CHAPTER 89: CH 89: THE TRIAL - PART 1

The chamber’s air was heavy with incense and murmurs as the trial began in full force.

The judge—a stern figure in layered robes of deep crimson—read from a scroll, his voice echoing off the vaulted ceiling.

"Kana, you stand accused of numerous crimes against the temple, including theft of sacred property, obstruction of justice, and the unlawful killing of Priest Veyren."

The words hit Kana like stones, each charge sounding more absurd than the last.

She barely even recognized some of the accusations—she hadn’t heard a whisper of them before this moment.

Her stomach tightened, but she forced herself to meet the judge’s gaze, refusing to shrink under the weight of the court’s attention.

Gasps and mutters rippled through the audience, their voices a low tide of speculation and contempt.

High Priest Rudy sat forward on his seat, his hands folded neatly in front of him, eyes locked on her with that same composed, faintly benevolent expression he always wore.

Before the judge could speak further, Rudy rose, his voice smooth yet firm.

"Honored court, I believe these accusations are misguided. Kana is, in my estimation, a victim—an unwitting piece in a far larger scheme. There are forces here that wish to see her destroyed, using her as a pawn to mask their true intentions."

His words drew a hush from the gallery, some leaning forward to catch every syllable.

Kana’s chest tightened—not from gratitude, but from the unsettling thought that Rudy’s defense might not be entirely out of kindness.

From the opposite side of the chamber, High Priestess Jenna stood, her expression calm but her eyes sharp.

"I agree with High Priest Rudy’s assessment—Kana may indeed be innocent. However..."

Her gaze swept the jury.

"Without evidence, even the purest words hold no weight. That is why I propose we cut through this uncertainty."

The judge tilted his head.

"And how do you propose we do that, Priestess?"

Jenna reached into the folds of her robe, drawing forth an object wrapped in silk.

"With this. A truthbinding artefact, one that forces the speaker to answer honestly."

A low wave of reaction surged through the room—scoffs, incredulous laughter, and outright accusations.

"How convenient!"

One man sneered.

"Such an artefact cannot exist."

Another argued.

But before the noise could swell into chaos, Jenna’s voice carried clearly:

"To confirm the artefact’s authenticity, I have brought a witness whose presence none of you can dispute—the youngest daughter of the Dragon King."

The uproar was instant and vicious, the air filled with overlapping shouts and jeers.

Skeptics demanded proof, others accused her of falsehoods, and more than one voice rose to question her sanity.

Then it came—a single, overpowering pulse of magic.

It rolled through the courtroom like a physical wave, rattling the walls, pressing against Kana’s chest, stealing the breath from her lungs.

Every voice was silenced, every body stilled.

The judge, eyes wide but steady, let the sensation wash over him before nodding.

"I have felt dragon magic before. This is genuine."

From behind a tall, curtained alcove at the side of the chamber, a silhouette shifted.

Even without stepping into the full light, the aura radiating from the figure was undeniable—proud, ancient, untouchable.

Murmurs of recognition and awe spread, tempered now with fear.

Jenna stepped forward and held the artefact up for all to see—a crystalline sphere, faintly glowing from within, its light seeming to pulse in rhythm with the heart.

"This will ensure that every word Kana speaks is the truth."

The judge leaned back in his seat.

"Very well. Proceed."

At that moment, Rudy’s composure wavered. His brow furrowed, the first sign of unease cracking through his mask.

"Is such a display necessary?"

He asked, tone smooth but edged.

"It is. If your confidence in Kana’s innocence is genuine, you should welcome it."

The judge replied without hesitation.

For the first time since the trial began, Rudy’s eyes darkened.

But after a pause, he inclined his head and sat back down.

Jenna crossed the floor and placed the sphere in Kana’s hands. The surface was cool, almost icy, yet it seemed to hum faintly against her palms, as though alive.

"Speak. The artefact will handle the rest."

Jenna said softly.

Kana swallowed, her pulse a rapid drumbeat in her ears. She took a breath, and her voice carried clearly through the chamber.

"I am innocent of these crimes. I did not harm Priest Veyren or commit the acts I’ve been accused of."

The sphere warmed suddenly, a faint flare of light spreading through it—confirmation of her truth.

The jury shifted uneasily, some leaning forward, others exchanging quick glances.

But Kana wasn’t done. Her hands trembled slightly as she continued.

"And I know who is behind this."

The silence that followed was electric. Every eye in the room was fixed on her, the weight of their attention almost crushing.

Rudy’s smile returned then—calm, patient, and far too confident. He leaned back in his seat as though this were exactly the moment he’d been waiting for.

He had been patient, meticulous—everything had been arranged so that when Kana spoke, her words would point toward High Priestess Jenna.

The artefact would confirm it, the court would turn on her, and Rudy’s plans would proceed unhindered.

After all, if Kana believed that High Priestess Jenna was the culprit, it would become the truth in her mind.

Kana’s fingers tightened around the artefact. The room was silent, hundreds of eyes pressing against her like a weight.

She drew in a slow breath, raised her head, and spoke clearly.

"The culprit... is High Priest Rudy."

The words hung in the air like a blade.

A ripple of shock swept through the courtroom. Whispers erupted, boots scraped against the marble floor.

Rudy’s smug expression faltered for the first time, his brows twitching downward.

Then, before anyone could question her, the artefact in Kana’s hands flared with a brilliant light—pure, untainted, and absolute.

The glow bathed her in gold, a divine seal of truth that silenced every murmur.

The judge’s eyes widened.

"The artefact confirms... she speaks the truth."

Gasps followed. Rudy’s composure cracked, a flicker of disbelief flashing in his eyes before his mask quickly returned. But the damage was done.