Leo walks down a grand but dark hallway.
Leo starts remembering the events that happened in the square, preparing himself for the challenge that will be explaining it.
-They… are gone. - Says a soldier.
The soldiers start looking around for the two, as if they could hide in the middle of the air.
Leo
-It's useless, they're no longer with us.
Soldier
-But that means that…
Leo
-Yes, we failed.
All the soldiers became silent.
Leo
-Calm down, I will report our failure to the king myself. You all continue the search for the two until further notice.
The soldiers
-Y-yes, sir!
Leo then notices a soldier nervously staring at him.
Leo
-What is it?
Soldier
-L-leo, I mean, sir, general... your chest.
Leo
-Hmm?
He looks down and sees the spear point embedded in the breastplate of the armor, he picks it and throws it to the ground.
Leo then leaves in silence.
One soldier lets a thought escape out loud while looking at the spearhead
-Did he forget that it was stuck in his chest?
Leo
-I failed, I wasn't prepared for that sudden apparition, nor for Caelum to take any action, although she was raised by the old man...
Leo stops in front of a huge and imposing door.
-But I have to concentrate…
He puts his hands against the door and pushes it open.
Stolen story; please report.
Leo
-My family's honor is at stake.
The door opens leading to a huge courtroom full of people.
In the opposite direction to the entrance, there were four thrones, only three of which were being occupied, the empty place being the seat that Leo should normally occupy.
One of the people seated on the throne was Luscinia, a woman with short, straight hair that was slightly wavy. She speaks.
-Leo, your arrival was awaited by everyone.
Another person sitting on one of the thrones was Apis, who kept her eyes closed and had straight hair slicked back.
- Long-awaited I would say, your delay made us waste a lot of time.
The last person was Salus, a man with long tousled hair and a kind look.
-But the one who should be judged is not with you…
Apis
-What's the meaning of this, Leo?
Leo remains silent.
The court fills with murmor.
A young man at the top of the court says.
-Silence…
The discussion in the court continues, but Luscinia notices the voice among the others and looks in his direction.
He repeats, this time loud and clear.
-Silence!
Everybody quickly reacts, most people just shut up, Luscinia looks at him worriedly, Apis smiles, and Salus just stares at Leo with a pitying look.
The voice came from a young man with four wings, he wore fine vests and a pompous crown while sitting on a throne adorned with gold. After his little outburst, he quickly recomposes himself as he looks down on everybody in the court.
Leo kneels down almost immediately
The king speaks
-General Leo, as one of the four Knights of Salvation, you should be well aware of the consequences of tarnishing the title with such a failure.
Leo
-Your Majesty, I know perfectly well the consequences of failing as the Guardian of Peace, but there was nothing I could do under the circumstances.
Apis
-So, the great general failed to capture an inferior being who is not even capable of flying.
Luscinia
-Now is not the time for that, Apis.
Leo
-I failed to bring Caelum to ers trial due to the unexpected intrusion of a certain being, the entity of the prophecy.
Everyone in the court looks at him with a mix of curiosity and disbelief.
Apis starts laughing
Salus then says
-I never expected to hear such a ridiculous excuse in this court, and coming from you Leo.
Luscinia
-Leo, did you really come to the presence of your majesty just to tell a lie of this level?
Leo just stays with his head bowed, silently kneeling in the center of the courtroom.
Basilius
-What was the entity like?
Apis
-Huh? Your majesty, do you believe in such words?
Basilius
-I have personally chosen the four of you as my knights and I hold you all in the highest esteem, so if any of you inform me of anything, even if it is absurd, I shall consider your words as the purest truth until proven otherwise.
Salus
-As expected of our king.
Luscinia quietly says to herself as she smiles.
-Basilius…
Leo stoically says
-He fell from the sky into the fountain of the golden square as we escorted Caelum to her trial, he had no wings and wore vests unlike anything I've ever seen, and most importantly, he had an artifact on his wrist capable of cutting anything and making whole bodies disappear before our eyes, many witnesses both civilians and soldiers were on the scene and can prove my words.
Basilius
-What was this artifact like?
Leo
-If my memory serves me correctly, it was a sort of bracelet adorned with a crystal.
Basilius
-A crystal?
Leo
-Yes, I was going to ask you about that right now, your majesty… are there crystals of power besides the crystal of the Firmament?
Everyone in the court was in shock, and they resumed the murmuring.
Basilius
-Yes, apparently, but I was only informed of their existence at this moment.
Leo
-I see…
Basilius
-So we must put all our forces in pursuit of this individual, if this crystal has a power close to that of the Firmament…
Salus
-My king, from what we heard, I believe he is only but an inferior being who has in his possessions a powerful artifact, there is no reason to believe that he is in fact an entity.
Luscinia
-Actually, if I do recall, the prophecy said of a power capable of destroying our entire civilization, I don't think Leo and his men would survive a confrontation against such a force.
Basilius responds to his knights.
-Indeed, but what really matters now is that we must stop him, whether he is an entity or an inferior one.
Basilius then addresses Leo again.
-We have no time to waste, Leo, you can already start leading the search in the capital.
Leo speaks to Basilius
-King, I would like to ask permission to lead a small troop in pursuit of Caelum and the entity instead, I have an idea where they are fleeing to.
Basilius
-Very well, but don't fail me again, Leo.
Leo
-Thank you for the second chance, your majesty.
Leo gets up and silently leaves the courtroom.
Basilius
-Apis, you will take the lead in searching the city.
Apis
-Me? But I have no experience with security issues like this, other than that…
Basilius
-It's an order.
Apis speaks
-Understood, as you wish. Your Majesty…
Soon after his speech, Apis retires giving a salute to Basilius
Basilius speaks as he gets up.
-Salus, Luscinia, take care of the castle's security.
Salus speaks with Luscinia.
-As your majesty orders.
Basilius speaks before leaving.
-The trial will be adjourned until the capture of the defendant, Caelum Somnium Volare, all dismissed!
END OF THE FOURTH CHAPTER