[The following transcript takes place after Mezil Thyme’s first day of Lemurian courtship proceedings for Lucidia of House Berendin.]

MEZIL

That went better than expected. Half of the contestants surrendered long before the beginning of the battle.

………………………

Can the same be said for you?

[The click of Mezil’s gun could be heard.]

MEZIL

If you don’t show yourself, you only have your own cowardice to blame.

[What followed after was a faint hum of magic and a series of footsteps.]

GARAMOND

How vigilant. It’s as the reports indicate.

MEZIL

Invisibility? Hmm.

Are you a suitor. Or their spy?

GARAMOND

…I’m too old to court Miss Berendin.

MEZIL

Old?

GARAMOND

I’m almost two centuries her senior. Enough to be her father four times over.

MEZIL

That didn’t stop some from trying to join this frivolous duel.

GARAMOND

Stoicism is not the same as being shameless. I believe you know this best.

…Will you not lower your gun first?

[Mezil sighs.]

MEZIL

Fine.

Just know that it would serve you well to avoid sneaking up on me like that again. With or without magic.

GARAMOND

Noted.

Name’s Garamond. Observers, Investigator branch. This is my badge.

MEZIL

Investigators…?

GARAMOND

Are you not familiar with the Magus Associations’ special forces?

MEZIL

I apologize. I’ve yet to complete my studies. But, as your title says, I take it you’re similar to the Interpol of human society?

GARAMOND

Correct. I’m here to report to you that Gaelic Blanc is making his move.

MEZIL

Hmm, I see. Please tell me more.

GARAMOND

Access to the rest of this intel is restricted under authorization of the Supreme Judge.

MEZIL

…I understand. I’ve not earned your trust yet, is that right?

GARAMOND

Unfortunately.

I have served numerous Supreme Judges in my life. Their successors train for years before taking the helm. You on the other hand… it’s sink or swim.

I question your ability to handle the more delicate matters. Therefore, I will not divulge any more details about Gaelic Blanc until you are ready.

MEZIL

What can I do ease your concerns?

GARAMOND

A private interview, if possible. Though we require a suitably secluded venue for our purposes.

MEZIL

Very well. Please lead the way.

[Garamond leads Mezil to a seaside bench. Waves crash against the high tide. There’s no one else in the vicinity.]

GARAMOND

Do you visit the sea often, Sir Winston?

MEZIL

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

No. I lived near the Spire. Quite far away from the coast. Born and raised there, actually.

GARAMOND

So I had heard.

As for myself, I hailed from these very Lemurian shores. But I first began my duties as an Investigator at a lakeside city in the human world.

The council had chosen me specifically for my behaviour. Very human. No monster impulses. Blended in just fine under the cover of night and regional attire.

Life was different. More so when compared to this era. Men considered tobacco to be healthy, and alcoholic beverages were still the safest drink.

The strangest thing… was seeing a large body of water that neither rocked nor churned.

That unknown stillness reminds me most of your visage.

MEZIL

Hm. I get that often.

GARAMOND

Why would someone like you seek to marry Miss Berendin?

Is it for status? Power? Perhaps money?

MEZIL

By turning myself into a walking target? Deathmatches around every corner? If I had my sights set on a comfortable life, I would have kept to accounting.

I love her! And I’m determined to keep loving her, forever.

Why would I be here otherwise?

GARAMOND

True.

Although… even with the Keys of Fate, I doubt a year had passed in the battle royale.

I’ll be honest: you know nothing about Miss Berendin. This world. Or your destiny.

MEZIL

Shall I take those words as friendly warning, or a threat of disrespect?

GARAMOND

Just being frank.

MEZIL

I sure hope so. I can accept bluntness. On the other hand, veiled insults will be subjected to a different treatment.

GARAMOND

Noted.

Who loved who first? You, or Miss Berendin?

MEZIL

It was her.

In the first round, I focused solely on the battle. Romance was the furthest from my mind. My strengths as a normal civilian came from choosing and defending the right allies.

She confessed that she’s drawn to my ‘sense of justice’, and the kindness that results from it.

…I don’t quite understand her thought processes. But there’s something beautiful to them. Just like her face.

GARAMOND

So, you fell for her because she’s ‘beautiful’?

MEZIL

True beauty is the complete package of a good heart.

GARAMOND

I was talking about her external appearance.

MEZIL

Hmph. That’s why I skipped that useless presumption and jumped to the important point.

[Garamond chuckled softly.]

GARAMOND

I can see what she means. If only Sir Latinoros steered his Yellow that way…

Has Miss Berendin ever disclosed why she had closeted herself inside The Spire?

MEZIL

She doesn’t like talking about the subject. From whatever she confessed, she’s suspicious of the intentions of others. Some may call it paranoia. I think it’s prudence.

Her status begets far too many who’re… eager beyond reasoning.

GARAMOND

I’m impressed you know that much. Words are to be guarded. They’re the most formidable of weapons.

You must be quite the man if she trusts you with such. Still, I’m concerned that you’re marrying someone without fully knowing their deepest, darkest secrets.

MEZIL

The Red Victory War… it almost ruined her once. It’s fortunate that her active consciousness no longer remembers that lapse of judgement.

Let that moment remain data, lost in the void.

GARAMOND

Oh? Interesting.

Sir Winston, I was once a proxy. That means I know full well the experiences of fluid time.

MEZIL

Hold on. I think we’re discovered.

LUCIDIA

There you are, Mezzy! You didn’t return to your quarters and I got so worried I--

Oh. Sir Garamond. That… that explains everything.

GARAMOND

I apologize for raising an alarm. I had a few questions to ask Sir Winston.

LUCIDIA

Judge Thyme. He IS your superior.

MEZIL

It’s only a casual conversation, dear. We need not get specific on the titles. Please calm down.

LUCIDIA

How can I remain calm after how they treated you at the proceedings?! Such… disrespect!! Even my own mother looked down upon you!

GARAMOND

Miss Berendin. I’m not pitting myself against Judge Thyme. Heaven forbid.

[Awkward moments passed. But, eventually Lucidia settled down.]

LUCIDIA

A-apologies, Sir Garamond. That was unbecoming of me. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.

Mezzy, I’m going to visit my biological father ASAP. This uncouth aggravation against you must stop! I can only hope his Green will make him easier to deal with than my mother.

…I wish Uncle James was still alive…

Sir Garamond, please exercise brevity. The Supreme Judge is not known to get enough quality sleep. He has a long day ahead of him, and with insufficient rest, even a ceremonial fencer like Sir Latinoros might cause him trouble. That man’s Pure Eye should NOT be underestimated!

GARAMOND

Certainly.

LUCIDIA

Thank you. Now, if you’d excuse me!

[The two men said nothing. Not until she’s out of hearing range.]

MEZIL

Investigator Garamond…

You say I don’t know anything. You’re right. But you damn well better teach me!

There’s no point poking at my ignorance without giving me a chance to rectify the circumstance. Tell me more about this Gaelic Blanc. This instant!

GARAMOND

That Red Aspect of yours. It does add extra fire to an otherwise calm mix.

Sir Winston, have you ever been accused of a crime that you didn’t commit?

MEZIL

I had the misfortune of having… slippery siblings. Nothing serious enough to involve the police, however.

GARAMOND

I see. You’re blessed. The same can’t be said about your future adversary.

As you must have heard by now, Gaelic has a primal sense of logic. Wild, dangerous, yet strangely pure.

Loneliness clouds his judgement. Seeking the surest road to love, he began to offer others the cup of temptation with his name on it.

Many drank it, entrenched in the romance of his unusual persona. The ‘smarter’ ones discarded him as soon as they could. Those who stayed were fools addicted to a fantasy.

Some dared to call it ‘love’.

MEZIL

………………………

GARAMOND

One day, the most foolish of the fools dabbled in drugs. Potulices. Mild poisons. Mind-altering substances to bring the high. Had a severe reaction. Ended up in hospital.

Her family questioned their daughter. She pointed a finger at her ‘beloved’ and accused him…

A predator. A beast. Guided by selfish impulses.

He’s the perpetrator and she’s the victim.

The people believed her. After all, she was an upright citizen with a reasonable standing. And he? A wildling who mauled his classmate over a petty insult.

MEZIL

Wait, what happened to that case?

GARAMOND

There was no case.

The ‘victim’ sailed away from Lemuria before law enforcers could launch their investigation.

But, does it matter? Who would believe the beast who broke out of lockup and rushed to the docks, begging her to clear his name?

She continued to play the part of victim to the very end.

As far as I know, only Miss Berendin and myself believe in Gaelic’s innocence.

MEZIL

What about the Chronographers? What about Lucidia? Can’t they replicate the truth?

GARAMOND

Justice or no justice, the damage was already done.

The senior Chronographers were not convinced that the effort would be worth it. His lifestyle and mannerisms had incriminated him from the very beginning.

Should our fair maiden try in their stead, she would be called naive for believing in a childhood friend. Gullible. Sheltered.

MEZIL

…Is that the root of her mistrust and paranoia?

GARAMOND

Indeed.

I do not blame the naysayers. Their concerns were valid. People can change for the worse. Furthermore, Miss Berendin lacked in investigative experience at the time. Not even I would have put her reputation on the line.

She knows this all too well.

MEZIL

What about you? Why didn’t you look into it?

GARAMOND

That’s because… I’m his relative.

MEZIL

?!?!

GARAMOND

Gaelic and I are direct paternal cousins. In clanship terms, we’re brothers. Close families are banned from an investigation to prevent the possibility of compromise.

Since I have disclosed this connection, do take my statements with a pinch of salt. Use your own discernment. I won’t hold a grudge should you choose to mistrust me.

I’ll let you be the final ‘judge’.

MEZIL

No wonder she’s so afraid…

Poor thing. That’s a dead end situation.

Thank you for the intel.

GARAMOND

You’re welcome.

Goodnight to you, Judge Thyme. I wish you the best for tomorrow’s event. I’ll be watching from the spectator’s seats.

MEZIL

Goodnight to you too… Investigator Garamond Blanc.

[END TRANSCRIPT]