When I arrived outside the courthouse I could tell right away I was the last one there… Regardless of what Aurelia said arriving late didn’t sit right with me, making me feel even more anxious and already getting off to a bad start.
Our carriage rolled up and as my feet touched the stone walkway I began to feel the heavy pressure from the atmosphere. I was sure it was just for appearances, but the moment I stepped out of the grand carriage I was surrounded by guards from White Light. When they said I was under their protection It was pretty clear that they meant every word.
They weren't ordinary guards either, not only were all seven of them female law bringers, Knights with the highest reputation and the most imposing armor, but each one was wielding divine aura, a passive skill that, among increasing their abilities, gave off a faint divine glow.
It was a rare class to begin with, but the fact that they were all female made it even more of a spectacle. Each one wearing full gear minus the helmet, and elaborately braiding their hair. Of course, all of this lived up to their stellar reputation, giving a show I’m sure at least the men in the crowd would appreciate, although the girls tended to be enamored by them too.
I wanted to walk in confidently, but with so many important people escorting me like I was somehow worthy of their time, I only became more anxious. Instead of confidence, I was sure I was exuding timidness. Chances are, I wasn’t noticed at all. Although admittedly I did prefer it that way.
Posy helped braid my hair to match that of the Lawbringers beforehand, but in the end, it only made me feel more out of place like an unlucky black kitten trying to fit in with a bunch of white tigers.
Letting out a sigh, I made a mental note to complain about it later and just started walking towards the stand. My mind went blank. My escorts were speaking, and one of them even gave me instructions, but I couldn’t focus at all. The moment I saw how many people were around us my chest started to tighten again. ‘Will everything really be alright?’
One of the law bringers in front of me opened a giant set of double doors by dramatically pushing them open and walking in straight down the middle.
As we headed inside the crowds split like snakes slithering away from falling torches, but once we made it through the coliseum's inner gates it was nothing but open space between us and our seats. Just like Aurelia said, thousands of people had gathered to watch the trial… Honestly, I couldn't fully understand why… But that didn’t change the fact that they were there…
Only C-rank adventurers or higher were even allowed to apply to become gladiators… So needless to say I had never once been in the ring. It was an indescribable feeling, one that I almost didn’t want to let go of. ‘If only I was in here to fight… Although I guess in a way I am. I hope I get the same adrenaline rush, then I won’t be worrying about the crowd at least.’
Suddenly the stares didn’t seem to bother me, instead of being embarrassing, it started to feel addicting. In some ways I was a gladiator, fighting a battle, one of the heroes I had seen fight in the pit when I was a little girl. With that thought, I finally began to become aware of my surroundings again, freezing stiff.
“Huh? She stopped.”
“Like froze? Is she ok, you don’t think she’s going to faint do you? She looks pretty frail.”
‘Geez…’ “I already knew I didn’t look right standing next to you girls… But is it that bad?”
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One of the other knights smacked her on the back of the head before I felt a gentle nudge from the side. “Remember to breathe,” One said.
“Come this way and sit down.”
Sighing, I followed one of them to a large table, trying my best not to come across as anxious. It was hard not to be intimidated though… Just like Aurelia had said, representatives from all 10 of the great guilds were there. Eight as judges, the White Light Lawbringers for my protection, and the Circle of Smoke for Alden’s… Although, looking over at his table, it seemed his guild didn’t dispatch any famous members for him.
The eight judges sat atop a massive half-circle table suspended in the air with magic, looking down on us from above. From appearance alone, I could match the guild with the reputation, or maybe stereotype would be more accurate… Of course, Alden was there too. Just like my table, it had two seats and was hovering slightly off the ground, suspended by some sort of magic that I couldn’t help wondering about.
‘Is it arcane? But how many people even know how to cast higher-level arcane spells? It would be a relic, or maybe just enchanted rock?’ I leaned over and looked under at the floating space. ‘No runes… And rock doesn’t enchant very well.’
“You remember the plan yes?”
I bumped my head on the stone as I pulled it back, letting out a soft whiny groan as I looked over to the girl next to me. ‘I still didn’t even know her name, but I guess she’s the leader of the law bringers if she’s sitting next to me as the representative of the guild right?’ “I do… But why haven't we started yet?”
She gestured with her head to the judge's seats. “We weren’t the last ones here…”
‘Your kidding… Weren’t we late though? By like, a lot… And then we took our time with that dramatic entrance too…’
A magic circle the likes of which I had never seen appeared above the stadium in the open air, covering from one end of the arena to the other. Chills ran down my arms as the magic power forced the air to tremble with its density.
The girl next to me let out a long groan and slammed her halberd into the floating stone under our feet, creating a barrier of golden light around me that helped me to feel at ease. “Why does everyone from Discord have to be so dramatic?” She growled under her breath. “I bet they sent her again…”
Before I could ask, the sky split in two and a great fiery gate opened up as if one of the demon realms was about to flood out into our world, but then a lone person fell through, wearing red and black with a giant wooden stalf.
With one hand holding her pointy hat onto her head she waved her staff and the gate closed behind her before she turned to gaze at the crowd while in a face-first free fall.
Before landing she flipped and then paused in the air at a dead stop, slowly hovering down the last couple of feet to her seat.
The two men next to her sighed, one of them hiding his face.
Magic erupted from the floating platforms and a giant projection lifted up into the sky for all the spectators to see, emitting the middle judge's voice far and wide. “The judges have FINALLY arrived… We will now proceed with the trial.”
I still couldn’t get my chills to go away… I almost didn’t even care about the trial anymore, so much as just wanted to understand what I had just witnessed… “You said… Is she from Discord? They're the most powerful mages guild in Rothet right?”
She didn’t respond, and when I looked over to ask again, her eyes had become scary… I decided to just stay quiet. ‘I guess it must be the girl she doesn’t like…’
Without further delay, Alden and I were both called to the center before the judges one at a time. First, we swore on our patron saints to tell the truth, and then we recited our account of events. I just repeated what had happened, but of course, Alden was a bit more imaginative. He never directly lied but used phrasing that made it sound like had done nothing wrong and conveniently left certain parts out.
After that, several witnesses were called to describe events from their perspective, and then each guild gave their personal statements. White Light firmly supported me, but Alden's guild was more ominous, simply stating that they didn’t know or care… Just like Fin had said… It seemed they really only took responsibility when it was convenient.
One of the judges asked if that was the smoke guild's official statement, and the guild's representative stood back up. “The first rule of being a thief is to not get caught… If he’s stupid enough to get caught for something he didn’t even do he has no place in this guild.” He then turned to Alden. “Oh, right. Actually, the guild master wanted me to tell you you’re out of the guild. You know, with that, I think I’m actually done here, but this should be a good show so I might stick around.” After thinking about it for a moment he then sat back down next to Alden, the whole arena being stunned silent.
I don’t know how he did it… But even after that Alden stood in front of the crowd proudly, carrying himself with grace and poise. If anything the crowd just felt sorry for him, which was hardly a good way to start things off….
On the other hand, I was so nervous and tense that I could feel tears starting to well up again as the calming barrier forced my body to try and relieve stress. I nudged the girl next to me. “Cancel the barrier.”
Her eyes widened. “Will you even be able to stand if I do that?”
‘Honestly… Passing out is better than crying in front of everyone in town...’ I let out a sigh and rolled my eyes. “Wouldn’t that help keep up the appearance you guys want anyway? Just cancel it, I’ll be fine…” ‘I hope…’