A/N: And, here's another chapter for your enjoyment. Now, I won't lie. Once again, I'm not really happy with it, but that's because of how wordy it got by the end (I'm not too good at lawyer double talk, but here we are.) Hope you enjoy it.
Oh, yes, I was going to upload the first in a series of One-shots for this universe alongside this chapter, but I decided not to. It'll be coming soon alongside more chapters of Clout, The Beast and other novels, especially RWBY DnD cause I really, really want to write the next one while it's on my mind.
RWBY is owned by Roosterteeth and the late Monty Oum
RWBY the RPG
Chapter 13
Trial
"Jaune Arc, The Inquisitor."
Ruby swallowed, looking into those piercing blue eyes, remembering the first time she seen them. Five years ago. The Village of Inazumi. Her first mission.
She swallowed again as she recalled what happened yet again. She blinked and refocused on the present as he spoke again.
"So, you've come," The tall knight stated as he gazed down at her. "Finally." He then turned and started back up the stairs again, fully aware of the fact that they were following after him. "Good. It's time we ended this farce."
"What farce, sir?" Oscar asked as he followed after the knight as quickly as possible, though with difficulty. The steps were sheer and narrow and he was short and winded.
The knight paused on the stairs and turned to look down at him again as he said, "Your Trial. Here, we will do a proper one. One with rules and regulations and actual testimony."
As Oscar paused at that, frozen with fear at the memory of his last Trial, the knight started up the stairs again, muttering to himself, "It has taken far too long to get here. But, now that I have this opportunity, I will not relinquish it. By any means."
Ruby merely followed behind them in silence, lost in thought.
/ /
"In here," The knight said to Oscar, speaking for the first time since leading them into the temple complex, as he motioned into a room after opening the door to it. Oscar looked inside to find a pair of beds, unmade, with comfy, poofy mattresses, a rich red carpet complete with the Order's banner emblem over the simple stone floor, and a stain glass window in an iron lattice frame opening out into the inner courtyard of the complex.
Oscar took a step towards the entrance before stopping and turning towards the knight and asked with an uncertain smile, "Um, are we… prisoners? Sir?"
"No," the knight said flatly. "This is merely your room for the time being. There are no locks, no bars on it, but for those on the inside. There for your safety and peace of mind. You may come and go freely, and have free reign of the complex, save a few of the more restricted areas. Moreover, you may walk away from the complex itself at any time, as is your right as a free being. Understood?"
Oscar sighed with relief and nodded at that.
"But, I would caution you on leaving for right now." The knight then said, "Many of those have gathered today for the coming Trial are those who wish to do you harm, for one reason or another, and they would use it as an excuse for declaring you guilty of the Order's tenets."
Oscar looked back at Ruby as she stood further back in the hallway before asking, "And, what about you, Sir Knight?"
"I, am on your side, though it may appear differently during your Trial at first." The knight replied without hesitation. He nodded to himself as well as to Oscar as he said, "All I ask, is that you trust me to get you through it in one piece. I have your best interest in mind."
Then he turned to walk away only to stop in front of Ruby and looked at her in silence. After a moment, he said to her, "It is good that you've come, Miss Rose." She blinked and looked up at him in shock as he said her name. "Finally," he continued. "We can finished what we started, all those years ago."
Ruby said nothing to that. She didn't nod or otherwise acknowledge the man in any way. She was simply silent, standing there with her face covered by her hood.
"Do not run from this, from what happens next, Miss Rose." The knight continued before stepping around her and walking away. "I assure you, it will not go well for you if you do."He warned her as he left.
At that last warning Ruby finally stirred, jerking upright and look back towards the man with a look of mixed concern and hurt. She frowned and bit her lip as she watched him disappear around the corner before walking into the room seemingly somewhat annoyed.
Oscar followed after her, curious.
As she sat down on the bed with a heavy sigh and began rubbing at her face tiredly, Oscar took the second bed across from her. He waited a moment for her to say anything. When she didn't, he asked, "Hey, Ruby, that knight. What's he to you?"
There was a moment of silence as Ruby continued to rub at her cheek tiredly, her eyes sad, before she sighed and sat up, looking towards the ceiling, remembering so much from the past, as she said, "He was there. At the start of everything."
Her silver eyes flashed, remembering a tall, broad-shouldered figure standing against a throng of irate villagers, the Sun reflected off his armored back. "He hunted me before any of the others. Was always right there, in the same town, the same forest, the same city. No matter where I went, there he was."
She blinked as she recalled their game of cat and mouse, and said, "I, I got used to it. Him being there. It, it was nice. He, was nice."
Oscar blinked at that, surprised at the longing in her voice.
She blinked as she looked at him and explained. "I know how that would surprise you, Oscar. But, you see, he was different. Not like those fanatics you and I faced. He believed, true. But, he wasn't like most knights. He didn't belittle those he met. He didn't demand tribute or food or company. He only set out to help the same people as I did.
"And, he was good at it."
She smiled as she continued, "He never backed down, never retreated. Never lied, or ridiculed, or belittled me when we faced off. He only ever chased after me, refusing to use innocents as bait or traps, though that would've made it so much easier. All the while, demanding that I stand down, and face his justice."
She remembered thinking, hoping, that he was the Knight. That mysterious, unknown individual had appeared alongside the rest of her group of allies, only a short time after she began facing off against the Order itself for the first time, and he had always appeared at the location she was headed towards for a mission, that determined paladin of hers.
But no, no.
The Knight never appeared. Not once in all this time. She had never seen him in person. Even though, he always seemed to have information on the Order's movements. And, eventually, her knight stopped hunting her himself as others, more cruel members of the Order, took up the chase in his stead.
And, still, the Knight kept feeding her information on their movements. Somehow, always knowing where the Order was sending their Agents and Knights no matter how secretive the heraldic faction got.
She blinked at that. Her knight? She felt a blush blossom on her face then at that. Her knight? Surely not. She merely… merely…
She shook her head and said, "He's the only one of the Order that I could say that I respect in any way. He never acted superior to those he met, never forced those he helped to pay outside their means." She stopped and frowned sadly as she brushed her hair back from her face as she whispered, "Was never cruel."
Oscar nodded before cocking his head to the side as he asked, "And, do you trust him?"
Ruby thought about it for a moment, thinking on the man today and the one she had known for years in the past, then nodded and said, "Yes. Whatever else there is between the two of us, I do trust him in this. He won't betray us just to get what he wants. No matter the outcome, he'll have our backs in this. Just like he promised."
Oscar nodded again before asking, embarrassed, "And, what was his name again?"
Ruby sighed before sitting back against the other wall as she answered, "Jaune, Jaune Arc. Lord Paladin and High Inquisitor of the Order of Sacred Light."
Oscar nodded and leaned against the other wall, stroking at his chin in thought. They stayed that way for a while, both lost in thought. Finally, Oscar asked, "Hey, Ruby?" She looked at him curiously. "Can you, tell me how you two met, originally?"
Ruby sighed again before sitting back and nodded, saying with another small, sad smile, "Sure. Why not."
/ /
Thirty minutes later,
Senior Knights' Quarters…
He sat down at his desk with a heavy sigh and took off his helm, setting it to one side so he could go over his notes once more. Just one more time, to be sure, to make certain, that this time, he would win. That another innocent wouldn't lose.
He smiled as he did.
Finally, after all this time, his mission was almost done. He would accomplish what he had set out to do all those years ago. He had promised to do so, after all.
And then, he could go home. His father would be happy, he was sure. As would his sisters and mother.
How many years had it been since he last seen them?
He sighed at that before glancing at the portrait on his desk. He paused in what he was doing as he turned and looked at it for a moment before taking it in hand.
It was a wooden etching of a young woman he had made from memory. Of a girl he had met way back when on his first assignment. When he had learned that there were those in the Order who went by the spirit of the Order's tenets and not the letter. Who abused their positions and authority within the ranks and outside of it.
They were the reason why he was doing this, and would keep doing it till the world worked the way it should, for the good of the people, the innocent.
As he once more renewed that vow in his mind he absentmindedly rubbed at the etching, tracing the full lips of the girl. He had only seen her the one time, and never again. He didn't even know her name, he had never learned it. But, he still remembered her and what she said to him, all those years ago. "I think that real Heroes are simply good people doing the right thing because they can. Not for reward or recognition or even because it makes them feel good, but because it's the right thing to do."
He remembered. He wouldn't forget. After all, what he was doing? It was all for those like her, those innocents being terrorized by those who should be saving them.
He nodded to himself. Just one more thing to do before it was over.
Knock-knock!
At the sound of a knock he looked up from his desk and coughed before saying in a carrying manner, "Yes?"
"Inquisitor, sir! The others are ready to begin," a voice informed through the door.
He nodded to himself as he set the frame back down and said as he was getting up, "Very well then. Let us begin."
Then he donned his helm and gathered up his notes. He took one more look at the etching before he stalked out of his abode.
If all went well, he'd never have to go back after today.
/ /
In the Great Hall of the Temple,
Not thirty minutes later…
Ruby and Oscar looked around as they were escorted into the large, open space of the Great Hall. The room was circular in appearance lit up with a series of large stain glass, oval frame windows. A low wall was separating the raised, mural painted platform in the center from the rows of high-backed chairs circling the outskirts of the room alongside the low bench with three more chairs behind it.
A courtroom, they realized, as they looked around.
"Sah!"
They turned to find their escort standing at attention with a mailed fist to his heart as Arc stalked into the room. He gave the young squire standing there a nod before ordering him out of the chamber. The youth once more saluted him before turning stalking out as quickly as his armored frame could.
Jaune watched him go before turning to look at the two of them. He stalked towards them once more, a bundle of paperwork and scrolls under one arm. He stopped before them and looked them over, giving a nod in satisfaction at what he saw.
"Good," he said almost jovially. "You're here. You stayed. Now, we can get started."
He pointed to the center of the room, to the raised platform, as he said, "Stand over there, and say nothing unless I specify otherwise. Remember, not matter how it may seem, I am on your side."
They nodded before hopping over the wall and standing where he specified. They turned to find him looking at them with an expression of mild disapproval, even though they couldn't see his face under the helm.
Before either could say something he walked over to the seemingly solid stone wall and opened it to step inside before closing it behind him. They blinked at that looked at each other then back at the wall where he had opened the door.
It looked like a wall again.
They glanced at each other and shrugged. As embarrassing and rude as that was, it was too late to do anything about it now.
As they began to look around again, waiting for the rest of the Order members to arrive that would participate in the Trial, Oscar rubbed at his collar. He and Ruby had been wearing their hoods on since they got here, and he was getting uncomfortable now.
It was very hot.
Without thinking he made to doff the hood so he could breathe easier. As he started to take it down Ruby turned to stop him. Before she could a heavy, metal covered hand covered his own. He looked up in shock to for Jaune there holding his hand in place as he looked down at him.
The man blinked at him, his previously hidden eyes piercing into Oscar's soul. "Don't," He started soft only to pause as the doors to the Great Hall began to open with a audible creak. Then he continued in a booming voice, "TAKE OFF YOUR HOOD!"
Oscar shook at that tone while Ruby jolted in place but otherwise didn't move. Oscar winced, tears in his eyes, not at the shout but at the sheer volume of it. He looked up at Jaune as the tall man winked at him before stepping backwards as an older man's wavering voice suddenly called out to them, "Inquisitor! What is going on here?!"
"Nothing, Lord Marshall!" Jaune replied loudly as he turned and saluted the severe-looking, older man in a magnificent set of Platinum and Gold-plated plate armor and a white mink fur-lined, blood red cape who had just entered by thumping his clenched fist over his armor-plated heart. "Merely finishing the initial questionnaire, sir!"
The man glared at him with his dull, yellow eyes and said as he made his way toward the central chair of the bench, "Is that so? And, how did that go, Inquisitor?"
"The Defendants refuse to lower their hoods and show their faces, or, state their identities beyond what is on the Registry, as is their rights!" Jaune replied curtly, as if he was frustrated by that, still standing at attention.
The Marshal blinked at that before grumbling wordlessly to himself as he sat down. Then he said to the young paladin, cautioning him, "Take care, young Inquisitor, lest your convictions error to blasphemy!" He nodded to himself before elaborating with, "It's all well and good to show how a Brother has erred in his methods. It's another thing entirely when you go after the Ethos of the Order itself."
"But what if the Ethos is wrong?!" Jaune then declared.
"Inquisitor!" The marshal boomed in warning as he stood and smashed a mailed fist down on the podium in front of him. Jaune jerked back, stopping himself from arguing. The Lord Marshal looked at him for a second before sighing as he sat back down heavily, rubbing at his face as he did so.
"Jaune," he said. "I've watched you as you've grown from the naive neophyte all those years ago to the harden warrior you are now, but, I must warn you, boy. Whatever it is you are attempting, take care. If what you attempt goes against our Code, I will step in. I, and the rest of the Council. Is that clear?"
"I understand, sir. But I will do what is necessary, as my conscious demands, sir. Code be damned!" The Inquisitor returned with conviction.
"Paladin! What did I just say?" The marshal demanded as he stood once more.
"Marshal! Do you not see?!" Jaune asked then, motioning to the pair behind him. "Do you not see what is wrong with the Order? With the Code itself?
"The boy has been Hunted for but a week, yet in that time he has dealt with a False Trial and the slaughter of his entire village, and the innocents within! The woman, there, even longer!"
"I don't see how-" The Marshal started only for Jaune to interrupt him. He turned and asked Oscar with all the excitement of a dog on the hunt, "Have you had any training, sorcerer?"
"Wha-No?" Oscar answered, confused.
"An Abomination?" The Marshal gasped at the realization of what was before him.
"You see?" Jaune exclaimed on turning back to his superior. "No training, and yet instead of investigating if he was an actual threat or had a sanctioned teacher to learn from those fools of the Unbroken Seal sect simply chose to make an example of him, of his village that had no idea he was a magician at all!" He slashed his arm through the air as he barked the last part of that explanation.
"Inquisitor," the Marshal started again, in warning,only to be interrupted again as Jaune continued to point out the fallacies in the Order's practices.
"And, what's more, the only time that he's used his magic is in defense of his other another's life. Isn't that so, Os-Boy?" Jaune continued, pointing at Oscar and almost misspeaking in his excitement to lay it all out before one of his staunchest opponents.
"I-wha-yes. I wouldn't willing harm anyone. All I wanted was to live my life in peace. Maybe go on an adventure or attend a proper school when I had more money, that's all." Oscar answered. At first with the same confusion and hesitation as before before growing in confidence as Jaune didn't interrupt him this time.
"You see, Marshal?" Jaune interjected then, almost grinning through his helmet.
"I really don-" The Marshal tried to answer.
"He's not a threat! Again, he's only used his magic in self defense. Whether it was when he was being personally attacked either by goblins or those following under the fanatical Ser Swan's leadership. Hell, I have knowledge of them stopping an incursion of goblins on the way here by burning down the ancient Mistrali fortress they found them in."
He motioned to Ruby then as he continued, "I know well that the woman there couldn't have done that. Only a wizard, a sorcerer like this one here could do such a thing. Isn't that right, young man?"
This time Oscar was prepared for the sudden question thrown his way and answered with conviction, "Yes. That is so."
"You see, Marshal? It is as I said." Jaune said triumphantly, his hands on the bench before the Marshal.
"How have you come by this knowledge, Lord Inquisitor?" The marshal asked, suspicious.
"I investigated!" Jaune exclaimed, simultaneously disgusted and exasperated. "Like with all those other cases! Like the first! I sent out my own agents and double-checked all reports they sent in, alongside those of the enclave's."
"How?" The marshal asked quietly, embarrassed and astonished.
"With my own funds!" Jaune returned with a shake of his head. Then he pointed at Ruby as he said, "And, I have even more evidence of her innocence."
"The werewolf?," The marshal asked with apparent doubt, while crossing his arms. "Just how can one of those, unnatural creatures be innocent of anything?"
"Easily, Lord Marshal!" The Paladin returned instantly before handing over all the paperwork he had on his person. "I have followed her progress over the years closely, watching for any discrepancy." He clenched his fist tightly and brought it up to his face as he said bitterly, "I did so as penance for letting her go all those years ago."
Ruby flinched at that. Gasping softly.
Jaune turned to look at her then. He stared at her as he said, "And, not once has she betrayed the trust I placed in her. Everywhere she went, she left behind better. She killed monsters, saved innocents. All while being Hunted by me, and later, by others not nearly so just."
He turned back to look at the marshal as he said, "She never killed or injured any of the ones sent out after her until and unless they harmed the innocents under her care, or attacked her without cause."
He stabbed his index finger down with every word as he said, "And she has never once spread the Curse of Lycanthropy to another. In point of fact, if you read over my note you will find that she has in fact reduced the werewolf population in the neighboring territories and townships."
The marshal blinked at that and looked down at the pile of paperwork before him with a gaping expression. He reached out to take the one on top of the stack and began looking it over in disbelief. He read on in silence, totally focused on what he was reading. Finally, he looked up as Jaune interrupted him by asking, "Well, Marshal, are we in agreement on these two's innocence?"
He blinked at the young man before back down at the paperwork before him as he said, "U-uh, I-I-"
They all looked up as the door to the Great Hall opened again, revealing two more officers as they entered. One male, one female. Both middle age or older.
Much like the marshal, their armor was gilded and intricately detailed while still being functional. Both wore swords as well, unlike the marshal or the inquisitor, adjusting them as they sat down on either side of him.
After glancing at her cohorts to see if they were ready for the upcoming Trial the woman then turned and grinned at Jaune as she said, "Oh,Young Master Arc, I won't lie, I so look forwards to seeing what you're going to pull out of that fine ass of yours today. I swear, I find these Trials of yours to be of the finest of entertainments to me, boy." Then she let out a lilting chuckle, like that of silver chimes ringing.
"Ma'am," was all that Jaune answered with as he nodded at her. Her two cohorts merely shook their head at her antics even as the marshal facepalmed, whispering, "Lady Marion, please."
No one noticed Ruby's look of discontent at that statement, a look very similar to one of jealousy.
"Enough, Lady Marion. Don't tease the boy so." The other man rebuked his cohort gently before nodding to Jaune and saying a smile of his own, "Good to see you, Lord Inquisitor."
She smirked at them before frowning slightly at the stack on papers before the lord marshal. She blinked at that before turning back to Jaune with a more pained smile as she asked, "Jaune, tell me you aren't attempting that again?"
"I am, and this time, I'll succeed. After all," He same with a smile in his voice, "I've already got the Lord Marshal himself on my side this time."
They looked up at that and turned to stare silently at the man. After a moment the older knight nodded silently in agreement.
"Oh, well, I, uh, I, huh," the Lady Marion started as she realized what that meant. She blinked at that before shaking her head and focusing on the proceedings. She looked over the trio before the bench for a moment, and smiled, happy for the inquisitor. Turning to the others on the bench, she nodded and said, "Well, let's begin. Someone get Agent Puntura!"
/ /
Ruby had been still and silent for much of that day, lost in the past. She had been plagued by a tightness in her chest ever since she had learned that he was here. That the Inquisitor was here.
That feeling, that tightness, had worsened with the way he acted around her, like he was an entirely different person now than the one she had known. And, that hurt.
He had been treating her like she was an object, an asset. Not a person, not like how he had treated her over the years before he transitioned into this new role of his.
She felt that way all the way up until he began stating their innocence, her innocence. The way he looked at her before doubling down on claiming her innocence, it cracked that pain in her chest. Broke right through it to something warmer within, below.
She, almost smiled as she realized that he was the same, that he hadn't changed. That he was that same righteous person she had met all those years ago.
And, somehow, that made her happy. So, happy.
And, she didn't know why.
Then, that hag-that woman-had to make that statement, and he hadn't sad anything against it. She didn't like it. Not one bit.
Now, they were preparing for the actual Trial, for the testimonies of the traitorous agent and the members of the sect he belonged to.
Not that Ruby was worried. Not anymore.
They had already been found innocent of their charges, and that was before the Trial had even began. Just as Jaune had promised them.
She did smile then. At that, and the knowledge that he hadn't changed. Not one bit.
He was still a good man. Only now, he was also clearly a great warrior, too. One with a strong sense of justice.
And, right now, he was on the Hunt.
She could clearly see it. The excitement just under the surface, the kind that came from knowing the prey was almost caught. She related to that feeling, having lived as a hunter and ranger for much of the last few years of her life.
The fact that he had used them as a means of getting here, of closing in on his target, his prey? She was okay with that, because he had still kept his promise to save them as well. She understood it, too.
She hated to acknowledge it, but she, too, had occasionally used innocents as bait for getting her targets in range. Still, she had never let them come to harm when she did so. And, she knew that he never would either, if he had to do the same.
And he had, she realized. With them.
That made her smile some more.
And, as dozens of variously armored and attired knights, agents and paladins of various sects of the Order came into the room and began taking seats around the room to bear witness to the Trail before them, all had their faces covered in some way just like Jaune did, as Axle Puntura and the three remaining knights of his expedition came to stand smugly beside them, their faces uncovered, she continued to smile as she found her faith vindicated.
Once all were settled in, the Lord Marshal looked about the room before taking up the gavel and smacking it down as he said, "Very well then, to order! Let it be known that this Trail, Case #103, is to begin at once."
Smack!
"Without further to do, the Inquisitor has the floor. Begin!" The marshal then said.
Jaune nodded and turned to the assembled knights and Order members as he began speaking. "Brothers and Sisters of the Chapter, I come before you today for two reasons. To find those who are Innocent" - He turned and stared at her and Oscar once more. She smiled openly at that. He nodded faintly in turn. - "And, those who are Guilty." - He then turned and glared at Axle and his men before turning back to the assembled members of the Chapter.
"That, is what we will do this day."
/ /
Axle continued to smirk silently as he watched the Lord Inquisitor go through the same rigmarole as previously, citing evidence and eyewitness testimonies from multiple sources. He found it amusing, the way the man constantly strove to achieve the impossible.
He would never change the Order. At least, not his way . No, Swan's way, his way, their master's way, that would be the way that they would incite change in the venerable order.
No more, would they allow the officials and royalty of the various Kingdoms and Cities to direct them as they saw fit. No more, would they let such weaknesses as Mercy and Leniency prevent them from destroying that which was unnatural.
Abominations like the boy across from him would be killed wherever they were found, as would their families and anyone else tainted by them. The same would be true for demons like the "woman" next to him or any other bestial creatures like those Faunus creatures.
All would die.
As directed by their Chapter Master, the Black Aegis, Ca-
He blinked as he realized while he was standing there that the woman across from him, the she wolf, the Demon, was smiling. That, she had been smiling this entire time as the Inquisitor went down the list of evidence he had uncovered.
He blinked again, confused by that. Why was she smiling? What did she know? Was he wrong?
No. How could he be? The sect's Chapter Master would've said otherwise. Right?
"In short, by these testimonies, and the evidence I have provided, I conclude that the rogue sorcerer, Oscar Pines, is innocent of all charges. I move to find the defendant not guilty with a caveat of a period of supervision while he is trained to use his abilities safely and for the Good of All," The Inquisitor finished, turning towards the trio of elder knights holding court. "What say you, Lord Marshal?"
Axle and his men turned alongside all the other representatives towards the trio of senior officers, and waited for their deliberation and verdict. It wasn't long in coming.
The Lord Marshal looked between his fellow leaders as they whispered to him while going over the evidence once more, then nodded silently in agreement with what they said. He sat up straight and inhaled faintly before banging the gavel down and saying, "We, the Chapter Masters of the Central Anima Enclave, do declare Oscar Pines, Sorcerer, Innocent of all crime and agree to the concession of one year of probation, where he will be under the direct supervision of a trusted veteran while he is trained."
He banged the gavel again as he then said, "Add it to the Records!"
The scribe next to the bench, a mousy, tousled-haired woman with thick glasses and an even thicker, oversized, brown robe half hidden by all the larger, armored knights around her, stood up and nodded before jotting the verdict down. Then as she sat back down, a long, naked tail briefly flicked out from under her robes for a moment.
"Continue, Inquisitor," the Lord Marshal then ordered. The Inquisitor nodded before going on to argue for the Demon.
Axle blinked in surprise, still stunned at that verdict. How could the Marshal, or the Chapter Captains even, come to that conclusion? How?
Just what was going on here?
He narrowed his eyes at that. Something was definitely going on here, but what? He turned to his men and motioned for them to ready their weapons for anything that even resemble a threat.
He then turned back to face the proceedings as normal. Whatever happened, he'd be prepared.
Not that he had to worry about the Lord Inquisitor doing anything suspicious. The man was incapable of subterfuge or deception. He knew this, having worked with the man closely over the years.
It was almost a shame, he thought.
If not for his Chapter Master he might've been more susceptible to the man's approach to changing the Order. But, he too would fall, just like all the other dissenters and weak cowards in the ranks, holding the Order back from progress.
He grinned at that, ignoring the proceedings as he contemplated what they would do first once everything had settled out. His master was still gathering like-minded individuals under his fold at the Order's Headquarters in Central Vale for the eventually coup to come. Just as he and Swan were doing the same here in Anima.
Eventually, they would act once the Chapter Master said so. They just had to wait.
It wouldn't be long now.
He blinked and refocused on the Trial proceedings before him.
"In short, by these testimonies, and the sheer mass of evidence I have provided, I conclude that the unknown werewolf before you, this silent, red cloaked entity clad in attire and bearing weapons from the Rosewerk Munition Company, is innocent of all charges. Not only is she not an unnatural Evil, nor a murderous, blood-maddened fiend, nor some kind of fecund Demoness, I move to find the defendant not guilty of any of the crimes she has been accused of," The Inquisitor finished, somehow still not out of breath after saying all of that in a booming, carrying manner, turning towards the trio of elder knights holding court once more, asking, "What say you, Lord Marshal?"
Once more, all the representatives of the Order's sects alongside Axle and his men looked turned to the trio of senior officers, and waited for their deliberation and verdict. Surely, it wouldn't be the same, right? Surely not.
The three took a while to discuss the verdict amongst themselves. Axle found himself restless, uneasy. Surely, surely they would find the Demon guilty. Surely! She was a monster, a demon. She was a murderer, having killed Swan and so many others over the years.
She couldn't be found innocent of her crimes. It would be against the very Ethos of the Order! He swallowed, waiting for their deliberation to end.
Finally, they stopped and the Lord Marshal made to stand again, a look of discontent on his face. He huffed a breath before saying, "On the Case of… Miss Rose, here. We, the Chapter Masters of the Central Anima Enclave, do declare her to be Innocent of all crimes in relation to those she is accused of doing."
The inquisitor turned and nodded at the demon then with that verdict. She smiled openly and nodded back.
"On Miss Rose's crimes against members of the Order during their pursuit of her, We, the Chapter Masters of the Central Anima Enclave, do declare her Innocent of all crimes as a matter of self defense."
Axle jerked in place at that. Swan, the others, their murders, their deaths were to be ignored, unpunished. He gritted his teeth at that. Swan had been a legend among the younger generations of the Order and their sect in particular, and his loss was still felt.
The Lord Marshal then said, "As to the nature of her existence. The Order's Code on the situation is clear: That which is unnatural to life must be made safe to life." He sighed then as he said while looking at the Lord Inquisitor, "By any means necessary. To that end, the creature will be held under containment and tested for signs of danger. After such time as it has been determined to be safe it may be released.
He banged the gavel again as he then said, "Add it to the Records!"
Axle could tell that the Inquisitor wasn't happy with that verdict, but that he also didn't make an argument against it. He wondered how he was going to get the Demon out of this.
"Continue, Inquisitor," the Lord Marshal then ordered. The Inquisitor nodded before turning to face him and his men. Axle blinked at that, confused.
Then he realized what was going on as the Inquisitor began listing the things that they had done during their Hunt of the rogue sorcerer. He looked around as he suddenly found that he and his men were surrounded by other knights of the Order.
He and his men were under Trial now.
/ /
Jaune was in his element as he began listing the crimes and infractions made by Axle and the rest of the Unbroken Seal in their attempts to carry out their versions of the Order's Ethos. It was a long list, though not nearly as long as the one for the woman.
Still, it was long enough.
It didn't take long, though, to list it all. He could feel the collective assembly was getting tired, and made to speed things along.
After all, he had already gotten what he came here for. Even if the final verdict wasn't quite what he wanted. But, he knew how to shape it to what he wanted.
He took a breath in, a sharp inhale, and said, "In conclusion, I have determined that the members of the Unbroken Seal sect are radical and anathema to the Ethos and Code of the Order of Sacred Light. I move to immediately disband and detain the remaining members of the sect within the Enclave to await a final decision from The Council, from the Lord Commander himself, if necessary, for the dissolution of their sect and to be brought up on Trial themselves for the crimes they have orchestrated in the name of The Greater Good."
He paused and took another breath in to compose himself. Finally, after all these years, he was about to finish this. He was going to be able to cut away some of the cancer that was infesting this institution.
"To that end, I propose to go in person to our Headquarters and deliver this information myself. With the Council's approval. Along the way I shall also take responsibility of the sorcerer and the werewolf and escort them to the training center and the detainment facility, respectfully." He sighed before turning and asking of the trio before him, "What say you, Lord Marshal, Chapter Captain Marion and Lyndale?"
The trio looked between each other before turning back to face him. The Lord Marshal made to speak then.
A/N: And, that's where I'm ending this chapter. Sorry for the sudden stop, but, again, it was getting so long. I will say that the next chapter will have a more entertaining fight, and the one after that, well, you might like what I write, or you might not.
Alright, love ya
Essiter out!
And, remember, you're awesome, stay awesome!
(Oh, P.S. For those of you who are still having issues with Fanfiction not notifying you of anything like me, I found a solution beyond that which the site offers as a solution. Google says to check and see if you Contacts list is full. Mine was. Deleted about eight to ten contacts that I don't need anymore from older jobs and I got Notifications again. Hope that helps!)