Trial by combat

It was a judicial system used in the ancient times to settle an argument. When strength and might were everything, people relied on it to settle an argument.

When King Dane Adder of Midlake unified the land, he needed a new way of judicial system or there would be constant conflict between tribes whenever an argument came forward. So he popularized a system which respected witnesses and pieces of evidence. However, it did not work well in most cases there were no witnesses left behind. Most cases were ruled out as not guilty. And failure to punish crimes worsens the conflict.

At that time, the incident of Rombit happened and along with it was the rise of Mordu' and his way 'Mordu'nism'. When King Dane's system failed, the frustrated people turned to a more reliable way, divine justice_ God will protect the right and punish the wrong. It went back to the ancient way.

So the Temple rose in both military might and judiciary power. Soon the unrivalled power corrupted the people of Temple. Its warriors and rich men who got along well with Temple used the law to their advantage. They would accuse their enemies without proof and then settle it with a combat trial.

No one could win against the spell-casting warriors of Temple and soon all the arguments were won by the side of Temple or who donated more money to Temple. A whole new era of corruption began.

Eighty years later, King James Adder, father of Princess Cleo, ruled the kingdom. In his reign, he re-established King Dane's system to end corruption. He introduced a new guard force which prioritised searching witnesses and pieces of evidence backed by administration power. Unlike the prior system in which the duty of searching for witnesses lay on victims, James's system worked better. And so ended the corrupted 'trial by combat' system.

"Trial by combat? Are you out of your mind?"

Leila asked Ethanial. She was serious and full of worry. She requested the guards to talk with Ethanial alone for a moment before he was dragged back to his jail.

"Leila. This is the only way. You also know that we don't have a choice."

"No. We can find other pieces of evidence or ways to prove your innocence. This is too dangerous. No one ever wins the trial by combat."

"I can count five of them."

"And they are guilty as fuck. They won because they were evil cunning bastards who were very good at killing."

"I may not be an evil cunning bastard but I am also very good at fighting."

"But..."

"Hey, don't worry. I won't die that easily. You are not the only one who became stronger after our meeting. I have become stronger too. I will never die before I can be with you. I promise you. Didn't I? That I will marry you."

The word 'marriage' stunned her.

Before they finished talking, the guards came back to take Ethanial.

"Time's up my lady."

Since she had no time, she hurriedly whispered into Ethanial's ear.

"Ethanial please know this, I love you too, no matter what happens and what you hear otherwise."

At the same time, she handed over something into his hand. When he opened his hand, he saw two gold rings bearing their names.

Although a trial by combat was usually a dual between the accused and plaintiff, in Ethanial case, the wise chose to make Ethanial run the same course as the test. He decided it was the most suitable way since Ethanial had to prove he had the skill of a Templer.

However, unlike the competitors, Ethanial had to compete in all three courses of obstacle, dual and monster fight on the same day. Templer Clement who came on top this year was appointed as his dual opponent.

"The heck are you doing in prison? Are you doing push-ups?"

One of the inmates cursed at him as Ethanial was taking too much space to train his muscles.

"Yes, I need to prepare for my trial. His wisdom had given me mercy to justify myself with a trial by combat."

"Are you serious? How is that a mercy? No one ever came out alive."

"At least my fate is in my own hands now. All I need is to win."

"True. As a Templer yourself, you have a higher chance than us." One inmate said.

Upon his news, the inmates, who were never cheerful, were excited. They still do not like him. However, they hated those outside more. It was reason enough to side with Ethanial. The old man quietly listening to them contemplated for a while. Then he abruptly asked for an offer.

"Son, let me help you then. I will make you a badass."

"Humph* what an old man could teach a Templer? How to live old?" One inmate jested.

"Yes. How to live till old. I am one of the five who survived trial by combat. I can teach you."

The old man took off his clothes. It shocked all of them. They had never seen in their lives a man with grey hairs with such pumped-up muscles. The skin has loosened but underneath were all lean muscles. There were many scars of lashes on his back portraying his horrible past. But the one that really attracted all the attention was the big diagonal scar on his left lower abdomen. Someone must have stabbed him. All these proved the old man, once he was young, might have been an incredible fighter.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"For that, I only ask one thing in return. Kill my brother."

"I respect your offer. But I am no killer nor a mercenary, old man."

"Hear his name. He might already in your list."

"I don't have a list..."

Although Ethanial rejected his offer, the old man reached near him and whispered a name into his ear. The name made him think.

"I hate him, all right? But not much as killing him."

"You will soon have more than enough. So... Deal?"

He hated to accept it. However, he needed his experience. Ethanial might be very good at fighting but they were mostly monsters. He fought many bandits too. However, he never had a chance to spar with a Templer who could cast spells. He lacked the skill of a dual.

In the end, he accepted the offer. He promised himself that he would do anything to be with Leila.

Ethanial trained his muscles and sword techniques all day. His roommates also supported him. They even gave him the farthest spot from the door so that he could rest well at night.

Before, a week seemed like a lifetime in this small packed cell. Now a week ended like a candle. The day of judgment came.

"Son, don't forget what I taught you. Stay calm and don't forget your surroundings. Now go kick those Templers' asses and never come back."

"Old man, if he loses, his head will be chopped off. He isn't coming back either way," said an inmate.

"Hey shut up your lousy mouth! It will bring bad luck," barked another inmate at him, "Is that how you send your roommate? Ethanial. After you are free, come back and break the jail for us."

"You bastard!! So that's your true intention."

As chaotic as it might be, his new friends sent him away with smiles and laughs.

At the same time in a beautifully decorated room, Leila was also preparing for the battle.

"My lady, this. This is the only way. Rub this to the wall of your inside right before the ceremony," said Mrs Borger.

When she found out about Leila, she had been searching for a way to lie. When a woman underwent the ceremony of service, the Temple searched for virgin blood to find out if it was her first time. If the woman was not a pure virgin when she served the Mordu', she would be punished severely. So Mr Borger tried to trick the Temple with fake blood.

"Is that pig's blood?"

"No. It is from the leeches."

"Ewww. Nanny!"

"Don't eww me, my lady. I tried with most animal blood. They turn dried and hard soon. They won't appear the same on the stick. The vendor said this doesn't dry even after a candle. I tried it myself and it works."

"You tried that out?"

"Yes. And I want to forget it so don't ask again. Rub this before you enter his holiness room. And when his...thing enters your ...you scream painfully. Not too loud. Just enough to..."

Seeing her nanny explaining every detail of the process made her chuckle.

"Nanny, you can stop. I understand very well. I have experienced it myself."

"... Oh God. I don't know if I should be relieved or not." Mrs Borger massaged her head to relieve her headache.

"You seem to be more out of yourself than me. Don't be too nervous."

"How could I not? If his holiness found out, he will execute you."

"And which is why I already have a plan for that, nanny. Take this letter to the trial site and give it to Ethanial."

"May I read the contents?"

"No. It is embarrassing. But if you must know it also contains the plans for both situations. If I happen to succeed in tricking his holiness, I draw the floor plan of the Duke's castle. He can break me out. If I fail, I ask him to come rescue me before the execution."

"... My lady, you are really... What if he doesn't come?"

"He will. Or you make him."

"Fine. I will make him do it. But what if he fails to rescue you?"

"... Then we will die together and unite in the afterlife."

"Oh god. I can't listen to you anymore. I can't believe you can still smile."

"... I am scared too. But If this happens to be my last moment, I want it to be a happy moment."

It was clear Mrs Borger was trying so hard not to cry. But it made her funnier as she sniffed her nose and shrunk her face. She embraced Leila for a while then said goodbye as she left for Ethanial.

"Good luck. May God protect you, Leila."

"Thank you. I shall meet you again nanny."

The time has come for the two to meet each of their fate. As Leila fixed the skirt of her dress, Ethanial strapped his leather armour tightly on his black shirt. As she walked down the stairs, he walked up from the dungeon. As she climbed up and sat in a small carriage alone, he sat on an open cart with the guards. As she stepped inside the grandiose temple, he jumped out on the open meadow.

As the two stood in front of their separate fates, they closed their eyes and took a deep breath.

"Let's do this." They muttered.

"Ethanial, as per your request, his holiness has appealed to God for the judgement. Knee to his almighty and pray," said a High Templer.

"May God take pity on me. May God be just. May God be merciful."

"The God is just. I am High Templer Ferde, in charge of your trial. Now do you see that path that enters the small wood? It is the first course. You shall take that path and the other side will be the cliff. You shall find a yellow flag there. Return with it. Do not sway from the path or we shall declare you 'runaway'. When you return, Templer Clement shall be waiting. You shall be given a brief time to rest. Then the dual shall start."

"Yes. I understand."

"You may start."