“It was just a prank,” Emerald bawled, rocking in one place, head buried between her grimy knees. “Just a way to get Sarah to transfer schools!”

“Oh?” The Scrutimancer arched an eyebrow.

"H-how did you know a-about Sarah?" Emerald asked.

"Memories in your head. Plus, these murders were confirmed by scanning the area with Kitlix Infix. Sarah... was the last one to die by your hand fourteen years ago. You left her outside for the Shadows to chop her up, didn't you?"

"No!" Emerald wailed, watching as the Kitlix flashed red. "That's not... I didn't mean to…”

“Why did you lock her outside of her Inn?”

“She was just a nullie! A weak, pathetic…” Emerald tried to explain herself, choking on her own words. “She... she didn't actually die! The Genesis well brought her back... Then she transferred schools, that's all!"

"Did she?" Weps asked quietly. "Or is that just what you tell yourself to sleep at night after you murder teenage adventurers? Who was your accomplice in this murder?”

"Z-zalimar... Instructor Zalimar Evernacht... he... he told me to do it!" Emerald cried. “And it... It wasn’t a murder! She’s still alive, I swear!”

"Zalimar told you to do it," Weps repeated. "This instructor you claim was banished to another dimension by a… human infiltrator?"

"Yes!" Emerald seized on this. "Instructor Zalimar said that nullies needed to be taught their place! That they were weakening, corrupting our bloodlines! He... he gave me special tasks... to make them leave Skyfall..."

"And these 'special tasks' involved murder?" Weps pressed.

"No!" Emerald sobbed. "Just... making their lives difficult. Making them want to leave. They're... they're not dead! You have to believe me! Look–your Kitlix is flashing green!”

"Right," Weps exhaled. "Because a magical fluid can bring them back? In another dimension?"

"Yes!!!" Emerald nodded vigorously.

"Here's the problem with your story," Weps said. "We do know Lord Zalimar Evernacht. Several warehouses worth of Topaz have been uncovered in Undertown linking to his business as the people fleeing from Duskbloom have confessed their crimes to be permitted past the barriers. Here's what I think happened - Necromage Zalimar used an insane dragon girl to murder the children of his enemies over the centuries. Do you know what the penalty for working with a Necromage is, Miss Stratos?"

"W-what?! Topaz?! Zalimar isn't a Necromancer, he's... a Koshei!" Emerald whimpered. "I didn't know... about the Topaz thing! I was just following orders..."

"Following orders," Weps repeated coldly. "Like a good little murderer. Ordinarily, we would slap a lifetime labor sentence on you, but there are important people who owned property in Undertown and now desire to see you dead."

"D-dead?" Emerald swallowed.

"Yes," Weps nodded. "Tomorrow at noon, you will be publicly executed for collaboration with a Necromancer. I will permit you to choose your last meal."

"No," Emerald whispered, her scales completely pale. "No, no, no... This can't be happening. He... he did this. Somehow. Alexander... he set me up!"

"Still clinging to your delusions about a human boy who can't use magic?" Weps sighed, standing up. "Sad, really. Your mind created this elaborate fantasy to avoid facing your own crimes. Humans on Arx can use magic just fine. The evidence is quite clear - you worked with a Necromancer to murder children for over two hundred years, then went mad and destroyed Undertown."

"I didn't..." Emerald's voice cracked. "Please... just... just check the Earth-Arx gate! Talk to someone at Skyfall! There must be someone who can verify..."

"Enough," Weps cut her off. "The execution will be at noon tomorrow. You will be served steak and potatoes tonight. That is all. Goodnight Miss Stratos."

----------------------------------------

. . .

Scrutimancer Weps walked down the gray stone corridor, his footsteps echoing off the ancient walls. The dungeons beneath the Watchmen's headquarters were old, dating back to the founding of Xandria. Perfect for holding dangerous criminals and those who collaborated with Necromancers.

He reached another heavy magisteel-reinforced door. The guard posted outside nodded respectfully and unlocked it.

Inside, a very odd creature named Quint Thornton sat on a simple stone bench, his skull-face illuminated by the dim glow of Kitlix lanterns. Unlike Emerald, he seemed calm, composed–almost unnaturally so.

"Good evening, Mister Thornton," Weps said, conjuring another chair from the wall. "I trust you've found your accommodations... adequate?"

"They're exactly what I'd expect from a medieval dungeon," Quint replied dryly, his skull-face impossible to read, bony antlers nearly scraping the low ceiling. "Though I must say, the food could use improvement."

"Interesting," Weps adjusted his spectacles. "Miss Stratos claims that you're her... Captain and mate?"

"Ah," Quint's hollow eye sockets flickered. "I see you've been speaking with Em. How is she holding up?"

"Poorly," Weps said. "She seems to be suffering from severe delusions. She will be executed tomorrow. You can lighten your sentence if you confess your crimes now."

"Executed?" Quint's skull-face remained impassive, but his voice held a note of genuine surprise. "For what crime exactly?"

"Collaboration with a Necromancer," Weps said. "Murders of children. Destruction of Undertown. Take your pick."

"I see," Quint said carefully. "And you believe she did all this while... being locked in your cell?"

"Mister Thornton," Weps said, glancing at the text displayed on his glasses. "What were you doing fourteen years, six months and five days ago?"

"Fourteen years ago?" Quint's skull-face tilted slightly. "I would have been... four years old, I believe. Why?"

"Scrutimancer Xistin just interviewed the Inn Maiden working at the Gilded Gryphon Inn," Weps continued. "She provided quite interesting details about Sarah Nisteroff's death. Would you care to explain your role in it?"

Quint's skull-face remained perfectly still. "Sarah transferred schools. She didn't die."

"Did she?" Weps leaned forward. "Or is that just the story you helped create to cover up her murder? The old Inn Maiden remembers your group quite clearly. You haven't aged a day. What sort of an undead abomination are you? Do you serve Necromage Lord Zalimar Evernacht?"

"I am not undead," Quint said carefully. "And I don't serve anyone. I am the Student Council President of Skyfall Academy."

"Ah yes, this mysterious academy that doesn't exist," Weps commented. "Tell me, what exactly is a 'Student Council President'? Some kind of necromantic title?"

"It's an elected position," Quint replied, his face twitching slightly. "Students vote for their representatives who then..."

"Spare me your fantasies," Weps cut him off. "Just answer one question, Mister Thornton. Do you serve Zalimar Evernacht? Do you follow his orders?"

"I don't serve Zalimar," Quint said firmly. "He is simply our delving instructor, yes, but..."

"Do you obey his orders or not?"

"I... follow school protocols," Quint said carefully. "Which includes following Instructor guidance during delving activities."

"I see," Weps glanced at his green-tinted Infix Kitlix. "And when Instructor Zalimar ordered you to kill children, do you obey?"

"That's not..." Quint's skull-face remained impassive but his voice wavered slightly. "You're twisting things. We never killed anyone."

"No?" Weps pulled out a crystal sphere. "Perhaps you'd like to see what really happened to Sarah Nisteroff?"

The sphere activated, projecting ghostly images into the air. A teenage girl running through dark streets, terror on her face. Living Shadows moving in the red-tinted gloom. Screaming. Blood.

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

The crystal sphere showed the Shadowbeast methodically dismembering Sarah, starting with her extremities. Her screams echoed through the cell as the projection continued in gruesome detail.

Quint's skull-face remained impassive, but his hands gripped the edge of his bench so hard the wood began to crack.

"Stop," he said quietly. "I get your point."

"Do you?" Weps asked, not deactivating the sphere. "Because according to our investigation, you were there that night. At the Inn. With Emerald Stratos and Solace Exill," Weps continued. "Confirmed by the Inn maiden."

"Sarah transferred schools. She's alive." Quint said, his voice tight.

"People don't come back from being fully shredded by Shadowbeasts, Mr. Thornton.” Weps finally deactivated the sphere. "The Inn Maiden remembers you. Remembers all three of you. She watched from the window as that poor girl was torn apart. She reported it fourteen years ago, but we didn't have a lead back then. Now we do. The destruction of Undertown is making all sorts of interesting evidence crawl out of the woodwork."

Quint remained silent.

"Tell me, Mister Thornton," Weps leaned forward. "How many other deaths have you helped cover up? How many other children has your group murdered for Zalimar for over two hundred years?"

"I want a lawyer," Quint said quietly.

"A what?" Weps blinked.

"A legal representative," Quint's skull-face remained impassive. "I refuse to answer any more questions without one present."

Weps tisked. "I'm afraid legal representatives aren't available to those who serve Necromancers, Mr. Thornton. Your execution is scheduled for tomorrow at noon, right after Miss Stratos. Would you like to choose your last meal?"

"This is absurd," Quint's skull-face twitched, orange eyes flashing left and right. "You can't just execute us without a trial."

"Actually, we can," Weps smiled thinly. "The law is quite clear regarding those who collaborate with Necromancers. No trial needed. The evidence speaks for itself. A potion of living death was likely used on you and your associates to awaken you in cycles of 1.6 years to commit murders and other crimes."

"I see," Quint's skull-face remained perfectly still. "And I suppose confessing would somehow reduce my sentence?"

"Perhaps," Weps adjusted his spectacles. "If you corroborate useful information about Zalimar's operations. The locations of his Topaz warehouses. Names of his other agents. Names of the people currently using your girlfriend's delving card to make property purchases."

"I don't know anything about Topaz warehouses or property purchases!" Quint said. "And I maintain that Sarah transferred schools."

"Still clinging to that story," Weps sighed. "Very well. What would you prefer for your last meal?"

"Nothing," Quint said quietly.

"Suit yourself," Weps stood, his spectacles glinting. "Though I must say, your lack of cooperation is... disappointing. Miss Stratos at least had the decency to break down when confronted with her crimes."

"Em is... emotionally volatile," Quint let out. "She tends to overreact to situations."

"An interesting way to describe a mass murderer," Weps commented. "Tell me, does working with a Necromancer usually make one 'emotionally volatile'?"

"For the last time," Quint's voice held a hint of frustration, "we don't work with Necromancers. We're students at Skyfall Academy. Everything else is just... misunderstandings."

"Misunderstandings that led to a girl being torn apart by Shadowbeasts?" Weps asked. "You and your gang have been operating longer than I have been alive. Your crimes have finally caught up to you. Goodnight, Mister Thornton," Weps turned to leave. "You shall be served steak and potatoes for your last meal. I'll see you at noon tomorrow."

----------------------------------------

. . .

Scrutimancer Weps made his way to the final cell. Inside, Solace Exill sat cross-legged on the floor, her red skin grimy.

"Miss Exill," Weps unfolded another stone chair from the wall. "I trust you've had time to reflect on your situation?"

The red-skinned girl looked up at him with gold-yellow eyes.

"Let me guess," she said flatly. "You're here to tell me I'm being executed tomorrow for working with a Necromancer."

Weps' spectacles flickered with surprise. "How did you...?"

"Vibration through the ground," Solace shrugged. "I heard everything you said to Em and Quint. About Sarah. About Zalimar. About the Topaz warehouses."

"I see," Weps said. "So, do you have anything to say in your defense?"

"Defense?" Solace smirked bitterly. "What's there to defend? You won't believe anything we say anyway. You've already decided we're the servants of a Necromancer."

"The evidence is quite compelling," Weps said. "The Inn Maiden's testimony. Reports from Undertown. Your group's apparent agelessness. Your connection to Zalimar's Topaz operation..."

"Have you considered," Solace interrupted, "that maybe we're telling the truth? That we really are students from another dimension? That there are things happening here that you don't understand?"

"Like what?" Weps asked.

"Like the fact that time moves differently between Earth and Arx," Solace said. "Like the fact that the Arx Bank has been running an interdimensional drug operation through Zalimar Evernacht and are now trying to cover their tail by lying to you?"

"Nonsense," Weps scoffed. "The Arx Bank is a respected institution! Why would it assist a Necromancer with Topaz distribution? You're clearly trying to deflect blame for your own crimes. Next you'll tell me that some human infiltrator named Alexander Glock is behind everything."

Solace stared up at the Scrutimancer with wide, gold eyes.

"You don't get it," Solace shook her head slowly. "We're not the bad guys here. We're the idiots who got played. All of us. Even Em. Especially Em. Damn it Em."

She rubbed her face with her red hands, yellow dull claws digging into her scales, her flesh-maw petals twitching.

"Played by whom?" Weps asked.

"By Zalimar mainly," Solace sighed. "He used us. Used our dislike against mixed-blood students. Made us think we were special, chosen. Elite. Pure. But really... we were just his enforcers. His thugs. Keeping order through fear while he ran his... other operation."

"Go on," Weps leaned forward.

"Sarah..." Solace's voice momentarily trembled. "I... bullied her, yes. I tried to make her leave school. But Em... Em took it too far. Locked her out, got me drunk on Shadow wine. I'm a dumb knob, okay? I admit it. Zalimar encouraged the bullying. Said it was our duty to keep the bloodlines pure."

"And you believed him?" Weps asked.

"Of course we did," Solace laughed bitterly. "The mixies were an easy target. Zalimar made us feel special, powerful. But really... we were just tools. Idiots. Patsies."

"The Topaz trade," Weps stated.

"Yes," Solace nodded. "Zalimar controls dimensional gates to a plethora of worlds with his gate-weaver spiders."

"Gate weaver?"

"He has these special spiders," Solace continued, her voice hollow. "Gate Weavers. They can create permanent dimensional gates. He clearly used them to move Topaz between worlds. The Arx Bank likely provides the distribution network."

"And this... Alexander Glock?" Weps pressed. "What's his role in all this?"

"I don't freaking know, okay!" Solace shook her arms. "I... I don't want to die! He's just a half-blood student from our school that Em is mad-obsessed with!"

"Mad-obsessed?" Weps repeated.

"Yes!" Solace exclaimed. "She's totally lost it over him! Claims he's a human infiltrator, that he's turning everyone against her, that he's behind everything bad that happens to her. But really... he's just a mixed-blood kid who stood up to her a few times!"

“You don't think that he is human like Miss Stratos?”

“Our school's Administration aren't idiots,” Solace said. “There's no way for a human to get into Skyfall.”

"And where is this Alexander Glock now?"

"I don't know! Last time I heard from him, he called us from Undertown! Said he's doing... charity work there!"

"Charity work," Weps repeated skeptically. "In Undertown? The criminal district currently being devastated by parasitic mites? You do realize how insane this sounds?"

"Of course it sounds insane!" Solace threw up her hands. "Everything about this situation is insane! We're being executed for crimes we didn't commit while the real criminals are probably laughing their asses off!"

"The real criminals being?" Weps pressed.

"Zalimar! Who won't be back... to Arx for three years, if Clint is to believed. Plus whoever has Em's delving card!"

"And why won't he be back?" Weps asked.

"Because delving team 'I love you' banished him into some doomed dimension!" Solace exclaimed and then choked as Weps gave her a look.

"I love you?" He repeated. "A delving team named 'I love you' banished a Necromancer into another dimension? Do you really expect me to believe this drivel?"

"It's the truth!" Solace protested. "Alexander Glock's team... they challenged Zalimar to a duel and won! I think... That's why Em is so obsessed with him - he humiliated her idol!"

"Enough," Weps stood up. "I had hoped you might actually cooperate and provide useful information, but clearly you're as delusional as your companions and your memories cannot be trusted. Interdimensional gates are impossible. Your execution is scheduled tomorrow at noon, same time as Miss Stratos and Mister Thornton. Would you like steak or chicken for your last meal?"

"Wait!" Solace cried, her eyes filling with tears. "Please! I... I just want to go back home! Wait..." She gulped. "W-what's going to happen to my body?"

"Your body will be burned to ashes and your heart core will be donated to the Ward of Shandria," the Scrutimancer said. "This dark bracelet which we were unable to remove from your hand... will be stored as case evidence in our deepest catacombs."

The red girl's gold eyes bulged, both of her mouths opening wide. "No. Please!!! I don't want to die here! I... I just want to mod my bikes and punch Vee in History Club! Please!"

"Mod bikes?" Weps shook his head wearily. "Punch Vee? Sadly, this delusion cannot be arranged. Your execution will proceed as scheduled. Steak and potatoes will be served shortly."

"Please..." Solace sobbed. "I can take you to the Earth-Arx gate! It's in the Arx Bank!"

"There is no interdimensional gate inside the bank," Weps said. "Prolonged exposure to necromantic magic, the unnatural extension of life with the potion of living death has addled all of your minds, driven you mad."

"We're telling the truth!" Solace cried. "Just... just check the Bank! Interrogate Gabriella! She knows about Earth! She..."

"Miss Matrosin has already provided a statement," Weps said. "She claims no knowledge of any interdimensional gates. Only that your group attempted to extort her. Dimensional gates can only move travelers between Arx cities."

"Please..." Solace slumped against her chains as Weps turned to leave. "Just... investigate the Arx Bank. Please!"

The Scrutimancer was already up.

The heavy door slammed shut with grim finality, leaving Solace alone and sobbing in the darkness.

Once the footsteps of the Shandrian Officer faded out of her range of ground-vibration hearing, Solace heaved and spat out a silver token from her forehead mouth and rapidly tapped it.

"Vespera Simmi. Team I Love You Slayer," she whispered, voice trembling.

She hoped, prayed that the Thunderbird didn't hate her, and wouldn't abandon her ex-bestie to perma-death just because they had a bit of an argument a few days ago over Clan allegiances.

A face flashed on the holo-projection woven from silver sparks. It wasn't the face she was expecting to see to beg for aid.

A human stared back at her.

Alexander Glock.