For the second time in his life, Naofumi found himself being led out by armed guards as though he were nothing more than a common criminal. This time it was different, these men knew of his true actions and lineage. There was fear but there was also a small kernel of respect. Naofumi smiled a little at that, perhaps one day, those of this world would actually look upon him with different eyes. Not that he particularly cared anymore.
As he stepped out into the sunlight at the end of the darkened tunnel, he caught the departing sweet smell of the wild winds. He stopped for a moment as he looked up at the open blue sky up above him. How long had it been since he'd become shackled to the dreary world of man? A passing daydream entered his mind. A wonderful one with his Keeper riding upon his back as he taught Draak his wings.
"Excuse me, Sir Shield Hero?"
Naofumi mentally shook himself out of his daydreams as he turned back to the knight who had addressed him. If the knight reacted to the reptilian eyes meeting his own he hid his reactions well enough. Following his directions without complaint, Naofumi walked up on the stage erected in the center of the arena he'd been led to.
He looked off to the side and bit back a harsh growl at the two others of the Tentatio honorem. The red-headed whore screaming her head off, while her foolish father only shrugged off the hands of the knights guiding him.
Naofumi sighed as he turned back to face straight ahead as his fellow accused took to the opposite stage across from his, though under heavy guard.
Then it happened.
Often times he'd see flashes involving another's death, a 'gift' that hailed from his mother's clan.
He only saw a glimpse but it was enough to set his hackles off. He looked up sharply at the Queen as she and his party entered the Royal box. He had to stop this and he knew just what he had to do. Gathering his grit he mentally braced himself for what was to come next. It wouldn't be fun for anyone, least of all himself. He found himself in the uncomfortable place of trying to save the lives of the scum across from him. One thought went through his mind as he formed his strategies.
'Fuck...'
Rie Iwatani settled herself comfortably in one of the offered chairs as she observed the other occupants in the box with her. Raphtalia, her son's Keeper and an exceptionally strong-willed woman who had grown from her son's careful tending into a true warrior, she'd be an outstanding Lady Protectorate one day.
Next was little Draak. She chuckled as she saw him holding hands with the Future Queen all while calling her 'Melly.' It would seem her son would need to keep his eyes open or he'd miss out on one of the beautiful wonders; his adopted son growing up. She made a note to speak to him more about that before she and Takeshi left for their world.
She looked over at the aforementioned Future Queen. Poor little Mel. She wished she could hold her close and try to keep her innocence away from such a horrid sight, but there she stood, unafraid and gripping Draak's hand just as tightly. It would seem that both she and Draak were unaware of the winds they flew. She silently gave a blessing to them both for a long life together, hoping against hope they'd both rely on the other as they grew up to become honorable among their people.
She had just cast her gaze at the Queen and was immediately concerned with the aura around her. It was one of reluctant resignation and what seemed like a calm resolve.
Before she could peer closer, she heard Tak's mighty wingbeats as he descended upon the open-air arena. He gave off a soft growl as he sat upright. Many humans in the audience murmured excitedly among themselves as they beheld an adult titan Dragon in all his glory. Here was the 'Thunder's Roar' in the flesh and not in his truly Primal state. A phase of growth achieved only after a Dragon had found their Keeper and could freely shift between their physical forms and that of one rooted within pure energy.
In either state her mate was a true sight to behold, one showed an eternal being that had endured and thrived throughout every heavy year of conflict or peace. The other reflected his power and truly rooted itself in the pure energies of the world itself. She sat back and gripped the armrests of her seat as her eyes shifted to her eldest. It all rested upon her son and his wings now.
Hoping that what she saw was only 'near-death,' and that she hadn't just condemned the Queen and Future Queen to see a sight none should ever see.
'Please Naofumi, do what you've always done and bang your head against the wall until it crumbles to dust in front of you, and make a new path for all of us to follow.'
Takeshi stretched out his neck as he eyed two of the three platforms placed for the Tentatio honorem.
He spied a young-looking knight nearby and glanced at his eldest. Naofumi caught his father's gaze and nodded once to him. Takeshi turned toward the young human and blew a gentle puff of heated air at him. The young male jerked up as the massive Dragon's muzzle came down so close to him.
"What is your name young knight?"
The question was enough to get the poor boy's mind working.
"Ake, Lord Iwatani."
He followed up his statement with a quick bow, the Dragon Emperor snorted his approval. Not quite a lamb, more a wolf cub that had yet to grow its claws. Still though he was enough for what was coming.
"Go to the third platform, and whatever you do, do not step off from it."
The young knight nodded rapidly as his legs already began carrying him toward the stage.
"People of this world, hear my voice!"
Takeshi waited until he had the undivided attention of everyone watching in the open and in shadows. Takeshi would mention this to Naofumi later on, once their honor returned and these parasites in front of him ceased existing.
"I have invoked the right of our kind, known in common speech as an Honor Trial. The accused shall stand before me as we review their supposed crimes aloud, after which I will channel a powerful magic known to me alone. Among the Emperors' before me it is a highly revered and infallible ritual spell. Heaven's Light is its name. Those who are innocent shall be left alive, those who are guilty shall perish. To prove it as so, I shall show it now."
Takeshi faced the young Ake, who now realized just what was about to happen. Ironing his will, he straightened his back and put his trust in the Shield Hero's father.
"Have you, Knight Ake, ever done anything to potentially injure or abuse another?"
The knight simply shook his head. Takeshi nodded once, then channeled his more Primal energy through his spines as he raised both his front legs skyward. When he felt the energy build up was enough he made a gripping motion before sharply slamming them down. A moment later the most brilliant burst of bright white lightning flooded the stage where Ake was standing.
After several tense minutes, Takeshi used his wings to blow away the dust blown up from the ritual magic. There stood Ake, arm over his eyes and completely unharmed. His armor didn't have so much as a scratch anywhere on the plating, the same could not be said of the area surrounding him. Ake gawked, as he found himself on a small island in the middle of a crater with smoke still hissing up from the ground all around him.
"Does anyone have any doubts to this magic? If not, then may we please go ahead. I wish for my son to go first, if he is guilty then let me kill him now and put an end to this at once."
After having his supposed 'crimes' read out loud, Naofumi calmly closed his eyes and leaned his face back to meet the Heaven's Light head on, while he smelled the sweet scent of the wild winds.
He blinked once, then twice as he took in his surroundings. As expected, he was innocent. He quickly leapt to the other end of the crater as the court clerk recited the crimes committed by the other two, he had to move quickly before anyone could stop him or convince him otherwise.
"Let whoever you believe grant you mercy in the life after, I won't anymore."
Takeshi felt the familiar crackle of energy race down his spinal bones as he summoned up all his strength.
He recalled how he had felt when his eldest had disappeared, it had reopened old wounds and forced him to relive old memories that were better left forgotten.
Then to rub salt deeper still into his pain, was when he felt the honor of the clan taken. Honor was difficult to build but so easily lost, and he knew his children were honorable through and through, which left only one other option. Thievery.
The Heaven's Light ritual on Naofumi only confirmed his suspicions. Now as he brought down the full strength of the ritual down into the arena, he felt a small twinge of worry for the Queen from his mate. He'd help her deal with this horrible ritual, it wasn't something he particularly enjoyed. But using his mate's power through their bond he learned more of what had transpired and felt more justified than vengeful.
Before many a being dies they often see their lives before that last breath. Takeshi had learned early on that he shared this gift with his Rie, and now used it to his advantage. He had seen more than enough to know what they were and what they were not. With this last thought in mind he brought down the built up bolt of power.
Takeshi faintly heard a commotion out of the corner of one ear but completed the ritual casting.
After several tense minutes past, he repeated the earlier process of blowing away the dust and smoke with the beats of his wings.
As the dust cleared away, Naofumi retracted his wing from above the two convicted royals, much to the surprise of everyone present in the stands, but particularly in the Royal box. Naofumi summoned up his stubbornness again as he brought his left paw down in three quick pounding blows to the earth.
"What is the meaning of this Naofumi?"
His father growled at the abrupt halt of justice being rendered to those that sullied his clan name and that of his mate and children, Takeshi wasn't ready for what came next.
*"Ego imperator primogenitis gregis perfectores, ego per hanc potentiam voluntatis meae fortuna. Non ergo recte invocant nomen meum, et sententia constitutus sum visus. Et aiebat Philistheus ego exprobravi sanguis sanguinem antiquis novae, per me, et per Imperatore."
Rie was on her feet the instant Naofumi had finished that dreaded poem she never wanted to hear during her lifetime. Slowly falling back into her seat as she brought a hand to her face.
"Lady Iwatani? What's wrong?"
She slowly looked up into Raphtalia's gentle eyes and the rest of her composure crumbled.
If she were viewing this from another angle she'd think of their earlier conversation but their positions reversed.
Now though, all she could do was hug the younger woman tight as she schooled her features and wiped off her face with the back of her hand. With her resolve set, she turned to little Draak.
"You know what to do little one. Send the word upon the winds."
Draak just nodded numbly as he let go of Melty's hand and jumped off the balcony shifting into his Dragon shape as he flew up above.
"Lady Iwatani, what's happened?"
Rie turned to look at Queen Mirellia. The human woman flinched at the sharp glare being sent her way, but Rie found herself unable to care at that moment.
"My son has just challenged his father for the throne to save the lives of your bastard husband and daughter."
* Translation: I am the firstborn of the Emperor's flock, I have attained power by will of my own luck. I therefore invoke my right, and with resolve I set my sight. I challenge the old blood with the blood of the new, make me the Emperor through and through.
