Two knights clad in full-body armor, bearing the crest of Blackthorn, strode briskly down the hallway. Between them, they dragged a young boy, each gripping one of his arms tightly.
Seth's face was twisted in pain, though he refused to let out so much as a whimper. His right arm had yet to heal, and whether by carelessness or cruel intent, the knights made no effort to be gentle. Still, he clenched his jaw, refusing to show weakness- never again.
Behind them, Mira and Vince followed hurriedly. Mira's expression grew graver with each step, her worry deepening as she watched Seth being led away.
After what felt like an eternity of torment for Seth, the knights finally came to a halt before a large, imposing door. Two guards stood at attention, their faces concealed behind the visors of their helms, their presence unwavering and stern.
Seth exhaled sharply, his body aching from the rough treatment, but he remained silent, bracing himself for whatever awaited him beyond that door.
With a firm push, the guards swung the heavy doors open. Without a moment's hesitation, the knights gripping Seth's arms pulled him forward, dragging him into the room.
What lay before him could hardly be called a "room"- it was more of a grand hall. Towering walls stretched high above, lined with an array of oriental weapons and ornately framed paintings, each more intricate than the last. From the vast ceiling, a grand chandelier hung, its countless glass crystals catching the rays of sunlight that streamed through the tall windows, casting dancing glimmers across the polished floor.
A dozen or so individuals stood in quiet conversation around the hall, each one exuding the unmistakable air of nobility.
Despite the pain, the chains, and the uncertainty of his fate, Seth found himself momentarily captivated. This was, without a doubt, the grandest and most beautiful room he had ever set foot in.
'Definitely not in the outer area.' He thought
Seated at the far end of the grand hall, upon four overly ornate, throne-like chairs, were four individuals- elderly, each of them. Their age was evident in the lines etched into their faces and the silver strands that threaded through their hair.
At present, they seemed locked in a heated exchange with a younger man standing before them. His lavish, brightly colored attire adorned with intricate embroidery made it immediately clear- he was a nobleman and one unafraid of drawing attention.
The air around them crackled with tension, their voices echoing faintly through the vast chamber, though the exact words were yet to reach Seth's ears.
But Seth's thoughts didn't get the chance to linger.
Without warning, a sharp kick struck the back of his knee, sending him collapsing into a forced kneel. Pain flared up his leg, and he barely stifled a grunt.
"You will kneel in the presence of the Elders of the Branch Family," the knight who struck him said coldly, his voice devoid of emotion.
The sudden movement drew the attention of the room. Conversations hushed, and the various figures- including the elders and several onlookers Seth hadn't noticed at first- turned their gazes toward him. Most wore the same familiar expressions Seth had grown used to over time: disdain, superiority, and casual cruelty, as though he were less than dirt beneath their boots.
All except one.
The nobleman standing beside the elders was different. His gaze wasn't just cold- it burned. There was fury in his eyes, bitter contempt that went beyond mere prejudice. And beneath it all, buried but unmistakable, was a look Seth knew all too well from his life as Lin Jie.
Killing intent.
The sudden eruption of murmurs echoed like a tide breaking against stone- soft, yet relentless as nobles and spectators alike began whispering among themselves, their eyes flicking toward Seth with unease and suspicion.
But the focus was clear: not his injuries, not even the chains- his eyes.
The unnatural purple hue of his irises gleamed beneath the light, a color too strange, too rare, and unnatural.
Then-
"Silence."
A single word, yet it cut through the noise like a blade. One of the elders, his voice as weathered as his face, restored order in an instant.
And almost as if rehearsed, the only woman among the seated elders leaned forward, her expression stern and composed.
"Boy, do you know who we are?" she asked, her voice calm but piercing.
Seth met her gaze head-on. He didn't blink. He didn't flinch. The cold glint in his amethyst eyes held firm.
"Of course," he said, voice steady, calm. "You're my judge, jury… and possibly my executioner."
His words rang through the vast hall like a challenge, heavy with meaning. For a moment, silence reigned- long, tense, and suffocating as if the very air was holding its breath.
Murmurs broke out across the chamber, but they quickly died down when another elder raised a hand for silence.
"An interesting answer…" the female elder said with a faint chuckle. "Then let me ask you this- why do you think you're here?"
"I don't know," Seth replied, choosing to feign ignorance.
"Well then Seth, allow me to enlighten you- and everyone gathered here." She leaned forward, resting her clasped hands on the table before her.
"You're here because you are suspected of being responsible for the murder of eight noble children, one commoner girl, and for leaving another noble boy in a comatose state."
Gasps echoed through the hall, followed by a wave of shocked murmurs rippling through the crowd.
Silencing the murmuring crowd once more, she spoke.
"Since this occurred during the Trial of Blood and Iron, there are numerous variables and uncertainties. That's why we need you to shed more light on the situation- otherwise, your status as a suspect may evolve into something far more serious," she added darkly.
Seth couldn't help but smirk at her words. "And how exactly am I supposed to shed that light?" he asked.
"I'm so glad you asked," she replied with a hint of satisfaction. Almost on cue, two guards stepped forward and placed a metallic box before him. At its top sat a crystalline bulb.
"This is a lie-detecting artifact," she explained, gesturing to the device. "Its function is simple—if you lie, the crystal glows red."
Her expression hardened. "You are to recount everything that happened on the third day of the trial. Leave nothing out."
Seth opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off once more.
"Oh, and one more thing…" Her voice dropped to a chilling whisper. "Lie to me again, and I just might skip the judge and jury- and go straight to execution."
The words hit like a blow, and Seth could suddenly feel an invisible weight pressing down on him, heavy and suffocating.
With a slow nod, he steadied himself and began to speak, recounting the events of the final day of the Trial of Blood and Iron- starting with their encounter with the horde of dire rats.
As his story unfolded, each sentence grew more unbelievable than the last. Any rational listener might have scoffed at the sheer absurdity of his tale. And yet, no one did.
Why?
Because the lie-detecting artifact remained completely still, its crystalline bulb silent and inert as the young half-blood continued to speak the impossible truth.