The headquarters of the Guardians was a veritable fortress. It´s thick outer walls kept the outside world at bay that the paladins and their superiors could work in peace, and the aspirants become accustomed to living beside the world they were being trained to protect from itself.

It´s heavy gate opened as Serafin stepped into the courtyard, Tataya was barred from entry, non-guardians were not permitted without papers. So the paladin had to make the rest of her way alone, every step seeming harder than the one before.

She navigated the labyrinth of twisting hallways and stairs blindly, her head racing with the thoughts of her meeting with Lady Marion. It was her feet stopping in front of the large red door to the tribunal that finally pulled her back into reality.

The two guards, hunters clad in black, eyed her through the black holes of their masks as Serafin took off her mantle, her cap, her badge and finally her sabre. A paladin could not stand trial, they were the Truth Immaculate made manifest.

Without her symbols of rank and her weapon she walked through the door, her head held low.

The tribunal chamber laid at the heart of the headquarters, a small room compared to the weight it´s decisions had on the empire at large. Serafin walked past the two rows of tables to her left and right, where aspirant scribes sat ready, and past the golden throne, reserved for the sovereign.

Separating it from the heart of the room was a single red line painted across the obsidian floor. Her heart stopped as she walked past it, and took her place in the centre of the room. She kept her head down and batted her eyes as the echo of multiple pairs of feet resounded behind her and her judges took their seats.

To her right and left as well as in front of her were the three podiums, each headed by a Magister, experts in a respective facet of the Truth Immaculate.

"The judgement of the case concerning the events of Castrum El Cynthia has hereby begun." Alphidas, magister of orthodoxy spoke, and the scratching of pen and feather followed.

"Serafin, Childe of war. Is there anything you wish to say to the tribunal?"

She barely shook her head and folded her hands in front of her. "No, I do not. I prepared my report with utmost sincerity, I have nothing to add to it´s contents."

"Very well." Alphidas turned to look past Serafin´s right. "Magister Cilisey, you may begin. Do you view the Truth of Purity under attack by the actions of the charged?"

Cilisey was the only Magister among them not to hide her face with the hoods of her robe. The flickering lights of the chamber made the scarred tissue of her old wounds across her face all the more apparent.

"I see nothing in the charged´s actions as leading commander that have breached purity, Magister Alphidas. The inhuman threat had been contained by their arrival, and according to the report there was no sign of showing mercy to the eternal enemy."

Alphidas bowed his head and turned his gaze left. "Magister Orelias, do you view the Truth of Idolatry under attack by the actions of the charged?"

Orelias folded his hands on the podium, Serafin could feel his gaze upon her and shivered.

"Quite so, Magister Alphidas. Despite knowing what grave danger stemmed from such a profane cult worshipping the idol of Elthaine, this acting Lord Commander displayed grave negligence in not discovering the suspects later presumed on the "Herald of Justice". Her action was swift and decisive, yes, however letting but one plagued traitor escape all but guarantees another infection."

Silence followed the end of his speech, only interrupted by the hasty scratching of ink inscribed on paper. When this noise ended, Alphidas spoke once more.

"I must view the Truth of Orthodoxy breached. Letting the "Herald of Justice" pass without a search is a blatant violation of procedure."

He turned the page on his notes and cleared his throat. "With two Truth´s breached and one unassailed, would you speak for the charged, Magister Cilisey?"

She nodded her head and rose from her podium, taking her place at Serafin´s side. Her eyes shifted until they rested on Orelias.

"It is one thing to speak of negligence, Magister Orelias. And another to see the means at the charged´s disposal. According to our latest numbers of the Great Ledger, Castrum El Cynthia held at the very least eighty to ninety-thousand inhabitants. Granted, many had already perished by the time the "Purity of Purpose" reached the city, but to contain and judge a terrain and population of this size with less than a thousand gardists is still an accomplishment."

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Cilisey then turned to Alphidas. "The very same can be said for orthodoxy, Magister Alphidas. Noted in the report is the willing belligerence of the captain of the "Herald", as well as the severely under-strengthened crew of the "Purity". Had the charged insisted on her Protocol, she would have lost. Not only that, but the chaos would have allowed an even greater number of guilty suspects to escape. Furthermore, it must be noted that said captain is no other than Ellyrie ven Eias, heiress of the imperial Steward himself. Can we not stand to reason that to interrupt this line of succession would have endangered orthodoxy to a much larger extent?"

Once more silence descended upon the chamber.

"Going with the argumentation of Magister Cilisey," Orelias leaned forward in his seat. "It would stand to reason that the charged failed in her line of duty, not out personal failings, but for a lack of ressources and the strength of her foils. While this does seem to ring true, I must insist that the attempt to fire upon the "Herald" should have at the least been made."

"And endanger the life of lady Ellyrie?" Cilisey narrowed her eyes as she stared up at Orelias. "Surely you cannot openly advocate to disrupt the line of succession, especially given the stewards old age."

"I can, and I do, Magister Cilisey. Let us not make false pretensions." Orelias shifted his gaze down to the papers in front of him. "Steward Medias has ever been striving to hinder the Guardians in their sacred duty. His shielding of Sovereign Elias has let the entirety of Atal to fall to impurity, idolatry and unorthodoxy, and given the actions of his daughter it is likely that this shall continue should she take his place. I would dare say that the charged would have done a great service to empire had she ordered the vessel blown to pieces."

Serafin´s hands clenched to fists, but before she could turn she felt the vice-like grip of Cilisey on her shoulder, and the withering gaze of the older woman upon her. Gritting her teeth, Serafin remained quiet.

"Your opinion has been noted, Magister Orelias." Alphidas´ voice failed to hide his irritation. "I for one am swayed by Magister Cilisey´s argument. In the light of her attempts and limited strength, I see the fault of orthodoxy laying with lady Ellyrie and her Sky Knights."

All eyes were now on Orelias, whose shoulders stiffened. He pulled his hood back, and Serafin wished he had not. Even after a year of service under the Magister, she could hardly stomach the view of his pox and postule-ridden face, the thankless reward for a life spent in defence of the faith.

"I agree with magister Alphidas in viewing the lady Ellyrie as the main perpetrator. However, this matter chiefly is centred on the actions of the charged, and I cannot excuse a possible endangerment to Orthodoxy with negligence in the realm of Idolatry. My verdict remains the same and I insist on a disciplinary action."

The two other Magisters glared holes into Orelias, but he stood fast. With a paler face than usual Cilisey returned to her podium.

"In light of Magister Orelias insistence," Alphidas began, "The charged shall hereby be sentenced for a negligence on defending the Truth of Idolatry. However, in light of her remarkable efforts to uphold Orthodoxy and Purity, the sentence shall be the disciplinary minimum."

Alphidas removed his hood as well, his hardened features softening as he spoke.

"The charged is to lay down her mantle as Paladin for the span of a year. Her progress through the ranks shall be recorded and remembered until said year has passed, she shall be allowed to take up her mantle again and be returned to the fold of her Majesty´s Guardians of the Truth Immaculate, in all honours and to the position she has held before."

Serafin finally found the strength look up, and she could see the hint of a smile on Alphidas´ as their gazes met.

"The charged is hereby dismissed. She may leave a free and innocent citizen of the empire under the divine protection of Aeterna and the Pantheon. May you take this time to reflect and return to us in glory."

At a loss for words, Serafin bowed deeply to the three Magisters, and turned to leave. As she approached the door, she could hear yelling loud enough to pierce the heavy metal doors.

"You dare barring ME entry, has removing your useless living bodies robbed you of the knowledge who made you?"

Beyond the door Serafin stood near face to face with Lady Marion, less than an arm´s length apart. Quickly she stepped back, maintaining the two metres of distance a sovereign demanded.

"Ah, good. I was about to have this door torn down had they made me wait any longer." The Sovereign turned to leave while speaking, leaving Serafin to hastily pick up her sabre and run to follow.

"I am allowed to leave a free citizen, though they did strip me of my title for a year, your highness." Serafin peered up to Lady Marion while walking behind her, desperate to notice any sort of reaction. She was not given one.

"Regrettable, but for now it will be to your advantage. You can hardly need these loyalties on your new duty." Lady Marion led her out of the headquarters and down the main street of Lahmia, towards the great tower.

The sight in the skies took Serafin´s breath away. Six great Sky ships blocked the sun of the main street. Three donned the black sails of Zana, two the red of Mhall, but it was the last that took her full attention.

Galleon figure, insignia and the embroidery of the sails was golden, and the ship flew the flag of three golden masks on a black ground, the insignia of the Capitaline armada. It dwarfed the other ships, in size, armaments, and gravitas: Not even a sovereign could commandeer such a vessel.

"The Legate of the north has ordered for a cleansing of the Titans´ plain" Lady Marion turned to look at Serafin, only a faint green glimmer of her eyes visible through her veil.

"You will fly and fight under the gaze of our Imperator´s finest, Serafin. Do make sure to leave a good impression."