'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? She then turned to Vitu with scornful eyes.

— Vitu Palnissen, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be serving tea to Zargabaath at this moment?

— Judge Palnissen is a noble dömavän, I intervened. He is interested in all matters relative to his position as defender of the law, and he is here to witness how another judgehood examination is being held.

She blinked.

'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.