Episode 2: The Mocked Turnabout

Part 1-2: Trial

Lumos pointed his sword at the prince. "…You!" (I think.)

"What?!" The boy stumbled back. "I-I didn't!"

The king glared at Lumos. "This is my son you're accusing. Unless you can prove your case…"

"I can prove, or at least accuse, Prince Komali of killing his brother!"

"Objection!" Nox crossed her arms, noticeably annoyed. "You don't have anything that can prove that the prince did this."

Lumos rubbed his chin. "…You're right. I don't have evidence against him." He placed his hand on his hip and smiled. "But you don't have evidence against the accused!"

"You're wrong! The scarf-"

"Did you even listen to me a few seconds ago? There is an inconsistency between the scarf and the scene." Lumos pointed his sword at Nox. "Don't you see?! If there is enough doubt to say that woman did it… The only other person is the Prince!"

"Guh…" Nox broke into a sweat. "Ah… Er…"

"…" The king was silent, thinking about Lumos' proposition.

"Father, you can't believe that scoundrel!" The prince balled his hand into a fist.

Lumos shook his head. (You can't escape now!)

"…I will give both sides a day to continue the inquiry. Court is dismissed." The king slammed his gavel down, finishing the first day of court.

(…I made it through… Whew! That was close-)

"Hold it!" The prince slammed his fist on the witness stand. "I will not stand for this!"

Lumos shook his head once again. "You don't need to stand for it, you just need to follow it."

"…But I don't want to follow it! I didn't kill my brother!" The prince balled his hand again.

Nox looked at the prince. "If so… How about you give us your alibi?" She smirked. "If you can come up with one that is…"

"Alright, I will!" The boy glared at Lumos.

(If looks could kill… I'd still be alive.)

Witness Testimony – The Alibi

I stood outside the door!

While the woman was stabbing my older brother!

I was the one who told father!

That… Is my alibi!

Lumos shook his head. "Alright, prepare to lose." Lumos got into a battle stance, holding his sword in front of himself. "Because you've picked a fight with a knight!"

Game of Wits – The Alibi

I stood outside the door!

While the woman was stabbing my older brother!

"Stop there! What was she stabbing him with?!" Lumos glared at the boy.

"The piece of glass!" The boy cracked his knuckles.

I was the one who told father!

"Stop there! That doesn't matter, in fact, it could just be a cover up!"

"No! No it isn't!" The boy stomped his foot on the ground.

That… Is my alibi!

"I have one thing to say to you… OBJECTION!" Lumos sliced downwards, chopping his the defense's table.

"W-What was wrong with my alibi…?" The boy began to back away.

Lumos sheathed his sword and shook his head in annoyance. "It's the same as last time. First, the weapon. It never existed. That piece of glass was never there. Second off, the scarf proves that the accused wasn't there…"

"And he never told me. A guard told me." The king glared at his son.

"The only thing that isn't able to be wrong due to no information is the fact that you stood outside the door… But we all doubt that… Because you've lied to us." Lumos closed his eyes.

"B-But I…! I swear… I didn't do this! I didn't… Do this!"

"…As I said earlier, we will give both sides a day to begin a new inquiry. Court is dismissed." The king banged his gavel down on the pedestal, while glaring at his son.

August 14th

Themis Law Academy – Classroom A

2:20 PM

Tristen opened his eyes quickly, and sat up in his seat. (*sigh* *poke* *blush* …Why can't I bloop in my head?)

"…What is a bloop?" Lumos said with concern flowing through his nonexistent mouth.

(Ah, it's a good time that I teach you the way of the bloop… Well, you see-) Tristen switched his attention and began to listen to the teacher, trying to ignore Lumos.

"There will be a mock trial being done here. We haven't chosen who will Judge, Prosecute, or Defend. Any takers?" Ms. Hams, the general law teacher, asked.

A girl sitting on the other side of the classroom raised her hand. "I would like to take the prosecutor's role."

"Ah, I expected that, Alyssa. Every year, you always win. Why not give anybody a chance?" Ms. Hams said.

"Sorry, but no. I will be the prosecuting attorney." Alyssa balled her hands up into fists.

"…Alright. Anybody who would like any of the other two roles?"

Tristen shook his head. (I feel bad for the sucker who is gonna go up against her…)

"…Yeah." Lumos smiled. Metaphorically of course. "…I really feel bad for you, Tristen."

(W-Wait. Why are you sorry…?)

"This girl needs to be taken off of her high horse. We will do that, together!"

(Hold on! Wait! No!) Lumos easily took over Tristen's body.

"Nobody…? I thought so…"

"Hold it!" Tristen crossed his arms. "I would like to be the defending attorney."

"…Mr. Lawful?" Ms. Hams broke into a sweat. "W-Weren't you the boy who defended his father in a murder trial and found the true murderer?"

"Yep!" Tristen smiled cheekily.

"Don't act as if you've already won this." Alyssa said quietly. "Because if you join… Then you lose. And I'll make sure you lose hard."

Tristen shook his head, and put a frown on. "...Somebody needs to knock you off your high horse. And I'll be the one to do it."

Alyssa glared at him, not able to come up with anything to say.

"What? Can't come up with a comeback, Miss Prosecutor? I thought so." Tristen smirked.

"…Hmph." Alyssa crossed her arms, and then grinned. "I'd like to see you try… This'll be fun for once."

(She actually looks kinda attractive, but that ain't my type of gal.)

"Need I remind you that this is my body? And that your type doesn't matter?" Tristen sighed his nonexistent sigh.

(So, she's your type?)

"…No! And besides, I barely know her." Tristen said.

(Meh, you can have your body back.) Tristen slipped back into his skin just as the teacher handed him the trial script. He took it out of Ms. Hams' hand, thanked her, and opened it, looking at the interesting details. (…Hm? Uh… This looks like it was designed for the prosecution to win.)

"Thank you." Alyssa said, catching Tristen's attention. He watched as she made an evil grin.

(Something was overcooked… And I don't like the smell of it. Looks like I'll need a bit prerequisite.) Tristen closed the small book. (…Darn it, Lumos. I hate you.)

"…" Lumos stared at him.

To Be Continued...