Two loud knocks brought Kael out of his soothing dream. Kael rubbed his eyes and glanced around for the Rabbit. Eztli. He told himself. That’s what he had called himself when he thought I was Rhett. Then he tried to kill him. Kael sighed. Supposedly, it had been his fault for sending a command; he believed him. It was weird. The night’s events were like a blur to him now. He hardly remembered all the details except for one thing. Eztli’s emotions.

It was hard to explain, but for some reason Kael felt—through their connection—that Eztli was not lying. He had genuinely meant to help heal him. Still, he thought. It’s better t-

The door split open, bringing him out of his thoughts. Three men—tall and dressed in black robes—walked in. Each stood in front of his bed as a fourth made his way inside. Unlike the others, he was older and wore a white cloth over his left shoulder. He searched his robe taking out a parchment and read it.

“By orders of the Council,” he said, “we are to take you and your beast—willing or forcefully—for interrogation.”

Before he could make sense of what the man continued to read, he found himself being tied and dragged out the door by the three men. The fourth picked up the sleeping Eztli and followed.

Heading to the Discipline Hall.

Kael listened to Eztli’s calm breath. His stomach rose steadily and his left paw twitched when he exhaled. How can he still be sleeping after that? Kael wondered. Before, a short man had come in and yelled at the top if his lungs. He asked about Brin. Kael had answered all of the man’s questions, but that had just made the man angrier and louder. To the point that Kael had wondered if his throat would burst. It hadn’t. The man, however, had riddled Kael’s emotions.

Trembling, Kael poked and tried to wake Eztli. He wanted to speak with someone, but feared angering him. However, all of his tries had been unsuccessful. Eztli was in deep sleep. Sighing, Kael closed his eyes and focused on their connection. Darkness and a soothing calmness spread through his body—Eztli’s feelings.

Kael needed that. Then, he glanced around—studying the walls. They were metal and had faint runes etched on them—to prevent anyone from escaping. The hall was one of the newer buildings in the sect. Active for only the last sixty years or so. Its task was to keep the sect in order. Arresting disciples and elders who broke the rules. Most members of the Discipline Hall were a proud bunch. They flashed their badges when they strode around the sect as if the black robes they wore weren't enough to distinguish their status.

Kael had never been involved with them before. He had seen them around when taking walks, but he stayed off their watchful gazes. Dean had mentioned that they were too proud and sometimes too forceful. Kael rubbed his wrists—the pain still lingered from when they dragged him. He sighed again, shifting his weight on the chair. An itch bothered his right leg. Wiggling about he stretched his hand to scratch it unsuccessfully.

The metal door creaked open.

Hurriedly, he stood straight and watched the man entering. His robes were different than the previous men; they were still black but were lined with a red insignia over his right chest followed by his name. Captain Theo.

It was a name that Kael was familiar with. He was the leader of the Discipline hall and the best fighter in the sect; the only one at the Eighth Fracture. Stories of his heroic battles spread through the sect like rain. One in particular mentioned that he could hold his ground against a First Mender. Kael always thought the story exaggerated, but as he looked at the man he started to believe it.

The man was built like a mountain. Even in the dim light, Kael could notice the man’s muscles. They brimmed with strength and radiated white—ever so slightly. His heavy beard and long unkept hair made him appear threatening and wild. As if he would attack you at any moment. Kael couldn’t see the man losing a fight.

He sat in front of Kael, across the placed a stack of paper on the metal table. "Kael is it? Would you tell me what happened exactly?" he asked.

"Captain Theo, I have already told the previous man everything."

"I would like to hear it myself." He said, frowning. “Rick tends to…exaggerate.”

"Alright." Kael said, sighing. "That night I walked from the library..."

Kael recited the whole story the same way he had previously.

"So, you are positive that Brin's eyes glowed red then turned black. Then he caused the wounds himself?"

"Yes, that is what happened."

Theo's demeanor changed, his eyes narrowed, killing intent poured out surrounding Kael and jolting the sleeping Eztli awake. "Boy, don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying." Kael said, raising his voice. "Brin went crazy that time."

What’s going on? Eztli asked, why did this bastard wake me up?

Not now Eztli. Kael sent telepathically.

"I have the medical report here." He said, raising his killing intent. "And nowhere here does it say that the wounds were self-inflicted. In fact, it states that Brin had his left cheek sunk in by someone..."

"I-I did punch him...but it was solely to save myself and my beast."

"What about peeling his skin off? Was that also to save yourself?"

"W-what? N-no." Kael said, voice quivering. "He caused those wounds himself. I saw him clawing at his own arms."

"That is not what I have reported here." Theo said, standing and placing both hands on the metal table causing it to bend. "Tell me the truth, boy."

Kael felt intense pressure. He knew the truth, but as Theo stared at him, Kael had the urge to just agree with the reports. No, that’s not the truth. Kael thought. But why is he trying to blame the skin injuries on me?

Boy, don't worry about it. Eztli’s voice rang in his head. His emotions are chaotic. It seems that he really cares about what happened. To the point that he doesn’t accept the truth and is trying to bend your will. Just stare back at him and insist on the truth.

Kael did as he was told and looked at Theo in the eyes, inside he was terrified, but he still managed a confident gaze. "I am telling the truth!"

Theo's eyes widened for a short second then returned to their hostile state. "You are telling me the report is wrong. That Elder Nori is lying on her report?"

Fuck. Eztli sent to him. Boy, this is a plot against you. That report is false.

What do I do then? Kael asked. They won't believe me...they'll take her word for the truth.

Eztli laughed. Boy, just stick to the truth. It's the best thing you can do. Soon it will come out. The man already believed you. His emotions were just replaced by sheer anger. I’m assuming he is looking for a way to justify the report. That's why he insists on intimidating you.

"Yes, it's wrong.” Kael said firmly. “I saw Brin. How he went wild. I don't know why the reports say otherwise, but the only wounds I inflicted on him were the punches to his face."

Theo went quiet for a moment then turned. "I believe you, boy. I will get to the bottom of this." He said and walked out the room. Before he closed the door, a faint whisper escaped his lips. “Thanks.”

See boy, what did I tell you. Eztli said.

"Thanks..." Kael whispered.

##

Theo frowned. His heart refused to believe it, but his instincts told him the boy was telling the truth. If the boy was lying he would have told the truth under my aura. He told himself as he looked at the report in his hand. Is it really forged? Would Nori really risk lying about something so important? Why would she do it?

The red eyes. Bloodverne disease.

Theo tightened his fist and hit the metal wall—shattering it. He had lost his sister to that disease. Now, his nephew was possibly afflicted with it. But why would they try to hide it? Wouldn't it be better to admit it?

No. He thought. Sal loves Brin. He wants him to succeed. He wants him to become the next sect leader. Yet he knew there was more to it. Sal was just as traumatized by the disease as he was. Even now he chose to refuse that Brin was infected. However, he knew it was true. Kael wasn’t lying. Then, there were Robin’s recounting of the events. He opened up the second report and read.

Dean had, supposedly, brought both kids in hurt. Nori had immediately taken Brin into a private healing room. Sal arrived later, slapped a disciple and talked to Dean. Dean had apparently told him that Brin was sick. Then, Nori called Sal and he later came out angry and attacked Dean.

He could see something wrong. He knew that if he was in Sal’s position he would have tried to keep it hidden. After all, he has the cure. Theo thought. The one meant for sis. What better way to do that than to cause a fight. Only a possibility though. It still doesn’t explain why Nori would choose to hide it.

Theo sighed and shook his head. He would just have to get to the bottom of it. For now, he needed to bring in the new information to the Council.

Quickly, he made his way to the entrance. The doors were made of white marble—runes and intricate patterns carved into it. The outside was adorned with two large phoenix statues standing watch. A scripture under each one. Justice. Fairness.

He pushed the door open and entered.

Three elders sat in a triangle formation as they discussed the events. Their faces covered with a purple scarf hiding their faces, but it was just for appearance. Everyone knew the identities of the three elders. Loki, Tint and Junn.

They held the highest position in the sect; they were even on par with the Sect leader. Every major decision was made by them. However, the three elders had given up so much for their pursuit of justice and fairness. They never took a decision for power or for their own benefit. The Oath prevented that.

The Oath. Theo glanced at Junn’s hand—the one she always had exposed. Starting from the middle finger, a set of patterns and symbols spread. They expanded covering the back of the hand and going under the purple sleeve of her robe. Theo knew it followed and covered their entire bodies. It was a formation. One set to kill the holder if he lied or took a decision without fairness and justice.

Theo didn’t know exactly how they worked, but he knew they were left behind by the sect founder. He also knew the extreme pain the process of engraving them caused. Unconsciously, he rubbed the back of his middle finger, tracing the patterns. It was his first set of runes; the rest would be done yearly, taking over a decade, until his body was covered. It could only be done safely that way. If one tried to rush the process, the pain itself would drive one mad or to their graves.

Theo stepped forward, listening to their conversation.

"So, is that what we will do?" Junn said.

"Yes, it seems that it’s the best outcome in this situation." Tint responded.

Loki was the first to notice Theo, he smiled and called him up. “What is it, Initiate Theo?”

Theo smiled at the title. Initiate. He considers me one of them. He thought. “Elders,” he said as he kneeled. “I wish for you to delay your judgement.”

“Theo,” Tint said. “We have read the reports and the accounts of the witnesses. And we see no fault in them. The judgement has been made. The boy went too far and even lied to the interrogator. He will be expelled and Dean shall be punished.”

Theo winced. No. He thought. They made their judgement too early. And they took the boy’s story as lies? Just what did Rick write in his report? He steeled himself.

“I request a Council Hearing. I have reason to suspect there was tampering done to the reports. I just need time to find the reason why.”

“This is a severe accusation.” Loki said. “Are you sure you wish to follow through with this? If you are wrong you will lose you status as an initiate”

That made him hesitate a bit. However, if he let this play out the way it would. Then, he would have not been fair. Taking a deep breath, Theo raised his head and stared at them. “I do.”

Loki nodded. “I retract my judgement and request a Hearing. Do both of you agree?”

“Agreed.” Junn and Tint said.