Ch 15.6

The court session had taken on a momentum of its own. The jury no longer viewed the Pavilion attack through a single lens. Instead, multiple competing narratives now stood before them, each carrying enough evidence to seem plausible.

On the elevated plaintiff's seat, Rugbert sat with his hands folded before him. His eyes never left Verdant as the Horus elder stood before the witness box. The old monkey knew his rival well enough to recognize danger when he saw it.

Verdant only smiled when he believed he had found an opening.

Aisha stood inside the witness box, trying to steady her breathing.

"So, Miss Aisha," Verdant began pleasantly, "let us discuss Chloe Worth. From the records and testimony presented thus far, it appears that you were the individual primarily responsible for bringing her into the Pavilion. Is that correct?"

Aisha nodded.

"Yes."

"And what was her role?"

"She worked as a servant."

"A servant?" Verdant repeated the word thoughtfully.
"You trusted her enough to assign her duties within the Pavilion?"

"Yes, we did."

"And over time, she gained the trust of the other girls as well?"

Aisha hesitated briefly before answering. "Yes."

Verdant nodded as though the answer were entirely expected.
"Please tell the jury what kind of person Chloe was during her time at the Pavilion."

Aisha straightened slightly.
"She was hardworking. Kind. She helped the other girls whenever she could. Even though she concealed her true identity from us, she never abused our trust."

Several jurors took notes.

Aisha continued.
"When Nosmos had attacked the Pavilion, Chloe revealed herself and used her authority to finally ordered Wallus to stop the rampaging Nosmos. If she hadn't intervened, far more people would have died. The Pavilion owes her a great deal."

Verdant listened patiently before nodding.
"That is certainly a favorable impression."

His tone remained polite.
"However, there is one detail that continues to trouble me."

Aisha immediately felt her stomach tighten.

Verdant clasped his hands behind his back.
"Barville is not a small settlement. The Tranquil Pavilion is one of the most respected establishments in the region. You have no shortage of applicants seeking work."

"That's true."

"Then why Chloe?"

The question seemed simple. Yet Rugbert immediately narrowed his eyes. Verdant was not asking about Chloe's character. He was asking why Aisha had chosen her.

The old monkey leaned forward slightly, watching his rival with renewed suspicion.

Aisha, meanwhile, struggled to understand where the question was leading.

"Why did you choose Chloe specifically?" Verdant continued.
"Out of all the people who applied to work at the Pavilion, why did you decide to bring her in?"

Aisha hesitated. "Well..."

Verdant continued before she could answer.
"She was human. An outsider. A newcomer with no local connections. By your own admission, she concealed significant information about herself."

"Well, I don't have the specific details," Aisha replied carefully. "Lady Onteko personally approved her employment. I am merely a courtesan of the Pavilion. If you want the exact reasons Chloe was hired, you would need to ask Lady Onteko yourself."

Verdant studied her for several seconds. Aisha maintained a calm expression, but the sweat forming along her brow told a different story.

Then the old Horus smiled. "That is understandable."
He turned away as though the answer no longer interested him. "Let us move on."

Rugbert's eyes narrowed. Whenever Verdant abandoned a line of questioning that quickly, it usually meant he had already gotten what he wanted.

The avian beastman reached toward a stack of documents.
"Before we continue, I would like to submit another report into evidence."

A court attendant quickly retrieved the file and delivered it to Judge Nendalf. Several jurors leaned forward with interest as copies were distributed among the jury benches.

Verdant waited until everyone had received a copy.
"As you can see, these are invoices and repair assessments submitted by the Stone Mason Workshop that recently performed reconstruction work at the Pavilion."

Nendalf flipped through several pages.

Verdant continued.
"The masons reported extensive structural damage throughout the interior corridors. Numerous walls had been shattered, fencing destroyed, chandeliers collapsed, and large quantities of strange vegetation were discovered throughout the premises."

Several jurors nodded as they reviewed the reports.
"Furthermore, traces of unusually dense mana residue were found across the site."

Aisha felt her stomach sink. She had a dreadful feeling about where Verdant was heading.

The old bird then pointed toward another section of the report.
"Please refer to page twenty-five."

The sound of turning pages filled the courtroom.

"The Adventurers' Quest Registry provided this report," Verdant said.

Several jurors immediately focused on the highlighted section.

"According to official records, Abbess Chloe Worth was assigned two escorts upon arriving on the Isle Continent. Their responsibility was to ensure her safe arrival at her designated post near the Withering Woods. A new chapel was being established by the New Age church, and she was assigned as the church head to oversee it."

The jury began whispering among themselves. This was new information.

Even Judge Nendalf appeared interested. Verdant nodded toward the documents.
"One of those escorts successfully made contact with Chloe upon her arrival in Barville."

He paused deliberately.
"The individual in question was a young human adventurer."

The room remained attentive. Then Verdant delivered the next piece.
"You may all know him well, the disciple of the fabled Old Demon."

The courtroom erupted.

"What?"

"The Old Demon?"

"That swamp lunatic?"

Several jurors immediately began talking over one another. Even some of the guild representatives looked genuinely surprised.

Judge Nendalf struck his gavel. "Order."
The courtroom gradually quieted.

Meanwhile, Aisha stood frozen.

For the first time since taking the witness stand, genuine confusion flickered across her face. The Pavilion girls exchanged bewildered glances, equally at a loss. They had no idea who the young man imprisoned beneath their cell truly was. To them, he had been nothing more than another troublesome human adventurer, little more than a means to repay the debt they had incurred with the guild.

Yet the reactions rippling through the courtroom told them otherwise.
The title alone, the Old Demon’s disciple, carried a weight they had never imagined.

Verdant allowed the silence to linger before continuing.

"Now then, Miss Aisha." He turned back toward her. "When Chloe arrived at the Pavilion, were you aware that she was traveling with a disciple of the Old Demon?"

"No."

"And were you aware that she was not merely a servant, but an officially appointed abbess traveling to a church posting?"

"No."

"Did she ever disclose either of those facts to you?"

Aisha hesitated. "No."

The scribes immediately recorded the answer.

Verdant nodded thoughtfully.
"So we have an abbess who concealed her identity and traveled under false pretenses, accompanied by an individual connected to one of the most infamous figures on the continent."

"Objection." Rugbert rose immediately. "Counsel is editorializing."

"Sustained." Judge Nendalf tapped his gavel. "Rephrase."

Verdant smiled. "Of course."
That smile alone made Rugbert uneasy.

The old bird was slowly constructing something, and whatever it was, Aisha had already supplied several of the pieces with her own answers.

From the defendant's bench, Nosmos crossed his arms and smirked. For the first time in a while, even he looked interested in where Verdant was taking this line of questioning.

Verdant clasped his hands behind his back and began pacing slowly before the witness box.
"Very well, Miss Aisha. Let me ask a different question."

He stopped and looked directly at her.
"Did the events I have just described occur around the same period as the extensive damage discovered inside the Pavilion?"

Aisha frowned. "I don't understand the question."

"The damaged corridors. The shattered walls. The broken furnishings. The dense mana residue." Verdant gestured toward the reports. "Did some form of conflict occur within the Pavilion before the attack involving Nosmos and Wallus?"

Aisha immediately felt her heartbeat quicken. The jury noticed her hesitation. Even Judge Nendalf's gaze sharpened slightly.

Verdant said nothing. He simply waited.

Aisha's eyes drifted toward the documents spread across the courtroom. Her mind raced as she considered the appropriate answer. She gripped the wooden fence of the witness box tightly, trying to keep her hands from trembling and hide the sudden insecurity in her expression.

Verdant continued calmly.

"The City's ledger confirms the arrival of a man named Benjamin, who was assigned to escort the young abbess. Witnesses later reported seeing the two together near the Pavilion. At first, they were involved in a small scuffle, but later they were spotted shopping together along the market street. It is possible that the abbess changed out of her church garments during that period to blend in with the locals, although I cannot confirm that."

Verdant allowed a brief pause.
"But soon afterward, the escort vanished from public view."

The old bird tilted his head.
"Where is this young man now?"

Aisha remained silent.

Verdant pressed forward, "Where is Benjamin, disciple of the Old Demon?"

A murmur spread throughout the courtroom. The title alone was enough to attract attention.

Aisha forced herself to remain calm.
"I don't know who you're talking about."

Several jurors exchanged skeptical looks.

Verdant raised an eyebrow. "You don't?"

"No."

"We have records placing him alongside Chloe."

"I still don't know who you're talking about," Aisha insisted.
The answer came a little too quickly.

Verdant noticed, so did Rugbert. The old monkey closed his eyes briefly. Aisha wasn't lying particularly well.

Verdant took another step forward.
"Then perhaps I should ask differently. Did a fight occur within the Pavilion shortly after Chloe arrived?"

Aisha's composure faltered. A flicker of panic crossed her face before she quickly suppressed it.

Verdant saw it immediately. "So there was a fight?"

"No."
The answer lacked confidence.

Verdant's smile widened ever so slightly. "No fight at all?"

Aisha swallowed.
"I... don't think anything like that happened."

The jury stirred. That was not a denial but uncertainty in her voice.

Verdant immediately moved to exploit it.

"You don't think so?" His tone remained polite.
"Miss Aisha, either a battle occurred, or it did not. Which is it?"

Aisha felt the walls closing in around her. She couldn't reveal that Benjamin was imprisoned beneath the Pavilion currently. Not now, not while the trial was already turning against them. Yet every answer she gave seemed to make things worse.

Verdant's eyes narrowed.
"Are you certain there is nothing you wish to tell the court?"

The pressure in the room mounted. Before Aisha could answer, Rugbert finally raised a hand. "Objection."

Verdant stopped.

Rugbert rose from his seat.
"Counsel is badgering the witness and attempting to force a conclusion through repetition."

Judge Nendalf considered the objection for a moment before nodding. "Sustained."

Verdant inclined his head respectfully. "Ah, my apologies."

The Horus elder stepped back from the witness box. Outwardly, he appeared unfazed. Inwardly, however, he had already learned what he wanted. There was something the Pavilion girls were hiding. He didn't know exactly what it was. Not yet, but Aisha's reaction had confirmed its existence.

And judging by the increasingly worried expressions on the faces of Tevu, Gina, and Fina, whatever secret they were protecting was significant enough to threaten their entire testimony.

Meanwhile, the Pavilion girls sitting on the bench remained frozen. Earlier in the trial, they had been viewed almost entirely as victims. Now, under Verdant's relentless questioning, they were beginning to attract suspicion themselves.

Rugbert's expression darkened. The old monkey felt as though he could cough up blood.

Every answer Aisha gave seemed to strengthen Verdant's position. The narrative had shifted so dramatically that even the jury was beginning to examine the Pavilion's actions with the same scrutiny previously reserved for Nosmos and Wallus.

From the defendant's bench, both men looked surprised by their good fortune. Wallus had spent the morning begging for mercy. Meanwhile, Nosmos had spent most of it defending himself showcasing as a patriot.

Yet now the spotlight was drifting away from them. And that was exactly where they wanted it.

Aisha gripped the witness stand. Her thoughts were tangled.

What do I do?

Whatever she said risked exposing the Pavilion’s ugly deeds.
Whatever she refused to say made her appear equally guilty.

The pressure was becoming unbearable.
"I... I don't know anything..."

Verdant's eyes narrowed.
There it is. The crack.

"My Lord," Verdant said, turning toward the judge, "please refer to evidence file thirty-four-A."

The court attendant quickly retrieved the document and delivered it to Judge Nendalf.

Several jurors leaned forward.
"This file contains statements gathered from regular patrons of the Tranquil Pavilion. During our investigation, we discovered that several courtesans were unexpectedly absent from their duties for multiple consecutive days."

The jury began reviewing the report.

Verdant continued. "Those dates coincide with two events."

He raised two fingers.
"The first is the last confirmed public sighting of Abbess Chloe Worth and her escort, Benjamin, before she entered the Pavilion."

He lowered one finger.
"The second is the repair work conducted by the Stone Mason Workshop."

A murmur spread through the room. Rugbert frowned as Verdant carefully stacked the pieces together.

He continued, "Furthermore, among the courtesans absent from service were several members commonly referred to as the Pavilion's assault team."

The jurors exchanged looks.

"One absent member would be unremarkable. Two might be a coincidence. But nearly the entire group?" He paused, his expression turning grim. "That suggests something else. It means there was a fight, one serious enough to leave the members of the assault team injured and unable to get back to their duties."

Several guild representatives nodded thoughtfully. Pilos and the Tooth and Nail guild members chuckled from the gallery.

"Silence," Judge Nendalf ordered.

The room settled.

Verdant clasped his hands behind his back.
"Let us review the known facts." He began pacing slowly.

"An abbess arrives in Barville."

"She is accompanied by an escort officially recognized by the Adventurers' Guild."

"Both are seen together."

"Both enter the Pavilion."

"The escort subsequently vanishes."

"A violent incident occurs inside the Pavilion."

"Multiple courtesans disappear from service, temporarily."

"Extensive repairs become necessary."

The old bird stopped pacing. "Those are not assumptions."
He gestured toward the reports. "Those are documented facts."

The jury listened carefully.

Only then did Verdant present his theory.
"I therefore propose the following hypothesis."

Even Rugbert knew what was coming.

"The Pavilion had no idea Chloe was an abbess. That is true."

Verdant paused briefly before continuing.
"The Pavilion may have attempted to ambush them after they entered the premises."

Aisha's fingers tightened around the witness stand.

"A confrontation occurred. The escort intervened. A battle followed."

Verdant slowly turned toward Aisha.
"Whether the young man was killed, imprisoned, or otherwise removed, I cannot yet say."

The courtroom had become completely silent.

"But one thing remains unanswered."
His eyes locked onto hers. "Where is Benjamin?"

Aisha couldn't answer.

Verdant pressed on.
"Miss Aisha, if this theory is false, then help us understand what happened."

His voice remained calm. Measured. Reasonable. Which made it all the more dangerous.

"The Pavilion claims Chloe was their friend."
"The Pavilion claims Chloe was their savior."
"The Pavilion claims they protected her."

He tilted his head.
"Then why are there so many missing pieces whenever her arrival is discussed?"

Aisha's lips parted, but no words came out.

Verdant seized the moment as he badgered her with questions.

"Is Benjamin alive or dead?"
"Where is he currently?"
"What happened after he entered the Pavilion?"
"Why was Chloe working as a servant despite being an abbess?"

Rugbert immediately rose.
"Objection, Your Honor. Counsel is leading the witness, and the whereabouts of the Old Demon's disciple is irrelevant to this hearing."

Nendalf nodded. "Sustained."

Verdant merely spread his hands.
"Your Honor, I am simply asking questions. Not to mention, the Old Demon's disciple is a person of significant interest to the Isle Continent. His disappearance deserves investigation."

Rugbert shot to his feet.
"Oh, spare me. You are dressing speculation as fact and feeding it to the jury."

Verdant's eyes narrowed.
"Speculation? Coming from you?"

The temperature in the courtroom seemed to drop.

"You've spent this entire trial relying on instinct and reputation. Tell me, old friend, how much of your case is evidence, and how much of it is your gut feeling?" asked Verdant with a cold glare.

Rugbert's tail twitched.
"What did you mean, you feathered quack?"

Verdant smiled coldly.
"Oh, you heard me, short-squirt."

The courtroom fell silent.

Neither elder raised a weapon. Neither released mana. Yet the pressure rolling off them was enough to make several jurors shift nervously in their seats.

Even Nosmos and Wallus stopped paying attention to the trial. Every eye in the room turned toward the two veteran adventurers.

"Order. Order." Judge Nendalf slammed his gavel.
The sharp crack echoed throughout the chamber. "The court is still in session."

Neither man looked away.

"Counsel Rugbert. Counsel Verdant. Approach the bench."

The two elders finally broke eye contact and walked toward the judge's seat.

Nendalf waited until they stood before him. Then he lowered his voice.
"You are two of the most respected figures on the Isle Continent. And at this moment, both of you are behaving like children fighting over scraps."

Neither responded.

Verdant lowered his head first.
"My apologies. I allowed myself to become carried away."

Rugbert folded his arms. The old monkey looked thoroughly annoyed.
Still, after several seconds, he grumbled, "Yeah. Fine. I got it."

Nendalf pinched the bridge of his nose beneath the mask.
"Good. Then return to your seats and let the court finish its work."

The two elders dispersed. Verdant returned to the defense table, while Rugbert climbed back into his elevated seat.

Meanwhile, Aisha was dismissed from the witness box and returned to the Pavilion benches.

The trial had reached its end. No further witnesses remained. No additional evidence would be submitted. The courtroom fell into an uneasy silence as everyone waited for Judge Nendalf to deliver the next stage of the proceedings.

Judge Nendalf slowly rose from his chair. The courtroom quieted immediately.
"The testimony of all parties has been heard."

His voice carried across the chamber.
"The evidence has been submitted. The arguments have been made."

He looked toward the jury. "It is now time for deliberation."

Several attendants entered carrying sealed ballot boxes.
"The jury shall cast their advisory votes. These votes will help inform the court regarding the public interpretation of the evidence presented."

The jurors stood one by one and approached the ballot boxes. No one spoke. The atmosphere had become strangely heavy.

Aisha watched nervously. Tevu clenched her fists. Fina remained expressionless, while Gina looked as though she might be sick. Across the room, Nosmos sat with his arms folded. Wallus stared at the floor. Even Verdant and Rugbert remained silent.

One after another, the ballots were cast. When the final vote had been submitted, the attendants carried the boxes to Judge Nendalf.

The old raven judge reviewed the results. His eyes moved carefully across every tally. Then he opened the transcripts. The witness statements. The investigative reports. The evidence files. Minutes passed. The silence became unbearable.

Eventually, Nendalf leaned back in his chair and removed his spectacles. A weary sigh escaped him. The jury's vote had painted a clear picture. But not a simple one.

Many believed Nosmos had acted out of genuine concern for the continent. Others believed he had manipulated the entire narrative. Some believed Chloe Worth was a victim. Others suspected she had hidden far more than anyone realized.

The Pavilion girls had entered the courtroom as victims. Yet they had left behind enough unanswered questions to cast doubt upon themselves.

And Wallus… he had confessed to enough crimes to bury himself several times over.

No matter what decision he reached, someone would leave this courtroom furious. Perhaps everyone would.

Nendalf looked across the chamber. The eyes of the Isle Continent seemed fixed upon him. He slowly placed both hands upon the desk. "I have reached my decision."

The courtroom held its breath. Even the scribes stopped writing.

Aisha felt her pulse hammering in her ears. Nosmos sat upright. Wallus finally raised his head. The jury waited anxiously for the verdict that would decide the fate of everyone involved in the Pavilion incident.

Then—

BANG!

The courtroom doors burst open. Every head turned. A figure in armor hurried inside, breathing heavily from exertion. "Judge Nendalf!"

The interruption sent a wave of confusion through the chamber.

Nendalf's brows furrowed beneath the raven mask.
"What is the meaning of this, Lieutenant Carmen?"

The newcomer immediately knelt. His armor was still covered in dust from travel. A massive greatsword hung across his back, while a sealed scroll remained clenched in one hand.

Those present quickly recognized him. Lieutenant Carmen.
Another one of BRAVE's elite officers, similar to the officer assigned to Judge Nendalf's security detail.

Yet the veteran guard looked visibly shaken.

"Forgive my interruption, Your Honor."
His voice was strained. "I bring urgent news."

Nendalf frowned. "As you can plainly see, Lieutenant, I am in the middle of delivering a verdict. Wait outside, and I shall hear your report shortly."

Carmen hesitated. Then his expression hardened.
"With respect, Your Honor..." He swallowed.
"I believe everyone present has the right to hear this."

The room immediately became uneasy. Aisha exchanged glances with Tevu. Nosmos narrowed his eyes. Even Verdant and Rugbert looked puzzled.

Meanwhile, Wallus's posture changed ever so slightly.
For the first time since entering the courtroom, a faint spark appeared in his eyes.

Nendalf noticed. "So serious?"
The judge extended a hand. "Bring me the message."

Carmen approached and presented the sealed parchment.

The raven judge broke the seal and scanned the contents. The color immediately drained from his face after reading. "This can't be..." Nendalf muttered in a trembling voice.

The courtroom noticed his surprise. Nendalf rarely showed emotion. Yet for a brief moment, genuine disbelief flashed across his features despite wearing the raven mask.

Verdant slowly stood. "What happened?"

No answer came.

Rugbert's expression darkened. The old monkey had known Nendalf for years. Whatever was written there was bad.

Very bad.

Finally, the judge lowered the parchment. His hand tightened around the document. The room had become completely silent.

"Lieutenant." His voice sounded unusually hoarse. "Read it."

Carmen nodded grimly.

He turned toward the courtroom and unrolled the message.
"This communication originates from the United Warlords' Council assembled in Despora."

The mention of the council immediately drew everyone's attention.

Carmen continued.
"To all guilds, tribes, settlements, military forces, and BRAVE representatives stationed upon the Isle Continent."

His voice echoed throughout the chamber.
"Effective immediately, a state of war has been declared."

Nobody moved. Nobody spoke. For a moment, it felt as though the entire courtroom had forgotten how to breathe.

Carmen continued reading.
"The Church of Virtues has officially declared hostilities against the Isle Continent."

The words struck like a physical blow. Several jurors rose halfway from their seats. Others stared in disbelief. Aisha's eyes widened, while Tevu looked utterly stunned. Even Gina and Fina seemed to forget how to breathe.

Carmen pressed on.
"All major tribes, elven clans, guilds, and settlements are ordered to prepare for full military mobilization."

"All church personnel currently residing within the continent are to be monitored and restricted to their assigned jurisdictions until further notice."

"Any unauthorized church activity is to be investigated immediately."

"Ports, trade routes, and transportation hubs are to implement emergency security protocols."

"The assembled guild leaders at Despora shall return to their territories and await further instructions."

The silence that followed was deafening. Nobody knew what to say.

The trial. The Pavilion. Nosmos. Wallus. Chloe. Benjamin. Only moments ago, those names had seemed incredibly important. Now they suddenly felt insignificant compared to what had just been announced.

War.

Not a border dispute. Not a political disagreement.
A full-scale war, and that with the Church of Virtues, the most powerful organisation in this realm.

Judge Nendalf slowly lowered his head.

The verdict he had spent hours preparing remained unfinished upon his desk. The jury's votes suddenly felt meaningless. Even the fate of the defendants seemed secondary.

Across the courtroom, Wallus quietly smiled. It was small, almost imperceptible, but Rugbert saw it. And that terrified him far more than the message itself. Because in that moment, the old monkey realized something.

Wallus was not surprised by the announcement. Almost as if he was expecting it.

The Raven’s trial had come to an end without a judgment ever being passed. After all, there was little reason for one now. The shocking announcement had rendered the verdict on his desk almost meaningless.

But whatever was unfolding across the Isle Continent was only the beginning. The trials that awaited its people had finally begun, and before long, war would become the least of their worries.

Far beyond the courtroom, deep within the ancient forests of the north, another calamity was already drawing near.

Something was coming.
And the people of the Isle Continent had no idea it had already begun.