The Trial - Part 2

A strong clap muted all the voices.

“That’s enough, Mr Verstaban,” said the principal calmly. “Professor Alexander is right. We haven’t heard enough, and most importantly, we haven't voted."

Without any hesitation, Verstaban put away his weapons and returned to his seat.

“I apologize, Mr Azmadeus.”

“Don’t you worry, I truly understand your feelings. But we need to make the right choice.”

Alexander noticed Charlotte’s anxiety. “Are you alright, Miss Charlotte?” Alexander whispered to her softly.

She couldn’t answer. Her breathing was heavy, and the pain in her arm was increasing.

“Please, remain calm. I won’t let anyone harm you.” Alexander was still in front of her. “Now, let’s take some deep breaths.”

Charlotte followed his instructions.

“Again.” 

Little by little, she pulled herself together.

“You should feel ashamed of yourself, Verstaban!” Alexander shot a fiery look. “It's hard to believe that people call you a hero.”

“That’s because I don’t hesitate. I’m willing to sacrifice her to save millions. Unlike you, I don’t play to be the good guy. Actually, it’s oddly strange how much you insisted on being his lawyer. What are your true intentions?”

“Please, let’s not change the subject,” the principal interrupted.

“I apologize, Mr Azmadeus,” said Verstaban. “As I was saying, I don’t trust that girl. I don’t believe anything she says. That’s all.”

“I agree with Verstaban,” said Marbel.

“So, that’s it? Let’s blame an innocent student. That’s what we're doing?” Alexander was already mad. “If she had also died…Who would we be blaming now?”

“There’s no point in discussing this anymore,” said Marbel.

“Maybe, or maybe you just don’t care”

“Excuse me?” That comment bothered her.

“Nobody here even checked her background. She is just an ordinary girl.”

“I did, and he’s right,” said a flat, emotionless voice. It was a girl beside Astria. She had dark green hair and heavy dark circles beneath her pale blue eyes. “Everything about her before the accident seems normal.”

“You’re taking his side, Suri?” Marbel complained to her.

“See,” Alexander quickly said. “Her records are clean. There’s nothing on her that proves any connection with the Buried Tree. A mere victim of a tragic series of events.”

“You said it yourself, Wulfur. How a nobody like her could survive an encounter with the Buried Tree?”

“A G-Goddess…” Charlotte mumbled

“What did you say?”

With a gesture, she asked him to lean closer and whispered everything about the mysterious voice. Alexander raised an eyebrow and fixed his gaze on the young lady.

“What?”

“I know it sounds stupid, but now I believe there might be something else.”

“Why didn’t you mention it before?”

“Because I was afraid, and it really sounded crazy.”

“It does sound crazy. I’ll ask you one thing. If I allow you to bring this up, you’ll be able to defend yourself?”

“I think so.”

“Suit yourself.”

Finally, Alexander stood up. He took a deep breath.

“I have one last request, Mr Azmadeus.”

“What is it, Alexander?”

He raised both of his arms high. On the left, he showed the number two. On the right, he showed the number four.

“Oh…how interesting.” He turned to one mage who was at the very last. “Dominic, could you please?”

“As you wish, Sir Azmadeus,” said the masked mage next to Verstaban.

In a blink of an eye, everyone in the room disappeared.

“What happened?” the young lady panicked.

“Calm down. He just used silent Magica.” Alexander explained. “Now, we're just them and us.”

“So, there’s something more you need to tell us, young lady?” asked the principal.

“Y-yes.”

She was shaking, but willing to try anything to prove her innocence. After a deep breath, words began to come out of her mouth. Word by word, everything sounded so vivid.

“A new pawn? Quite interesting.” The principal stroked his large beard.

“You must be joking, right?” Verstaban asked, genuinely.

“It’s true. I swear.”

“Are we seriously considering that nonsense she just said?” Verstaban couldn’t believe it. “Nobody in history has been able to communicate with a God. And you really expected us to believe that you of all people were able to do it? Please don’t make me laugh”

“I agree with him,” again said Marbel. “Now, I’m in fact worried that you might have something wrong in your head.”

“Wait, I thought the same thing, but now I realized something.”

“What’s that, Miss Charlotte?” the principal was curious.

“I swear I didn’t kill Bastion. Please believe I could never hurt him. H-he…was my first friend and he died protecting me…”

She was trying to stay strong.

“Now I realize that Bastion hid his real potential, but that beast somehow knew about him. That's why it specifically attacked us. That voice mentioned a “pawn.” What if Bastion was the first one? That would explain his incredible power. But now that he is gone…”

“You’re the new chosen one? That's ridiculous. You cannot even use Magica, and that arm of yours is a curse. How can we ensure the other students' safety with that thing around?”

“Please! You have to believe me! I-I… didn’t kill anybody. I-I did…e-everything to p-protect…him!” she was begging for her life.

“Save your pity party. I've had enough. Mr Azmadeus, can we start voting?”

“I believe it's time,” he agreed.

“But, sir—” Alexander tried to intervene.

“Shut it, Wulfur. Now listen to the Verdict.”

“Well, we shall start. Verstaban?"

“Guilty, and I sentence her to death.”

“Suri?”

“Innocent”

“Astria?”

“Innocent, sir”

“Gotoh?”

“Guilty.” He didn’t say a word in the whole debate.

 “Marbel?”

“Guilty.”

“Dominic?”

“Innocent, sir.”

“I believe we have a tie.”

“Am I surrounded by idiots!? Verstaban got irritated. “That thing is a menace to everyone! It can harm other students! That thing is cursed!"

“I believe you must decide, Mr Azmadeus,” Alexander asked, ignoring Verstaban.

“Well, I’ll be.”

The room went completely silent. Everyone turned their gaze towards the principal. Charlotte’s body was shaking, and she preferred to close her eyes.

“My duty…as a principal is to ensure the safety of all my students.”

Her heart stopped for a second.

“But also to trust them. So I declare Miss Charlotte innocent.”

Charlotte was speechless. Tears streamed down her face, yet an innocent smile bloomed across her face. Alexander kept his composure but couldn’t hide a satisfied smile.

“We did it, Professor.”

“Good job, Miss Charlotte.”

“Thanks for everything.”

“Just a heads up, he doesn’t care about you at all!” Verstaban shouted at them. “That alchemist is twisted, and now you’re his new lab rat,” he said, angry. “One last thing. If I hear about you, I’ll take care of you by myself.”

Those words resonated in her head. That was just the beginning, and she wasn’t sure what the future held for her.