Nero watched as Ester with the chosen Polykenas set off into the forest to ambush the humans. Nero was lost in his thoughts as he remembered the day when he first met the Polykenas and their queen...

A long time ago, when Nero was still a small child, he was transported in a prison wagon to the Holy City. The Holy City was the capital of faith and the most important place for every believer of the religion. It was in this city that the Holy Knights were trained, which is where Sir Leonard came from.

And there he is now brought to appear before the sacred Tribunal, like any Holy Knight who has strayed from the path of faith. The journey was long and tedious, and Nero often fainted for lack of food and water. Sir Leonard was also in the carriage, but he did not speak a single word the entire journey. At last, they arrived in the capital.

The city was glorious, it literally seemed to glow. The houses were all large and beautiful, there were dozens of churches and mementos and statues scattered throughout the city.

The people all seemed to be literally glowing as well. You didn't see a single beggar or poor person. All the people were either rich or at least looked that way.

The streets were neat and clean and the aqueduct was above them. It was a huge construct, created by the Romans a very long time ago, to transport water more easily into the city.

Sir Leonard looked out of the window of the car full of nostalgia. This was the town where he grew up and was educated. He hadn't been here for years, but now he had to come back for a trial. What a shame. Yet he had no regrets. Every time he looked into the boy's eyes he saw the pain and emptiness that the past weeks had given him. He felt every muscle in his body tense with anger when he realized that the former priest of the village had raped a completely innocent little girl.

"Say little one, what's your name?" he asked the boy,

Nero winced when he heard his voice and looked up,

"Nero...I am Nero." Sir Leonard nodded,

"Nero...Like the Roman Emperor, hmm?"

Nero only nodded weakly.

"What an odd choice for a name. Considering what Nero did."

Nero did not react and sank his head again,

"Hey Nero, you'll be fine. I'm going to help you out. How about smaller?"

Nero raised his head again and looked Sir Leonard in the eye,

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you helping me? What do you want from me?" Nero's eyes began to water.

Sir Leonard sighed. Across from him, sat a boy who had lost all faith in humanity. But no wonder, after what happened to him. He has seen his entire family die...in a very brutal way.

Sir Leonard leaned back and looked out the window,

"Because I want to. Nero, you can't give up hope in humanity. I know, so far you have met almost only assholes, but out there in the world, many people are good. Many people are selfless and help others. You have to believe in that."

Nero shook his head,

"My mother...she was burned...they said she was a witch..." A lump was in Nero's throat, "And my sister...she..." He couldn't take anymore and quietly burst into tears.

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"I know, I know. There are many cruel people on the road. But I have sworn I will put a stop to these sinners, and I will. All deeds come back to you at some point. Whoever inflicts suffering will suffer, and if not on earth, then in hell at the latest." Sir Leonard's eyes brightened,

"Wait I have an Idea! Nero, why don't you accompany me after the trial? We will travel the world together and catch the evil people and give them their just punishment. In the process, you can also finally see that there are not only evil people on this planet."

Sir Leonard smiled at Nero. Something wonderful was happening inside him because for the first time in a long, he felt hope again and a slight smile formed on his face,

"Really? I'm allowed to?"

Sir Leonard laughed, "So you haven't completely given up life yet. Very good. Of course, you can. But first, we have to get this process over with."

"Are they going to punish you?"

"What do you think? I have sent sinners to hell prematurely with my sword. I'll get a reward for that rather than a punishment," Sir Leonard replied with a laugh.

Then his expression turned serious as they stopped in front of a huge building,

"We're here. This is the courthouse."

A few knights opened the door of the carriage and dragged them out,

"Just follow me," said Sir Leonard to Nero as they were led to the building, not that Nero had a choice.

The large building was majestic. It rose high into the sky and had a golden round roof. It was surrounded by golden statues and monuments.

A long staircase led to a wide double door. Six guards stood in front of it and looked suspiciously at the arriving ones, but when the leading man described his identity and the reason for his presence, the guards nodded and opened the gate. They entered and came into a large hall.

Immediately, a dozen knights approached them and took Sir Leonard away and one man stepped out,

"We have been expecting him. The trial is about to begin."

Then he looked at Nero,

"This one is not worthy of being in Michael's court. Tell him to wait here and we'll deal with him later."

The Guard nodded and grabbed Nero and tied him to an iron ring in the wall.

Sir Leonard looked at him,

"Wait here a moment. I'm afraid you can't come with me. I'll pick you up as soon as I'm done."

With that, he was dragged on.

Nero didn't know exactly how long he waited, but when the big door to the courtroom finally opened, it was already getting dark. Nero stood up and walked as far as his shackles would allow. He saw Sir Leonard being dragged out of the hall and Nero froze when he saw his expression. There was disbelief and anger in him. A lot of anger. His eyes were literally on fire.

He looked at Nero,

"Stop, let me talk to the boy for a minute. At least give me that."

The guards whispered briefly and then allowed it.

Sir Leonard walked over to Nero and looked him in the eye. He shook his head,

"Forget what I said earlier. I'm sorry, I won't be able to keep my promise."

Nero looked at him and felt a stab in his heart as this little bit of hope, which he had laboriously rebuilt, was faltering,

"What happened?" asked Nero with a shivering voice

"I was sentenced to death," Sir Leonard said sadly and wanted to put a hand on Nero's shoulder, but could not because of his shackles.

Nero's eyes widened,

"W..Why?"

Sir Leonard sank his shoulders,

"Because this world is corrupt. Remember, Nero, you can only rely on yourself. Never hope that someone else will help you. Take care of your own justice, because no one will take it for you. I'm sorry."

With that, he stood up and was dragged out of the building. Nero did not move. He fell to his knees and felt tears gathering in his eyes. Deep sadness seized his heart.

But then he pulled himself together.

Slowly he stood up and clenched his fists.

-He is right. No one will come to save me. No one will claim justice for me. Only I can do that. Only I can help myself. I am the only person on whom I can completely rely.-.

Nero gritted his teeth as a change went through him. All the pain in his mind was forcibly pushed back and he raised his head. Why live in the past? His mother died and so did his sister, but what happened, happened and there was nothing he could do about it. So why should he be sad because of it? Will this change anything? Absolutely not!

Guards approached him and untied him. Nero did not resist.

"The judge has ordered that the boy shall spend thirty years as a slave in the mine as punishment for his crime. He has ordered us to take him there."

The "mines" were secluded places in the holy city, to which more often lawbreakers were banished. There they would spend their lives digging and bringing all kinds of minerals and stones to the surface, which would then be used for construction in the city or sold.

The mine has existed for a very long time and is known all over the world, so of course Nero knew about it. He knew the extent of this punishment. While it was not directly an execution, most people survived only a few years in the mines. The probability that the six-year-old Nero, survived only one more year was small. But still, Nero did not resist when he was pulled out by the guards. He knew he had no chance. Nero was still too young and too weak and bound all over his body. But it should not remain so.

-I will survive these thirty years. I will become stronger than ever before. I will never be oppressed again. Never again....-