack the honor of house Ravencroft. We have been the keepers of many secrets our great enemy would like to be forgotten completely over the centuries, and through it we have snuffed out many dungeons. Were he to undermine our position, force us to lose that position as book-keepers, imagine how many fortresses of the enemy could be hidden from record! How many dungeon hearts could be re-hidden behind altered fabrications! It is logical, as we prepare our heroes to go on the offensive, that the enemy may wish to protect its fortresses and hiding places!”

  That got a lot of murmurs from the people in the crowds, and it seems as though she touched on something they valued. I still wasn’t sure about what dungeons really were, let alone a ‘dungeon heart’ so I was equally confused when I watched many of them nod, as though this all made perfect sense.

  Ionos gave a nod. “In that, I cannot question your logic, Bellinor. Your house is ever under siege. I would ask that you recall that a siege may come from many angles, however, Lady Ravencroft.”

  The king turned from side to side, scanning his eyes across the whole of the chamber. “Is there anyone else with something to report on this subject, or anything you missed, Ionos?”

  Ionos did put a hand to his chin. “Only that Noah’s potential for arcane magic is extremely small, something that puts severe doubts on his ability to perform dark magic.” the old man added.

  Achaeus strode forward from his own position near the back of the court, though it seemed that most were unsurprised by this. “And while it has not thus far been put into question, I should report that Victor seems entirely bereft of the taint of dark magic. After spending a long period of time with him, I can say there is no taint of it on him or his belongings.”

  Bellinor turned from me and to the rest of the court, her expression unreadable from my kneeling position. Man, my knees hurt.

  “I would like to end my accusation with the reminder that my dear Revanche was willing to utilize a weapon he knew would end his own life if it would deal with the threat that he saw before him. Please… if you do not trust my words, my investigations, I ask that you recall that the nobility is strongest in unity. That he has the same bravery in his blood as any lion here. Trust the judgement he staked his life on, if not my words alone.” Bellinor pleaded, before turning to the king.

  “I will hear your voices, then, and make my decisions.” the King spoke, standing up. “I would hear what you recommend, Lady Bellinor, so I understand your position fully, but you have given me nothing conclusive, so I give no guarantee I will follow any recommendations.”

  Bellinor turned to the king. “...Of course. And I will admit, Master Ionos,” she added, turning to the old wizard with a smile and a grateful nod, “You have softened my heart.”

  She stepped forward, putting a hand to her heart. “I wished to ask for Noah’s immediate hanging, as I believe him guilty of all that has been charged here. Yet, certainty may elucidate some other truths, or perhaps a greater plot, one that is still yet to be unravelled among some of those he knows. Therefore, I would ask you to allow my house, who has been wronged, to unravel the truth in interrogation, and give him to us to keep as a prisoner of House Ravencroft, until we understand his real aims. I swear on my oath he shall be treated with all the respect any noble would be given while captured by another. Of course, should you find evidence to conclude he is truly innocent, we will then release him - but until we are sure the rest of the nobility, and the kingdom, is safe from his machinations, we shall do our duty as guardians of the realm and bind him until everyone’s safety is assured, my king!”

  Cesar nodded. “How noble of you.” He said drily, before ushering Bellinor back with a lazy wave back to the side of the court.. “Now, I shall hear to the complaints and thoughts of the other Nobles and advisors I have gathered here!”

  To my surprise, as Cesar went past a host of nobles, the results and opinions given were very mixed.

  “I feel I have been brought from my castle to watch a prancing jester be accused of machiavellian scheming, and frankly my time is being wasted.” a man introduced as Count Jeralt spoke

  “I speak for many of my fellow nobles when we say that we shall not feel safe walking the streets with this potential threat to our lives walking free. Revanche should be the last as well as the first of the nobility to die to this ‘fifth hero’.” Duke Renault argued, looking at me as he spoke with the uncomfortable eyes of a boar getting ready to charge - and with the bulk to match!

  “The Ravencrofts are looking to put a hero in their own court, I’d reckon! I believe if the nobility is to ‘hold’ this druid, he should be expected to serve us all equally! We can’t be the only kingdom without a heroic representative!” An old, toothless duke named Harribald spoke up. “If he has no lordly standing, then he has no argument to disobey our commands! Let us keep him too busy for any mischief, imagined or not! Then he will be doing his duty properly!”

  “Revanche’s death is unfortunate, but the rule of law is firm! If he had a problem, he should have brought it before all of us - allowed the Royal guard to handle this properly! This cloak and dagger is beneath the nobility! And for that matter, some punishment should be given House Ravencroft for the damage he brought to the castle. The taxation certainly is not coming out of my pocket for fixing the damages…”

  “Expressly, this man is clearly a buffoon! But someone killing a noble should frankly be punished in all events. What’s important is finding out who truly cast that magic, that they should be reminded of our position above the peasants…”

  “Revanche’s death will not be the only one if you let him out! I say to you he has eyes as inhuman and demonic as his little pets…”

  “At least, I do not understand why no one has brought up his little dragon. Unquestionably it should be slaughtered-”

  “We won’t tolerate-”

  “Just a stupid man-”

  “Clearly innocent-”

  “-Guilty!”

  “Allow this poor soul freedom-”

  “-Hanged! Indisputably-”

  “-Too fast for a simple resolution-”

  “Enough.” The king said finally after a half hour that felt like an eternity. Every part of my shoulders was tense, and it was hard enough just to avoid shaking as Cesar continued to speak. “Those who have thus waited to say their peace will wait a while longer yet. I believe I’ve heard enough to come to a decision. I will confer with the counsel of Alessandro Vasquez, Chief Advisor Adria Wittcombe, Archwizard Achaeus, and Minister Jules Cartier. The rest of you shall reconvene here, in one hour. This matter, and the matter of the heroes' next step, shall be resolved once I have made my decisions. Until then, you are all dismissed.”

  I was left staring as I sat wide-eyed, dizzy as everyone left. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to stay or go. I was left in a daze as to where to go from here.

  I was surprised, therefore, when I got a tap on my shoulder.

  Standing up from the kneeling position I… realized I had been stuck stock-still in for some time now, with Luster beside me, I saw Calia’s face. There was a somberness to it, but she wasn’t the only one.

  Victor, Cameron, Alicia… every hero I had yet to meet stood around me.

  “Hey… why don’t we take a walk?” Calia asked. “Just us heroes.”

  “...I think I definitely don’t count as a hero right now, do I?” I cringed, reluctantly taking the hand offered to me.”

  “Forget that for right now, alright?” Calia asked, giving a reassuring smile.

  To my surprise, it was Victor that spoke up next, far lighter than he had been.

  “For just an hour, can it with the four or five!”

  Alicia gave a nod, and patted me on the head. “I’m not sure what’s happening next, but I’d like to make sure we’ve at least all said hello, first. Please… come talk with us.”

  Cameron didn’t look straight at me, but seemed to be watching the other nobles as they passed us by. “I would respect your privacy, but I would not recommend being alone in this moment.”

  “I’m never alone with Luster,” I said back with a patient smile, scritching her affectionately behind the ear as she busied herself to smelling all the new people. “...But you have a point. These nobles are as unpredictable and twitchy as a ferret in a toy store!”

  “Perfect. We leave together, then.” Victor proclaimed, clapping his hands together once in satisfaction. “Noah, you stand in the middle! I’ll lead us to the court cafeteria! Everyone else, Your jobs are to protect the small convict from interrogation. Stand at his sides and back! If anyone pokes their nose where it’s not wanted - push it in!”

  I gave a smile. Somehow, despite how low my soul had felt after these court proceedings… something about this whole session made me feel like it was going to be alright… eventually.

  “Together, then.” I said. Calia took my hand and helped me up. Alicia patted me on the back, Cameron gave an affectionate pat to my head - one I didn’t mind, before stepping behind me, and with a protective cocoon of the world’s destined saviors, we six - Luster glued to my side - marched as one out of the throne room!