Without saying a word, his mere fiery presence gradually silenced the courtroom.
The old man, with his flaming beard, chuckled lightly as he stood beside Frey.
"Look at yourselves... all of you... throwing your knives at this boy,
desperately trying to stab him."
He lifted Frey's head for all to see.
Frey, however, remained utterly vacant,
as if he wasn't even there.
His black eyes... looked completely dead.
Everyone watched in heavy silence as they witnessed his face ...
a face radiating overwhelming despair and infinite emptiness.
"Tell me .. what do you see?
A criminal?
A murderer?"
Iris slowly shook his head.
"He's nothing more than a child... A child who hasn't even fully matured yet."
The old man released Frey, shifting his attention back to everyone around him.
"I'm not denying that he committed a terrible act, a crime beyond question ..
but he's still a young man, barely at the start of his journey, not even half the age of most of you."
