As his words fell on the ears of the court, the jury became silent. How else were they supposed to react? What Oliver had just claimed, sounded like pure fantasy. However, with the inactivity of lady justice - their disbelief quickly turned to fear. The Vanguards murmured amongst themselves, looking at the boy with terror and confusion.
Leaning to their side, the green needle asked Yue if she knew about Oliver's unique condition.
"You two seem close... I wonder if you knew about this... Dazzling show." The green needle smirked.
She clicked her tongue in response, leaning back into her chair as she looked at Oliver.
"You think of me too highly... Even I didn't know of such a taboo..." Yue sighed.
The Red claw from across the room chuckled, crossing their arms in indignation.
"Of course you'd say that... Because even if you did know... You'd be committing the same kind of taboo..." The Red claw remarked.
As the Vanguards continued to bicker amongst themselves, the Director looked at them with a sigh.
"I knew I should've told them this information beforehand. Alas, I needed to keep my suspicions away until I had damning evidence..." The Director said, turning his head to Oliver.
Seeing the analysing look in his eyes, Oliver felt a little... Dehumanised. It was as if the Director wasn't looking at one of his investigators, nor was it like he was looking at a child... But instead the Director seemed to view Oliver as now different than the monsters he strived to annihilate.
It was a terrible feeling.
Gulping, Oliver smiled wearily in an attempt to remain as human to the Director as possible.
"D- did I say something wrong... Sir?" Oliver asked, his voice was shaking.
Seeing the fear in Oliver's eyes, the Director softened slightly. It was as if the fear he had instilled into this poor boy was what made him realise that he wasn't looking at a Fester, but just a boy.
Sighing, he held his face with guilt. Still... Guilt couldn't hide the truth - nor could it replace it.
Looking at Oliver with more understanding in his gaze, he asked him if he knew what a pathstrider was. As he scoured through the recesses of his mind for that term, just like with ‘Vanguard’, he came up with nothing.
"Again with the terms I don't know... Sometimes I think you're just making stuff up..." Oliver remarked, a red tinge of embarrassment peppering his cheeks.
The Director hummed before turning his back on Oliver. Looking up at the starry sky that replaced what was supposed to be the court's ceiling, the Director explained where the term came from.
"24 years ago... Death descended upon the mortal realm. It killed four hundred thousand people in only 4 seconds. Each death was evenly distributed throughout only 4 of the 6 Continent Spheres in the world. And throughout that event... People swore that they could hear Beethoven's 4th symphony playing... as such this event was called "The 4am Orchestra"...." The Director explained.
Oliver was familiar with the event, as he had to study it relentlessly for his world history class... However he didn't understand how it connected to Pathstriders. However, after various different scenarios where he had interrupted people before they finished, he had learned better than to ask a stupid question-
"How does that even relate to anything...?" At this point it was reflex for him.
The Director glared at him for a moment before walking back up the stairs to his bench. As he seems to ignore Oliver, the boy quietly cursed himself for his brashness - however quickly pulled his shit together as the Director cleared his throat.
"... Do you want me to continue the story?" The Director asked, narrowing his eyes onto Oliver.
The investigator lowered his head, softly nodding in embarrassment. The Director huffed before chuckling.
"It's good to see that children get to be silly in this time and age..." The Director clenched his fist. "... Now then... Before I was rudely interrupted... After the 4am Orchestra, another seemingly anomalous event occurred. The world spoke."
Hearing that, Oliver paused for a moment. The world spoke? How could it speak? And what exactly did it say?
Seeing the confusion in Oliver's eyes, the Director seemed... Please. Leaning back into his chair he began looking in the distance, as if reminiscing.
"I'm sure you're confused... A certain man decides to scrub that fact out of textbooks due to his hyperfixation on keeping his identity hidden..." The Director said.
Oliver immediately knew what he was talking about, the pieces slowly falling into place in his mind.
"So Shirou Mitsuzane was the first ever Pathstrider?" Oliver asked.
The Director looked at him with surprise before nodding.
"Indeed... That day the world spoke to everyone, telling them that 'Shirou Mitsuzane had walked the path of the hero'... That very same day he defeated death itself." The director explained.
Nodding his head, something still irked Oliver about the explanation.
"That's cool and all... But I still don't know what a pathstrider is..." Oliver grimaced.
The Director paused for a moment - causing Oliver to think he had gotten mad. Closing his eyes, he was ready to get yelled at or something similar, however instead the Director meekly apologised.
"S- sorry I got caught up in talking about Shirou... He's just so fucking cool..." The Director remarked.
Oliver - and a few of the Vanguards - looked at the Director with an "are you for real right now" expression on their faces.
"The Director is a crazy fanboy..." Oliver remarked.
The Director became embarrassed by the claim, turning to the others to look for support. However they all agreed with Oliver... Even Liael.
"Not you too..." The Director said as he looked at his assistant.
The woman turned her head away in a huff, even going as far as to type the huff on the stenograph.
Feeling dejected, the Director sighed as he leaned back into his chair. Seeing the mighty Director defeated, Oliver smirked slightly... Before realising his question was still left unanswered.
"Hey stop moping and tell me!" Oliver yelled back, desperate to satisfy his curiosity.
The Director perked up a bit, rubbing his head in embarrassment.
"Right right... Well, to simply put it. A Pathstrider is exactly what the name implies. Someone who walks on a path. These paths however... Are much more complex than a simple road... They are a straight line that connects ones destiny to the world, thus giving you a better understanding of concepts of the world. Specifically, Descent energy." The Director said, his gone suddenly shifting to become serious. "You see, this world and descent energy are almost... Interlinked. Without descent energy, this world would cease to exist. And without the world, descent energy wouldn't have a host to feed off. That's why Pathstriders are incredibly connected with descent energy, even more so than normal Resonators. As such, they're able to transform and don armour similar to the one you use...."
Suddenly, the Director's eyes turn dark. A look that prefaced disaster.
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"... However Oliver... A person can't walk a path... unless they've been given a title and miracle by the world as well. Do you understand why I looked at you so vehemently? What you had explained earlier... Was essentially saying you had ended your play... Without even lifting the curtains."
As those words reached Oliver's ears, he had became silently. Not from embarrassment... Shock... Or understanding. He became silent due to fear. Fear of what he was... No... What he had picked up.
Looking at his driver, his once happy glance turned to pale terror. Seeing it's maw closed into an almost smile... He realised that this thing wasn't a toy nor was it a device. It was living. A monster. And maybe... just maybe... what he transformed into wasn't a hero... but a monster as well. Clenching the device tightly, he looked up to the Director with glazed eyes.
It was hard for him to speak out the words he wanted to say. Like a lock was jammed inside his throat, preventing any noise from escaping. His movements in an attempt to speak out led to nothing but pathetic gestures of fear. At that moment... Oliver was truly, terrified.
Even still... Terror could not stop the inevitable. No matter how much his throat clenched up... He had to say it. If he didn't... Everything would end then and there.
"Please don't kill me... Please..." Tears streamed down his cheeks.
The Director's eyes narrowed as he straightened his back. It was as if he was examining the Investigator. No... It was like he was testing him.
Standing up, the Director dusted his suit off before looking at the Vanguards to his left and right. He gave a knowing look, all nodding in agreement. Yue nodded as well, though her nod was more hesitant than the rest. With the collective decision being decided, the Director snapped his fingers - causing the statue to drop its blindfold. Now without any obstructions, Oliver could see the eyes that stared him down like a hawk. The statue had various sets of eyes, all of them monstrous and grotesque in appearance. They bulged, squirmed and leaked out liquid that had an awful resemblance to blood. However the stench of the liquid emitted... Smelled more like a corpse.
As the piercing eyes gazed upon Oliver, he could feel a primal terror filling his stomach. A fear all creatures despise. The fear that makes wise men fools and brave men cowards. Oliver was experiencing the fear of judgement.... Yet, somehow... It felt strangely familiar.
With heavy and baited breath, Oliver fought through the fear bubbling in his heart. As if a mist began to clear up in his vision, Oliver was able to truly see the nature of the statue's gaze.
Weren't those his eyes?
Noticing his gaze was elsewhere, the Director cleared his throat, causing the boy the perk up and regain his focus. Looking at the Director, he stared at him with the terrified glare from before... However this time something was off about them. They didn't look human. The Director could swear that at least one of his eyes were glowing, the uncertainty causing a chill to run up his spine. Even still... Oliver's sins had to be judged.
The Director sat back down in his chair, resting one or his elbows against the armrest as he rested his cheek on his fist.
"Now... The vote." The Director snapped his fingers.
Lady justice leaned forward, entering almost a crawling position as she held her scale just above Oliver's head. All the eyes on the statue turned their gaze towards Oliver, staring at him with an analysing look. It was as if it was looking into Oliver's soul, trying to find his sins.
Oliver gulped at the sight, however he swallowed his fear as well - because he wasn't going to die today. Not in the slightest.
Seeing the determined look on the Director's face, he smirked a bit - almost intrigued by the boy.
"Such tenacity... You might really be a monster after all." The Director joked.
Oliver looked up at him with a grimace, causing the Director to look slightly ashamed for his bad joke.
Clearing his throat, the Director's face became serious once more as the scales seemed to catch on fire. The sudden burst of flames scared Oliver, causing him to yelp and reel back slightly.
"C- could you warn me next time?!" Oliver yelled.
The Director glared at him before leaning into his seat.
"There won't be a next time if this vote goes as I predict... Now... Vanguards... The fate of Oliver Rand is in your hands. Kill him.... Jail him... Or... Experiment on him. The choice is yours." The Director remarked as token began to appear into the Vanguards' hands in a fiery burst.
Upon hearing the voting options... Oliver's heart sank. There was no option to spare him. He had officially been marked as a lamb to the slaughter. They had no longer seen him as a human being... But just a monster. A creature that needed to be expelled from this world. Such despair... Could make even the strongest men yield.
Falling to his knees, Oliver clenched his driver tightly. He lifted it up to his face, gritting his teeth with anger.
"Why... Why? Why do I have to die? I just wanted to help people.... Is that a sin?!" Oliver yelled.
His words were so loud and desperate, that it rang throughout the entire courtroom... And the pain that it brought, could even made a statue cry.
Hearing his plea, Yue immediately threw the token away as she yelled at the Director with unbridled rage.
"Are you fucking serious right now?! You're gonna do this to a kid?!" She screamed with hatred in her voice.
The Director became silent for a moment, before eventually turning to her with a serious expression on his face.
"It's the only thing we can do. He's too dangerous to be let loose... At this point he's just the same as a fes-" however before he could finish, Yue screamed at him again.
"How can you fucking say that! He's a child! He barely knows how to swing a dagger, and you think he's the same as those damn monsters?! How morally bankrupt do you have to be to even consider this!" She said, her voice breaking and shaking with each sentence she spoke.
The Director continued to stare at her before looking back at Oliver.
"It has to be done... If you continue this insubordination, I'll have to punish you like your husband." The Director threatened.
Yue clicked her tongue before throwing the middle finger at him. The sight caused the Directors eyes to widen, rage filling his heart.
"Why you-" however before he could even utter the next sentence, she pointed a sword made out of ice at him.
"If you do anything... I'll take on every single one of you if I have to... I won't let you kill that boy..." Yue threatened back.
Hearing her words and witnessing her action, Oliver's heart filled with the tiniest shred of hope. However, even a droplet of ambition could part away even a sea of despair.
Her sword remained pointed towards the Director, everyone in the room knowing what she claimed earlier was a fact, not a threat. Knowing the dangers of General Yin Yue, the Director was forced to play into her demands.
"Fine... I'll add an option to save him... But that's all... I've already compromised more than enough for you..." The Director scowled.
Yue clicked her tongue before sitting back down and stabbing her blade into the seat beside her.
"Fine... Get on with your stupid vote..." She snarled.
The Director grimaced, before sighing and snapping his fingers. Two more sets of scales appeared on Lady Justice's scale before a spotlight shone on the red claw.
The Vanguard looked up at the light, scoffing slightly at the theatrics. They stood up, tossing the ruby token up and down their hand.
"I'm not really a big fan of killing kids... Nor do I condone experimenting on them just because their a bit weird... However, I don't think a human being should walk around with that much power... I vote, for jail." The red claw said, tossing the ruby into the furthest scale from the right.
As the ruby landed on the scale, a pillar of flames erupted in a beautiful red hue, before dying down. Seeing the flame calm down, the red claw smirked before sitting down.
Next up was the yellow wrench. Standing up, they crossed their arms - holding their topaz gem token tightly.
"Oliver Rand... He's the reason why my entire ward got reduced to smithereens! The amount of research and equipment loss that day, could not even compare to the amount of rage that bubbles in my soul!" The yellow wrench yelled.
Oliver sulked a bit at their words - clearly feeling very guilty about what he did. He knew no matter what he said, it wouldn't be enough to sway their mind... so he remained silent. However, the yellow wrench - as their symbol implied - threw a wrench into Oliver's preconceptions.
"... However, if that damn Fester got a hold of even one bit of the technology we were developing... It would be far worse than the technology being wiped away... In that regard I thank him." The yellow wrench continued.
Oliver's eyes lit up, hope pouring into his heart. That hope however would immediately be bottled up after seeing the topaz be thrown onto the "jail" scale. Yellow flames burst up from the scales - and when they disappeared, the Vanguards were met with a complete dumfounded Oliver with his jaw hanging like a broken hanger.
"What was that?!" Oliver yelled.
The yellow wrench huffed before sitting back down into their chair.
"Just because you helped, doesn't mean you're absolved of crime..." The yellow wrench explained.
Oliver tried to argue... However their logic was too sound for him to argue. He did however, feel very pissed.
Noticing the middle finger being thrown at them, the yellow wrench's finger twitched - wishing that they could change their vote to the death sentence.
"You're lucky I can't change my vote!" The yellow wrench yelled.
Oliver stuck his tongue out - finding the experience almost relieving. Like a distraction from the horror of his situation. Though, no matter how much he laughed and played... His hands couldn't stop trembling.
Noticing the hidden demeanour underneath Oliver's eyes, the green needle smirked. Standing up, they put their hands in their pockets - as if to conceal their already hidden figure.
"Hmm... This man far too interesting. The way he pretends to be calm and unbothered by his situation... It's fascinating. Like witnessing a cuckoo bird trying to fit into the nest... I'd love to see more of him... I wanna see how his threads change." The green needle remarked, their eyes fixed upon Oliver.
Hearing their words... The boy couldn't help but sense familiarity in them. However he couldn't put a finger on why. And why did his uniform feel so itchy all of a sudden?!
Pulling their emerald gem token out of their pocket, the green needle admired it before focusing on the scales instead. They eyed each one, before assuming a neutral gaze.
"That being said... I'd like to see that change in a more controlled environment. I am a researcher after all..." They smirked. "... So, for this case... I vote experimentation." They threw their token.
Landing on the leftmost middle scale, a geyser of emerald coloured water gushed up - the splash causing some of the attendees to get wet. Oliver especially.
Shooting out the water from his mouth in a stream, Oliver looked at the green needle with a very "are you serious right now?" Look on his face. The green needle chuckled in response, shrugging as they began to sit down.
"I can't choose what effect the scales make you know?" They remarked.
Oliver mumbled a few profanities at the Vanguard as he began wringing out his scarf.
As the boy was busy drying himself, the next vanguard stood up. Compared to the other three vanguards, the orange ghost seemed the most timid. Their hands were tucked closely against their chest - as if they were nervous to speak. Watching the Vanguard's demeanor and mannerism, Oliver theorised that they would be the second most likely to vote "mercy", behind Yue of course. He couldn't really lie and say he didn't feel happy... But could you blame him? The best case scenario for him, would be rotting in jail for the rest of his life. As a smile danced on his lips, Oliver looked up at the Vanguard in anticipation.
Taking a deep breath, the Vanguard put their hands to their sides before speaking.
"I vote to kill Oliver Rand." They said bluntly.
Before Oliver could even mutter an "eh?", the amber token had fallen onto the second to last scale, causing a crackle of orange thunder to strike the metal. The sound startled the already antsy Oliver, causing him to jump up and land in Liael's arms.
As he laid in the woman's arms, he looked up at her with slight embarrassment before being dropped to the floor without even having the chance to explain himself.
"Okay I deserve that..." Oliver remarked.
Liael nodded, typing in her feelings on the stenograph.
"You did"