The Court resumed in a small uproar after the stranger left, Artman felt a crushing force of relief strike him as he watched Darwin leave from where he was sat. The scoundrel was surely up to something, but he resolved to decipher that later, he still had to win his case.

Attentions were slowly turning back to the events at hand. The judge banged his thunderous gavel as he demanded an order to return.

"Order! Order! Order in the Courts!" He called out, everyone took their positions again and began to resume their courtly duties. The manikin hadn't moved at all during the commotion and was still wearing the skin of Father Brion, simply standing there as stoic as any other statue. The Center of all Attention.

It was then that many of the officers of the court began to puzzle about some of the oddities in the illusion. There were certain features that it was lacking, a loss of fidelity. On closer inspection, it only gave a cursory resemblance to the great man, the appearance of it was what had shocked them all into believing it to be a replica.

A man seated amongst the gathered clergy noticed this and called it out.

"Sir, This illusion is incomplete, But what is the meaning of it, How is this the defining trait of your project? do you intend it for espionage or destructive means?" A mummer of deadly concern replaced the shocked air as each took up the notion for consideration. Artman returned fire at once, leaning forward from his seated position to address them.

"No, Sirs, this device has no such purpose. It's is to be the proxy for another as a means of communication and equality, The Legs for a cripple, or inversely the Workers Security, able to perform in areas he cannot, or sent to a position where he may direct a greater project while remaining close to logistical centers to harmonize the planning of cities and the building of roads. It may prevent the spread of diseases, Allowing a doctor to administer aid to those victims of the plague, without risk of becoming ill himself or allowing the contagion to escape quarantine." He paused to gauge the crowd's reaction.

"In short it is to be a Second Body, one that is both durable and immune to hardships, able to commune his words and thoughts across a great distance. Without fear of interception or delay."

He smiled to himself as the discourse began to make their rounds, small whispered agreements both for and against him. This was good, they could see the merit in his idea, Brion had helped by taking the device first and demonstrating the authenticity of the device, Instead of simply proclaiming its virtues from a guarded position and inviting suspicion.

But now was the hard part, The Rebuttal

"Mister Artman Cochtoe, You have presented your argument as to the usefulness of this device, Can you reveal to the court, How you constructed this eh-- Proxy of yours?" the old man questioned.

Mavis touched Artman's shoulder "Arty, they asked a question." she whispered, Artman shook himself, he'd become distracted, Darwin's appearance had shaken him in the little time he'd taken to absorb it...

But he still had to endure the trial first.

"They want to know how you made it," she whispered again. Artman nodded, standing ready for the challenge presented to him.

"Of course, Yes, excuse me. The Proxy is composed of common woods, and If you'll allow me to dispel the illusion." Brion stepped towards him and handed over the control mechanism, Artman took it and the illusion silently dropped as it changed hands. Artman folded the small hinges back together and placed the machine on the desk. He then walked towards the lone wooden puppet, where it was still stiffly standing at attention, facing the jury of clergy officials. he started to form an explanation in his head for something when he frowned and then turned back to Mavin.

"Could you make it walk just a little closer? " She blinked for a second "Do you want me had it to you or-" she asked and Artman shook his head and pointed at the small mechanism, she glanced back questioningly "Just move the tip of your finger across the rim, uh, counter-clockwise," he instructed.

The Wooden thing lurched forward at her light touch and marched on wobbly legs towards the edge of the box. He motioned for her to stop after a moment

"Alright Mavin that's close enough, Just lift your finger off the rim slowly. Yes just like that."

The wooden figure halted suddenly, its knees banging against the railing. It was now a hairs breath away from the examining officials and well within arms reach of the Prosecution and its black robbed members.

"Now, uh, as you can now see, the manikin is intricately covered with several channel lines, similar to church architecture, however instead, these patterns are designed to create not the tradition Submission of Grace, but instead, The Conjuncture of Revelations, as you'll note is most prominent here, about where the Heart should be." he demonstrated, tapping on the wooden body revealing it's subtle carvings and crisscrossing lines. A few of the officials gave serious nods to one another.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Artman adjusted a hidden gem on the back of his creation, it was nothing special but it did make certain parts of the etchings harder to read than others. particularly anything is drawn in a certain ink.

What he wasn't telling the council, was that there was a secondary layer of inked configurations that powered the illusory charms covering the proxy, as he'd derived that from certain, criminal machinations.

Namely the infamous "Stalker Cloak" favored by certain mercenary assassins. He'd paid a lot of money for that article, along with a promise to burn it later afterward.

The illusory powers of the cloak were easy to understand and partially modify, Projecting a blurring effect to meld with the surroundings, sometimes paralyzing the eye to change its visions caused by the silver threading in the stiching he found. But it was too limited in its use, so he had to take a dip back into the lessons of mirror magic to make it work the way he wanted. However, that didn't mean the actual Stalker Pattern itself wasn't still highly illegal.

"And the illusions, how are they, projected onto the model? These Lapis settings, are they responsible for this effect?" the soft-faced man asked. Artman gave a courteous smile and moved his hand to the manikin's left shoulder.

"Yes, I've linked them to the pocket mirror in the controls. Ah, Mavin, Would you mind letting me borrow your face for a moment?" She gave a cursory look and then opened the mechanism again, flipping open the small mirror and allowing it to copy her brown dress and striking countenance.

The Manikin at once became a likeness of her as Artman begin moving towards a fitting close to where his hand was. "Now, watch carefully, I'll remove one of the stones so you can see the effect it has on the whole." He pried it out gently and then re-examined the illusion. It had warped slightly, the dress had lost its color altogether, and while still appearing the proper shape, had become a similar tone as to the actual wood grain itself. Replacing the blue gem restored the colors of the dress, removing a different stone caused the figure to become stark white, while another produced flesh tones, another seemed to make it appear without the dress, much like a simple statue.

A few blushed towards this as Mavis contained her annoyance at the display. Nothing serious was revealed, and it was only brief exposure.

By the end of it, the council had a firm grasp on how the gems related to the illusory image and were most impressed by it. Another round of the same questions as before, with much the same answers and similar demonstrations. This time without Darwin interrupting.

The Judge called the Court to order and announced that there would be a short recess, at the end of it he would call upon the gathered clergy to declare their recommendation for him to decide on. The last beat of the gavel was met with a collective sigh as everyone exited the chambers.

Artman looked outwards to the crowd of deliberating Orthodox members, trying to gauge his chances.

Mavis took his arm and smiled "Relax Arty, You had them wrapped around your finger the whole time, they were in awe of you." she purred, tracing a teasing finger across his jacket sleeve. Artman nodded absently as sat down again and checked over his control mechanism once more.

"I know, it was perfect, but I just can't help but wonder, if some small flaw was exposed." Mavis shushed him gently, perching herself on his shoulders "Shush now, you did fine, let them ponder and hum all they like, in the end, You'll be the winner. Look at them, they practically drooling over themselves." She pointed with her chin towards the crowd of robes, chatting excitedly with each other.

"You found the golden egg Arty. In the end, they'll have to accept you."

Artman placed his hand on hers, leaning back he pecked her check with a kiss and sighed "Thank you, Mavis, for everything. I suppose this is where you'll take your leave then? I don't have much other work for you beyond this." he stated sadly, Mavis smiled and squeezed him around the middle.

"Oh, Arty, I'm not the same girl you hired to carve shameful models of all those months ago. I've enjoyed our time together, all our times together." she said, giving a sly knowing look "And besides, I can't go back now that I've seen this side of the fence. It's far cry more exciting than where I'm from." She pressed her face into his and quietly whispered in his ear.

"Besides, A proper wizard needs his assistant, even if it's just to keep you from dying of boredom in that stuffy workshop of yours!" she glanced at the Manikin as it was placed back on the table by two working men, "You think the Wooden man could join our little fun?"

Artman choked briefly as she gave a quiet laugh that sounded joyfully wicked. Another joined them, as Father Brion walked over clapping his admiration.

"Ahh, Young Artman, You have done well today! My congratulations! the Plan was inspired!" he shouted, Mavis gave a half offended stare, Brion caught himself "Ah, excuse me, Yours and Miss Mavin's plan worked brilliantly, the illusion truly was the crown jewel of this affair, I'm afraid they may forget about the rest of it entirely, they cannot stop talking about it! And to Speak of a surprise Too, I hadn't realized blending mirror magic with Lapis Charms could produce such result!" the mentor chuckled to himself, then lowered his voice confidentially to speak with them.

" They've already made up their minds, You'll be a wizard again by the end of the day, my boy!"

Artman's joyous expression could have filled the whole room "Really?!" Mavis rolled her eyes and Father Brion laughed "With your mind behind it? Hah! I never had a doubt. Not even after all these years, I refused to have doubts." he laughed, Mavis raised an eye "Not even once?" she crooned, Brion laughed again "Nothing would be worth mentioning." then he grew somber "Darwin on the other hand."

The room drew to a gloomy dim as the thought of the grim and stormy figure passed through their minds "Him, I have many doubts." Brion admitted, but tried to cheer himself "But we shall worry about him later, Tonight, is for celebration! Artman Wolfram is a Wizard Again!" With smiles all around they each gave a cheer to their good fortunes and bright futures.

Meanwhile, in an alleyway, a certain Cat bemoaned his stifled path.