Akko gasped; she couldn't help herself. The large dungeon she had entered was horribly familiar. She had not only seen it before, she had been here before: This was the place she had visited inside the Horologium Clock, the place where she had watched Cinder Fall sentenced to life imprisonment in Dol Guldur.
The walls were made of dark stone, dimly lit by torches. Empty benches rose on either side of her, but ahead, in the highest benches of all, were several shadowy figures. They had been talking in low voices, but as the heavy door swung closed behind Akko, an ominous silence fell.
A cold male voice rang across the courtroom.
"You're late."
"Sorry," said Akko nervously. "I-I didn't know the time had changed."
"That is not the Magic Council's fault," said the voice. "A message was sent to you this morning. Take your seat."
Akko dropped her gaze to the chair in the center of the room. On the floor around the legs were a pair of long, rusty shackles. Akko had seen those shackles used on Zeref and others in past trials. Her footsteps echoed loudly as she walked across the stone floor. When she sat gingerly on the edge of the chair, the shackles clicked rather threateningly but did not bind her/ Feeling rather sick, she looked up at the people seated at the bench above.
There were twelve of them in total, each dressed uniquely compared to one another, though they all wore the same four-pointed star medallion on the left-hand side of their chests and all staring down their noses at her, some with very grim expressions, others look of frank curiosity.
In the very middle of the front row sat Crawford Seam, the Chairman of the Magic Council, easily identified by his rotund figure and his bushy bear that scraped the floor. He had dispensed with the indulgent smile he had once worn when he spoke to Akko. A tall and stalwart wizard with thick gray beard sat on Crawford's left, looking dangerous and foreboding. On Crawford's right was a man (?) cloaked in white with a golden horned mask stared unblinking at Akko as if seeing into her soul. And seated next to the golden-masked man was Ava O'Neill, Amanda's mother. Any trace of warmth she usually showered Akko with was replaced by a mask of cool indifference. Right, Akko reminded herself, Ava couldn't openly support her anymore….
"Very well," said Crawford Seam. "The accused being present – finally – let us begin. The Disciplinary heading of – "
A loud scoffing noise filled the chamber, stopping Crawford mid-speech. It came from a surely-looking man who looked like he belonged in a warzone instead of courtroom.
"Is there a problem, Councilman Travers?" said Crawford Seam indignantly.
"What is this farce, Seam?" said Travers. "What are we doing here?"
"If you had allowed me to finish," Crawford Seam rumbled, "this is the disciplinary hearing for Atsuko Kagari – "
"If this were a simple hearing, I would've handled it on my own in my office, as it is my department," Travers cut in sharply, crossing his arms with a note of hostility. "Instead, you gathered all twelves seats on the Magic Council to put a fifteen-year-old girl on trial."
"It does seem rather excessive," a man with a star tattoo on his forehead added.
Several members of the Council hummed suspiciously. Sounds like not everyone on the Magic Council was on the same page. That was a small relief to Akko.
"Well, she is being investigated for the crime of using magic on a human – " Crawford noticeably stumbled over his words; he likely wasn't expecting anyone to question him.
"For a bit of light magic?" A caped man with a goatee joined in. "Hardly seems like a crime for the whole council. And we're not even sure if she used it on the human – "
"Thank you for your input, Councilman Strange!" Crawford snapped in frustration. "We can determine her guilt or not if we proceed! Any further questions?!" The rest of the council went mute, staring gravely down at Akko. "As I was saying, the disciplinary hearing of the twelfth of August into the offenses committed under the International Charter for the Relations of Humans and Demi-Humans by Atsuko Kagari, resident of 1-10-4 Jingumae, Shibuya.
"Interrogators: Crawford Seam, Chairman of the Magic Council; Karen Travers, eighth seat and Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Light Spinner, nineth seat and Head of the Department of Magical Catastrophes – "
"- Acting for the defense, Andrew Augustus Hanbridge!" a sharp voice shouted from behind Akko, who turned her head so fast she cricked her neck.
Unbelievably, Andrew Hanbridge was striding across the room with purpose, his three-piece suit impeccable and a perfectly calm expression. He came to a stop at Akko's side, resting a comforting hand on her shoulder and offering a kind smile that made Akko feel a strange sense of relief. Akko knew Andrew – he was a good friend and a craft opponent. If anyone could help her out of this situation, it was him.
The members of the Magic Council were muttering. All eyes were now on Andrew. Some looked annoyed, others awestruck; Ava O'Neill, however, gave him a secretive wave.
"Er, what can I help you with, Sir Hanbridge," said Crawford, who looked thoroughly disconcerted. Makes sense; Andrew's father was a very influential man. "I-If you don't mind, we're are in the middle of a trial – "
"I'm aware," said Andrew cheerfully. "That's why I'm here. I will be acting as Miss Kagari's defense attorney."
"Er – well – nothing against you, Sir Hanbridge," Crawford stammered. "But you're not really – "
"I graduated from Appleton with a degree in law last year," said Andrew. "Though I am still under an apprenticeship, my credentials should be sufficient enough to act on Miss Kagari's behalf…. That is, unless you have already provided her with a lawyer, that is."
"Um…,"
"You do know that the Magic Council is legal obligated to provide defendants with legal defense if they don't have their own following the Court Reformation Act established ten years ago? An act you passed, if I recall, Chairman Seam. Because if you didn't, it would look very bad in the public eye if the Magic Council believed themselves to be the exception of their own rules."
Akko covered her mouth to hide her smirk; Andrew had just backed the freakin' chairman into a corner in the first two minutes!
"Yes – well – I suppose we'll be needing another chair – I – Councilman Doma, if you could – "
The man on Crawford's left looked annoyed, slammed the butt of his staff on the ground, and a squashy chintz armchair appeared out of nowhere next to Akko. Andrew sat down, steepling his fingers together like a movie villain, and surveyed Crawford Seam over them with an expression of polite interest. The Council member were still muttering and fidgeting restlessly; only when Crawford spoke again did they settle down.
"Yes," said Crawford, shuffling his notes. "Well, then. So. The charges. Yes."
He extricated a piece of paper from the pile before him, took a deep breath, and read, "The charges against the accused are as follows: That she did knowingly, deliberately, and in full awareness of the illegality off her actions, having received a previous written warning from the Magic Council on similar charges, produced a light-based spell in the deliberate attack of a human, on August the second at twenty-three minutes past nine, which constitutes as an offense under Paragraph D of the International Charter for the Relations of Humans and Demi-Humans, 2007, and also under section thirteen of the International Confederacy of Demi-Humans.
"You are Atsuko Kagari, of 1-10-4 Jingumae, Shibuya?" Crawford said, glaring at Akko over the top of his paper.
"Yes," Akko said.
"You received an official warning from the Council for attacking a human three years ago, did you not?"
"Yes, but – "
"And yet you conjured a light-based spell on the night of the second of August?" said Crawford.
"Yes," said Akko. "But – "
"Fully aware that you were in close proximity to a human at the time?"
"Yes," said Akko angrily, "but I only used it because we were – "
The man in the golden-horned masked on Crawford's right cut across her in a low, raspy voice.
"Permit me to interrupt, Chairman."
"What is it, Councilman Belos?" asked Crawford impatiently.
"You keep saying 'light magic' without going into greater detail," Belos pointed out. "Light magic is a very broad term and from my knowledge, most are harmless to humans. What is the spell that you produced that night, Miss Kagari?"
"Er, Lumen Murowa," said Akko, struggling to recall exactly what she did back then.
"I've never heard of that spell," Belos hummed.
"It's a combination of the extermination spell with a light element," Akko xplained.
"You combined magics?" said Belos, sounding impressed. "At fifteen years old?"
"Yes, and – "
"You learned this at school?"
Yes, er, one of the teachers taught me," said Akko, deciding it was best not to mention that it was Amon who taught her the elemental combination technique.
"Impressive," said Belos, staring down at her, "combining magics at that age…very impressive indeed."
Some of the Council member were muttering again; a few nodded, but others maintained a stony expression.
"It's not a question of how impressive the magic was," said Crawford in a testy voice. "In fact, the more impressive the worse it is, I would have thought, given that the girl used it to attack a human!"
Those who had been frowning now murmured in agreement. Anger flared in Akko's chest, no longer able to stand going unheard.
"I only did it because of the Heartless!" she said loudly, before anyone could interrupt her again.
She had expected more muttering, but the silence that fell seemed to be somehow denser than before.
"Heartless?" said Karen Travers after a moment, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean, girl?"
"I mean there were two Neo Shadows down that alleyway and they went for me and my friend!"
"Ah, said Crawford again, smirking unpleasantly as he looked around the council, as though inviting them to share the joke. "Yes. Yes, I thought we'd be hearing something like this."
"Heartless in Japan?" Travers said in a tone of suspicion. "I don't understand – "
"Don't you, Karen," said Crawford, still smirking. "Let me explain. She's been thinking it through and decided Heartless would make a nice little cover story, very nice indeed. Humans can't see Heartless the way that Demi-Humans can. To them, they only appear as mere shadows. Highly convenient, highly convenient…so it's just your word and no witnesses…."
"I'm not lying!" said Akko loudly, over another outbreak of muttering from the court. "There were two of them, everything went dark and cold and Doma felt them and ran for it – "
"Enough, enough!" said Crawford with a very contemptuous look on his face. "I'm sorry to interrupt what I'm sure would have been a very well-rehearsed story – "
Andrew cleared his throat. The Magic Council fell silent again.
"We do, in fact, have a witness to the presence of Heartless in that alleyway," he said, "other than Umaru Doma, I mean."
Crawford's plump face seemed to slacken, as though someone had let the air out of it. He stared down at Andrew for a moment or two, then, with the appearance of a man pulling himself back together, said, "We haven't got time to listen to more tall tales, I'm afraid, Sir Hanbridge. I want this dealt with quickly – "
"I may be wrong," said Andrew smoothly, "but I am sure that under the Charter of Right, the accused has the right to present witnesses for his or her case? Isn't that the policy of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Councilman Travers?"
"Yes, the accused may present any evidence or testimony to defense their case," said Traver plainly, shooting a sideways glare toward Crawford. "The Chairman should have known that."
"Oh, very well, very well," snapped Crawford. "Where is this person?"
"I brought her with me," said Andrew. "She's just outside the door. Please enter, Miss Shihōin!" he called over his shoulder in a loud voice.
The courtroom door opened a moment later and Yoruichi stepped inside. She wore a black kimono underneath a white, long-sleeved haori and carried herself like a refined lady; a true contrast to when Akko met her last time.
Andrew stood up and offered Yoruichi his chair, relocating himself over Akko's shoulder.
"Full name?" said Crawford loudly.
"Yoruichi Shihōin," Yoruichi answered with an even tone, looking up at Crawford as if he were an overgrown mouse. "22nd Head of the Shihōin Clan, former Captain of the 2nd Division of the Gotai 13, Onmitsukidō Commander-in-Chief, Corrections Corps Commander, and Executive Militia Corps Commander."
"Impressive resume," Ava O'Neill complimented.
"Wait just a moment," Gran Doma rumbled. "I remember this one. Was she not charged as a criminal and a fugitive a hundred years ago?"
"A-ha!" Crawford cried as if he had just won some grand prize. "I;m sorry, Sir Andrew, but you can't expect this council to take the words of a criminal as testimony."
"If you know about Miss Shihōin," said Andrew calmly, "thern you know that she was found innocent of all charges against her when the true perpetrator of her so-called crimes was brought to justice. She is no more a criminal than I am."
"What he says is true," said a councilman wearing a golden helmet, levitating a sheet of paper. "It says here that Shihōin's charges were retracted along with a formal letter of apology."
"Grr…thank you, Councilman Nabu," Crawford growled in clear frustration
"We don't have any record of your living in the Shibuya area, Miss Shihōin," said Travers, flipping through his papers. "And the council keeps a close eye on that area due to…past events."
"I don't own my own residence," Yoruichi announced with a Cheshire grin. "I'm a traveler by nature. I don't spend more than a couple weeks in one area, so I never bothered getting my own place."
"Very well," said Crawford, glaring at Yoruichi vindictively. "What's your story?"
"As I said, I'm a traveler by nature," Yoruichi explained with an amused smirk on her lips. "I had just arrived in Shibuya on the night of the incident and was on my way to crash with a friend I know that lived in the area. As I was walking along the street, I heard a crash and a pair of screams. It sounded like girls. It was nighttime, so I assumed the worst and rushed over to help. When I had arrived, the Heartless had already cornered one of the girls – "
"And what did these Heartless look like?" asked Travers.
"Tall – taller than me – muscular build with blue veins on their skin, a pair of jagged antennae on their heads, and those eyes – this expressionless, gold eyes that can pierce into your soul. And not just that, but the feeling as well."
"Feeling?" Travers repeated curiously.
"Yes, the feeling I got when I was near them," Yoruichi continued with a deep, contemplating look. "The air was bone-chilling, even though the day had been unbearably humid. It felt as…as if all the happiness in the world had been sucked out of me…and I remember…remember things I wish to forget…."
Many of the council members looked shocked, some horrified. Akko could see the man with the goatee wrapping himself in his cloak like a security blanket.
"What did these Heartless do?" Travers asked, and Akko felt a rush of hope.
"They went for the girls," said Yoruichi, her voice sounding stronger and more confident now. "One of them had fallen. The other was a little further away. She appeared to be struggling with something, but I couldn't see what it was. There was a flash of green light and the other girl suddenly came running at the Heartless. It was Miss Kagari. She produced a ball of light and destroyed one of their heads. She shot the other one in the chest and they both died, turned to ash. After that, I escorted the pair to Miss Kagari's house and went on my way."
Travers looked down at Yoruichi in silence; Crawford was not looking at her at all, but fidgeting with his papers. Finally, he raised his eye and said, rather aggressively, "That's what you saw, is it?"
"That was what happened," said Yoruichi in a defiant tone.
"Very well," said Crawford. "You may go."
Yoruichi cast a heated glare at Crawford, glanced sideways at Andrew, then got up with a loud scoffing noise and shuffled off toward the door again. Akko heard it slam shut behind her.
"Not a very convincing witness," said Crawford loftily.
"I beg to differ," said Travers in a leveled tone. "Not only did she give a perfect description of a Neo Shadow Heartless, but she accurately described the effects of a Heartless attack. I can't imagine why she would say they were there if they weren't – "
"But Heartless wandering into a Japanese suburb and just happening to come across Kagari of all people in the middle of the night," snorted Crawford. "The odds on that must be very, very long, even the Grandmaster wouldn't have bet – "
"Oh, I don't think any of us believe the Heartless were there by coincidence," said Andrew lightly.
The woman sitting next to Gran Doma with her face in shadow moved slightly, but everyone else was quite still and silent.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" asked Crawford icily.
"It means that I think they were ordered there," said Andrew.
"I think we might have a record of it if someone had ordered a pair of Heartless to go strolling through Shibuya!" barked Crawford.
"Not if the Heartless are takin orders from someone other than the Magic Council these days," said Andrew calmly. "I believe you have already been made aware of what has happened in recent events."
"Yes, I have," said Crawford forcefully, "and I cannot fathom why you would believe in Holbrooke's bilge, Sir Hanbridge."
"I believe in Miss Kagari," said Andrew, squaring his shoulders like he was ready to challenge the chairman.
"Whatever your reason may be," Crawford spat, "the Heartless remain in place in Dol Guldur and are doing everything we ask them to."
"Then," said Andrew, quietly but clearly, "we must ask ourselves why somebody within the Council ordered a pair of Heartless into that alleyway on the second of August."
In the complete silence that greeted these words, the woman next to Gran Doma leaned forward so that Akko saw her for the first time.
The lower half of her face was concealed behind a maroon veil, but her eyes gleamed like a hungry snake ready to lodge its fangs in Akko's throat. Out of everyone on the council, she gave off the most menacing aura that made Akko squirm in her seat, trying to distance herself from the woman as much as possible.
"The Chair recognizes Light Spinner, nineth seat and Head of the Department of Magical Catastrophes," said Crawford.
The witch spoke in a low, unnervingly calm voice that made Akko's skin crawl; did the room suddenly get dimmer?
"I'm sure I must have misunderstood you, Sir Hanbridge. But it sounded as though you were suggesting that the Magic Council ordered an attack on the girl."
"If it is true that the Heartless are taking orders only from the Magic Council, and it is also true that two Heartless attacked Miss Kagari and her friend a week ago, then it follows logically that somebody at the council might have ordered the attacks," said Andrew politely. "Of course, these particular Heartless may have been outside council control – "
"There are no Heartless outside council control!" snapped Crawford, who had turned brick-red.
Andrew inclined his head in a little bow.
Then undoubtedly the Magic Council will be making a full inquiry into why two Heartless were so very far from their prison and why they attacked without authorization."
"It is not for you to decide what the Magic Council does or does not do!" snapped Crawford, now an unhealthy shade of magenta.
"Of course it isn't," said Andrew mildly. "I was merely expressing my confidence that this matter will not go uninvestigated."
He glanced at Karen Travers, who stared back at him, frowning.
"I would remind everybody that the behavior of these Heartless, if indeed they are not figments of this girl's imagination, is not the subject of this hearing!" said Crawford. "We are here to examine Atsuko Kagari's offense under the International Charter for the Relations of Humans and Demi-Human!"
"Actually, this changes a great deal if the testimony is to be believed," said Travers coolly, who boldly ignored the chairman's snarl. "The charges made against the accused is that light-based magic was used to attack a human. But if there were Heartless – creatures who can only be defeated with light magic – present at the scene, then evidence suggests that Kagari may not have attacked the human at all – "
"If there were Heartless, which I doubt – "
"You have heard from an eyewitness," Andrew interrupted. "If you still doubt her truthfulness, call her back, question her again. I am sure she will not object."
"I – that – not – "blustered Crawford, fiddling with the papers before him. "It's – I want this over with today, Sir Hanbridge!"
"But naturally, you would not care how many times you heard from a witness, if the alternative was a serious miscarriage of justice," said Andrew.
"Serious miscarriage, my bottom!" said Crawford at the top of his voice. "Have you bothered to count up the number of cock-and-bull stories this girl has come out with, Sir Hanbridge? I suppose you've forgotten her attack on a human three years ago – "
"That wasn't me, it was a ninja – er, ninja-witch!" said Akko.
"YOU SEE?" roared Crawford, gesturing flamboyantly in Akko's direction. "A ninja-witch! Of all things! I ask you – "
"The witch in question is actually my personal maid," said Andrew. "She went to Miss Kagari's home under my orders, though the attack on the human was unintended. You can ask her yourself if you wish. Marianna." He called softly.
"Yes, Master Andrew?" said Marianna, bowing politely.
It took all of Akko's will not to jump and shout by how suddenly Marianna appeared; it was like she had just popped out of thin air. She was in her maid uniform instead of her personalized ninja outfit, though.
"Marianna, would you be okay with giving a testimony for the events that transpired three years ago?" asked Andrew.
"Yes, Master Andrew," said Marianna dutifully. "If it is what you desire, I shall prostrate myself before the Magic Council and reveal the shame I have brought upon you and Kagari-dono. And as proof of my sincerity" – She suddenly pulled out a knife, pointing it to her stomach – "I shall commit seppuku as recompense for my transgressions."
"Why is that the only Japanese thing you get right?" Akko remarked with a blank stare.
"I – not – I haven't got time to listen to your maid! Anyway, that's not the only – she turned her aunt into a hippo for Nine Witches' sake!" Crawford shouted, banging his fist on the judge's bench.
"And the Magic Council very kindly decided not to press charges on that occasion, accepting, I presume, that even the best witches cannot always control their emotions," said Andrew calmly.
"And I haven't even started on what she gets up to at school – "
" – but as the council has no authority to punish Luna Nova students for their misdemeanors at school, Miss Kagari's behavior is not relevant to this inquiry," said Andrew, politely as ever, but now with a suggestion of coolness behind his words.
"Oho!" said Crawford. "Not our business what she does at school, eh? You think so?"
"The Magic Council does not have the power to expel Luna Nova students, Chairman Seam, as Headmistress Holbrooke was kind enough to remind you on the night of August the second," said Andrew. "Nor does it have the right to confiscate wands until charges have been successfully proven, again, as Headmistress Holbrooke reminded you. In your admirable haste to ensure that the law is upheld, you appear, inadvertently I am sure, to have overlooked a few laws yourself."
"Laws can be changed," said Crawford savagely.
"Of course they can," said Andrew, inclining his head. "And you certainly seem to be making many changes, Chairman. Why, in a few short weeks, it has already become the practice to hold a full criminal trial to deal with a simple matter of a disciplinary hearing."
Karen Travers and more than half the council were now craning their heads toward Crawford, many of them looking rather dissatisfied, if not outright angry. Crawford turned a slightly deeper shade of puce. The veiled woman, however, merely gazed at Akko, expressionless.
"As far as I'm aware, however," Andrew continued, "there is no law yet that say's this court's job is to punish Miss Kagari for every bit of magic she has ever performed. She has been charged with a specific offense and she had presented her defense. All she and I can do now is to await your verdict."
Andrew put her fingers together again and said no more. Crawford glared at him, evidently incensed. Akko glanced sideways at Andrew, who reassured her with a small, but confident grin; she was not entirely convinced it was the right idea to tell the Magic Council, in effect, that it was about time they made a decision. But she trusted Andrew knew what he was doing; more than she did anyway.
Akko looked at her feet. Her heart, which seemed to have swollen to an unnatural size, was thumping loudly under her ribs. She had expected the hearing to last longer than this. She was not at all sure that she had made a good impression. She had not really said very much. She should have explained more fully about the Heartless, about how she had fallen over, about how both she and Umaru had nearly been stripped of their hearts –
About that figure in the black coat….
Twice she looked up at Crawford and opened her mouth to speak, but her swollen heart was now constricting her air passages and both times she merely took a deep breath and looked back at her shoes. The second time this happened, Marianna somehow produced a cup of tea for her to drink. Akko didn't know if it was appropriate to bring beverages in court, but the council didn't seem to take notice and it certainly helped calm her nerves a bit.
Then the whispering among the council stopped. Akko wanted to look up at the judges, but found that it was really much, much easier to examine her feet.
"Those in favor of clearing the defendant of all charges?" said Travers.
Akko's head jerked upward. There were hands in the air…nine of them!
"And those in favor of conviction?" said Travers.
Crawford raised his hand; so did Grand Doma and the veiled witch, but they were the only ones.
Crawford glanced around at them all, looking as though there was something large stuck in his throat, then lowered his hand. He took two deep breaths and then said, in a voice distorted by suppressed rage, "Very well, very well…cleared of all charges."
"As it should be," said Andrew, smirking victoriously. He rose to his feet, gesturing for Akko to do the same. "If you don't mind, we shall be taking our leave."
Crawford seemed determined not to notice them leave and everyone else was busying themselves collecting their papers. The only one watching them was the veiled witch, who stared at Akko the whole way. Akko was glad to leave the chamber, appearing at the stairway with Andrew as Marianna closed the door behind them.
"Congratulations, Kagari-dono," Marianna said immediately once the door snapped shut.
"Thanks, Mari-chan," said Akko, then rounded to Andrew. "And thank you, Andrew. You really saved my butt back there."
"I told you I would always be there for you, Akko," said Andrew, dropping all formality and smiling genuinely. "And in all honesty, it's was child's play compared to the cases my mentor takes. My only regret is not shouting 'Objection' during the trial. My mentor always makes it look so fun."
For the first time since that night with the Heartless, Akko boomed out a hearty laugh.
Just Andrew being best bro. Nuff said.
Next chapter: The Badge and the Burden