Power. Greed. Ambition. Jealousy. Prejudice.

In a world where we are surrounded by enemies in all sides, where dark forces plot at every corner to enslave and vanquish us, sometimes our finest doesn't even get a chance to nick at their forces. They fall down to infighting, killed by their own brethren. Monsters, demons, unspeakable eldritch abominations imperil our existence, evil powers of immeasurable strength and wickedness. Even though they powers abound, were we to present a united front, they would not withstand our might.

Instead, petty nobles murder Kings so they can ascend. Merchants starve entire populations so they can profit. Royalty sends thousands to die so they can own another boring plains. People slaughter their peers just because they have one nice thing we don't. We detract our fellow sentient because one has too much fur on their tails or too many scales on their skin. Or too little hairs on their limbs.

In dire trouble, they only look up to a hero, as if it was anyone's duty to shoulder the burden of everyone. A single person can fail. A group of people can fail. There will come a moment where a hero will fail and evil will triumph. For the world to exist it must be saved every time a threat arises. For it to be destroyed, it requires only one successful villain.

Such is the tragedy of mankind. A bright, peaceful future where all of us are happy is impossible. We are doomed to live in a filthy, dark, callous, uncouth, and treacherous world of our own making that is shaped just like our hearts.

If anyone asks why I abandoned this world, read the words above to them.

The inscription found in the Obelisk of the Dead God. Left behind by the original God-Slayer.

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 If anyone asked Aidan to tell his busiest day ever, he would be greatly inclined to mention this one. After the sisters finished bonding and reorganizing the documents Dawn scattered everywhere in her clumsy rush, King Helios showed up at Claire's office door.

"It is heartwarming to see my daughters getting along like this. Unfortunately, we have official business to attend. Claire, Lu... Dawn. Would you please come with me?"

"Of course, father. Anything to get away from this paperwork." Claire got up and patted the dust off her dress.

Helios reached out with his right hand and she took it.

"I'm sorry to bother you with this, but you are a tremendous help, Claire. I honestly can't keep ruling this country without your help. The ministers have only praise for your work here. I'm really thankful."

Dawn remembered her talk with Claire about when they first brought her to the castle. How the King himself revealed that she was his bastard daughter, placed as Lumina's handmaid so she could be kept safe. He gave her profuse apologies and even recognized her. Claire's mother was always well treated, being a governess under the castle steward's office. Claire forgave Helios and assumed her role as the first princess. She studied economics, administration, and politics at the academy during the year and a half she attended. Her accolades were well-deserved. In the months of winter she remained cooped up in the castle, she had already processed years of backlogged documents.

She was unsure how Lumina would react with her former handmaid upstaging her. Dawn felt that Claire deserved everything and there was not an ounce of jealousy in her own heart. But one thing she told to reassure herself is that if there is a person that can handle Lumina it is Claire.

King Helios shook Dawn away from her musings.

"Dawn. You know that you have to see through what you started, don't you daughter?"

"I assume it is about the knights we captured." She also got up and away from the desk. Taking her rapier leaning against the foot of the desk, she strapped it back on her waist. "Of course I will, your Majesty. It pains me to punish those knights, but they chose their own path."

Helios' eyes screamed 'call me father!', but Dawn just ignored it and took the left arm he offered.

In fact, Dawn was already aware of what was going to happen. The other guests of the castle were already called to give their testimonial on the incident, including Aidan.

 Another important detail was that she was behind privacy wards in the King's solar and in Claire's office. And the information was being transmitted to Aidan without interference. These privacy wards had no effect on their tether.

They walked through the maze of castle corridors and arrived at the big courtyard behind the castle, where the knight barracks and training area were located. Rows upon rows of people in plate armor were lined up on the patio, standing at attention.

"His Majesty King Helios. Her Highness the First Princess Claire. Her Highness Lumina."

The official crier called right before they walked into a balcony two stories above the ground level, connected by staircases. Three seats were ready for them. Down a level, the knight captains and some other court officials were sitting lined up at a table and across them Pearl, Aidan, Sora, Gurf, and Cythrel. Deb and Lola were not present. Gurf was wearing a polished steel breastplate without any inscription or heraldry.

 Everyone sat. The crier called out.

"We are here to pass judgment on these four knights for high treason. They are accused by whom?"

It was a custom to have the accuser to claim the charges on the spot. Pearl stood up.

"They are accused of conspiracy to incite war with a friendly country by Gohar's Crown Princess Pearl of House Juvela." She shouted. It also carried the implication that they attempted to hurt a royal.

Dawn stood up. "They are accused of high treason by Princess Lumina of Yutis."

The crier continued after the princesses sat down. "There is one charge of treacherous murder of a Knight-Captain against Lord Aidan. Is Lord Aidan present?"

It caught them by surprise. This was not in the protocol and was something slipped into the trial. Aidan focused both his eyesight and Dawn's on the gathered captains. It was easy to find out who among them was smirking.

King Helios whispered. "Dawn, do you want me to intervene?"

"No need. Let it go forward, I want to rat out who is behind this. I have my suspects already."

The crier looked at the King. Helios nodded and he repeated his speech.

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"I am here." Aidan stood up.

Nothing happened. A long silence and Aidan just stood there, waiting.

"What a travesty. I'm having a word with King Helios when this is over." Pearl grunted.

Aidan couldn't see any changes in the officials present to assist the judgment, but from Dawn's seat, she could see perfectly those that stole glances at the King every now and then, attempting to find out if the King was going to act.

"Dawn, is now a good time?" Helios asked.

"Your Majesty, take a good look at Pearl's expression." She answered. "Protocol has already been breached, I'm going to do a little mischief."

"It is your stage, daughter. I'll watch and support you." He spoke with a little more volume in his voice. It could be overheard from those nearby.

Silence returned. Aidan was still standing up without an ounce of discomfort.

Dawn stood up. "Crier." She projected her voice. All heads but Aidan's turned to look at her. He really didn't need to look at herself.

A confused crier took some moments to answer. "Yes, your Highness."

"I don't have all day. There is a dinner party tonight and I still need to make my hair." She scoffed.

As if someone cranked his wind-up key, the crier resumed protocol. "Who accuses Lord Aidan of treacherous murder?"

"I do," Dawn spoke. "I accuse him of killing a Knight Captain."

The wording in these proceedings was very, very important. Just like Pearl changed the accusation against the four knights, Dawn just did it as well. Treacherous murder was killing without granting the honorable killed a chance to defend themselves.

The audience went nuts. By now everyone knew that Aidan was in the entourage bringing Lumina back. Some even expected the King to pay him the five hundred gold and were plotting to approach him to get some of that windfall. That Pearl was right by his side didn't escape their eyes. But there was something confusing. Pearl and Lumina arrived hand in hand, literally. What would be going on?

"Silence. Silence. Order, please." The crier asked.

Soon silence reigned again.

"This is what you get for double timing, milord," Cythrel spoke with a wounded voice. "And to think you could have me anytime you wanted."

She didn't speak too loud, but everyone near them could hear her crystal clear voice over the silence. And everyone made their own conclusions. Of course. The two princesses were fighting over that man. And for some reason, he chose Pearl over Lumina.

Dawn was not expecting Cythrel to chip in, but she decided to play by ear. She looked at Pearl and then at Claire and grimaced, lowering her head to cover her face with her hair.

The setup was done. Aidan kept watching the officials and nobles present. For the culprits, it would seem like Lumina seized the opportunity to strike back from her defeat over that man.

"This is preposterous! Such a travesty must not be allowed, Your Majesty! Lord Aidan defeated that captain honorably after your knight disgraced himself. He is innocent, innocent!" Pearl shouted, filled with anger and indignation.

"Dawn?" King Helios was just a little confused.

"Leave it to me. And please don't interrupt us." She whispered.

Dawn raised her head, throwing her hair back. "The fact is that he killed the captain, little Pearl."

And the insult fight was on.

"I don't think you are thinking right in your head, Lumina. Maybe you should have a rhinorse trample the other side."

"If you can't think then you shouldn't talk, Pearl."

Pearl looked at Aidan, fuming. She whispered to him after disengaging her sight. "If you are going to play this game, please don't insult the Queen of Slur and Slander. Go for the kill like Lumina would."

"You're on." He answered between his teeth.

"You seem quarrysome, Pearl. I'll arrange a rock sheet for you to lay on tonight." It was a running joke in the countries surrounding Gohar that the place had so many rocks even their pillows were stuffed with rocks.

"Oh, Lumina! Please take care. Isn't it dangerous to use one's entire vocabulary in a single sentence?"

"Keep talking, Pearl. Someday you will end up saying something intelligent."

"I remember now, you were so wrapped and stuck up that you rolled out of the hospital and the bandages only ended after you crossed the border to Gohar."

"Yes, it took about five times more bandages to wrap my chest than it'd take yours."

 "That was low." Quipped Sora.

By now everyone was enraptured by the bickering between the two princesses. Cythrel was holding her stomach to not burst in laughter. Claire was holding her head hanging down, Helios was confused but confident in her daughter. The nobles and officials were savoring the quarrel.

In fact, some of them were savoring it too much. Exactly the kind that would be profiting a lot from breaking up the two princesses' friendship than just getting a minor noble they never heard of convicted. Their point would probably be to chip at Lumina's influence in the court. Whether because it would harm the influence of others that supported Lumina or because they were offended and trampled by the princess. The latter had quite a lot of people on the list. One prominent member of the profit faction was captain zappy. The one that tried to block them from reaching the academy.

"Now, your Majesty. Please say 'enough' after Pearl's comeback." Dawn whispered to the King.

"Please, Lumina. Don't force too hard to think of a snappy comeback. You might sprain what is left of your brain."

King Helios stood up. He shouted. "Enough."

Pearl smiled and sat. With the King intervening to protect her daughter after her own reply, it meant she won. That Dawn made a defeated face and threw herself on the chair also helped.

"Pfff." Cythrel was almost numb from suppressed mirth.

"Lumina, go forward with your accusation. We don't have all day." He chastised his defeated daughter.

Dawn stood up. "Lord Aidan, is it true that you defeated a Knight Captain?"

"Yes, your Highness."

"How exactly?"

"I used the Ring of Conflagration spell and he cooked inside his armor."

The corners of some mouths rose. The man had just admitted his crime.

"Why did you use that spell on him?"

"He tried to behead me. I was able to dodge but he struck my left cheek. I have this scar to prove." He showed the faint white line in his cheek from his lip to below his ear right over the jawbone.

"What were you two doing before that exchange?"

"Dueling, your Highness."

"Why were you dueling?"

"The captain insulted my companion here." He pointed at Sora.

"Ambassador Lady Sora. Is it true?"

"It is your Highness," Sora answered from her seat.

Calling Sora an ambassador was not a lie. She was a diplomatic envoy of sorts. This stirred some of the people present that took her for only some beastkin scout.

"May we know what he called the esteemed ambassador of the squirrel-kin tribe?"

"I'd rather not repeat these words, your Highness."

Dawn looked at Sora and she nodded.

"He called me a filthy beast, your Highness."

That kind of insult to a beast-kin was akin to a death wish. Everyone knew that.

"And what did Lord Aidan do?"

"He challenged the captain to a duel to defend my honor on the spot, your Highness."

"Who was his witness?" Dawn asked.

"Princess Pearl of Gohar graciously accepted to be my witness, your Highness."

"Crown Princess Pearl, the witness of Lord Aidan in that duel, what were the terms?"

"To the yield, Lumina."

"And how did the duel turn out?"

"After several exchanges and a few minor wounds, Lord Aidan yielded. He even went so far as to drop his blade."

"And how the captain, the winner of the duel reacted?"

"He paused for a while, time enough for him to perceive the yield. Then he attempted to behead Lord Aidan, causing the wound he showed."

"That wound is too shallow. It could not be that bad." Dawn echoed the thoughts of everyone present.

"The wound was grievous. I had to use a hero potion on him. And he had help from our party's skilled healer."

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Pearl," Dawn replied with bitterness in her voice, implying that she was the healer. And Lumina's magical prowess and affinity with the Light element were well known by all.

"The defense rests. We stated only the truth, your Majesty." Pearl sat and gently pulled Aidan to sit as well.

"The accusation rests, your Majesty. Your words?"

King Helios stood up. "For killing a knight captain after suffering treachery and ridding Yutis of a dishonorable cur we commend Lord Aidan. You are worthy of your name in our eyes.

"For the crimes of sedition, high treason, threatening the life of their sworn ward, and incitement of war against our friends in Gohar we condemn these six knights to be stripped of their names and rank. The four present here is to be swiftly and painlessly beheaded. Yutis will never thrive or relish in torture or humiliation. Every family member of these six former knights involved in the incident will be stripped of all possessions and disfranchised up to the third degree. Children under the age of six are to be removed from their families, given new names and sheltered in the royal orphanage.

"Anyone who disagree of this ruling says so and make your case now."

Silence. Some nobles and officials were grinding their teeth, their move yielded little profit. Sure, they exposed the chasm between Pearl and Lumina, but the boy received a commendation from the King. Aidan mentally noted each one of them.

Knowing those that were aiming at them was as valuable as one's life.