The Trial

Okay, this was not the best way to begin my story.

Before me, a maiden with dark, curly hair, long as the silk of dawn, lay crying with her clothes in disarray. Her blue, one-piece dress, with white lace covering the abdomen, was torn along the lower part. At the same time, her bare shoulders were not a good sign.

The girl cried an ocean of tears while everyone else present threw inquisitive, hate-filled glares at me. Ugh, not even my victory in the tournament over the favorite jouster had earned me this much resentment.

“It was him. I-I have been violated… He abused me while I was alone, preparing for the ball. He ruined my beautiful dress and defiled the body my late mother raised with all her love.”

What an incredibly rehearsed speech. I wanted to laugh at the stupidity of this situation.

But the guards who came running toward me were not in the mood to laugh.

“Stop right there!” One of the escorts pointed his spear at me, and the rest of his companions did the same. They kept their distance and waited for orders from some higher-ranking noble. At least they did not execute me on the spot. Doing that at a banquet would surely bring bad luck upon Baron Andaluz.

“Wait a moment.” My voice sounded calm. Showing nerves in this situation would only throw more fuel onto the fire. “I only went out to get some air. I do not even know this young lady. Perhaps fear made her confuse me with someone else.”

“No! How can you say that, you miserable pig? It was you! Do not try to change the fucking story!”

The girl’s anger seemed very real. I almost flinched when she shouted those painful insults. Fortunately for me, I was very used to being cursed at.

The people around me whispered among themselves. To them, anything I said would be nothing more than a pathetic excuse. Unfortunately, being accused of a crime like this in front of everyone was a disastrous situation.

And not even my smooth talking could save me.

Ah, fuck me.

“Calm down, calm down. I do not know what you are talking about. I am a sworn knight, not a criminal. Why would I ruin my career with such an obvious crime? Think for a moment. None of this makes any sense.”

“Just shut up!” one of the soldiers shouted. “You hurt Lady Nocturna, daughter of Baron Andaluz. Do not expect to leave this situation alive.”

I turned to look at my lord, Lord Armando, searching for help or words that might protect my dignity.

But he paid me no attention.

He did not even bother to look at me.

In any case, I had been a fool to think Lord Armando would put his neck on the line for me.

And I could not blame him.

With no evidence in my favor, and while standing on foreign territory, things were definitely looking horrible. I tried to remain calm so I would not fall victim to an outburst. In these circumstances, anger was a relentless enemy.

Almost as relentless as the lies piling up around me.

How the hell did I end up in this situation?

This was supposed to be a fun banquet after a tournament.

I had performed very well. I had unhorsed four riders and managed to win a decent cash prize. Nothing compared to what the knights of the highest honor earned, whose rewards could buy small armies. For men of my class, sworn knights without high birth, this was the most we could aspire to.

And I did not need anything more.

I had food, good wine, quality weapons, and protection for Clara, my little sister.

Before this stupid incident, I had been walking through the silent corridors of the keep to clear my head. No one saw me, and I saw no one. Therefore, producing an alibi would be very difficult.

“I did not commit any crime, but I will allow myself to be arrested. I am sure this is all a misunderstanding.”

I placed my hands over my head. At that moment, I was unarmed, so running away was not an option. I was wearing a black doublet, hose of the same color, red boots, and a brown leather belt.

The people present did not stop whispering.

To them, I was a damn rapist who should be castrated right there and then.

“Arrest him.”

The captain of the guard, a gray-haired man with a sturdy build and a deep voice, barked his command to the soldiers surrounding me.

“Miserable scum.”

Suddenly, Baron Andaluz entered the hall, and once he heard the story, he drew his sword.

Oh, bad sign.

A very bad one, in fact.

“Baron, we are deeply sorry for what happened to your daughter.” One of the courtiers poured poison into the nobleman’s ear.

Andaluz was a middle-aged man, hardened by battle and intimidating in appearance. He stood at one meter eighty centimeters tall. As the host of the banquet, only he was allowed to carry weapons, not counting the guard.

“No, I did not commit the crime, Baron. You have to believe me.”

I kept my stoic mask in place.

At least my sister was not—

“What are you doing to my brother?”

Ah, fuck.

Clara, my adorable little sister and only family, arrived in the banquet hall carrying a silver tray. She immediately set the tray down on a table and ran toward the place where the arrest was taking place.

My parents had been fur merchants in the capital of the Solar Kingdom. Unfortunately, they fell ill during the purple flu epidemic, a contagious disease that destroyed the lungs. I was asymptomatic, and my sister did not get sick, but we were left without support.

With the family estate in ruins, I had to sell everything to buy armor, a sword, a horse, and a shield. I became a mercenary rider to provide for Clara. Years later, I managed to earn the title of knight thanks to my skill in combat. I obtained a personal heraldic crest: a sun with two crossed swords over a field of fire.

No one gave me anything.

I fought with determination, and now everything was in danger because of a lie.

“Your brother is a rapist.”

When Clara heard that sentence, her eyes opened wide.

Clara resembled our father. She had blond hair, blue eyes, and a short height of 1.49 meters. Her skin was white as snow, pale in the worst of cases. She wore a long gray maid’s uniform with a white apron covering the center. She served as a maid to the court ladies who had attended the banquet alongside Lord Armando.

Clara was sixteen, a dangerous age for young girls, since it was not uncommon for noble bastards to take advantage of commoner girls and keep them as lovers. And because of their social status, those girls could hardly refuse.

Until now, I had managed to keep those bastards away from her.

My reputation as a knight had protected her…

But if I lost my title, then things were truly going to get worse.

“Of course not! My brother would never commit such a disgusting crime.”

As expected, Clara was the only one who raised her voice. Everyone else present simply accepted Lady Nocturna’s words as self-evident truth.

“You are a servant. You could never understand the dishonor your brother has just inflicted upon me. I-I will no longer be able to marry or inherit. I will spend the rest of my life in a convent.”

Lady Nocturna increased the intensity of her crying. That gesture made Baron Andaluz, the highest-ranking man in the room, shove aside one of the guards holding me.

Then I saw the blade of his sword coming straight for my chest.

Damn it!

“No!”

Clara’s scream was not enough to stop the furious father.

By some miracle, I managed to throw myself to the floor and dodge the slash that almost tore my life away.

Andaluz raised his blade once more, but this time he was restrained by his own soldiers.

“Baron, you should not dirty your hands with this scum. Leave the dirty work to your executioner. People are watching.”

“True, true. I lost my composure. The aggressor will be executed today. Let us not waste any more time.”

“Wait, wait. Why are you going to execute me? Do I not have the right to a trial?”

My voice gradually began to lose its patience. I was starting to believe this situation would not be resolved as a simple misunderstanding.

“Execute him? No! Wait! My brother is good! Do not hurt him! He would never be capable of committing a crime!”

Clara’s desperate screams fell on deaf ears. Perhaps one or two people present looked at her with pity, but no one in that hall truly believed in my innocence.

Ah, damn it.

How depressing.

“What trial? That is done when we do not know whether there is a culprit. In this case, the truth is more than obvious. My daughter would never lie. She is a noble lady, and her word is law.”

That statement was stupid.

Even for a noble, saying something like that was idiotic.

“With all due respect, Baron Andaluz, until a few minutes ago, I did not know your daughter. Let us talk this through. I am sure a man of your reputation will stand on the side of justice.”

Come on, come on, come on. This MHI tactic, making him feel important, had to give me a chance to delay this stupid execution.

What was I guilty of?

I only took a walk through the keep. I wanted to see the place. I never entered any room. I did not even know where her room was.

But with no one to see me and confirm my alibi, it was my word against hers.

And Lord Armando seemed ashamed of my presence…

His eyes, as empty as the night, turned away, avoiding any visual contact with me.

“Just shut your fucking mouth! You will die today!”

But the father’s rage kept him from thinking clearly.

Clara looked from side to side, searching for someone who could plead in my favor. Her frightened, panic-filled gaze made her look completely defenseless.

Damn it, what a humiliation.

Lady Nocturna kept trembling as well, but her movements seemed rehearsed, nothing like the real fear my poor sister was feeling.

“Baron, I beg you to hear my testimony. Do it for my little sister. I am her only family, and if I die, she will be left alone.”

Andaluz turned his furious face toward Clara. Instead of being moved by her adorable little eyes, that miserable bastard growled and grabbed my little sister by the neck. I tried to get up quickly, but the guards forced me down again with all their weight.

“What the hell are you doing?! Let go of my sister!”

I lost my calm. I had tried to remain composed so I would not provoke the baron further, but this act went against everything I believed in.

To hell with social hierarchy.

“A-Ah, p-please, do not hurt my brother.”

Fuck, that miserable bastard was choking my sister.

Despite being restrained, I managed to turn my neck a little, searching for help.

“Lord Armando! Help my sister! I beg you!”

But Lord Armando did not move a single muscle.

He simply watched the scene with a certain disgust, and nothing more.

In the end, he would not risk his social position for a simple knight and his servant sister. I knew that. I knew it perfectly well. But damn it, facing reality was hard.

My sweet sister, the only family I had…

She was moving from side to side, her thin legs kicking for a few seconds until they stopped.

No, no, no, no…

“Help my sister!”

I began to cry. This was not fair.

I was the accused and the “guilty” one. I was the one they should execute, not my innocent sister.

“The blood of rapists will perish today! Die already!”

Andaluz squeezed her neck with more force.

Clara closed her eyes, unable to scream for help, and fainted.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no…

No!

“Enough.”

Then a stern voice called out from the corner of the hall.

The baron immediately released my sister. Despite losing consciousness, Clara was still breathing. I could tell by the way her chest rose and fell.

“Inquisitor Dorian, what a pleasant surprise. Have you come to pass sentence upon the guilty?”

A-An Inquisitor…

The armed hand of the Church.

Unlike priests, inquisitors could only come from noble birth. They had the authority to pass sentences and punishments. Since the Solar Kingdom was a very religious place, many legal matters went hand in hand with faith.

This man, Dorian, commanded respect.

He was tall, with long gray hair, a thick beard, and a black robe with a golden cross embroidered on the chest. He carried no weapons, but his moral authority stood above that of a Baron.

Only Dukes and Kings could ignore the word of an inquisitor.

“I have come to deliver justice, and I see no trial here. Baron Andaluz, I understand you are furious over the crime committed against your daughter, but there are protocols we cannot skip. Or do you stand above the God Mars?”

“N-No, Inquisitor. I would never dare think my will is above that of great Mars.”

“Good. This is a case involving a woman, so it will be a fine debut for my daughter. Justice, come.”

Amid the crowd, a girl my age, twenty-two, stepped forward. She was pretty, with chestnut-brown hair like mine, black eyes, fair skin, and a medium-short height of 1.52 meters. She wore a black one-piece dress that reached her knees, and on her chest there was also a golden cross.

“Justice, I leave this to your judgment.”

“Thank you, Father. All right, first of all, release the accused. He will not escape, not while his sister is unconscious. Knight, what is your name?”

“Sir Alan, Your Honor.”

The soldiers stepped aside. I immediately dragged myself across the floor to take my little sister in my arms. That miserable baron had hurt her, but I could not lose my calm again.

Fate had taken pity on me at the last second.

“Lady Nocturna, come closer, please.”

“Y-Yes, Your Honor.”

That shitty bitch also obeyed. It was satisfying to see her lower her head before an authority.

Okay, enough gloating.

I still had a ninety-percent chance of dying.

My word against hers…

Ah, fuck.

“Lady Nocturna, what happened? Tell us your version of the story.”

“I-It is terrifying. It just happened, and the memory is still fresh… I was in my room, preparing to attend to the honorable guests after an afternoon full of jousts and celebration. Suddenly, the door to my room opened, and that degenerate Alan… Oh no, please, give me a moment.”

Lady Nocturna shed more crocodile tears. Everyone present swallowed her lie whole. Even Baron Andaluz shared in the crying alongside his disgusting daughter.

“Then he attacked me. He said nothing. He only tore the dress I loved so much, and then he committed the sexual act. T-Then I ran to the bath to cleanse myself of the impurity, but the disgust does not disappear. It does not disappear, it does not disappear! That son of a bitch defiled me! Miss Justice, grant me your absolution so I may continue to be virtuous. My mind is still pure.”

“We will speak of that later. First, let us focus on the facts. Lady Nocturna, did you see Sir Alan’s face?”

“D-Do not call him Sir, Your Honor. That rat does not deserve to bear the title of knight. And yes, obviously! I will never forget his face. It will haunt me to the grave. Why do you not declare him guilty already? Being near that man frightens me…”

“Uh-huh, very well… Sir Alan, where were you when the attack happened?”

“I took a walk through the keep. I am a sworn knight, so I rarely leave the barracks. I wanted to appreciate the architecture before going to the banquet. I participated in the tournament and won in my category. You must have seen me.”

“Yes, indeed, I saw you compete. You are a marvelous jouster. You suffered no serious injuries, quite an achievement. And which maiden gave you a handkerchief? It is normal for every knight to fight for the honor of one.”

“No one. No one performs those rituals for sworn knights, Your Honor. We are only the warm-up for the main spectacle.”

“But that does not mean some do not do it. A peasant girl, a cousin, a sister, or an aunt.”

“Yes, my sister gave me a handkerchief for my outfit, nothing more.”

Those questions were out of place.

Why so much interest in a detail unrelated to the incident?

“You are sworn to Lord Armando. How long have you been in his service?”

“Four years.”

“I see. Did anyone else see you in the keep?”

“No, Your Honor. Everyone was in the banquet hall or walking through the tournament yard. There is nothing of value in a keep, only stairs and windows used as weapons during a siege.”

“Then you cannot prove that you were not in Lady Nocturna’s room.”

“I am afraid not, but I can describe the keep exactly. I was there for almost an hour.”

“Go on…”

“It has nine large windows. From there, two archers can shoot downward. To the north, it overlooks the tournament yard. To the south, you can see the castle gardens. On the other two sides there is nothing. There is nothing at the very top either.”

Justice nodded.

Then she pointed at Lady Nocturna.

“Is that correct?”

“Yes, but that proves nothing. Alan is a soldier. All of them have some idea of how keeps are built. That is basic information for someone in his profession. Ours is no different from the rest.”

Ah, fuck.

I hated to admit it, but Nocturna was right.

Part of military training consisted of studying enemy fortresses. And keeps, sadly, were a valuable asset to capture.

Damn it, damn it, I was running out of arguments.

How could I prove my innocence?

With no witnesses, no alibi, and an accuser of much higher social standing.

This trial almost felt like a farce meant to execute me without guilt.

“I understand. There is something that does not add up.”

Justice walked toward Clara, then touched her forehead before looking me in the eyes.

“May I put my hand in her pocket?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

The religious judge slipped her left hand directly into Clara’s only pocket.

From there, she pulled out the handkerchief my sister had lent me during the tournament. It was indeed sweaty and dirty.

“Lady Nocturna, did you bathe as soon as the act ended?”

“Yes. How could I remain with his semen between my legs? I ran straight to the bath in tears. You may look at my dress if you wish… It is humiliating, but the stain is there.”

“That will not be necessary. I trust your word, Lady Nocturna. A lady of high society would never lie in a court of law. Would she?”

“That is correct.”

Before I could get angry, Justice smiled kindly and returned the handkerchief to the unconscious Clara.

“Sir Alan, do you plead guilty or innocent?”

“Innocent, Your Honor.”

“I am afraid, Sir Alan, that you cannot prove your innocence in the eyes of mortals. Even so, the God Mars would never allow an innocent maiden to give a handkerchief to a rapist. Your sister defended you without hesitation, and because of her courage, I will give you a chance.”

“Y-Your Honor, what are you talking about? You cannot give chances to a rapist rat!”

The baron’s shout amused me.

However, I did not smile.

Things were still very far from being in my favor.

“The god we serve is Mars, divine lord of war, knights, and honor.”

As Justice continued her speech, Clara opened her eyes. She looked confused by this turn of events, but she said nothing.

“Sir Alan is a knight. Let us allow him to prove his innocence as our God prefers…”

A trial by combat.

 . . .

The week flew by.

The day of the trial began like any other: I got up, ate breakfast, and then walked toward the armory. The baron did not make any attempt against Clara. He kept his word of honor, as any noble of the kingdom would.

Justice and my sister helped me put on my battle panoply.

We began with a tough black gambeson. This padded jacket would allow me to withstand blunt attacks. Over it, the heavy chain mail served as my main protection. Then came the tabard without heraldry that Justice had obtained for the occasion. Because of the accusation, I was not allowed to wear my personal emblem. To protect my lower body, I brought iron greaves that covered me from my feet up to my calves. My hands were covered by gauntlets made of the same material, protecting not only my wrists, but also my forearms and shoulders.

“All right. I am ready.”

To think that just one week ago, people had been cheering my name for winning the tournament.

Justice and Clara did not accompany me to the yard. I asked them to go straight to the stands so people would not bother them. At first, Clara tried to refuse, but the young inquisitor convinced her to go up with her to the dais beside her father, a place that would keep her safe in case anything happened.

It only took two seconds in the arena for dozens of shouts and insults, which were no longer even worth mentioning, to flood my brain. With good reason, both commoners and nobles hated rapists.

“So the hour has come.”

The Baron’s champion came dressed in a beautiful suit of silver plate armor. He wore a closed bascinet that covered his face, and he also carried a powerful greatsword with a flamberge blade, a wavy edge ideal for severing enemy limbs.

Andaluz and Nocturna were seated in the center of the stands on golden chairs covered with red upholstery. Ironically, they sat directly opposite Lady Justice and her father.

“Attention!”

The inquisitor’s words completely silenced the audience.

“We are about to witness a Trial by Combat. Duelists, present yourselves.”

The baron’s champion removed his helm. He was a young man with long black hair. His skin had a healthy tan. However, when his eyes met mine, all I could feel was infinite contempt. I was absolutely certain this man had been told a thousand slanders about me.

“I am Sir Ernesto, champion of Baron Andaluz and eldest son of the Garza family.”

“Come on! Darling, you cannot lose!”

Ah, fuck.

One glance was enough for me to see this man’s wife or fiancée. She was a beautiful girl, with brown skin and blue eyes. Her curly hair matched her natural chestnut color perfectly.

Sir Ernesto was cheered when he introduced himself. Dozens of maidens threw handkerchiefs into the air, and they were carried away by a huge gust of wind that struck the yard for a few seconds.

A good omen?

Or a bad sign?

No idea.

“Sir Alan, knight-errant.”

Lord Armando had removed me from his service, so technically I served no lord. I was once again a miserable knight-errant.

But well.

Better a wanderer than a corpse.

“Get out! Castrate him!”

More “kind words” came from above.

Apparently, no one would believe me, regardless of the truth. Perhaps Justice was right…

Justice was only a whim.

“The rules of the trial are simple.”

The inquisitor made the insults stop. Silence once again reigned over the stands.

“You will fight to the death. The trial will stop if the aggrieved party withdraws her charges in the middle of combat. The accused, however, will have no chance to surrender. Is that clear?”

“Yes,” we answered in unison.

“Any final words? Does anyone wish to back down now?”

Justice’s father spoke to both of us.

Before throwing myself into a lethal fight, I decided to try dialogue one last time.

“Sir Ernesto, I can see that you are an honorable knight. Please, do not fight for an unjust cause. I did not commit the crime.”

“I have no proof to believe your truth, Alan. You raped Lady Nocturna, and now you will pay with your life.”

“I see. Then let us begin. I have nothing more to say.”

What sadness.

Indeed, I had no solid proof to prove my innocence. In the eyes of the world, I was guilty…

Fucking manipulation.

“May our God Mars grant wisdom and strength to the combatants so they may find the truth. Begin!”

The Inquisitor returned to the stands.

And so, the Trial by Combat finally began.

. . .

The atmosphere of the place changed when I unsheathed my weapon.

I could not see the baron’s face clearly, but he must have been stunned to see my dark-bladed sword.

Sir Ernesto was no exception.

“T-That sword… How did you obtain it?”

Even with his face covered, I could feel the nervousness coming from my enemy.

“It was entrusted to me by Lady Justice so I could defend my truth. It is a relic from forgotten times, lost beneath myths and legends. I myself have named it Justice, in honor of the lady who entrusted this power to me.”

Thanks to my declaration, Sir Ernesto instinctively stepped back.

That reaction allowed me to turn toward the audience and see Lady Justice’s reddened face.

Naming my new sword after her had been a risky move, but it bore fruit in the short term.

“A magic sword will not make much difference if its wielder is weak. Let us see if you are worthy of that weapon.”

When the surprise ended, Sir Ernesto regained his position of power and, without further delay, entered his guard.

Left foot forward, right foot behind, both hands holding the grip of the greatsword, the blade pointing ahead. The waves of his flamberge blade made me very nervous. I had seen them in combat twice before, and both times they had painfully severed their opponents.

Sir Ernesto is no novice. One look at his posture is enough to know he was trained by a master-at-arms.

Against an armored opponent, the best option would be to use the “Killing Blow,” a tactic that consisted of attacking the opponent with the pommel and guard, as if they were a war hammer. I gripped Justice by the middle of its blade and aimed the decorated pommel straight ahead. Fortunately for me, the School of the Lion had a large repertoire using that technique.

Silence reigned for the first time since I had been accused. Duels to the death always stirred morbid fascination among the people. And my confrontation, unfortunately, was no exception. I advanced two steps, guard high and ready for any enemy reaction. Sir Ernesto, in contrast, remained firm. He did not move from his position or show any sign of weakness.

Five meters.

That was what separated me from my opponent, a safe distance that could become dangerous with only a few advances.

My closed helm limited my peripheral vision a little, but since I was facing only one opponent, using it had been a smart decision.

We did not move at all.

We continued analyzing each other, waiting for the moment to attack. The audience noticed it too. They fell silent and saved their cheers for tournaments. Nervousness bloomed while birds sang in the distance.

“AHHHHH!”

I quickly took a long step and, at the same time, launched a powerful pommel strike straight toward my opponent’s skull.

But I missed.

The lion-shaped decoration only kissed the air.

Sir Ernesto stepped back with a lateral movement. However, he did not launch any counterattack. On the contrary, he turned toward the right side with his guard raised. He neither attacked nor gained more distance than we already had. It was the correct decision.

Well, it seems he is no idiot. This man really knows how to fight.

An inexperienced fighter would have fallen prey to panic before such a forceful movement. I had witnessed this on numerous occasions during my service under Lord Armando. Sir Ernesto, on the other hand, did not even show trembling or nervousness. He kept his guard as serene as the sea breeze.

We said nothing else to each other.

We continued analyzing the enemy’s guard, searching for a new opening to attack.

Suddenly, the wavy blade tilted downward.

By reflex, I lowered my gaze as well, and then…

Shit!

How could I be so stupid? I had fallen for the dumbest feint of all. The instant my face drifted away from his shoulders for even one second, Sir Ernesto raised the point of his blade as fast as he could. I saw the weapon coming straight for my heart like lightning in the middle of a storm. Fortunately, I managed to block the charge with Justice.

Unfortunately, the assault did not end there.

The middle of my blade managed to stop his thrust, but it did not repel him or help me gain enough distance to recover. Immediately, Sir Ernesto raised his weapon to the right and, without further delay, brought it down directly onto my left shoulder.

CLANK.

Once again, Justice blocked the attack.

I gripped my magic sword tightly without releasing the Killing Blow grip.

“AAHHHH!”

My moment to counterattack had arrived.

Due to the inertia of the impact, Sir Ernesto was left with his guard too high and his enormous greatsword pointing upward. Although a longsword could not cut through plate armor, at such close range, with the gaps right in front of me…

I could deliver the decisive blow!

I launched a thrust toward my opponent’s armpit, a spot unprotected by plate and covered only by pieces of mail and hardened cloth.

Fuck, not again.

Despite all my effort, the counterattack failed.

As soon as Sir Ernesto felt his attack had missed, the man quickly hunched his shoulders. When my thrust tried to pierce his armpit, the enemy knight used his couters to stop the blade and save his soft spots.

As a result, the thrust only found a hard steel plate that caused no greater pain than a bruise.

“You got lucky,” I whispered, visibly annoyed by his miraculous evasion.

“Let us see how you dodge this.”

Sir Ernesto stepped back two paces and, at the same time, changed his standard guard into the “Killing Blow.”

Ah, damn it. This man was definitely a better fighter than I expected.

Not only did he know more than one stance, he also mastered them perfectly. One look was enough to see how he held the weapon’s pommel with his left hand, while his right gripped a little past the middle of the blade, almost three-quarters along it.

The knight’s left leg bent a few centimeters. His right counterpart did the same, but backward. Such an open angle could only mean one thing…

“Serpent Thrust!”

As soon as I recognized that gallant position, I had to change back to my standard guard to have any chance of blocking such an attack. Thanks to the nonexistent weight of this magic sword, I was able to return to my main stance: both hands on the grip, blade pointed forward.

CLANK.

The force of the serpentine charge did not come from the legs, but from the hand holding the pommel of the greatsword. The moment he slightly turned his hips, the knight’s entire arm served as a base to launch a thrust with greater reach than normal. However, I was prepared.

Justice proved its worth.

Not only did I switch to a defensive style, I had the time and precision to stop a thrust aimed straight at my neck. The enemy blade was deflected to the right. I immediately counterattacked with a lateral cut that ended up striking his steel plate.

My damage was barely minimal, but at least I managed to gain distance once again.

Maybe I did not break his ribs, but that blow must have hurt.

I began to pant from exhaustion.

Unlike novels and heroic songs, where duels lasted for hours and a thousand techniques were performed to highlight martial virtue, that was impossible in real life. We had only exchanged techniques for one minute, and both of us were already truly exhausted.

We took advantage of those miraculous seconds to breathe and refresh our thoughts.

If there were shouts, cheers, or any intervention from the audience, I did not notice. My mind was so focused on this moment that the entire outside world ceased to matter at all.

I had to end the duel in my next exchange. Otherwise, things were going to get very ugly…

Sir Ernesto charged again, this time with a lateral cut that threatened to dismember my left arm.

The time had come!

I blocked the wavy blade with Justice, and instead of throwing a sword blow to continue the clash of weapons, I tackled Sir Ernesto as if this were a filthy bar fight.

“Ah!” the surprised knight exclaimed.

Both of us dropped our swords and moved into a dirty hand-to-hand fight.

And there, I, a knight-errant and veteran of a thousand bare-knuckle brawls, could not be overcome so easily. Sir Ernesto had trained with great masters. His level of swordsmanship surpassed mine, even with Justice in my hands. But he had never had to fight with his fists since childhood for a piece of bread in old, wretched taverns.

What happened next was a beating.

I punched him in the face, and since I could not tear off his helm, I had to slam his head against the floor many times. During that span, Sir Ernesto tried to stab me with his dagger, but his poor thrust did not manage to fully penetrate my chain mail. When my mind returned to civilization, I saw my armor torn to shreds and several bleeding wounds running across my body.

Luckily, none of them were mortal.

Sir Ernesto stopped moving, but he was still breathing.

When I opened his visor, I saw that his head was swollen from the constant impacts, and the bleeding bruises did not look good. I did not know whether that would kill him, but I now had the advantage. I drew my misericorde dagger and placed it against my opponent’s throat. At the same time, the people present screamed curses at me.

But I did not care.

“Lady Nocturna, do you withdraw your accusation against me?”

Please, do not be stupid. Withdraw your lie and let this honorable man live. Come on, come on, come on, do not be an idiot!

There was silence. Sir Ernesto could no longer move. I had destroyed his skull, and probably the most merciful thing would be to finish him off. But I wanted to do this properly, to be forgiven for something I had not done.

And then, everything fell apart.

“Shut up! You are a murderer and a rapist!”

Stupid bitch.

The hatred Lady Nocturna felt toward me was real, not a farce.

After her refusal, I slit the poor knight’s throat and stood up to pick up Justice again. Blood spilled around the corpse, but I managed to step aside so I would not stain myself with his vital fluid.

“A-Ah… I won!”

And to finish, I raised my sword in a sign of victory.

Analyzing the situation a little, this sight did not favor me. I had killed an honorable knight without tactics. I had let myself be carried away like a raging animal by its murderous instinct. But better to be branded a savage than buried as a hero.

The boos and insults did not take long to arrive. Even so, the Inquisitor silenced everyone and said in a solemn voice:

“Sir Alan, our God Mars has given His verdict. You are free of all accusations and charges against you. The trial has ended. Go in peace.”

After the speech, the people stopped insulting me and simply withdrew in silence, filled with hatred and silent curses. Only Sir Ernesto’s widow ran straight to the corpse. She cried with such great pain that I decided to leave before guilt corroded my soul.

I ignored the stabbing wounds still bleeding all across my torso, and also my growing hatred toward Baron Andaluz and Lady Nocturna. Because of those miserable people, a poor knight had lost his life in the name of a lie.

However, there was nothing left worth doing.

Only accepting this sad reality.

. . .

“It seems everything is over.”

As a consequence of that confrontation, my torso was left marked by seven incomplete stab wounds. They had barely penetrated at all, thanks to the double protection of steel and gambeson, but the marks were large enough to be noticed.

“Brother, we made it… What now?”

After the confrontation, Lord Armando did not reinstate me into his ranks.

He said his men were not happy with the result, and that keeping me in his escort would only increase tension within the regiment. For that reason, he gave me severance pay and released me from service. He did the same with Clara so she could go with me and wander once again.

Damn it!

It had taken me years to find a lord to serve, and now I was back to zero, all because of a fucking injustice.

That was how noble schemes worked, full of lies and betrayals.

“I do not know, but we are together and alive. That is what matters most.”

Staying positive beside Clara was a real challenge. The truth was that I wanted to cry and throw myself to the floor from sheer helplessness. But I could not do that, not in front of my little sister…

“You fought well, Sir Alan.”

Lady Justice greeted us. My sister and I were already about to leave the city. We had not managed to say goodbye to her, since she had to deal with the paperwork of the trial shortly afterward. We had barely seen each other since that fateful day.

“Where do you intend to go?”

“I do not know. We will see along the road whether some lord takes us in. I hope this incident does not damage my reputation too badly… At least I managed to keep my title of knight.”

“I see. There is no secure plan. Very well, I am glad I managed to catch up with you here at the gate. Let us get straight to the point.”

Lady Justice placed her hands on my shoulders and then smiled with great confidence in herself.

“Sir Alan, you are strong and honorable. I need knights like you among my ranks. That is why I ask you to become a templar and fight under my command. Your sister Clara is invited as well, obviously. I always need new maidens for the duties of the temple. There is no need to be celibate or anything like that. Those customs are old.”

The templars…

The armed hand of the Inquisition, knights in service of the faith and guardians of the sacred sepulchers.

Lady Justice’s request fell upon us like a divine blessing.

I wanted to ask her so many things.

Why me?

Why had such an unusual fate befallen me?

Why had I suffered this terrible injustice?

Was it a test from the God Mars?

So many things ran through my mind, and in the end, the only thing that came out of my mouth was…

“I accept.”

Only an idiot would refuse such an offer.

From this bad experience, a new opportunity had emerged, and it was my duty to make the most of it.

And so, the story of my unjust trial came to an end. As in every situation of this kind, the nobility went unpunished, and the just were left wounded.

But that is the real world.

THE END.