A Verdict Declared

“The adjudicators, also known as the Counsel, have great power in deciding a person’s fate during trial. They can even rope people uninvolved into the final verdict.”

—Robin Benz

Our walk to the courthouse is frantic and jittery. Roo leads the way in a brisk manner, but not so much that he appears nervous. I find myself envying his calmness as I wring my hands together. I trip on the flat pavement the whole way while Mirei fights the urge to run straight there..

Before we had left, Chief Pons gave us a meaningful look before returning to his office. His advice still stays fresh in my brain. No matter what happens, I’ll try to face it head-on for Mirei’s sake. I keep the image of my mom crouched beside me all those years ago, swiping the brush across a cheap canvas in mind.

Once we get to the courthouse, it’s strangely dead. There isn’t much of a crowd at all, only a few stragglers walking somewhere far in the distance. We walk through the court doors nonetheless. After we get to the room where the verdict will be announced, we take a second to look at each other. Then, deciding to just go for it, I push open the doors to the courtroom.

Instantly, chatter bursts into my ears and a hot blast of air crashes against my face. The empty chairs that had been the audience to our debate are all now filled with people. When they hear the doors open and catch sight of us, the conversation erupts into questions and gossip. I gulp, looking to Roo frantically for an explanation.

“What the heck is all this?” I whine.

“I suppose they opened the court for decision day.” He adjusts his mask on his face.

They should’ve at least warned us, I groan internally.

Three loud slams of a cane against wood reverberate through the clamor. My gaze shoots up toward where the sound came from.

The Head Adjudicator Ohma, face as stoic as ever, holds a four foot staff beside her as she stands in the adjudicators box. The light from the sconces gleams on the azure sphere embedded on the top of the staff. Her two companions sit in their seats on either side of her, expressionless. Everyone instantly shuts up.

“May the defense approach the box, please,” She booms.

My hands ball into fists at my sides as I feel the crowd’s eyes on us. Roo tugs me forward. Gratitude quickly replaces the apprehension as he leads us toward the adjudicators’ box. From the crowd, Mayor Crank emerges and follows us to face the trio of stone women.

Once we’ve placed ourselves in a neat line, Head Adjudicator Ohma slams her staff onto the ground once, giving an air of finality.

“Today marks the end of an arduous trial. Today, the truth of these outlanders’ role in the recent sandstorm disaster will come to light. I shall now read the adjudicators’ thoughts on the debated topics.”

I hold my breath. When Roo had been teaching us how the trial would work, he explained how the decision would be made. First, they would explain their consensus on each of the topics. Our hope is that they will declare we are peaceful, we have no relationship with the sandstorm, we have Ladean citizen rights, and that there was no governmental corruption that exacerbated the damage.

After they get through this bit, then they will proclaim whether the mayor’s claim won or our claim won. This part will decide whether we die or survive, at the mercy of the adjudicators’ demands of us. After all, rarely do the defense or prosecution get exactly what they demanded initially.

Head Adjudicator Ohma’s deep voice rings out in the silent courtroom. I clutch Mirei’s hand and, after hesitating for a second, pinch Roo’s sleeve. He quirks an eyebrow up at this before side eyeing me.

“The first topic of this private debate was: are the outlanders malicious or peaceful?”

A long pause filled to the brim with tension.

Then, she juts her chin outward as she declares, “After much discussion and revision over the facts, this Counsel has come to the conclusion that Haruki and Mirei Takahashi are in fact peaceful.”

The breath I’d been holding releases from my mouth. Mirei cheers exactly as outrage rips through the courtroom. Mayor Crank clicks his tongue, crossing his arms. I don’t care, I simply grin, heady with the feeling of victory. Roo shoots me a subtle yet clearly congratulatory smile. I return it.

“Silence!”

Everyone heeds Head Adjudicator Ohma’s call. After a brief glare at the crowd, she continues. “They have proven they harbor no ill will. This fact is undeniable. Now: does Lade Law and its designation of rights carry over to outlanders?”

Mirei squeezes my hand as she bites her lip. Her explanation for why we are Lade citizens really saved us back then. If we get a ruling in our favor, it will be almost entirely because of her. The last bit would most definitely be dedicated to Roo, who quickly caught on to what Mirei wanted to suggest. I pull on his sleeve, trying to tug him closer. He coughs lightly into his fist, turning his head away slightly. What, is he embarrassed? I have no time to pursue this question because Head Adjudicator Ohma begins speaking.

“It is a unanimous consensus that the outlanders are… halfway citizens.”

Confusion erupts in the courtroom. Me, Mirei, and Mayor Crank all frown. What does that mean? All our heads swivel toward Roo, who appears to completely understand what this means.

Just when I’m about to ask him about it, the head adjudicator beats me to it.

“A half-citizen is someone who meets all the requirements, but only just recently. And by recently, I mean a month. For one to be considered a citizen, they must have the requirements for citizenship fulfilled for at least a month. If they do so, then they become a full-fledged citizen of Lade.”

The people in the court room make a collective “ah” in understanding. Nobody really knew what a half-citizen was because Lade has never had one before.

We are the first.

“The third topic was one that was filled with contention. It was this: what relationship might the sandstorm have with the outlanders?

“Finding the answer to this question took much time. The prosecution and defense were of completely different opinions. But one thing was clear in that debate. The truth is that Haruki Takahashi—“ I jolt. “—is supposedly immune to the sand’s inscrutable magical effects. This is because he and, most likely his sister, possess the same type of magic, alongside Life magic and Death magic.”

A collective gasp tears from everyone’s throats. Head Adjudicator Ohma continues, “As such, we can neither support nor deny the claim that the outlanders caused the sandstorm.”

Irritated grumbling rolls across the crowd. The mayor sighs sharply and shakes his head in displeasure. I take a shaky hand through my hair.

Then, like a droplet from a leaf falling into a pond, Roo’s soft voice surprises me in my ear.

“It’s fine. This is the best that could happen.”

His reassurance shocks me so much that heat burns on the tips of my ears. I only lock eyes with him before nodding.

Mirei is full-on hugging my arm now. She murmurs, “Is everything going out way?”

Roo shrugs his shoulders, replying, “Kind of.”

Head Adjudicator Ohma calms the crowd when her staff cracks against the floor. She looks pissed.

“Silence!”

If it were possible, this would be the most quiet moment of silence this courtroom has had yet.

“Alright,” She sighs sharply, extremely agitated. “The last topic was a very controversial one. It was this: could governmental corruption have played a part in the severity of the disaster?”

No one even chokes. They’re too afraid to make a noise in the face of the Head Adjudicator’s potential wrath.

“At the center of this debate was the son of the great Chief Pons: Roo Benz.”

No one can contain their surprise at this. Some chairs screech back, others fall out of them entirely, and some clap their hands over their mouths.

Roo lowers his eyelids as everyone’s eyes fall onto him.

“Unanimously,” The Head Adjudicator redirects everyone’s attention to her. “The Counsel has decided that it was mere youth and not corruption, per se, that could have possibly made this situation slightly worse. Supposedly.”

An array of responses arise out of this. Some people flop back in their chairs sullenly, others hiss in anger, and even more retain their silence. They’re still nervous about that certain woman’s ire.

“Regardless.” Head Adjudicator Ohma clears her throat. “Considering these opinions, we have reached a final decision on the outlanders’ fate. Mayor Crank demanded their death and a Wealth Claim. After a rigorous study of the debate and facts, on behalf of the Counsel, I declare the outlanders pardoned from these demands.”

My mouth falls open. And then, the joy hits me like a tidal wave. We won! Mirei cheers loudly and Roo has to placate her. But I can tell by the crinkle in his eyes that he’s smiling widely. The mayor throws his hands up in the air, defeated.

Just when I feel like I’m about to dance on the spot and spin Roo around with me, the woman’s voice booms, “I’m not done yet.”

The cheering dies in our throats. I stare at the stone-faced woman warily. She stares at me back, gaze severe. She bellows, “The outlanders shall make use of their abilities. The unanimous decision of us adjudicators is that these outlanders venture out into the desert—“ She whips her staff in our direction “—and search for the cause as to why the sand encroaches upon us.”

All the happiness gets sucked out of me.

It was exactly what I feared during the last day of trial—that we’d be forced to fight the desert. I nearly sink to my knees in shock.

She keeps talking. “A specialist in magic and ley lines shall accompany them. The best candidate for this has already been decided. As it has much to do with the trial itself, I shall announce this individual here.

“The one we nominated has vast potential. He has studied in depth the art of Life magic and cultivates it endlessly, despite being at a high level. This person is most suited for working with the outlanders, for he already has.”

Awareness seeps back into my bones. I don’t know why, but my head slowly turns toward Roo, who stands above me, arms crossed. His posture used to be rigid, but now, it breaks. His hands fall to his sides as the Head Adjudicator declares:

“Roo Benz, son of Chief Pons, one of the greatest talents in generations. This Counsel, with your father’s approval, nominates you to join the outlanders on their mission.”