Meanwhile…
"Seems they've returned… after 25 years."
In his office, Leroy spoke with a hand resting on his chin, gaze lowered in thought, as Miyaki stood before him, having just delivered the details about Aina.
Miyaki explained that Aina was innocent, that she had no ties to the people that Skyler had secretly been working with.
By hearing this, Leroy's expression hardened with resolve. He had already made up his mind to confront Skyler himself.
As Leroy walked past, heading toward the exit, Miyaki's voice stopped him. Her tone was calm with words that carried weight.
"Leroy, what's your plan for his judgment day?"
Standing before the towering double doors, Leroy paused. Without turning back, he answered coldly, "It all depends on him, sensei."
With that, he pushed the doors open and stepped out, leaving Miyaki to release a weary sigh in the silence he left behind.
After a long walk, guarded by two soldiers, Leroy arrived at a decrepit building where the walls were cracked and rotting with age. He stepped inside, walked into the prison's basement, where rows of cells confined criminals.
Every corner of the corridor was lined with watchful guards, it was impossible to escape. The air was thick, damp, and heavy with silence.
Guided down the hall, Leroy was led to a door unlike the others, a door that did not guard an ordinary cell. Behind it was a place reserved for someone.
Pushing it open, Leroy entered a stark chamber. At its center stood a single cell. Inside, a lone Skyler sat down motionless with legs crossed on the cold ground as his eyes closed in grim meditation.
Leroy stepped closer, his gaze narrowing on Skyler. With a sharp gesture, he ordered the guards to leave. They hesitated only for a moment before obeying, the heavy door shutting behind them, leaving only the echo of silence in the chamber.
Lowering himself to the ground, Leroy sat cross-legged before the cell, the iron bars the only barrier between them.
"Hey there, Skyler."
No response. Skyler remained seated with his back turned, still as stone, as though Leroy's words had dissolved into the stagnant air.
"Still not down for any talk, huh…"
Leroy muttered, his voice carrying both irritation and weary patience.
For a moment, he let the silence weigh heavily. Then he spoke again, this time with careful intent.
"…so about this girl, Aina."
The name hung in the air like a spark.
Leroy caught it, the faintest shift, a twitch from Skyler's shoulders, subtle but undeniable.
"All those years…"
Leroy continued quietly with his tone sharpening.
"You were with her, weren't you?"
As Leroy continued speaking of Aina, Skyler suddenly rose to his feet. Slowly, he turned, his head lifting until his cold glare locked onto Leroy.
But Leroy's expression remained unshaken, his eyes fixed with unwavering seriousness.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Skyler muttered, his tone sharp and dismissive.
He stepped closer to the bars, the dim torchlight casting deep shadows across his face. Leroy, too, rose to his feet, closing the distance until they stood face-to-face, the iron cell between them.
"Stop the act, Skyler."
Leroy said firmly, his voice low but edged with steel.
"All I want is an answer."
"..."
"I have nothing for you."
Skyler finally replied with his words flat and empty.
Leroy's eyes narrowed.
"Why can't you just say it? What's stopping you? Skyler."
Leroy had expected Skyler's anger to explode, his temper to finally crack. But instead, Skyler's voice came out low, steady, cold, and chilling him more than any outburst ever could.
"If I could, I would have done it already."
Skyler said with his eyes unwavering.
The words lingered in the air, heavy with unspoken weight.
Then suddenly, a sinister presence seeped into the room. Leroy's eyes widened as he caught sight of it. An ominous, black aura slowly appeared from Skyler's right cybernetic arm. It curled outward like tendrils of smoke, twisting and writhing as if alive.
The air thickened as the torches along the walls flickered violently, their flames struggling against the encroaching darkness.
Leroy's instincts roared, forcing him a step back to make his body automatically shift into guard. Every nerve screamed that the black smoke was dangerous as his gaze locked on Skyler's arm, unblinking.
"What was that?"
Leroy's thoughts were with tension coiling through him.
But Skyler didn't move an inch. His expression remained unreadable in the shadows.
After that, Skyler turned away without a word, his movements slow and deliberate, and sat back down on the same cold spot on the ground, facing away once more.
The silence didn't last. Suddenly, the heavy door burst open as guards rushed inside, their instincts sharpened by the oppressive aura that had briefly filled the room. Weapons in hand, their eyes darted between Skyler and Leroy, prepared for the worst.
"Stand down."
Leroy commanded firmly, raising a hand.
"Everything is fine."
The soldiers hesitated, their nerves taut, but obeyed. Even so, the atmosphere still felt volatile, like a storm barely restrained, waiting to explode at any moment.
Leroy let out a quiet breath, his gaze locked on Skyler's back one last time. He knew the conversation had to end here. For now, this was the best result he could pull from himself. A fragment of truth, wrapped in shadow and unanswered questions.
As he left the cell, the heavy door clanging shut behind him, Leroy's thoughts refused to settle.
That expression. Those words. That suffocating aura.
It wasn't just about proving Skyler's innocence. There was something else beneath it all, something bitter, something far deeper. A weight in Skyler's silence that hinted at truths too dangerous to speak aloud.
And as Leroy walked the long halls back toward the castle, he couldn't shake the unease gnawing at him.
Whatever Skyler was hiding, it was bigger than either guilt or innocence.
The next morning came, the final day before Skyler's judgment.
The castle bustled quietly with unease. Everyone carried the weight of tomorrow in their way. I continued my training with Miyaki, pushing through drills to sharpen my focus, though I could feel the tension lingering in the air around us.
Elsewhere, Aina and Siana spent the afternoon together, their bond deepening. Siana spoke gently, offering comfort as Aina's worries weighed heavily.
"Have faith in him, I believe everything will be fine."
Siana told her with a reassuring smile as her words gave Aina a small measure of relief, a fragile hope to cling to as the hours slipped away. Those who believed in Skyler's innocence held that same quiet hope. That everything, somehow, would be fine when judgment finally came.
Meanwhile, late into the night, Leroy had retreated into uneasy sleep as he sat alone at his office, papers and candlelight scattered across his desk, with his hand pressed against his temple as he tried to make sense of it all.
"Should I go talk to that girl… Aina?"
He muttered to himself.
"No, it's probably useless anyway. But still, why did it feel so familiar at that moment? That sense…"
He leaned back in his chair, mind drifting, replaying the moment in Skyler's cell. The cold words. That suffocating aura. The black smoke that leaked from his arm.
Then it hit him.
"The ring… That aura felt the same as the ring's."
Leroy's eyes widened, with his pulse quickened as his thoughts raced.
"But— Ugh, if I still had that ring in my hand."
"Wait…"
A sudden flash of memory surged within him, an old connection, a detail long buried but not forgotten.
Something about the ring—something that might still tie everything together…
And for the first time, Leroy felt the threads pulling tighter, leading him closer to a truth he wasn't sure he was ready to face.
Leroy pushed back from his desk, his decision already made. There was no time left to waste.
He stood, grabbing his cloak, and strode out into the dimly lit corridors of the castle. His sudden urgency startled the few guards still posted at this hour.
"Your Majesty? Where are we—?"
One of them began, confusion evident on his face.
"No time to explain. Gather some units and follow me through the town."
Leroy ordered sharply, his voice low but urgent.
The guards exchanged uneasy glances but obeyed without hesitation. Soon, a handful of armored men stood ready, weapons at their sides, waiting for his command.
As they set out into the cold, moonlit night, their boots echoing against the stone, Leroy's mind churned with a single thought:
"I have to get this done quickly, before it's too late."
The day had finally arrived, the Judgment Day for Skyler, where truth might at last be revealed.
I woke early, the unease in my chest pulling me from sleep. For a moment, I stood by the window, staring at the pale light breaking over the horizon as something about the sky felt heavy.
"Aki, you ready? Aina is waiting for us right now."
Siana's voice came from just beyond the door.
"I'll be there in a minute."
I replied, fastening my jacket and forcing my nerves into silence.
Soon after, the three of us were guided by the guards through the town until we reached a massive building. Its towering doors were thrown open, and waves of people streamed inside, eager to witness the trial.
The air buzzed with tension, with whispers and speculation swirling like smoke.
"There are so many people around here."
Siana muttered in awe as her eyes swept over the crowd.
"It's as if the entire town has gathered here."
Suddenly, I noticed Aina with her face pale, her steps small and hesitant. The weight of the moment pressed heavily on her, every murmur of the crowd a reminder of what was at stake.
Without hesitation, Siana moved closer and gently took Aina's trembling hands in her own.
"It's going to be alright, Aina."
She whispered warmly, squeezing them as if to steady her heart.
Aina looked at her with a soft, warm smile before giving the faintest nod.
As we made our way through the corridor, the crowd's murmurs still echoing behind us, a familiar voice called out.
Turning, we saw Miyaki standing just ahead with her calm smile, a welcome light amidst the tension. But beside her stood a towering figure, broad-shouldered and solid as a wall.
My breath caught. That rugged face, the battle-worn stance. There was no mistaking him.
It's Warson.
Siana's eyes lit up as she hurried forward as she went towards Miyaki to warmly greet her.
"Oh? Hehe, it's great to see each other again, kids."
Miyaki said with her smile soft but reassuring.
"Is this the group of kids you mentioned, Miyaki?"
Warson's deep voice rumbled as his sharp eyes scanned over us. When his gaze landed on me, I noticed a flicker of recognition in his expression.
He took a step forward, crossing his arms with a small grin.
"Hey, kid! I know that face. You were there at the Cribreos fight, weren't you?"
His voice carried a hint of amusement.
"Yeah… I remember now. You're Aki, right? Miss Miyaki's already told me a little about you."
"Whoa… you're huge."
Aina suddenly blurted out, her eyes wide with awe.
Warson blinked, then let out a hearty laugh at her innocent remark.
The lighthearted exchange eased the tension for a moment, but soon after, we all began walking together toward the audience area.
The moment I stepped inside, I froze in awe. The courtroom was massive, with its high ceilings stretched endlessly, the air heavy with the weight of judgment. Rows upon rows of seats filled the hall, already crowded with people waiting to witness the trial.
My chest tightened as I took it all in.
This is going to get intense.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the prison…
"Skyler Adriel. Step out of the cell."
The iron door creaked open with a deep groan, echoing through the dim corridor.
Inside, Skyler slowly turned his head, his cold gaze meeting the light that spilled into the darkness. Without a word, he rose to his feet.
Thalios and Serphina stood waiting, their expressions unreadable as they moved to escort him. Several guards surrounded them, their armor clanking with each heavy step.
The sound of chains dragging along the stone floor filled the silence as Skyler was led out, his face calm as almost too calm, as though none of this fazed him.
The chains rattled with every step.
Serphina and Thalios walked with Skyler's side, their faces stiff with seriousness. The soldiers followed behind and could feel the weight of their silence. Even without saying a word, the presence surrounding Skyler was enough to press down on everyone's chest.
Finally, they arrived at the massive main door of the courtroom, where two armored guards stood waiting to open the doors.
Creeeeak…
With a thunderous groan, the sound rolled through the halls, and the voices of the audience fell silent immediately. All eyes suddenly turned to the entrance.
There, framed in the doorway, stood Skyler. His hand and cyber arm were bound in chains, bare and exposed without his cape, yet his posture remained calm.
Step by step, he walked forward.
The path stretched across the stone floor, guiding him toward the center of the court. On either side, people leaned over the high viewing balconies, whispering in hushed tones.
"…That's him… Skyler Adriel…"
"...hasn't he gone missing for 10 years...?"
The sound of falling water echoed faintly from the decorative streams that ran along the court's edges. They flowed downward into a deep abyss at the very center of the chamber, where shadows pooled endlessly below.
The gap was so wide and so far that an ordinary person wouldn't even dream of leaping across. Just standing near it was enough to make one's legs tremble.
That gentle splash of water, soft and calm, clashed against the crushing tension that swallowed the room. Skyler walked on, the chain dragging behind him, until he stood beneath the gaze of everyone present.
Surrounded by the audience, Skyler could feel countless eyes drilling into him… watching, judging, as if he were nothing more than a criminal on display. Every step he took was followed by whispers, by stares that weighed heavily on his back.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of her.
It was Aina—standing beside Siana, Miyaki, Warson, and I, gathered near the viewing spot where the trial could be seen clearly.
Her hands were clasped tightly together, her expression filled with worry. The moment their eyes met, a faint warmth stirred in his chest, as if her gaze alone was enough to ease his burden. For the briefest heartbeat, Skyler almost allowed himself to breathe.
But it was gone in an instant.
His eyes hardened, his expression turning cold once more as he deliberately looked away.
And like that, the fragile relief that had bloomed in Aina's heart crumbled, tightening into a painful knot within her chest.
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the hall.
From the center top of the front, where a single grand empty chair stood waiting for a person, the rhythm grew louder with each step. The clinking of armor and weapons from the guards added to it with a sharp, metallic beat that made the entire room feel heavier.
Then, the figure finally appeared.
An elderly man walked forward with his long white hair flowing neatly down his back. His presence alone was enough to make everyone straighten their posture.
A well-kept beard framed his stern face, and a pair of glasses rested lightly on his nose, giving him an air of wisdom rather than frailty. In his hands, he carried a large, ancient-looking book, as if the law itself was written upon its pages.
Without rushing, he climbed the steps and sat upon the great chair that towered above all others. Then, with a simple motion, he raised his right hand.
In an instant, silence fell across the courtroom. No one dared to whisper. No one dared to move. It was as though the very air itself bowed to his authority.
There was no doubt about it.
This man was the Judge of the Law.
His deep voice carried easily across the chamber.
"Let us begin."