Chapter Four – The Palace of the Pact of Justice
A heavy silence cloaked the palace corridors, as if its ancient stone walls harbored secrets never meant to be spoken. The shadows of the torches danced across the polished marble floors, flickering like phantoms wandering through the corridors of time, while Kaelin's sharp footsteps shattered the stillness, each step a cold stab reflecting a dark thought he dared not reveal.
At a turn in the hall stood a tall man, broad-shouldered, his dark red hair glowing in the torchlight, his polished beard lending him an unbreakable aura of authority. Upon his chest gleamed the insignia of the knights: a horse's head and a gray sword etched with stern precision.
It was Adam Liusval, the commander of the knights. His unwavering gaze cut like a blade. In a deep, dry voice, he asked:
"Have you completed your Pact, Kaelin?"
A fleeting surprise shimmered in Kaelin's eyes, but he masked it with a sardonic smile:
"I did not expect you to trust rumors, Commander."
Adam replied with a smile devoid of warmth:
"Rumors do not fly without wings, and some carry enough truth to wound deeply."
Kaelin raised an eyebrow coldly:
"If you'll excuse me, I am pressed for time."
Adam stepped closer, lowering his voice heavily:
"To the trial… correct?"
Kaelin smiled dryly:
"You seem far too well-informed."
Adam's gaze sharpened further:
"And you are luckier than you deserve. I believe… Lady Asendra shares my sentiment. Yet luck cannot shield you from a reckoning… one that stings the heart. You have harmed someone… more precious than her very soul."
Kaelin's movement faltered for a moment, eyes dropping before he regained his composure. Adam continued with a cold smile:
"Good fortune… should you remain in the ranks. And if you require me, you know where to find me."
He turned, leaving behind a void heavier than his presence.
---
The Council Hall
The ancient stone hall was silent, holding its breath as if anticipating words that could shift the balance. The knights' armor gleamed beneath the torchlight, the air thick with the scent of iron and the tension of restrained souls.
Kaelin stood at the center, his back straight, head slightly bowed. Beside him, Felyn, a young blond man, bore a deep wound across his forehead, his features taut with restrained anger.
Lady Asendra sat in dark robes, surrounded by the elite: Commander Dren Arvold, Sera Filen, and Kael Loren.
Her voice, sharp and commanding, cut through the silence:
"Kaelin. Felyn. Raise your heads."
Kaelin lifted his head slowly, tension tightening his eyes as they met Felyn's, which held arrows of unspoken reproach.
"Do you know why you were summoned?" Asendra asked.
Kaelin replied with cold detachment:
"I do not believe I have broken any rule."
Felyn exploded:
"What?!"
Asendra's voice hardened:
"Is it true that you left your comrade to die, despite having the power to save her?"
Kaelin's reply was a chilling calm:
"Yes. The Pact does not obligate us to save."
A weighty silence engulfed the hall; all eyes turned to him as he added:
"And I do not wish for anyone to save me. Those who perish… are weak, and the weak are burdens upon the team. Their death… is mercy, for them and for us."
Felyn could not contain himself. His fist tightened, and he lunged toward Kaelin, shouting:
"Apologize!"
Commander Dren intervened firmly:
"Enough! No fighting here."
Kaelin wiped the blood from his lip with a mocking smile:
"This breed of humans… repulsive."
Felyn spat back:
"Filth!"
But Beatrice restrained him.
Sera spoke firmly:
"Enough. Before your lady, respect is demanded."
Felyn bowed his head reluctantly:
"Forgive me."
Sera then turned to Kaelin:
"What you did defies the very essence of humanity."
Kaelin gave a faint, bitter smile:
"Essence? Ha… I almost laughed."
A cold inner voice whispered:
"Emotions? Long lost. Humanity? A lie carved upon the graves of the waiting."
Sera murmured:
"And perhaps those who died while helping… they alone truly lived."
She trembled as she continued:
"You did not merely kill her… but her mother as well."
A tear glistened on her cheek, dropping slowly to the hall floor, while Felyn's heavy breaths rose and Dren sighed deeply.
Sera's voice held Kaelin's gaze:
"She was… her daughter."
Kaelin's eyes widened, his breath faltering, yet he regained his composure, though his fingers trembled.
"Her daughter?… Impossible."
Sera stared into him with blazing eyes:
"How can you say this with no hint of remorse? Do you understand the meaning of loss?!"
Kaelin exploded with harsh intensity:
"Enough! What if she was her daughter?! Does that grant her special treatment?! Where is justice then?! How do you call yourselves the 'Pact of Justice' when you do not practice it?!"
Asendra's voice faltered:
"Even if she were my daughter… she would receive no privilege."
She fixed the Commander with resolve:
"The discussion ends. Felyn… you are punished. Kaelin… you remain under sanction until you apologize."
Kaelin pivoted on his heel, his steps echoing like stabbing knives through the silence as he departed.
---
In the Shadows
After the voices faded, Asendra spoke softly:
"Rejoice, elite… have you grown sensitive? Consider this a test. True justice distinguishes none, yet holds all accountable equally."
Dren muttered:
"The punishment is insufficient."
Kael Loren agreed:
"I concur. He must be disciplined severely… I do not understand why he remains among us."
Asendra smiled faintly:
"He accepts the punishment, yet to apologize… would betray his principles."
Kael Loren's voice hardened:
"If it happens again, a decision must be made… either him or me."
He excused himself and departed.
---
The End
Hours later, Kaelin stood in a dark corridor after a grueling training session, sweat pouring down him, fists striking the wall until his fingertips cracked.
He muttered to himself:
"Why… do I tremble? Such weakness."
Elsewhere, Asendra sat in the dim candlelight, cautiously studying a folded parchment in her hands. She sensed this moment approaching, every heartbeat echoing the silent storm that precedes calamity.
Her eyes traced the jagged script:
"The Equality Squad – From the Reformers. Are you ready to join the Blood Revel?"
She closed the paper slowly, leaning back in her chair, eyes glinting with sharp anticipation and suppressed fear:
"So… the real game begins."
Suddenly, the parchment emitted a faint glow, followed by an explosion that shook the room. Flames licked the heart of justice as screams rose:
"Lady Asendra… my lady…"
A mysterious man cloaked in heavy black robes appeared, turning his back to the chaos and departing in solemn silence.