Hours after her parting with Elden, Gertrude stood before the ornate doors of the Empath Council chambers. She had spent the intervening time in deep preparation, reviewing ancient laws and precedents, steeling her resolve for the battle to come. With a deep breath, she pushed the doors open and stepped into the heart of Empyrean power.

The Empath Council chambers were a marvel of architectural emotion magic. Soaring ceilings arched overhead, their surfaces shimmering with iridescent patterns that shifted in response to the collective mood of those gathered within. Crystal chandeliers hung suspended, each facet catching and refracting not just light, but the very essence of feelings that permeated the air.

At the center of the chamber, a circular dais rose from the floor. Intricate runic patterns were etched into its surface, forming a complex ritual circle. As Gertrude stepped onto the dais, she felt the familiar tingle of law path magic activating. A soft, golden glow emanated from the circle, enveloping her in its warm light.

Above her head, a shimmering orb of energy coalesced into existence. Its surface swirled with muted colors – deep blues of determination, flashes of red anxiety, and the steady green of hope. Gertrude knew that this orb would betray her every emotion to the council, a necessary component of the absolute truth demanded by law path magic.

The council members sat in high-backed chairs arranged in a semicircle around the dais. Their faces were in perfect neutrality, almost too perfect. It was subtle, but to Gertrude's keen senses, their eyes, usually sharp and perceptive, seemed slightly unfocused.

Equinox sat at the center, her posture regal, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips. As Gertrude took her place, Equinox stood, her voice ringing out clear and strong.

"Esteemed members of the Empath Council," Equinox began, her own emotion orb pulsing with confidence, "we are gathered here today to address a matter of utmost importance to the safety and stability of Empyrea."

She gestured, and an image of Galen appeared in the air before them, his young face etched with fear and confusion. "This child, Galen, possesses a power unlike any we have encountered since the Shattering. His ability to manipulate time itself poses a grave threat if left unchecked and untrained."

Equinox's voice took on a note of practiced concern. "We have all seen the devastation wrought by uncontrolled temporal magic. The ruins of Heartwood stand as a stark reminder of the dangers we face. It is our duty, our sacred responsibility, to ensure that such a tragedy never occurs again."

She turned, fixing Gertrude with a piercing gaze. "My esteemed colleague, Gertrude, argues for leniency, for allowing the boy to remain in the custody of... questionable individuals. But I ask you, can we afford such a risk? Can we gamble the fate of our realm on sentiment and misplaced trust?"

As Equinox spoke, Gertrude watched the council members. They nodded along, their movements almost mechanical, their own emotion orbs pulsing with muted agreement. It was as if they were all caught in a shared dream, sleepwalking through this farce of a trial.

When Equinox finished, she turned to Gertrude with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "The floor is yours, old friend."

Gertrude stood, feeling the weight of the law path magic settling around her like a cloak. She knew that every word she spoke would be bound by its power, every emotion laid bare for all to see.

"Honored members of the council," Gertrude began, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her heart, "we stand at a crossroads. The decision we make today will shape not just young Galen's future, but the very fabric of our society."

She waved her hand, and the image of Galen transformed, showing him laughing with Elden, his eyes alight with wonder as he learned to control his powers. "Yes, Galen's abilities are formidable, even dangerous if mishandled. But he is not a weapon to be contained or a tool to be used. He is a child, scared and alone, thrust into a world he barely understands."

Gertrude's emotion orb pulsed with waves of compassion and determination. "Our duty is not just to protect Aethoria from threats, but to nurture and guide those with the potential to shape its future. Galen needs understanding, not imprisonment. He needs mentors who can relate to his unique experiences, not clinical observation."

She turned, meeting each council member's gaze in turn. "I propose that Galen be placed under my guardianship, with the assistance of Elden Vortis, a young man who has demonstrated remarkable skill in chrono magic. Together, we can provide Galen with the support and guidance he needs while ensuring the safety of all."

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As Gertrude spoke, she noticed a subtle shift in the council members' demeanor. Their eyes seemed to clear slightly, their emotion orbs flickering with sparks of genuine consideration. But then, almost as quickly as it appeared, the clarity faded, replaced once more by that eerie, dream-like state.

Equinox stood, her voice sharp. "A compelling argument, Gertrude. But you conveniently omit some crucial details. This Elden Vortis you speak of – who is he really? What qualifications does he possess to mentor a child with such dangerous abilities?"

Gertrude felt a flicker of unease, but she pressed on. "Elden is a gifted young mage, trained in the arts of memory magic and possessing a natural affinity for chrono magic. His unique combination of skills makes him ideally suited to guide Galen."

"Ideally suited?" Equinox's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Or perhaps ideally positioned to exploit the boy's powers for his own ends?"

The air in the chamber grew thick with tension as the two Empaths faced off. Equinox's emotion orb pulsed with righteous indignation, while Gertrude's swirled with a mix of frustration and unwavering resolve.

"I assure you," Gertrude said, her voice tight, "Elden's intentions are pure. He seeks only to help Galen, to prevent him from suffering the isolation and fear that comes with misunderstood power."

Equinox's lips curved into a cold smile. "Pure intentions? Is that why he failed to mention his status as a fugitive from justice?"

A collective gasp rose from the council members. Gertrude felt as if the floor had dropped out from beneath her. "What are you talking about?" she demanded, her emotion orb flaring with shock and disbelief.

With a flourish, Equinox produced a scroll bearing the official seal of Mnemosyne. "I have here an arrest warrant for one Elden Vortis, issued by High Remembrancer Mnemion himself."

She unrolled the scroll, revealing a detailed sketch of Elden alongside a list of charges. "Elden Vortis stands accused of the brutal murder of his own father, former High Remembrancer Edward Vortis. He is considered armed and extremely dangerous."

Equinox's gaze swept the council chamber. "Is this the man you would entrust with a child of unprecedented power? A fugitive? A patricide?"

Gertrude's mind reeled. It couldn't be true. Elden, a murderer? The boy she had come to know, to trust, to care for like a son – how could he be capable of such a thing?

"There must be some mistake," Gertrude protested, her voice wavering. "Elden is many things, but he is not a killer. He loved his father deeply."

Equinox's expression softened into one of practiced sympathy. "Oh, Gertrude. I know this must be difficult to accept. You've always seen the best in people, even when they don't deserve it. But the evidence is irrefutable."

With another gesture, Equinox conjured a shimmering memory crystal. "I warn you, what you're about to see is disturbing. But the council must understand the full gravity of the situation."

The crystal pulsed, and suddenly the chamber was filled with a three-dimensional projection of a study in disarray. Books lay scattered across the floor, furniture overturned. And there, in the center of the chaos, lay the broken body of Edward Vortis.

Gertrude let out a strangled cry, her emotion orb exploding with waves of grief and horror. She had thought…but to see him like this, his unseeing eyes staring up at her, his body twisted and bloody – it was too much to bear.

As Gertrude collapsed to her knees, wracked with muffled sobs, Equinox's voice cut through her anguish. "Members of the council, I believe we have heard enough. It is clear that Gertrude, despite her best intentions, has been deceived. She has unknowingly harbored a dangerous fugitive, putting not just young Galen, but all of Empyrea at risk."

The council members nodded in unison, their emotion orbs pulsing with a uniform shade of grim agreement.

"I move that custody of the child Galen be immediately granted to the Empath Council, to be placed under my direct supervision for training and observation. Furthermore, I recommend that Gertrude be placed under house arrest pending a full investigation into her involvement with Elden Vortis."

Gertrude tried to speak, to protest, but her words were drowned out by the chorus of "Ayes" from the council members. She watched, helpless, as Equinox stepped forward to sign the official decree, the law path magic binding the decision with unbreakable force.

As guards moved to escort Gertrude from the chamber, Equinox leaned in close, her voice barely above a whisper. "Don't look so distraught, old friend. Sometimes, to serve the greater good, we must make difficult choices. In time, you'll understand."

Gertrude met Equinox's gaze, a spark of defiance flickering in her tear-filled eyes. "This isn't over, Equinox. Whatever game you're playing, whatever you've done to the council – I will find a way to stop you."

Equinox's smile was cold and triumphant. "Oh, Gertrude. It's already over. You've lost."

As Gertrude was led away, she heard Equinox addressing the guards. "Find Elden Vortis. Search every corner of Empyrea if you must. And when you find him, bring him to me – alive."

The doors of the council chamber closed behind Gertrude with a resounding thud, sealing her fate and leaving Galen in the hands of a woman whose true motives remained shrouded in shadow.