Imperial City of Archades, 697 (o. V.)

I decided to undergo the judge examination.

It was both an obvious and a hard choice to make.

I took no pleasure in fully embracing the system that destroyed my homeland, and being told to murder in turn in the name of House Solidor.

But according to Mother, "the best way to avoid being a victim of an established order is to be part of it". And I had already set a firm foot in the Order of Judges anyway, by becoming a general in charge of the Greaves and Vambrace Battalions. I had reached the level of General Cinna, and we were henceforth doing our duties together. To my surprise, Lord Cinna did not express any form of contempt or jealousy at my new promotion, despite my foreign origins that he could not ignore. Instead, he patted my shoulder and said:

'Judge Drace must have a high opinion of you, Gabranth. I had hoped she would make a gesture to reward your commitment. You have become a valuable member of our division. Welcome to the generals' family. Keep up the good work!'

Additionally, I had become the equal of the Zodiac Sisters, Brünhild and Irmhild, that still served Judge Zargabaath with unfailing loyalty. But my rank was under Vitu's. My friend was absolutely delighted in his new role, accompanying his role model wherever he went. And he soon became acquainted to Lord Vayne, the now eldest son of the Emperor. The reason was simple: for some reason, Judge Zargabaath was sticking to Lord Vayne like his shadow. During the informal moments I shared with Vitu, my friend only had positive things to say about both his new responsibilities and House Solidor. His management of the division was a very lenient one, which the Zodiac Sisters quickly took advantage of, despite their appreciation and respect for their new dömavän. The Ninth seemed a very warm and solid group, and I couldn't help feeling jealous.

The Sixth Division was also a welcoming one, and similarly to Lord Cinna, its members globally were glad to witness my evolution, especially the four hundred men under my command. Well, men is not the right word; the Archadian army in general had quite a few women serving at various levels, and even Seeqs in addition to Humes. However, Seeqs were all stuck in rank-and-file positions, no matter their prowess in combat. I tried to treat everybody equally, which made my troops surprised, before they got used to it and their trust in each other increased.

As a general, I was still the quiet reserved one, but unlike Vitu in his early days in the army, I could gather my bravery and say the right words at the right time to make each soldier follow the orders.

No, I wasn't jealous of the Ninth for their genuine camaraderie spirit. I was jealous because they had a Judge Magister by their side.

Judge Zargabaath was extremely close to his men, to the extent of living with some of them on a lower floor of the Imperial Palace, the Eighth. Vitu's room was, of course, not far from his, so he could pander to his every whim. In addition to the financial bonus the Magister gave to all of them, he always held everyone in high regard, shared various moments with them and caught up on their news, encouraged new recruits personally, and regularly granted them leaves – vacation being officially a non-existent concept in Archadia.

I wasn't asking all of that from Judge Drace, but she had always been distant, since the day I entered her division. She didn't attend the "Disengage Snacks", informal gatherings with a banquet to encourage the division's members to interact and share information, although she created them herself. Moreover, she stopped coming to the generals' meetings from the moment I reached that rank.

'Isn't that troublesome for the division?' I once asked Cinna.

'It is certainly unusual, but we can manage without her; the judges will take care of directives.'

Why did that woman quit the rare opportunities to reunite with her subordinates? The general matter initially made me think that the decision was related to me. But if she disliked my presence, why did she approve my promotion? This made no sense.

When I announced my wish to my mother, her eyes were full of pride:

'You have come a long way, my son. I am sure that Basch is also reaching his goals and overcoming all the obstacles on his way. I could not be more content of the children Faram blessed my life with.'

Hearing my brother's name was one of the only moments of life where my composure turned into rage. Thankfully, only Mother was reminding me of his existence – Vitu never asked about him, despite knowing I had a twin brother. Basch… if he was dead, we would have heard of his passing, one way or another. I was certain he was alive… alive, somewhere, making fool of me, of Mother, of Landis, of all he held dear, and only cared about himself. That was not a brother to me, it was a traitor. I wished the whole world would someday call him "Basch the traitor".

Mother's health issues were evolving every day. Sometimes she could stand up, cook dinner, and knock at Thembeka's door to share jokes. But most of times, she was stuck in bed, unable to move an arm without unbearable pain, and waited for me to do housework and prepare any medicinal beverage that could help. How long could she endure these conditions? How long could she… stay alive? Should I be prepared to lose my mother? No, that possibility was not real to me. I had to find a solution somehow. Anything for the one person who supported me since the beginning…


'Are you mad, Gabranth?'

Vitu's question made me grin.

'Not yet. I just thought it was the best thing to do. I had to prove my worth as general, you know. Had I not done it and studied instead… I would have lost precious points at the combat grading, which is my weakness.'

'It is not your… nevermind. Do you realize what you've done, Gabranth? It's the judge examination! The chance of your life! The one thing you deserve more than anyone here!'

I sighed. Vitu's worry was legitimate. After all, such an important step in an Archadian military man's career was not to be taken lightly. But I had quickly realized that I already knew all that was needed for the examination: my memories of the sessions with Cirla and Margit at Waldgott were still vivid, as well as all the information I had gathered from all the books read both in Landis and Archades. There was nothing I could ignore. Perhaps that confidence would be my downfall, but the bet amused me. I still read the summaries I had made about all law topics, and used them to write my dissertation, that satisfied me at first draft. I did not hurry to finish it; instead I used the weeks I had left to advance as slowly as I could, reading regularly the previous paragraphs before writing the next ones, and demonstrating meticulous attention whilst choosing my words and arranging sentences, to make them as clear as possible. The topic I chose was: Trade reforms during economic depression in Landis province. It took me unspeakable effort to qualify Landis as an Archadian province, as well as portraying it in the negative shape that the invasion had left it; but after deep thought, the only way to secure my success was to speak about what I knew best.

As for the combat tests, I trusted the swordsmanship skills that allowed me to become general, believed in the intense physical exercises followed everyday by the whole division, and tried my best to calm down, breathe and destroy the robotoids as fast as I could – robotoids being artificial soldiers fixed in the ground, and made of various solid materials and magic barriers in accordance with the desired task.

However, that was not all. As I told Vitu, there was an additional element that was mandatory to "prove my worth" as a high-ranked member of the Sixth: fighting in real conditions. And that opportunity came just at the start of the cold season, in Scorpio month: a rebellion in the Bò province, on the Eastern side of the Empire. Bò used to be an independent principality that was conquered by Archadia in the late 6th century. However, after more than a hundred years of absorption, some groups decided to avenge their ancestors and take back their land, by murdering the governor and attempting to occupy parts of nearby provinces, in order to vanquish their new leaders until the last drop of blood. The role of our army was to push them back on three fronts: Southern Argyllshire, Northern Staffordshire, and Western Offaly. Argyllshire was the industrial province of Archadia, Staffordshire relied on tourism, and Offaly… Offaly was by far the wealthiest province, home to the capital, the Imperial Town of Archades.

Bergan's Second Division got appointed to defend Staffordshire – scaring tourists in the process –, and Rigel's Fourth Division was in charge of Argyllshire. Judge Magister Rigel was a coy but valorous woman who spared no effort for the Empire, along with her dömavän, Judge Vaiyu, who maintained the troops' energy thanks to her valuable white magic. White magi were generally scarce in the Imperial Army, as we were encouraged to take up purely offensive skills. So a strong judge specialized in healing was a welcome addition to the Fourth. I hoped to get to know them more once I became a judge.

As for Offaly… It was to be defended by Lady Drace. Since she rarely fought in person, I took the initiative to ask the judges to solve the matter on my own. It was a risky move, as the fight was delicate, the place critical, and any failure would mean the end of my career and numerous losses in the division. However, Drace let them know she agreed, and I went with my four hundred warriors to defend Archadia.

The operation was a success. I was lucky enough to have all specialties of the army in my ranks: marksmen, swordsmen and magi, in addition to mastiff tamers who knew well how to repel opponents. Devising a strategy in the field, I pointed out landmarks on the map and sent every troop to the precise place where both terrain and enemy configuration were at their advantage. All of them managed to take down their leaders, but the moment their energy peaked was when I announced to all teams the success of Bergan's and Rigel's operations. Offaly was the most important province to protect, and they had already done the biggest part of the job; so the remaining insurgents were crushed in the blink of an eye. Drace's people truly were the fastest of the army. Daggers and wily fencing were the norm, and the magi focused on the balance between speedy and effective spells, both for attack and support. Items were also periodically used by all soldiers in lieu of magic, with an eye on the inventory. As for snipers, their aim fell before anybody could realize the bullet was shot.

I was pleased with all these exceptional fighters at my side. To be honest, I was even wondering what I had done to deserve being their commander. My individual combat skills didn't particularly surpass theirs. Did Drace value intellectual feats more than physical ones? In any case, I returned victorious to Archades, having kept the enemy very far from the capital, east of Sochen area.

Surprisingly, I didn't get any comment from Judge Drace. No praise, no blame, no remark was told to the judges who had the privilege of dealing with her. But it did not attain me. I did not take that bet to obtain glory. I took that bet to achieve my goal: becoming a judge of the Empire.

With that in mind, I turned back to Vitu:

'Believe me, my friend; that operation was necessary. You know as well as I do that I would not have reached the mandatory 45% mark for getting the plate.'

As a matter of fact, the Order of Judges required a minimum of 45% in combat tests to be qualified, compared to 40% for the law double paper – the total having to not be lower than 90%.

'But…' Vitu insisted, 'You didn't have enough time to study. Failing the law test would be such a disgrace for the best jurist among all recruits!'

'Securing the 45% for me is much harder than the 40%. Besides, aren't you my best supporter when it comes to law aptitude?'

Vitu gasped, blinked, and eventually smiled.

'You are right. You'll do wonders for the double paper. And I am with you today, like you were with me two years ago. My support is a lucky charm; you cannot fail!'

I smiled in turn as the metallic footsteps entered the Council Room, bringing back peculiar memories. But that time, I was the star of the session. As Judge Drace was taking a seat in the lone chair in front of us, not needing any other Judge Magister by her side to test my knowledge, I looked into the cunning brown eyes of the best jurist of Archadia and gathered all my confidence. That time, I was ready. That time, it was my turn to become a judge.


'Trade reforms during economic depression in Landis province'.

Judge Drace read my dissertation title with the most formal tone I had ever heard. How many times did she look at it?

'General Gabranth', she added, 'that dissertation – which I will rank later with the opinion of the Akademy of Law's officials – quite clearly states that you specialized in the western regions. That's why today, I will interview you on cases from Bò and Radnor, east of the Empire.'

Vitu certainly did not see that coming – and neither did I. My friend was shaking in terror, just like he did at his own examination. I could not speak, but while standing in front of him, I tried to show an attitude that said: 'I got this. You shall not fear. This context is a detail.'

Drace, actually, seemed more troubled by her own rules than I was. Nevertheless, she cleared her throat and began:

'Everyone knows that Radnorshire and Bò are by far the most unprivileged areas in Archadia. I will not ask why. Instead, I want you to point out a recent legal text that aims at improving life conditions in these provinces.'

That question could not have been easier.

'The 686 bill', I immediately replied, 'that was introduced by Empress Sentia, applies to education for both provinces. It was approved by the Senate in month Aquarius of the same year, by a majority of 14. Since its implementation, financial and organizational effort has drastically increased, forming a generation of citizens that are more aware of Archadian values than their parents, more attached to our land, and more prone to contribute in the research and military prestige of the Empire. However, the recent events in Bò proved that the text was not exhaustive; that is why an amendment is currently in the works, supervised by Judge Magister Savitribai. Nevertheless, the initial version has the merit to make Bò and Radnorshire as of today the only provinces of Archadia with free education.'

An uneasy silence took place. Vitu's eyes blinked at least ten times. Drace's looked down, towards her table. Suddenly, she raised her chin:

'Next question.'

The judges and Akademy members that came to test me almost had no opportunity to utter a word. Judge Drace, between the blanks, the blushing and the mean looks, threw the questions one after the other. They were far more numerous than at Vitu's examination. I stayed composed and focused solely on the answers. All topics were, in a way or another, things that I had knowledge of, and that I was able to explain. At the end of the session, she had to switch to the Landis laws related to my dissertation – most of which having been surprisingly untouched by the Empire –, and witness my ease for legal case explanation. My answers came faster than Vitu's; but because Drace was adding new ones in each category, my session lasted a similar time – one hour and half. After the last element of the official examination, I turned to my friend, who was sweating as if he had run for all that time. I smiled and turned to the Judge Magister, waiting for her next move.

Drace did not react for a full minute. She asked something to the examiners, and they immediately handed her dozens of papers, which she quickly sorted as if she knew them by heart. They exchanged whispers as I decided to go back to my chair and wait for their verdict. Drace's eyes suddenly raised to mine, frowning with suspicion.

'General Gabranth', she rumbled.

I waited for the rest of her speech, but it wasn't coming.

'General Gabranth', she repeated.

'Stand up, you wretch!' Vitu prompted.

Lacking the logic, I chose to follow his idea and faced my superior with serenity.

Drace looked at me carefully again; she seemed quite affected too. I could see her breastplate lightly following her breaths, and almost hear the heartbeat inside it. Finally, she opened her mouth and sent me back to my chair. I had not completely sat down when she released an avalanche of words, forcing me to run back to face the jury:

'Why can't Provincial Law apply to case B?'

'Colorable legislation.'

'Real Estate Regulation prevails over Insolvency Code.'

'False.'

'The plaintiff in case D can appeal in case of countersue loss.'

'True.'

'Give me a self-contained code.'

'The Income Tax Act.'

'First version of the Insurance Act?'

'633.'

'Of the new Family Code?'

'672.'

'Latest modification?'

'691.'

'Base imprisonment for Criminal Code's sabotage?'

'25 years.'

'If made for a foreign power?'

'Death penalty.'

'Fine?'

'10 million gil.'

The Judge Magister sighed. The other examiners were all rolling their eyes, having visibly not expected this bonus salve of the interrogation. At that moment, Drace looked completely dull, even lost. Had I the slightest doubt about my answers, I would have certainly concluded that I was not accepted. But I perfectly knew my sources. There had been no hesitation. All I had to do was to wait for Drace's words, whatever they were. The long absence of reaction made me join Vitu again on the other side; his face was shaken with awe as he whispered to me:

'How in hell do you know all this…?'

I kept quiet, feeling a change from the jury's area.

'Your Honor… I shall go bring them. Please forgive the del…', said an Akademy member.

'No', she immediately replied. 'There is no necessity to call them.'

'But, my Lady, the situation is exceptional. We had always been told to refer to Committee Chairs in case this happens. By the word of your honorable uncle…'

Drace's uncle?

'Very well', she gnashed, lowering her eyes. 'Bring the whole Committee in all haste. Do not disappoint me.'

'Y… yes, Your Honor!'

And all the Law Akademy representatives quit the room. Judge Drace sighed once again, her head buried into her hands over the table. Neither Vitu nor I dared to move a finger.

'There is no alternative. If the Committee comes here, I must bring them as well.'

I had no idea who all these necessary people were, nor why they were so.

'Second Division is not in their barracks today', Drace added as she stood up. 'Call him from the tower.'

'Yes, my Lady!'

Not knowing if they had to hurry out before her or wait for her majestic black cape to leave first, they each took a different option, and the next minute all the judges present in the Council Room were gone – except Vitu Palnissen. Vitu didn't seem to have recovered from his astonishment.

'What will happen now?' he managed to ask.

'I wish I knew.'

The wait was two full hours. In the beginning, we conversed about banalities, exchanging the occasional funny face or laugh. Then we understood that this talk had taken place solely to lessen the tension that was slowly invading the area, until filling it completely. The atmosphere reminded me of the hangar where I had met the Zodiac Sisters. After one hour and half, Vitu said:

'This is taking too long a time for a judgehood deliberation. Let us leave and ask around.'

I insisted we waited a bit more, and he sat in anger, before standing again and walking in circles.

'Can't we just open the door? It's becoming stifling inside. Believe me, the judge armor is no fun to wear! You should not look forward to it.'

I smiled and pulled the door, before calmly going back to my place. I couldn't help feeling amused at my friend's nervousness while I was the one tested. Finally, after some last minutes during which I was about to follow Vitu's suggestion, the door swiftly opened by itself. Judge Drace must wield powerful magic; probably green one like Zargabaath. I turned my head towards her as she was waiting outside, not taking a single step inside, then I felt an oppressing power. For a moment, I could not move; my head even refused to raise. Slowly, my eyes opened wide and I realized the power was that of several persons, each of them being of unmatched strength. I turned to Vitu; his face was telling the same.

'General Gabranth', Drace rumbled. 'Please walk until the Council Room's exit.'

Judge Palnissen and I walked to the door, my friend deciding to let me leave alone with a nod. I pursued my path, passed Drace and… found myself face to face with other Judge Magisters. Many Judge Magisters. Too many Judge Magisters. I could not recognize any of them; my nerves were paralyzed. The Magisters were forming two rows, and the first person at my right discreetly told me to go forth between them. My legs obeyed, my head still stuck in clouds of fright. When I reached the end of the Magister rows – maybe eight of them on each side –, I noticed the sun was halfway in the sky, burning over our heads; then I turned back to the group.

With sunlight on the right direction, I abruptly noticed that there were not only Judge Magisters before the room. A handful of middle-aged scholars dressed in beige and gold and covered by a black cape, were standing against the door, together with the Akademy representatives that were inside earlier.

What did all this mean?

I was helpless, not knowing what to do and not saying anything.

Judge Drace's eyes were still stormy, casting a pall over the attendance.

'General Gabranth, come back to the room.'

After my brain acknowledged her words, my legs obeyed again, walking to the overwhelming presence, and approaching the first Judge Magister. But without warning, the latter fell down on their knee, as well as the one in front of them. All the judges lifted their helmets, and I noticed the one on my right was Zargabaath.

'It is the first and last time you see me kneeling before you', he coolly said.

I made another step, and the next Magisters followed the example as soon as I arrived at their level. When I reached the door, all of the Akademy Committee Chairs, reporting directly to the Dean, were bowing down, still with all the Judge Magisters facing the earth – bar Drace. My superior's look did not change, but this time, she was not afraid to dive into mine with confidence.

'General Gabranth', she explained. 'On account of the results provided by the Military and Law Akademies, both corps are united today. I, as Judge Magister, hereby declare this day as unique in the history of the Order of Judges of the Archadian Empire. For the first time since its creation, a candidate succeeded in obtaining the score of 100% on the most demanding test in Archadia. All the people present here have come unilaterally to the same conclusion. We are proud to count you among us, Judge Gabranth.'

Despite my sureness to getting a favorable outcome, I had totally not expected the grade. I opened my mouth but no words came out.

'Oh and…'

Intrigued, I blinked as she went back to her shy self, her huge armor slightly turning left and right, and her eyes looking away.

'I take this opportunity to make you my dömavän. But surely, it is because I have no choice…!'

In the silence of the peaceful area surrounded by oak trees, and amidst the surreal situation, I could only smile.


The blazing month of Sagittarius 697 was a radical change for my position in the army, my daily tasks, and my life as a whole.

From one day to the next, I went from obeying the distant orders from the judges to commanding them, and with them the Sixth as a whole. And officially, to serving the supreme division leader that was responsible for all these instructions. But in practice, Drace's absence continued for a couple of weeks.

My mother literally fainted when I had come back from the examination.

'You could have saved the scene description for later', Thembeka – that I had brought to help – said as Mother was painfully opening her eyes.

Indeed, being propelled to the second highest rank of the Archadian army after serving it only eight years, and being close to the most important female Judge Magister, who was known to have supported the religious Lady Ephedrine in opposition to the brutal Empress Sentia whose reign ended with the invasion of Landis… all this was too much information for my mother to handle. She was delighted, amazed and relieved to know I had secured such a position with great distinction from so many illustrious people.

'Despite all we have been through', she said after our neighbor was gone, 'I know you are on the right path now. This group you are in is the best you could dream of. Together, you will contribute to safety and peace in Ivalice.'

'Mother, it's not a group of kiltianists; it's still the army, you know.'

'My son, you do not need to live in Bur-Omisace to apply its teachings. I have definite proof that Lady Drace is an example among this town's gentry, now that she chose you rather than anyone else.'

'Mother. She chose me because I scored 100% at the examination and the position was vacant. She literally said she had no choice.'

'Still, still. I sense good intent in this decision. I remember how you were so angry and hesitant to join the Military Akademy of the Empire… and although I was hiding it, I felt the same. But I have believed in your lucky star all along, and been sturdily, even stubbornly, confident that such a day would arrive – that you would be in a safe place while keeping your good values.'

She managed to sit on the sofa.

'Always belittling yourself. You didn't change since Landis, did you?'

She had a nervous laugh and added in a trembling voice:

'I'm proud of you, my son.'

And we hugged for, maybe, ten minutes. That hadn't happened since the innocent days in Ubielwinie. No, she did not have to be proud of me. I was the one who had to be proud to live with such a resilient, patient, understanding extraordinary woman who had the largest heart on Ivalice. Thank you, Mother. You are the most precious treasure I'll ever have. I was about to cry when I heard her low voice again:

'Do you think of Basch, sometimes?'

My grip turned tougher in a second. She waited for thirty seconds then understood.

'I need you to promise me to look for Basch when you believe the time is right. I want you… I want you to get on with each other no matter if I'm alive.'

I pulled myself back and looked into her brown eyes, those that I inherited while Basch took up the Ronsenburg soldier's blue ones.

'Please do not speak this way. What makes you feel you're going to pass away soon?'

As struck by lightning, Linda Gabranth looked away and leant on the armrest to stand up.


I was waiting for twenty minutes in the Military Akademy's Hangar n°8, my chest stuck out as I had been advised by my fellow judges to salute Judge Drace. People came and left, transporting shields, weapons, items and ammonition, most of whom glanced at me with timid admiration and 'look! The 100% judge is here!' whispers.

That nickname was following me everywhere I went; in the Akademy, the Palace, and even the streets of Archades. It is necessary to say that Vitu was absolutely right: the judge armor is nothing like the regular one; the metal was more dense, the pieces were more numerous, the massive spaulders were covering a height from elbow to ears, and overall the feeling of carrying an crushing burden was omnipresent. An unobtrusive band was tied behind the right spaulder, made of a peculiar alloy of iron and glass, and worn by each dömavän to distinguish them from their judge peers. The band's reflection under the sun was the one beautiful thing in this entire giant iron box. Vitu's was subtly colored in green, and mine in orange. Judge Vaiyu's, that I had the pleasure to meet, was light blue. From afar, the accessory looked completely transparent.

'Judge Gabranth.'

Just like in the Council Room, the door was located behind me, and Drace's words made me shiver from head to toe. Why was she always overly formal? It seemed that she had the obsession of proving something, although her career clearly showed that she succeeded in all paths.

I calmly turned and bowed before her while joining my fists.

The Judge Magister looked left and right, back and front, but the soldiers on the other side were still silently carrying the various materials and not paying attention.

'You will follow me', she said in a lower tone.

While walking behind her, I noticed that the Judge Magister armor, which I knew was bulky, was actually infinitely huger than mine. It made them appear further from humans and closer to ogres.

'I believe you know where the Glorious Road leads.'

'To the Imperial Palace, my Lady.'

She nodded and we finished the path in silence.

'You know of the imperial lift, don't you?' she asked again as we passed the Palace entrance's guards who were bowing down until their forehead grazed the ground.

'It is the one on the right, my Lady. The left one is the service lift, that we need to use by default.'

'Very well. You are allowed to use the imperial lift from this day onwards.'

'Isn't it allowed only for Judge Magisters and the imperial family?'

She removed her helmet and entered said lift before replying:

'I give you my permission. His Excellency would not mind it used by the likes of you.'

The Emperor? I had trouble realizing that a sentence was mentioning me together with the head of state.

As the lift was rising to the capital's skies, I admired the flying cars crossing it in front of tall buildings of countless uses. As much as I hated the Empire, I had to admit Archades had its own little charm. I turned to my superior… before noticing she was utterly embarrassed. Her eyes fixed at her sabatons, Lady Drace of the Order of Judges of Archadia was blushing and moving left and right, exactly as she did during the examination. She probably regretted having removed her helmet. Not wishing to increase her trouble, I stayed silent until we arrived at a high, very high floor of the Imperial Palace.

'Welcome to the Twenty-Sixth.'

I followed her Archadian sigil-stamped cape until the middle of the main hallway.

'Oh, you are here, my Lady! I was wondering where you had disappeared', said a cheerful maid holding what smelled like a cake under a cloche.

'Why were you? Is no one able to work without me in this can of worms?'

'A… Apologies, my Lady.'

'Wait, where are you going?'

Confused, the maid stepped back, raising puppy eyes on her.

'Give that to me.'

'But, my Lady… Lord Ghis ordered it this morning.'

'No matter. He does not deserve it.'

Ghis was a Judge Magister among the most recent ones. Unlike the others, his armor was golden for some reason. Drace took the cake and opened the closest door to our left.

'There. Come.'

A small antechamber adjoined a small corridor that led to a vaster space. Drace was about to open its door wider when she stepped back:

'This is where I… uh… live. Beyond this door. It is not a particularly pleasant sight.'

I blinked several times. Was she showing me her bedroom? For which purpose? For a moment, we were two embarrassed judges in a locked dark tiny room.

'Let us sit for a while', she suggested.

Inviting me on the benches that surrounded a small table and a bed, she put the cake in front of us and cut a slice with a knife located on a nearby shelf. That antechamber was visibly more resourceful than it looked. She switched on the light – which in Archadia was produced by storm or fire magicites – and I immediately noticed it: a giant bow hung on the wall. It covered almost the entire surface, and was made of sophisticated elements based on wood, with, on each side of the handle, a curved line of green and white pearls of harmonious sizes.

'Is it the viera's bow?'

Upon hearing these words, Drace's shoulders trembled and her eyes faced the mutilated cake with pure despair.

'She is the one who introduced me to the division. To your division, Judge Drace. She disappeared the following year.'

'She was living in this place.'

Drace's voice was blank.

'Her contribution to the Empire is invaluable. I wish we could have rewarded her differently than with murder.'

'Was… was she murdered?'

She let the knife down and stood up.

'You know, Gabranth, around this town there's a place called the Brave Grave. This is where we bury the most valorous warriors of Archadia, as well as a few distinguished civilians. I shall take you there someday.'

Was that a murder threat? In the clouded darkness – despite the little light turned on –, she seemed more troubled than angry.

'She was filling this place with unmatched joy and tranquility. We all miss the viera. Everybody saw her, one way or another. She was as skilled on the battlefield as she was in the kitchen and Lord Vayne's dressing room, when that brat was an infant.'

Calmed with a timid smile, she came back to sit next to me and handed me a cake slice on a small plate.

'Another notable person was living here in past times. An… extremely notable one. But I was not Judge Magister at the time. The kind of fighter that is born once in a century.'

Suddenly, she raised her eyes, bit in her slice and added in a very serious tone, her cheeks filled with cake:

'I assume you know that everyone knows of your foreign origin.'

Unconsciously, my hand looked for a weapon. How?

'Calm down, Gabranth. I meant all the Judge Magisters know. We do not mind a foreigner among our ranks as long as he proves his skills. Isn't Judge Zecht himself a Bò native?'

Zecht? The leader of the Order? Bò, that poor land that started a rebellion?

'It is better for you to spend as much time as you can here. We are not always present, but it is still the safest place in Archadia.'

'Why should I hide?'

Drace sighed.

'You know how some of our citizens consider commoners, let alone commoners from another country, a sub-province swallowed by the Empire. Do not give me this look; I do not share their opinion.'

'Forgive me, my Lady. Since we came here, my mother and I had to be wary of everybody.'

'I know.'

Was there something about me these people did not know? Drace took another bite with heart-warming appetite. I smiled and did the same.

'It lacks sugar. I shall warn that idiot next time.'

I was wondering how she could criticize a cake that was not made for her, but I didn't feel like risking my life by voicing it out loud.

'I know everything you both have been through. I am sorry.'

She took a sip of water and pursued:

'When the viera told me about you, I immediately ordered her to keep an eye on you. So we are told in the army, but I was also…uh…'

Again with the blushing?

'… curious. And you seemed serious in your duty, so my suspicions vanished quite soon. Having you with me here is more comforting than leaving you out in the wild.'

What did she exactly mean by "having me with her here"? What would happen to me in this floor? Not exactly something that would make me spend as much time as I can here.

'But I knew you could not be promoted without solid proof of your abilities at war, especially as a stranger. So I sent you for that mission in Bò. The outcome was more than I could ever hope for.'

Praise! Praise, finally! But coming from her mouth in that dark little room, it felt strange.

'After that, I was confident that you could succeed at the examination. But I was not prepared at all for the grade. Never would I have imagined someone could surpass me, someone who is not even Archadian yet knows our laws by heart. Where did you learn that? I would not believe you if you said anything else than the Law Akademy.'

'It comes from the Imperial Akademy of Law indeed, but I never went there myself. I had friends in Landis who… were even more exceptional than I am. They attended the weekly courses and shared their knowledge with me constantly. We used to study together for years.'

She sighed in something that sounded like regret.

'My division was not sent in Landis for attacking. We were securing the areas where other troops went, and investigating on the several murders the Mighty committed behind our backs during the war.'

The Mighty? Was that a group of warriors? And also… was her speech supposed to lessen Archadia's responsibility in destroying a country with its inhabitants? Both of us could go no further in that talk – especially me, who needed to keep my hard-fought position in the Empire.

'Let us look for more joyous matters. Are you done?'

'Y… Yes, my Lady.'

I followed her outside before almost bumping into her as she stopped.

'Wait…' she said.

'Oh, Lady Drace!' said another cheerful maid, who was more curious than the other, blinking her eyes at the man who was leaving her mistress's private space.

'Who is that?'

'Mind your words. He is Lord Gabranth, and he will be regularly in the Palace from now on. Mostly here and in the Thirteenth.'

The Thirteenth? I was sure I had heard that number somewhere; probably from Nastia's mouth.

'You… Please, could you return to the antechamber? And make sure the door is locked', she suddenly added in my direction.

'Why is that?'

Her cheeks, in the clear sunlight, had turned completely red.

'Because… because… the ones your rank and lower… you are actually not allowed to walk these levels of the Palace with your armor. Please remove it.'

Was she joking?

'I… I do not have my regular clothes with me, my Lady.'

'You… you will find a few suits in the drawers. I am in no mood to hear Lord Vayne's sermon about the etiquette today. Oh, in fact… I will go make sure he is not there. Larsa is already outside. Please take your time – lock the door very tightly, you hear? – then take the imperial lift to the Thirteenth.'

'Very well, my Lady. Shall I meet you there?'

She smiled and quit her embarrassed self for good.

'Nay. The lord of that floor insisted he'd lead the visit himself.'

As I went back to the antechamber, I wondered. Who could that lord be? She just said both Lord Vayne and Lord Larsa would be absent. Visibly, it was their floor. And I knew the Emperor lived in the highest floor, the Thirtieth – moreover, I barely saw the emperor of Archadia playing guide to a newly appointed judge. I also knew it was common practice to have the ruler's wife live close to her children, but Empress Sentia had died long ago. So who was that person?


After searching for several minutes in vast darkness – the number of drawers in the antechamber being much higher than expected and the lighting mechanism nowhere to be found –, I eventually got down to the Thirteenth in a silky white shirt and black trousers.

So, who was "the lord of that floor"? Certainly he was invisible, for I had scrutinized all the way through the floor's main hallway with no one on the horizon.

I was about to return to the "imperial lift", as Drace wanted, when a silhouette appeared just before the device. Was there a way stone hidden behind the walls? After a few seconds, the myst faded and… Judge Zargabaath appeared.

'Welcome to the Thirteenth, Judge Gabranth.'

Would all the floors be formally presented to me this way?

'Is anything wrong?' he asked, his legendary serene eyes laid on me.

'N… no, my Lord.'

'Then come.'

He set a foot forward then stopped and turned to me. He looked at his own armor – as he was wearing one – and then at my clothes.

'Weren't you wearing your armor today?'

'Y… yes, my Lord, but Judge Drace told me I had to remove it in this floor.'

'I see.'

He smiled and pursued his walk in the empty bright corridor.

'The "no-armor rule" only applies to the Twentieth and upper."

Thanks Drace, I guess.

'But it is a good thing you're not wearing it – you'll be in a better condition to appreciate the last part of this visit.'

Tired of these mysteries, I followed him until we got to the other side of the hallway.

'There', he said, directing me to the open door with a nod.

I entered what looked like a bedroom.

The first – and only – striking thing was a two-meter high opening in the wall, a perfectly unprotected window almost as tall as the floor itself. Black and white abstract art paintings were hung on the walls. Several cupboards of various sizes were standing between them, as well as a few metal coat rails. The floor was carpeted with grey wool, while the walls were painted in pastel yellow. On the right side, close to the giant window, just before a path to additional rooms, was a large bed with untidy sheets and scattered pillows on it. On the other side of the door, the costume hung unmistakably showed who ruled that place.

'With all due respect, my Lord… did Lord Vayne allow you to enter his bedroom in his absence?'

The question was clumsy but I had to ask it. This made no sense.

'With all due respect, Gabranth', he replied, 'do you think there's a single matter that Lord Vayne does not allow me here?'

Dumbstruck, I let him walk through the other corners of Vayne's apartments before returning to their entrance.

'See that wall over there?'

He was showing me an old wooden cupboard. I looked at him without replying.

He made a few paces to reach it and opened its door.

'Can you push the bottom?' he asked.

Still confused, I obeyed and pushed the surface, which was still solid.

'Can it move?'

'It cannot, my Lord. But I do not wish to break it.'

'Step back.'

Zargabaath closed his eyes and, with two fingers dancing in the air, performed what looked like a green magic spell. When his fingers pointed at the surface, a small creak could be heard.

'Push again.'

Repeating the same gesture, I was about to fall: the surface turned longitudinally, showing a passageway through the wall.

'It is an emergency hideout and exit – there's a portal behind.'

Impressed, I followed him back to the hallway, and listened to him boast about how the right wall of Vayne's room is completely soundproof. Then we arrived at the other side, exactly where we were in the beginning, in front of the lifts.

'There.'

The next bedroom was very different. At first glance, it looked smaller, but I soon realized that it was because of a quantity of toys thrown on the ground. Trains, soldiers, dolls, teddy bears… nothing was apparently enough for the room's owner.

'This is Lord Larsa's room', Zargabaath explained, although it was obvious.

'How old is he now?'

'3 years, 4 months and… 28 days.'

For some reason, the days were the most delicate elements of his sentence.

'Let's see the… oh…'

He was about to enter the remaining rooms of Larsa's space before stepping back.

'I assume Drace rid the floor just when the cleaners were beginning their work. The smell over there is not exactly… the most relevant part of the young lord's personality. It matters little; this part's design is very similar to Lord Vayne's.'

I followed him back to the hallway; the only unvisited part was the center. Zargabaath stopped in front of its door and remained still for a moment. His face had changed: his stillness had turned into some terrific unrest and sorrow. Imperial sorrow. A translucent stream was dancing on his grey eyes' surface, and his fist didn't seem close to unclenching.

I decided to speak:

'Is Judge Palnissen around?'

As I had expected, Zargabaath immediately regained his usual bonhomie. He loosened both hands, closed his eyes and smiled:

'If he was, he'd certainly die of jealousy.'

He stretched his arm to the door and focused on a second green magic spell, visibly much more elaborated than the first.

'This place has been formally locked for 3 years, 4 months and 24 days.'

He was pointing at an ancient gate covered with a sort of seaweed, and that had neither handle nor lock. After a while, it began to slightly vibrate and the details on the door appeared: long, very long snakes were carved on the wood, as well as spiders, cage bars and butterflies. The patterns were coming into view as Zargabaath's magic got stronger. After thirty full seconds of what seemed an energy-draining spell, the butterflies flew left and right of the door, disappearing as soon as they reached its perimeter; the cage bars broke; the spiders rapidly climbed up; and the snakes, in harmony, danced away until they followed the other elements beyond the edges of the gate. The latter, deprived of all its decoration, was no more an old ruin eaten by vegetation; it had turned into a reinforced metallic door, blessed with a lock.

'There we go again', gasped the Judge Magister, pulling a thin black thread out of his mail collar.

I carefully observed the item, expecting a pendant of some sort at its end… but it was a key.

'Welcome to the Thirteenth', he repeated after opening the heavy gate.

I stepped a foot inside the middle chambers and stayed astounded.

The bed was much closer to the entrance than the two other rooms. Actually, that place had nothing in common with the other ones, nor with any bedroom I had previously known of. Covered with fluffy pink blankets and sheets, it was the largest bed I had ever seen: three meters tall for five meters wide, with a base raising it at sixty or seventy centimeters above the ground, which was also covered in wool. Turning again at the mesmerizing bed, I noticed curtain track rails around it, proving the huge furniture used to be a canopy bed. The room also had a window, but unlike Vayne's, it was protected by heavy magenta curtains that looked relatively new. However, it still was bare of any glass. What was this family made of? Was there a way they were bothered by neither cold nor noise?

'Lord Vayne used to spend about half of his life here, instead of his own rooms. This time, the other corners are worthy of interest. Come.'

In the little corridor, a piano stood, as well as a few violins on the wall. Did warmongers like music?

'This is where she – or they – used to bathe and relax.'

I perfectly knew I had no right to ask for the reason he was making me gradually embarrassed of visiting the Solidors' most private spaces, and it was frustrating. All around the luxurious pool, big and small towels were meticulously folded, as well as some accessories that looked like aquatic arm and headrests. On the right was a spacious dressing room.

'It was such a challenge and such a delight to design this floor, twenty eight years ago. I suppose His Excellency wanted to test my abilities aside law and battle; and looking back at it, I think it was a very good idea, because I had no architecture experience prior to that, apart from aircrafts. The most amusing part was that, at the time I began working on them, I was far from imagining the usage that would be made of these spaces.'

I took a last look around what was certainly the most intimate area of the Imperial Palace, and then turned to him, expecting him to leave and release me from this ridiculous tour.

'Come here. What you are about to see was only used by her. Lord Vayne, amidst all the time he spent here, completely ignores that such a place exists.'

I tried to guess what I had to do. He was showing me a wall. Was it some obscure mechanism like the one in Vayne's room? I joined him and waited. Once again, green magic was formed and left his hands, and this time, the spell duration was much shorter than both previous ones. When he was done, an item pulled itself from the wall, something sober like a fixed lantern.

'Come here', he repeated.

Confused, I did another pace towards him, although I was almost touching his armor.

'Put your hand here.'

That time, I decided to be cautious. What was that plan? Did he want to lock me into the wall? But before I could think further, he gripped my wrist and touched the lantern himself. The second after, we were in another place.

'What in the world…'

At the area we were teleported, another pool was present. I guessed it was still the thirteenth floor, from the wall and ceiling style. But this time, the pool was covering almost all of the room. And instead of the bathroom-like surroundings of the previous part, grass had been planted all around, and the air was warmer. How could grass grow without a decade of maintenance, in such a dark and wide space? I then noticed, hung high on the walls, actual lanterns that hosted fire magicites. I could tell that myst was flowing in this absurd room, but I wasn't sure.

'Now you know of a place the Emperor himself has no idea about', Zargabaath smiled.


'Where were you yesterday? You were nowhere to be found.'

Vitu Palnissen was eating next to me in the Akademy with his division companions, like in the good old days.

'Apologies. I was sent in the Thir…'

I stopped all of a sudden. Something told me that the privileged visit was, in addition to its mysterious purpose, a proper threat gently expressed by one of the most influential Judge Magisters of this country.

'Well', I corrected, 'I met Judge Drace. It was the first time we have a real talk. She's less scary than she seems.'

'Really?' Vitu shouted, before spreading the news to his colleagues.

After the meal, he and I took a moment to walk the empty runways before our afternoon tasks.

'I am so jealous you could talk to her!' he exclaimed.

Zargabaath was right after all. This man's envy was easily sparked.

'Well, you were close to your Magister since the beginning of your judgehood.'

'That is true!' Vitu laughed. 'But Judge Drace is much more mysterious than Lord Zargabaath.'

I refrained from revealing it was the other way around.

'Tell me, Vitu… did you ever think of becoming a Judge Magister yourself?'

I expected him to stop, think of the matter and tell me of his ambitions. However, he kept walking and smiled, as if he'd had a firm idea of the answer for a long time.

'Such is not my wish. My career will stop at this step.'

'Why is that?'

He turned to me with a bigger smile:

'As you proficient lawyer know, any form of romantic relationship or parenthood engaged by a Judge Magister is punishable by death. I find this rule very harsh.'

Although I had read that law before, its reminder took a toll in my heart.

'My first wish', he continued, 'was to work with Lord Zargabaath. My second wish is to find love. I dream of finding the right wife and starting a family. If both my wishes are fulfilled… I will die a happy man.'

I looked for something to answer but no words came to mind.

'Don't you think the same, Gabranth?'

'It would be a pleasant situation, but it is not my obsession at the moment.'

'Oh, lucky you! I dream everyday of meeting a heart-warming woman, who would give me all her attention and spend wonderful time with me. I am particularly fond of shy girls, the kind that stutters and acts clumsily. Most people find them silly, but for me it is the cutest thing on Ivalice. Do you know such a girl, Gabranth? I know you walk around town sometimes.'

'I… do not really go to town to meet people.'

'What a shame! It means I have to look for her myself… as if I was not busy enough! But I cannot give up on this wish, it is way too precious.'

Large clouds were hiding the sun, as we returned to our respective work.


During the following weeks, Drace gave me the responsibility of more and more audiences in several courthouses of Offaly, and even in other provinces – mainly Argyllshire. The rulings' easiness vastly depended on the other judges' logic, which varied a lot according to their civil or military experience.

Nevertheless, my adventures in the Palace, and the Thirteenth in particular, were only beginning. For some reason, Lord Vayne was always absent; he had apparently been following intense military exercises lately. And for another unknown reason, Judge Drace was delighted with this absence. During several afternoons of the week she was sending me to patrol the floor, and one day she announced that I had to visit Lord Larsa – alone.

'May I enter?'

Apparently, the young lord didn't hear my light knocks on his door. Was he in an inner room instead of the space next to his bed and the entrance? It would make sense, given all the toys usually thrown on there. But Drace's orders were Drace's orders. I knocked harder, and after a while, a tiny being opened the door.

'Who are you?'

I lowered my chin to observe him. His scruffy black hair covered his round face from forehead to shoulders. His turquoise eyes were blinking and his little hand didn't seem to quit the handle – which he could only reach on tiptoes. His colors, his cheeks, even his distinguished clothes… All in all, he was reminding me of Lord Phonmat – one of his deceased elder brothers. But there was a big difference: Phonmat's smile was dauntingly sarcastic, and Larsa's was utterly innocent.

'I am Judge Gabranth, my Lord. I come here on behalf of Judge Drace.'

'Oh… Drace? Come in!'

That name harbored a very joyful connotation in his little ears.

'I just finished my snack!' he proudly said.

A small square-shaped table was on the right of the room, covered with empty plates and glasses that were about to fall.

'Is Drace alright?' he asked while jumping all around, dangerously evolving between the toys.

'She is, my Lord.'

'Then why doesn't she come?'

I smiled.

'She told me that I should come instead, sometimes. She said it's important.'

'Why?'

It had been a while I wasn't used to children's "why"s.

'Because I read a lot of books. She says you should read books as well.'

'But I do read! I just finished The Rabbit Foebreaker and the Chocobo! She promised it was a funny story but it was not! I want to complain!'

I put a knee on the floor, trying to calm him down.

'Listen, my Lord. Sometimes, you need to read funny stories, and other times, you need to read serious stories. You will even need to read newspapers and things that are not stories at all, in order to find the best ideas for Archadia.'

'But that is boring!' he complained again. 'Let's play the airship instead!'

It took me a while to understand what he meant with his arms raised to the ceiling. I lifted him up and turned around, the little boy stretching above my head.

'Yay! That is great! Let us do it again!'

I didn't know at which point I had the right to thwart the Emperor's son, so I went on until Larsa himself got tired.

'You are tall! It is very entertaining!'

'Thank you, my Lord.'

I took the excited child aside, inviting him to lie on his bed, when I saw an orange stain sullying the linen.

'Oh…' he whispered, 'I wanted to eat my pancakes in bed, because I was watching the Memstone of Moogles can swim broadcast at the front.'

Memstones, according to what I knew, were a particular type of magicite that could be used to record and display real or fictional scenes – image and sound.

'I am sorry… Gabranth. I can't even give you a pancake to forgive me because I ate them all.'

'No worries, my Lord. I shall bring new sheets and arrange them for you.'

'Really? You are incredible, Gabranth!'

I smiled and was about to leave his room when I stepped back:

'Do you know where your laundry is stored?'

'For sure I do! Nastia puts it in the laundry closet of the Fifteenth. It's next to here but I cannot tell you how exactly… I still don't master counting.'

Nastia?

I set my way up, using the "imperial lift" instead of the stairs, as it was closer to Larsa's chambers. As soon as it landed, I made a couple of paces forward and heard a muffled sound nearby. I advanced a little more and found the small laundry room just to my right. I silently leaned forward, having located a pile of sheets across the half-open door… before noticing that two bodies intertwined were inside. The lower one clearly had Nastia's face, and, although I was facing his shirtless back, I immediately recognized the other one as Vitu.

My mind was completely void as I quietly left that part of the hallway. Fortunately, there was another laundry room – and even a third one at the bottom.

'Thank you, Gabranth!'

I kept quiet as I was finishing setting Larsa's bed.

'My brother always tells me that I should make my bed myself, but I am not big enough to succeed…'

I stood still after I was done. I needed to leave and breathe. But before I reached the door, Larsa exclaimed:

'You didn't meet Vayne, did you?'

I sighed.

'I did. Four months ago in the library.'

I was with Nastia. And Vitu.