One of the brightsides of being violently sucked into another world was that Noa no longer had to deal with first world politics. The not so bright side was that he’d chosen not to deal with them to begin with. Standing in the middle of Lila’s main hall━the town’s makeshift court━Noa was a fish out of water.

Armael stood over his right shoulder, a fistful of Noa’s shirt in his hand, and the lieutenant of the guard the monarchy sent stood over his left shoulder, doing the same exact thing.

The high prelate argued with the captain that had manhandled Noa outside Lila’s gates days ago.

“The monarchy owns this province, therefore, he is our witness,” the captain said.

“The monarchy doesn’t own the church, nor does it own Ardent Noa. He has chosen his path as an ardent. He is the church’s witness,” Caradec said.

The captain furrowed his brow, his lips down turning into a sneer. “He lives on our land!”

“I thought Lila owned all this land?” Noa piped in.

The captain glowered at Noa. “The baroness is under the monarchy, not the church.” He turned back to Caradec. “For that matter, the church merely takes up residency on monarchy owned lands!”

“The monarchy’s law does not allow them repossession of the land they have rightfully sold.”

Huh, that was nice. People actually owned their own land here. Permanently, presumably. Maybe I can eventually buy land off of Lila then, he thought, considering how that could alleviate his tax burden if he did, not that he knew what taxes were yet.

“The baroness could only maintain this land because of her station,” the captain narrowed his eyes.

“You threaten to strip me of my title in my own court?” Lila asked. She stood up from where she sat at the other end of the room, her chair squeaking across the tiled floor.

“I said no such thing.”

“It was implied, Captain. I’m no fool. Threaten my position again, and court will proceed solely under the church’s authority.”

Caradec smiled, a twinkle in his eye. “Please do strip her of her title, Captain.”

The brown eyed captain scowled. He turned to Noa, who jumped from the large man’s step forward. Armael pulled him back, and the lieutenant pushed him forward. Noa yelped, a foot twisting out from underneath him.

Now I’m a literal fish out of water, he groaned, his shoulder and elbow sore from where he’d hit the tiles. Sure, just pull him back and forth, but when he goes down, let go. That made total sense.

“Get up, kid,” Armael hissed.

Noa didn’t get a choice by the way the captain grabbed his arm, and hauled him to his feet. “Testify under the monarchy, and the king will have to recognize your deeds. You will receive land and a title.”

“But you would have to denounce the church,” Caradec warned.

It didn’t take long for Noa to think this over. “No, I’m good with being an ardent, thanks,” he said, shrugging the captain’s hand off his shoulder. If this was how the captain manhandled him, he feared how other parts of the monarchy would do the same.

“Then it’s settled,” Lila said. “Court will proceed as planned, Captain, and Ardent Noa Kai will act as a witness under the church.”

The captain raised a finger and opened his mouth. Lila ignored him.

“Bring in the accused,” she said, sitting back down. The high prelate moved to sit on her right side with the captain on her left.

“Come on, kid,” Armael grabbed at Noa’s shoulder, dragging him to the side of the room while eying the lieutenant. Noa had half a brain to swat his mentor’s hand away, but the other half was preoccupied with what the lieutenant might do if he did.

Why am I picking which evil to manhandle me? he huffed, and crossed his arms, taking his place close to the front of the room in a cushioned chair. This gave him a good view of She-monstrosity and Loic as they were dragged to the center of the room. Mostly. It was hard to see past the four knights that struggled against she-monstrosity. Meanwhile, Black Panther was the only one accompanying Loic.

Was that a uniform he was wearing? Noa leaned forward to get a better look, raising his brow. It wasn’t like that of the monarchy knights, white instead of blue, and had a large star insignia on the back of it━the church’s insignia.

“What’s Zahur doing?” Noa asked Armael.

“What does it look like he’s doing?”

Okay, dumb question. “Why?” he asked.

Armael shrugged. “Why would I know? Kid, we’re in court, shut it and ask irrelevant questions later.”

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Court, right. If it was anything like Earth’s court, he was already bored as two finely dressed men stepped out from either side of the room. One wore a blue suit while the other wore yellow robes and a four pointed star amulet on his chest. Lila nodded to both.

“We will proceed this session on the decision of punishment of the condemned,” Lila announced.

Condemned? Noa blinked. Why am I here then? he wondered.

“Victim count, duchess, is one known murder, an attempted murder, and fifty-three slaves for a total of fifty-five victims,” the fellow in yellow said, erm... Sunshine. Yeah, that seemed fitting for the man. He practically glowed in those robes. “More victims are suspected, but considering the danger of the prisoners, prosecution moves for the death penalty.”

She-monstrosity scowled, jolting in the knights’ holds.

“Fool!” the man in blue━Sky, might as well stick to a theme━hissed at She-monstrosity, his expression foul. On second thought, that was a rather interesting face. Ugly-sky’s frown deepened. “Prove their point, why don’t you?”

She-monstrosity jolted again, and this time, the men forced her to the ground.

Ugly-sky sighed, and looked at Lila. That man definitely hated his job. “Defense moves for life in prison.”

“To sap resources?” Sunshine asked. “Most prisoners can at least service society in one capacity or another. What need have we for an uncontrolled monster?”

“Prosecution, explain. Is the death penalty for both condemned?” Lila asked.

“Indeed.”

“Excuse me,” Loic interceded. “I am very controlled.”

“A valid point,” Ugly-sky jumped on, moving past She-monstrosity and her four escorts. “Loic can still serve society, albeit in a different capacity than his previous one.”

“He still was a participant in murder,” Sunshine argued.

Lila nodded, turning for Ugly-sky’s rebuttal.

“He will agree to de-level, and choose a service class.”

“Yes,” Loic nodded, stoic.

“Perhaps it is time to hear from our primary witness?” Sunshine suggested. “Ardent Noa Kai can recount events for us.”

“Very well. Noa, stand,” Lila ordered.

Noa grimaced. Great, public speaking. He stood up, and looked out over the room. All eyes were on him, waiting. Just recount, he thought. This wasn’t the same as leading a strike, no, this was just a telling of his experience. He opened his mouth to speak, but then Ugly-sky beat him to it.

“Did Loic ever beat you?”

“What?” Noa asked, blinking.

“Did Loic ever beat you?”

Well, answering questions was much easier. Noa held up a finger, then paused. Wait. He needed to be careful about this. Loic didn’t so much as beat him, but he certainly did hit him over the head. That counted, didn’t it? “Define beating,” he said.

“Did he cause injury to you?”

“Yes.”

“Was it severe?”

“Harm was caused,” Sunshine intervened. “Does the severity matter?”

“Yes, it does,” Ugly-sky said.

“I’ll let it pass,” Lila added.

“It could have been,” Noa answered. “He hit me over th━”

“Did it appear to you, Ardent, that Loic was going to kill you?” Noa frowned at the interruption.

“Yes,” he answered.

Ugly-sky’s frown deepened so much that Noa was sure the man’s lips would droop off his face.

Sunshine barely contained a laugh. “Is the monarchy struggling?” he asked.

“Curse off, Bradic,” Ugly-sky hissed.

Lila sighed. “Ardent Noa Kai, please recount your experience. From the very beginning.”

What. A. Pain. Damn, I was hoping to escape that much public speaking, he thought, then felt Armael’s hand on his shoulder. He looked back at his mentor, and the glare the older man gave sent a shiver down Noa’s back. Turning back, he gave a fake smile, then began his story from the moment he was accused of stealing apples.

With time, Armael’s hand slipped from his shoulder, and he’d stolen Noa’s seat for a nap. She-monstrosity nearly broke free a few times, resulting in six men dogpiling on her, while Ugly-sky merely wilted where he stood.

“Do you believe,” Lila started when Noa ended, “that Loic can be controlled?”

Noa scratched his head. They weren’t leaving this decision up to him, were they? If he answered badly, would a man die?

“I don’t know,” he shrugged.

Lila huffed, then looked at Caradec. “Your verdicts, High Prelate Caradec and Captain Tudor?”

“Death penalties for both, Duchess,” Caradec answered.

“Loic can be of use. The monarchy will take him and utilize him. Servitude for life. Death for Yana,” the captain said.

“Very well, the church is satisfied if the monarchy takes full responsibility for all of Loic’s future actions, good or bad,” Caradec said.

“Then it is settled,” the captain said.

“Very well. Beheading will be held in the morning for Yana. Take her away,” Lila said, and Yana jolted, breaking free from two of the men, a third slipping.

“[Enchanter],” Lila said, glancing off to her left, a knight with a distinct pink plume in his helm standing at the exit there━the same knight, Noa noted, terrified him once before. Right, he forgot Lila had one of those terror inducing men.

It took several long moments, but Noa watched as the pink plumed soldier stared down She-monstrosity, the behemoth first falling to a knee with a sharp glare. She bellowed incoherently as she dropped to the ground, then finally, she was silenced. Interesting to be watching it instead of receiving it this time. To note, she didn’t look like she was sleeping, but rather sleep-walking as the knights hauled her out.

“Sir Zahur, deliver Loic to Captain Tudor.”

“Yes ma’am,” Black Panther nodded, and walked Loic to the captain, who passed the ex-constable off to his lieutenant.

“Now, the matter of Yana’s farm?” Lila asked.

“The church has a suggestion,” the high prelate said, smiling.

“It is not the church’s to decide upon. Lila is under the monarchy, the land is hers, and ultimately━”

“Hers alone. Would the monarchy dare to repossess her land?” Caradec asked.

The captain scowled. “And your suggestion?” he asked.

“Give it to Noa Kai. A gift to hopefully start mending ties with the victims.”

Noa blinked. What? No... No, no, no, I don’t want that cursed land!

Lila leaned forward. “It is done.”