"Since I have delivered mankind with redemption from evil, thou shall bow me and serve me; to be free eternally from damnation in rebirth. Join me and repay in mine quest of deliverance to others due in your best form," - lord Mordu'.

To be free from damnation and rejoice in a better realm after rebirth, the people were taught to repay with what they possessed. The women repaid with their bodies to the servants of the Temple before they lost their first. It became customary for them to visit the Temple a night a week before of wedding. For the men, their strength being their best, repaid by serving in the army of the temple in quest against the monsters before they turned old and lost it.

As such, the Temple reached the peak of power through its newly raised armies with Templers, gifted warriors of spells, at their core. Soon after King Dane's rule ended, its dominance became so immense that it answered no kings while its arms and legs were embedded deep in the kings' court. It became a kingdom within the kingdom. It had its administration, judiciary and economy which were maintained by the Ayeegyee, sons of Mordu', at each temple raised in capitals of all six regions of Midland.

However, at the temple of Gambit, three Ayeegyee_ Ayeegyee the wise, Ayeegyee the benevolence and the great Ayeegyee; were placed to oversee its function. While the benevolence took care of welfare, the wisdom was in charge of the moral guard.

"Captain Ethanial," The wisdom called Ethanial's name. His dominating voice echoed through the white-marble Hall of Truth. It was a two-story circular hall built by stacking huge blocks of marble. The upper floor was crescent shaped allowing to spectate the process on the lower floor. Huge banners of Temple and Rode were hung down from the windows outside. There were no windows on the lower floor.

Opposite from the upper floor was a huge face of lord Mordu', sculptured onto the walls of the hall. There was a small opening in the right eye.

Below the face was a stage made of oak. A podium with a golden crest of Temple was placed in the middle of the stage.

The Ayeegyee continued, "Templer Alexel has accused you that you have deserted your men and running away for your own lowly life. You have put yours over the life of a Templer even though the Temple strictly taught you_ that 'it is an honour to lay life for the warriors of God'. This is a serious accusation implying that you have broken the highest moral code. Do you understand it is the capital punishment?"

"I do, your wisdom."

"Good. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

The whole hall turned silent as the spectators and the Ayeegyee as well waited for the answer from Ethanial. Ethanial turned his head to Leila who had come to be the witness for him. His conscience and the words from Leila pulled a tug inside his mind_ should he accept his punishment honourably for leaving his friends behind or fight reluctantly until he cleared his name as Leila wanted?

As he stood there fighting an inner battle, Leila clenched her hands at her chest, awaited eagerly praying Ethan would do as she told.

"Your wisdom, I, devoted servant of Temple, the pupil of your teaching, deny all accusations and plead not guilty."

Ethanial finally reached a decision and denied all accusations. He believed he must fight so that he could reclaim the rewards Alexel stole.

Ethanial's blatant denial angered the hall. But Ethanial did not falter. He continued, "I did no such thing. All accusations are done on speculation while I have proof, a witness for my innocence."

"Rotten bastard!" A spectator spewed a cause right after Ethanial's claim. It paved the way for the rest to follow spitting on Ethan's name.

"Do you have no shame or honour?"

"Don't you have any conscience? You betrayed your brothers in arms!"

"Shameless pig!!"

His claim brought a heated moment within the crowd. Those who distrusted him cursed while the others defended.

"Hey! You don't know that. He said he has a witness."

"Let the man talk!"

The court split into two. It was turning into chaos so Ayeegyee interrupted it by slamming the podium.

"Order!! Order!!! Then you shall be given a chance to prove your claim. However, remember this_ Confess now and your penalty will be met with mercy, a chance to repent in a great cycle of life. Revealed later and it will be eternal damnation in hell."

"This servant bows in gratitude to your mercy for the chance to be heard. I plead not guilty."

Ethan stubbornly denied the accusation.

"Stop your lies and sweet talk, pig!"

A bark came out from the crowd on the second floor. It threw the patience away from his wisdom.

"In front of me, the wise, who said that? Take him out of the room and reprimand him for his insolent behaviour. ...you may begin, captain."

Ethanial bowed again showing his utmost respect to be favoured. He knew it was in the situation that his behaviour and manner spoke a lot.

"My men and I, together with Templer Mulberry, escorted lady Leila, daughter of Atkinson Longbart, from Portland to Gambit. There were no problems till we reached Mount Raza. There, we were attacked by a nest of wyverns."

"Hold on. Why did you choose the mountain route? Why not use the imperial route?"

"I am just a captain. It was Templer Mulberry who chose the route. He said the mission time was a moon and we were tight in schedule. So we used the mountain to cut distance. On an important note, when we reached mMountRaza, it was long passed sunset yet we did not stop."

"So it was nighttime when the wyverns attacked?"

"Yes."

The crowd was in awe. Everyone here knew that wyverns were the worst opponents to meet at night.

"One of them caught us by surprise. The other one attacked us from the front. It spitted the poison and got another one of us. It was terrible."

After hearing Ethanial, some started to shake their heads_it was a hopeless situation, they concurred.

"But it turned to worse when the horse from the carriage ran amok. The poor horse must have been scared. It ran straight to the cliff. I chased and stopped the horse then pulled out Leila from danger. By then, I saw not two but a whole nest came down on us."

Again, the crowd was shocked after hearing a nest. Some could now sympathize with Ethanial.

"Yes. A nest. As the client's safety was our mission's priority, I took her to a cave, a safe place, two candles away from where we were attacked. We waited a day for my team there but they didn't show up. Since we were short on time, I decided to take Leila home first and to be reunited with my team in town."

Many in the crowd stood side with his decision. But no claim he made stayed true unless proven.

"So is anyone here to affirm your claim?"

"By the mercy of God, lady Leila herself is here to vouch for my claim."

"Very well. The hall of truth called upon the witness. Miss Longbart, take the stage."

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The moment the Ayeegyee called upon her name, Leila walked up the small stage gently. She even wore a simple white dress so that the wisdom had a good impression on her. She knew manner raised the credibility of her testimony.

"Your wisdom, I, lady Leila Longbart, daughter of Atkinson Longbart, pay my respect to your wisdom. My father is a religious man and a devotee of the Temple. He has donated many times to the Temple. As he has followed the teaching of Mordu', the lord has blessed him with my safety return."

"Praise his mercy on you, child."

"My father hired the escort from Temple for my travel to the east. The time was a moon. We took the imperial route during the departure and it took too much time that when it was time to return, we were short on time. I told sir Templer Mulberry. He said he heard no news of vicious monsters sighted in Donbask so we decided to use the mountain route. We travelled day and night. When we were first attacked, I didn't know it was wyverns. I was in the carriage and suddenly I heard the flapping of wings and a man screaming in horror. The voice went far as he was screaming. Then I heard the sounds of a fight. I was so scared."

Leila shrugged in fear as she revisited the memory of horror. The crowd also took pity on her.

map of Midland [https://i.imgur.com/fMcNd2j.jpg]

"Suddenly my carriage moved forward and I heard a man shouting that my carriage was headed straight to the cliff. Then I heard the sounds of hoofs galloping beside my carriage. Soon my carriage was stopped abruptly and tripped over. Then the door was opened and I saw a man sending his arm to lift me. I took the arm and got out. It was the first time I saw Ethanial. My carriage was stopped just before it would fall. He saved my life. But I was not safe yet. A wyvern took my driver and dropped him back. He fell to his death right in front of my eyes. I was shocked in fear. Ethanial knew I was still in danger so he took me to a cave where it was safe. We waited there for his team. But after a day, we decided to go first."

The crowd noted that Leila's statement was matching with Ethanial's and they started to think Ethanial did nothing wrong. They were convinced by Leila's beauty and her voice. But Alexel was not someone easily swayed. He was determined to find fault with Ethanial.

"Tell me why you didn't go back to your team after she was in safety."

"He wanted to but..."

Leila knew the Templer wanted to use Ethanial's conscience against Ethanial. So she answered his question before Ethan. Alexel also knew what Leila was up to. He tried to stop her answering but Leila was not easy to beat either.

"I didn't ask you, my lady."

"...but I told him someone should be protecting me at all times. After what I saw, I didn't want to be left alone. I was scared. Ethanial was my sole comfort."

"... Your wisdom, she is interrupting my question."

"Miss Leila, I understand you want to share your story but need I remind you of the teaching of lord Mordu'. 'Woman shall not interfere with a man's talk.' You are on noble ground, Miss Leila. Behave yourself."

"My deepest apologies for my rude behaviour, your wisdom."

"I shall accept your apology. Accused, you may answer."

"Your wisdom, I have known my men for a year and Templer Mulberry. They are courageous men and proud warriors. They would bravely fight for the success of the mission rather than live in shame. I decided protecting Leila was in the best interest."

"But did you really protect Leila? Your wisdom, when my team found them, the convict was on the ground nearly dead by the poison from a mantila. It was the girl, whom he swore to protect, trying to save him."

His words turned the tide. A warrior saved by a girl who could barely lift a sword.

"Shameless pig."

"Hang yourself."

"You fricking waste of food."

Alexel continued, "his incompetence endangered the girl and nearly killed it. It made me understand why lord Mordu' has taught lesser men to die for gifted warriors. Only the Templers are the true salvation of men against monsters. And he foresees it. Praise him! Praise the Mordu'!"

Suddenly the hall of truth turned into a prayer hall. Praises and prayers spread across, while at the same time, curses and swears also flung to Ethanial. As a ragged warrior, he had heard many curses but this was the first time he felt it in his heart. He felt anger. Not to them but to himself. He was angry and ashamed.

Alexel, opening his chest and standing tall, proudly observed the crowd like a winner. Leila wanted to weigh on Ethanial side but the wise had already warned her once. She could not intervene and risked her status as a witness. Her heart was about to burst. She hoped Ethan would say anything. But she also knew, Ethan, like every other man in this room, was from the Temple and it was his pride that men should be the ones protecting women.

She waited for his defence till she could not hold herself any longer.

"Your wisdom, may I speak?"

"Why? So that you could save him again?"

The Templer mocked. The crowds followed along. But it did not stop Leila.

"No. I shall speak, for I am the sole witness. Sir Templer here wasn't there to see the whole picture. He arrived only when the fight was about to end. Ethanial here gave up his ride so I could run away myself while he ... took on the mantila alone. Yes. He knew he couldn't beat it. Yet he bravely took it head-on for me. Like his men, he was ready to sacrifice himself for the mission."

"Yet when I saw you, you were there trying to attack the mantila. Why? Perhaps he told you to fight alongside him. Perhaps he wanted to use you as bait but misstepped and the monster got him first."

Leila was frustrated. She was the sole witness, the one being saved. Yet these people happily dined on an accusation from imagination.

"Don't run wild on your imagination, sir Templer. It was all on me. He told me to run. But I thought we could run together given the chance the mantila was already hurt. It was my decision. I...felt guilty. We chose that dangerous route because of me. Precious fathers, husbands and sons were lost because of me. I did not want another on me."

She looked down to the floor, her eyes staring at the past. Tears filled in the corner of her eyes. She said with truth. All along Ethanial was not the only one burdened by deaths. Leila also carried a load on her own.

"Insolence!!" The Templer barked, "Women do not decide what men do."

"That does not change the fact what we felt in our hearts, sir Templer. We never wanted it. Given chance we wanted to ..."

The crowds laughed at Leila.

"Do what? Beg the monster not to kill? hahaha."

"Or better! charmed with your beauty? Hahahaha."

Leila could not argue back. They were right, she believed. She was not able to save Ethan. 'If the Templers were not there, what would have happened?' she thought. 'Who am I to believe I could save or help Ethan?'

She knew she could not do much. She knew she was weak and vulnerable. But to be revealed and laughed upon by disheartened her.

And it angered Ethanial. He could no longer watch the woman he loved being ridiculed and made fun of. She was the kindest and bravest person he had ever met. How many times did she bring him back on his feet when he was down?

"She is the strongest woman I have ever known. Skill, maybe not. But courage and determination, rival any of you. You all should have seen how she put a spear into a mantila's back, which half of you wouldn't dare to approach. So you may laugh like ignorant fools. It is your loss." Ethanial defended Leila. Their eyes met as he spoke.

"Silence convict! You dare talk without being asked," barked Alexel loudly, "and you dare mock your own peers." Since Ethanial made enemies out of the public, Alexel decided to use that against him.

"Enough! Both of you! This is not a debate on a girl's bravery. The sun is down. We shall adjourn the hearing. The next hearing will be in half moon after the competition."

Ayeegyee the wisdom ended the session in anger. Most cases like these ended quickly with the accused found guilty and executed. But this time, both the prosecution and accused kept getting sidetracked and he lost patience.

Alexel approached Leila before he left the room. He smacked his lips and smiled.

"There are only two witnesses in this case. You and me. Don't think they would listen to a girl's words over a Templer's. Stop humiliating him or yourself and do whatever you girls do. Don't interfere in a man's job."

Leila watched his back as he left the hall proudly. "Damn you." She swore in her mind.