The scene around them erupted into chaos. Nearby citizens turned to look, horrified gasps and murmurs spreading like wildfire. Within moments, the sound of armored boots clanking against the cobblestones drew closer.

"Move aside!" shouted a knight as he and two others pushed through the crowd, their gleaming silver armor catching the sunlight.

Yuki froze, still holding the dagger the demon had forced into her hand. Her mind raced as she tried to process what had just happened.

"Drop the weapon!" one of the knights commanded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"Wait!" Yuki cried, throwing the dagger to the ground. "I didn't do anything! She—she's lying!"

The demon groaned pitifully from the ground, clutching her uninjured side and glaring up at Yuki. "Lying? You attacked me out of nowhere!" she hissed. "I was just minding my own business, and then you… you tried to kill me!"

"That's not true!" Yuki shouted, her voice growing desperate. She turned to Caelric for support, but even he looked momentarily stunned by the sudden turn of events.

"Enough," barked the lead knight. "We'll sort this out back at the barracks. For now, you're both under arrest."

"Wait, both of us?" Caelric asked, his eyebrows knitting together in frustration.

"You're with her, aren't you?" the knight shot back, gesturing toward Yuki. "That makes you just as suspicious."

Yuki's heart sank as the knights advanced. Before either she or Caelric could protest further, cold iron shackles were snapped around their wrists.

"This is a misunderstanding!" Caelric growled, his voice edged with anger. "You're making a mistake!"

"If that's true, you'll have your chance to prove it," the knight replied curtly, hauling him to his feet.

Yuki struggled against her captor, her protests falling on deaf ears. The mimic demon, still on the ground but clearly unharmed, smirked up at her as the knights began dragging her and Caelric away.

"See you around, hero," the demon whispered, just loud enough for Yuki to hear.]

The dim light of the cell flickered faintly, casting long shadows on the cold stone walls. Caelric sat on one of the rickety wooden benches, both of his hands covering his face. Across from him, Yuki sat on another bench, staring at the floor, her cheeks flushed with shame.

The silence between them was heavy, almost suffocating. Yuki opened her mouth to speak several times but stopped herself each time, the words catching in her throat. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she managed to mutter, "I… I'm sorry."

Caelric lowered his hands slightly, revealing his furrowed brow and tired expression. He studied her for a moment before letting out a deep sigh. "It's not your fault."

Yuki looked up, guilt written all over her face. "It is my fault! If I hadn't chased after that demon, if I had just listened to you—"

"Stop," Caelric interrupted, holding up a hand. His tone wasn't angry, but firm. "None of this mess was your fault. Well…" He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "Maybe kinda your fault."

Yuki's eyes widened, her shame immediately replaced by indignation. "Kinda? What's that supposed to mean?"

A small smirk tugged at the corner of Caelric's lips as he shrugged. "I mean, you did charge after a stranger in the middle of a crowded street without telling me what was going on. Not exactly the smartest move, Yuki."

"Ugh, thanks for the pep talk," Yuki grumbled, crossing her arms and glaring at him.

"But," Caelric continued, his tone softening, "if anyone's to blame, it's me. I should've kept a closer eye on you. I knew you were new to all of this, and I still let you wander off. That was my mistake."

Yuki frowned, shaking her head. "Don't do that. Don't blame yourself for my screw-ups. I'm the one who keeps dragging you into this mess."

Caelric leaned back against the wall, folding his arms over his chest. "I'm your guide, remember? It's my job to keep you out of trouble. Clearly, I'm not doing a great job at it."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Yuki sat in silence,

her mind racing as her emotions churned. Her thoughts kept circling back to the mimic demon. The sheer audacity of framing someone for a crime, twisting the truth so easily—it was infuriating. How could someone stoop that low? she fumed internally, her fists clenching in her lap. What kind of person—or demon—would pull something so pathetic?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Her frustration boiled beneath the surface, and without realizing it, something in her shifted.

Caelric, who had been leaning back against the wall, glanced over at Yuki and froze mid-motion. His eyes widened as he stared at her. "Uh… Yuki?" he said cautiously.

"What?" Yuki snapped, still caught up in her own thoughts.

"You might want to look at your face," he said, his tone bordering on alarm.

Confused, Yuki frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"Just… look," Caelric insisted, gesturing to the floor.

Yuki activated her ice skill instinctively, spreading a thin, glossy layer across the stone floor. As the reflective surface formed, she leaned over and stared—and immediately recoiled in shock.

Her face wasn't her own. Instead, she saw the demon woman's features staring back at her: the same hair, the same sharp, taunting expression she'd seen before.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Yuki yelped, scrambling backward.

As she freaked out, her face shimmered and morphed, returning to her usual appearance. She patted her cheeks frantically, making sure they were hers again.

"What was that?" Caelric demanded, his brows furrowing. "Since when can you do that?"

"I-I don't know!" Yuki stammered, still shaken. "I didn't even know I could do that!"

Caelric studied her warily. "That was definitely her face. The demon's. When did you learn to do that?"

"I didn't!" Yuki shot back. Then, as the initial shock subsided, she frowned, thinking back. "Wait… back in the alley. I copied their skills. I used their abilities—like the lanky one's stretchy arm thing and the round one's hearing boost. Maybe… maybe I copied her skill too."

Caelric raised an eyebrow. "And her skill is… what? Turning into people?"

"Yeah," Yuki said, her mind racing. "That's gotta be it. She mimicked my face to frame me. I bet that's her ability. And since I used my skill back there…"

"You copied it," Caelric finished, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

Yuki nodded, her expression a mix of confusion and awe. "I think so. But that's not all—I used ice back in the alley, too. And now that I think about it…" She glanced down at the ice still on the floor. "It felt… different. Like, not the same as when I used it before."

Caelric frowned. "Different how?"

"I don't know," Yuki admitted. "It's hard to explain, but it's almost like… I'm using a weaker version of their skills. Like, I can copy them, but it's not as strong or as polished as the original."

….

"So anyways," Yuki began speaking again, breaking the silence. "We're seriously just going to sit here and wait for a trial?"

"Yes," Caelric replied curtly, not looking up.

"Come on. We both know that trial isn't going to end well. That demon framed us, and she's probably already greased the wheels to make sure we're screwed."

"And if we escape now," Caelric shot back, finally meeting her gaze, "we'll look guilty. We need to let the system play out."

Yuki scoffed. "Oh, sure, because the system is so fair to people like us. Let's not forget we're the outcasts here—you're a half-demon knight, and I'm the 'useless' hero they didn't even want in the first place. Yeah, I'm sure they'll totally listen to us."

Caelric frowned but didn't respond immediately. Yuki pressed on.

"Listen, we break out of here, get the page from the Kingdom of Lust, and disappear. We don't need their permission to finish this quest or get me home!"

"That's exactly why we need to stay put," Caelric argued, his voice low but firm. "The page is tied to the kingdom's goodwill. If we run, we'll be branded fugitives. Do you really think we'll make it out of here alive with every knight in the kingdom hunting us down?"

Yuki threw her hands up in frustration. "The 'goodwill' plan is already in the gutters! That demon torched it when she decided to play identity thief and scream bloody murder. Why are we pretending there's still some diplomatic option here?"

"Because there is," Caelric said, his voice rising slightly. "If we can prove we were framed, we'll clear our names and get back on track. Running only proves we're guilty."

Yuki opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, a gruff voice interrupted from the bars of their cell.

"Oi, you two," one of the guards barked, his expression annoyed as he tapped his spear against the bars. "Shut it and save your energy for the trial tomorrow. Some of us are trying to do our jobs without listening to your lover's quarrel."

Both Yuki and Caelric froze, blinking at the guard in stunned silence.

"L-lover's quarrel?!" Yuki spluttered, her face instantly heating up. "W-we're he's way older!"

The guard smirked, already turning to leave. "Sure you're not," he muttered under his breath.

Caelric sighed, rubbing his temples as Yuki continued to fume. "This is bullshit," she muttered, flopping back against the wall.

"Agreed," Caelric said, his tone tired. "So can we stop arguing and focus on getting through this trial?"

Yuki glared at him but didn't respond. Instead, she crossed her arms and stared at the ceiling, her mind already racing with thoughts of escape plans, backup plans, and whatever came after that.

"Fine," she muttered after a long pause. "But if this trial goes south, don't say I didn't tell you so."

Caelric nodded, his expression softening slightly. "Fair enough. But let's at least try to keep things from getting worse."

Yuki huffed, but a small part of her agreed. Even if she didn't like it, they had no choice but to play along—for now.

…

The grand courtroom of the Kingdom of Lust was as intimidating as it was ornate. The floor was polished marble, the walls adorned with intricate tapestries, and a raised dais bore the looming presence of the judge. Yuki and Caelric were shackled at the wrists, dragged into the chamber by a pair of armored guards, their steps echoing ominously in the space.

Before them stood Teyvara, the mimic demon, now in her true form. Her delicate, otherworldly features and composed demeanor painted a picture of innocence as she stood in the witness box. Her gaze flicked to Yuki briefly, a glint of smugness in her eyes, before she turned away, feigning fear. Yuki clenched her fists, trying to keep her composure, but inside, her thoughts were a whirlwind of anger and frustration.

"Defendants, stand and face the court!" the bailiff barked.

Yuki and Caelric exchanged a glance before stepping forward, the chains on their wrists clinking.

The trial began, and Teyvara was called to give her testimony.

"My name is Teyvara," she began in a trembling voice that sounded far too convincing for Yuki's liking. "I was merely walking through the alley when I came upon her." She pointed a slender finger at Yuki, her expression turning sorrowful. "She attacked me without provocation. I tried to defend myself, but she—she was relentless. If it weren't for the intervention of the knights, I don't know if I'd still be alive."

Yuki glared at Teyvara, her nails digging into her palms. She could feel her pulse pounding in her ears, but she bit her tongue to stop herself from shouting.

The prosecution nodded solemnly, turning to address the court. "Your Honor, we have here an innocent civilian, brutally attacked in broad daylight by this... summoned hero." The prosecutor pointed dramatically at Yuki. "Her reckless actions endangered the lives of others, and she even attempted to flee with her accomplice."

Yuki's stomach churned as the attention of the courtroom shifted to her. She tried to avoid meeting anyone's gaze, her heart racing as her thoughts spiraled.

When it was their turn to speak, Caelric stepped forward, clearing his throat.

"Your Honor," he began, his voice steady, "my name is... Alric," he lied, shooting Yuki a quick glance. "This is Yuki. We're travelers who were unjustly caught in a misunderstanding. What Teyvara has claimed is not what happened."

The prosecutor raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Oh? And what did happen, then? Enlighten us."

Caelric took a deep breath, recounting their version of events. He explained how they had come across Teyvara in the alley and how Yuki had defended herself against an unprovoked attack.

"And yet," the prosecutor interrupted smoothly, "when the knights approached, you created a distraction and fled. Tell me, Alric, why would an innocent man act in such a way?"

Caelric hesitated, trying to form a response. "I panicked," he admitted. "The situation was escalating, and I was trying to protect Yuki."

The prosecutor pounced on his words. "So, you admit to fleeing the scene of an alleged crime, creating chaos in the process, and harboring someone accused of assault? Curious behavior for someone who claims innocence."

Caelric's jaw tightened as he tried to interject. "If I could just—"

"Ah, ah," the prosecutor said, holding up a hand to silence him. "And tell us, Alric, what were you doing in the alley to begin with? The victim," he gestured to Teyvara, "claims you were lurking nearby even before the attack."

Caelric opened his mouth to respond, but the prosecutor's smug expression made his words falter. Yuki watched the exchange, her frustration growing with every word.

Teyvara maintained her composure, giving the occasional delicate sniffle as she dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. It made Yuki's blood boil. She could practically hear Teyvara's internal gloating, and it took everything in her not to scream.

As Caelric struggled to keep up with the prosecutor's relentless interrogation, Yuki found herself trembling, anger bubbling to the surface. How could someone stoop so low? Framing them for a crime they didn't commit, manipulating the entire system to her advantage—it was infuriating.

And Teyvara just stood there, soaking in the sympathy of the court.

Yuki clenched her teeth, barely able to keep herself from shouting, but she knew it wouldn't help their case.