Ralf, for his part, merely observed in silence, showing no reaction to the presence of the apprentice.
To the right, in the last of the four elevated chairs, sat Elder Marduk, representative of the Dark Throne.
He bore the sternest gaze of all present — a silent weight that seemed to cut through the air. Seated with legs crossed, his right hand rested on the arm of the chair, supporting his face in a casual yet authoritative manner.
His attire was as imposing as his presence. He wore a perfectly tailored black ensemble, with red embroidery resembling flames or twisted roots climbing discreetly along the sleeves and waistcoat. A deep crimson tie stood out against the dark shirt, and the inner lining of his cape — also crimson — revealed itself only in subtle movements. A silver chain hung from the waistcoat pocket, catching the magical light of the hall.
His red eyes were piercing, almost unnatural, and locked directly onto Elian. It was not just a look — it was a silent dissection, as if probing every corner of his soul, seeking weaknesses, fears, and secrets. A chill ran down Elian's spine, but he held his posture, refusing to avert his gaze.
The firm voice of the herald echoed:
"I announce the entrance of Baron Hoffmann."
The noble entered with measured steps, clad in luxurious garments embroidered with gold and crimson thread. His expression carried the arrogance of one who believed the world was his.
Elian's stomach churned instantly. Beside him, Elise also displayed a brief, silent disdain, her lips pressed into a restrained line. A faint, almost imperceptible energy began to manifest around him, and his eyes, once serene, lit up in shades of gold and black — an intense, instinctive glow that betrayed the rage threatening to spill over.
It was then that Elder Marduk's sharp gaze caught the change. Not only did he notice, but he held the eye contact, and a faint, nearly imperceptible smile touched his lips — not one of mockery, but of someone recognizing something rare and worth noting.
Still, the brewing fury was quickly reined in when Elian felt Elise's hand rest firmly on his shoulder, pulling him silently back under control.
The herald's voice rose one last time:
"This hearing is now officially open."
★★★
A man appearing to be in his early thirties rose from his seat, the movement drawing every eye. He walked with steady steps to the center of the hall, the echo of his boots resonating against the polished floor.
His short, well-kept brown hair reflected the gentle light of the chandeliers. His pale blue eyes scanned each face with a cold, analytical gaze. He was dressed as a high-ranking noble, in refined garments that marked his service directly under the Prime Minister.
"This hearing was convened by Second-Hierarchy Mage Elise, former member of the Tower of Wisdom. Is that correct?" His deep, controlled voice spread across the room, reverberating against the walls like an invisible weight.
"Exactly, Mr. Interlocutor," Elise replied with composure, her posture still carrying the firmness of one ready for battle.
The man kept his solemn tone.
"Mage Elise reports that the family of her apprentice, Elian, was attacked by Baron Hoffmann after he rejected the Baron's son as an apprentice. Do you confirm this allegation, Mage Elise?"
"I do, Mr. Interlocutor," Elise said, casting a calculated glance now at the Baron, now at the interlocutor himself, without lowering her head.
The noble then turned to the accused.
"Baron Hoffmann, you are accused of ordering an attack against the family of apprentice Elian. Do you plead innocent or guilty?"
The Baron leaned slightly forward, widening his eyes in feigned astonishment, as if hearing the accusation for the first time.
"Of course not, Mr. Interlocutor. This is, in fact, the first I've heard of such a thing. How could I attack the family of an apprentice to a Second-Hierarchy mage… without expecting reprisal?" The last words came with a faint smile and a subtext only the most attentive would catch.
The Baron's words spread through the hall like venom disguised as courtesy. Standing beside Elise, Elian felt his blood pound in his ears. Every syllable from that man's mouth was an affront, an insult to his father's memory. His fists clenched instinctively, his nails nearly breaking the skin of his palms.
For a moment, his eyes shone in gold and black, energy pulsing beneath the surface as if something within demanded to be unleashed to destroy him here and now.
Elise, at his side, noticed the change — the tension in his body, the anomalous glow in his eyes. Without turning her head, she placed her right hand firmly on his shoulder, a weight pulling him back to reason. A silent gesture, but one heavy with meaning: Not now.
Elian drew in a deep breath, forcing himself to restrain the impulse. Still, his gaze fixed on the Baron like invisible blades, and for a moment, he had the sensation that the man sensed and savored the hatred he provoked.
"What brings me here today, gentlemen, is not a mere frivolous accusation," Elise's voice cut through the air with the precision of a blade. "It is the account of a planned attack, carried out with cruelty and without provocation, against people who had done nothing to deserve such a fate."
Her eyes swept the hall, pausing briefly on the four elevated seats before returning to the interlocutor.
"My apprentice's family was ambushed on their own land. His father, Arthur, was seized, taken into the forest, and…" she paused, her voice carrying a weight that made some present shift uncomfortably in their seats, "…tortured to death."
A murmur rippled through the representatives of the orders and the realm.
"I do not speak here alone," Elise continued. "Two mages of the Tower of Wisdom, Gremory and Marduk, witnessed part of the events. They could not be here today, but they can confirm the attack and the details they saw. Marduk, in particular, faced the attackers and killed two of them." Her expression hardened. "Before dying, one of them confessed to being in the service of a knight under Baron Hoffmann."
The silence in the hall grew heavier, and the Baron's name seemed to linger in the air like poison.
"And there is more." Elise stepped forward. "During the attack, another man was present: the renegade mage Kreld." Her eyes narrowed, locking onto the Baron. "I asked him if he was acting on your orders, Baron Hoffmann. He did not deny it… but neither did he confirm it." She raised her chin slightly. "However, everything at that moment indicated that he was under your command or, at the very least, acting in your interest."
Some representatives leaned in to whisper to each other; others remained still, absorbing every word. Elder Marduk, in the elevated seat, never took his eyes off Elise — as if weighing not only her evidence but the courage behind it.
The interlocutor cleared his throat, trying to regain control of the session.
"Baron Hoffmann, what do you say to the witnesses and the reports presented?"
The Baron remained motionless for a moment, as if calculating every word. A faint, cold smile formed on his lips.
"Gentlemen," he began, leaning slightly forward in what seemed an attempt at a conciliatory tone, though the venom in his eyes betrayed him, "with all due respect to Mage Elise, it is evident we are dealing with a… dramatized story."
He sighed, theatrically.
"Mercenaries? Knights of mine? A confession wrung from a dying man in the chaos of battle? Gentlemen, one need not be a strategist to understand that, in such circumstances, anything can be said to save one's own skin… or to sow discord."
His eyes swept slowly across the hall, ensuring everyone was listening.
"And as for this Kreld, a renegade mage?" He paused, as though the name itself were distasteful. "A man of his ilk could be anywhere, serving anyone… or no one. To insinuate that he acted under my orders without concrete proof is… dangerous."
He then turned, not to the interlocutor, but directly to Elise and Elian, a cold smile curling on his lips.
"After all, gentlemen, we all know how certain people"—he emphasized the words without breaking eye contact with Elian—"can be influenced by personal tragedy and end up seeing enemies where there are none."
A murmur swept the hall. The Baron's tone was not pure defense but calculated insinuation — planting seeds of doubt, making it seem as though Elise was driven by emotion and Elian was just a young man inflamed by hatred.
The interlocutor cleared his throat again, trying to contain the growing tension.
"Mage Elise, do you wish to respond to the Baron's words?"
Elise remained upright, her voice firm and measured.
"The attack on my apprentice's family is not based on hearsay, Mr. Interlocutor. It was directly witnessed by two members of the Tower of Wisdom: Gremory and Marduk." Her eyes swept the room before locking on the Baron. "Are you insinuating that two members of the Tower of Wisdom are lying?"
She did not wait for an answer.
"During the confrontation, Marduk struck down two mercenaries. One of them, before dying, declared himself in the service of a knight under you, Baron Hoffmann."
Her voice turned colder still.
"Of course, I have no proof that Kreld was under your command. However, he is not a cheap mage… and he would hardly waste his time attacking a peasant family without reason."
She paused, letting the silence grow denser.
"And I confirmed," she went on, "that he is in the Cursed Lotus Sect."
An immediate stir swept through the assembly, low voices and exchanged glances filling the space. Elise remained impassive, as though she had expected exactly that reaction.
For the briefest moment, the Baron's expression tightened when Elise confronted him. Insinuating that two members of the Tower of Wisdom are lying… he thought, feeling the weight of the accusation. His eyes instinctively sought Elder Azemir, perhaps hoping for some reaction that could save him from the moment. But the old mage remained still, his face as impassive as stone, denying him even the courtesy of a blink.