A week has passed since my trip to the city. I spent the entire time between my room, training, and library. I barely eat lately. Everything leaves a foul taste in my mouth so I’ll just eat while I study. I’ve learned how to make the most basic of potions. They instantly heal small cuts and bruises. It’s way better than what I was expecting. What am I studying, you may ask? The laws of this country. I’m making sure to engrain everything in my brain. Every information matters.

I haven’t been talking with Ciara or Jasmin. They try to engage in conversation but I quickly shrug them off. I’m sorry but I have too much on my mind. I need to get stronger. I’m tired of this pathetic excuse of a human that I am. Even when I sleep, all I can see is that dog-human slave getting whipped constantly. And then I see myself. In a way, I guess the realization hit. This isn’t a game. This is real. While I’m safe here, people are suffering there. And there’s nothing I can do. I asked Captain Bernard to let me go to the wild area by myself but he didn’t allow me. The weakest monsters there are level 5 and they walk in packs. They are a variation of wolves so they are extremely aggressive. I refuted but in the end, I still got stuck here.

So I keep doing what I’ve been doing. Training by myself. Still at level 1. But my stats are a bit better. I don’t know why. I lost a bit of weight so maybe now my body is responding better to everything. Some guards have been asking why I keep doing physical training. They think it’s pointless. So I assume no one actually thought about training themselves or their skills to the point where it reflects in your stats. Your loss. I’m keeping this to myself.

Yurem Truesdale

Level: 1

Attack: 8

Magic: 6

Defense: 6

Magic Defense: 2

Movement Speed: 10

Mana: 46

Skills:

World Language

My mana rose by a lot in a week and I feel myself getting faster when in training. I’m starting to do a bit of leg combat on my own. I asked Jimmy to make some sort of training dummy and I’ve been working on my kicks. Since I usually run every day I feel like my legs are way stronger than my arms so it’s worth a shot. I never fought anyone so I don’t know how to even throw a punch. A kick however is different. I’ve seen a lot of football games. I know how to kick a ball properly. I apply the same principles. I’m quite proud of my Axe kick. I’m just working on side-kicks and I’ve been grasping mana while doing so.

They went on an expedition to the Misty Pits and they should be back tomorrow morning so I’m going to be out here training a bit more by myself. Usually, the guards are the ones that want me that I need to go inside but since they are not here, no one can tell me to go. Yes, it is I, the rule breaker.

Pant. Pant. Pant.

Yeah, I’m done. I bruised my hand as well because I slipped so I think this is going to be a bit swollen tomorrow. Sore legs, busted hand, and no mana. Starving, dirty, and barely breathing. This is me right now. I’m just going for a quick bath and again, straight to bed. Can’t bother eating if I can’t taste it. My skin is pale. I honestly don’t feel that healthy but meh, who cares. I have time to rest when I’m dead.

Walking into my room, I lock the door, as usual, I head straight into bed and I simply let myself fade away. I hate sleeping nowadays. Everything keeps coming back to those scenes and how much it reminded me of myself. No. I gotta let it go. Otherwise, I’m going to be upset when I wake up. Again.

BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.

“Huh”

BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.

“What the hell is going on?”

Someone was banging at the door with immense force. I could barely put on foot out of the bed until the door was ripped open with a flare. Several soldiers burst into my room. Among them were Captain Bernard and Logan. I couldn’t even stand properly since my body was completely sore. I couldn’t even muster words for what was happening. My mind was racing, everything was happening too quickly for me to be able to process the information. But then someone spoke.

“You are to stay quiet and only speak when told so. Stretch your arms forward.”

I couldn’t comprehend what was happening. “What’s the…” Thud. The hilt of a sword hit me right in the stomach and I immediately fall to my knees. Captain Bernard grabbed my hair, which was already a bit long, and pulled my head back.

“I said to stay quiet and only speak when you are told.” I was fuming. While all of this was happening, Logan, along with the other soldiers who entered the room were rummaging through mine and Ciara’s things. One of the soldiers who were at the door got near me and cuffed me with chains that were way too strong for me to break. Normal chains would suffice but I guess they wanted to make a point. I was dragged outside where I finally see someone I recognize.

“Ciara, what’s goi… Uff” This time a punch in the gut then a push to the floor. I was laying down on the floor with the greaves of the soldier piercing through my skin. The air was leaving my lungs faster than I could inhale. I try to look up only to see Ciara crying while Jasmin was holding her. I looked into Jasmin’s eyes and she looked sad. Disappointed even. Why can’t someone tell me what’s going on? I’m hyperventilating. I try to calm my breathing but the metal is already drawing blood. Noticing that I was making weird sounds, Ciara finally decided to speak up.

“Raise your foot, you are killing him!”

“I have orders to follow through.”

“What order will you follow if you end up killing him?”

Reluctantly he removes the foot of my bloody spine. I crawl back a bit to relieve the tension and to finally get a hold of my breathing. I hear footsteps. I manage to look into the hallway only to see the rest of Logan’s party. Mark, Ashley, and Naomi. For the first time since all of this happened, Jasmin spoke.

“How is she?”

“She is finally settled, she just fell asleep. She was in pretty bad shape. Naomi gave her a quick heal so the bleeding stopped. What about this piece of trash? What is he still doing here?” Mark was about to kick me but Ciara got herself in front of me. Why? Can someone tell me what’s going on? “Get out of the way, Captain. That bastard needs to learn a lesson.”

“You will not touch him.” Her voice was cold. Her eyes were red but filled with anger. She glared at me and for the first time in my life, I was afraid of her. I was afraid of the person I loved the most in the world. “If push comes to shove, I will be the one handling this accordingly.”

Tsk. Mark clicked his tongue and stepped back. I just wanted an answer. But all I taste is blood. I bit my lip so hard I’m bleeding.

“We found stuff.” Found what, Logan? My hairbrush? My books? What? “2 bags filled with money, the hair tie, and bits of the dress that were missing from Lady Catherine’s.”

“What are you ta… UGH” Another kick and more blood coming out of my mouth. My vision is all watery, all I can taste is metal. “Ciara, what is… Argh” Naomi grabs my hair and if looks could kill, I would be dead on the spot.

“You will stay quiet. You will pay for what you have done.” What did I do?

Two guards pick me up and I feel my body being dragged around. I can’t tell left from right. My eyes are heavy. I can barely see where I’m going. The next thing I feel is warm. I open my eyes and the same light that once blinded me came back. I was in the throne room. I can’t focus my vision but I assume that sitting there are the 2 people I don’t really want to see right now.

I got thrown in front of them, while I stagger to get on my knees, 2 blades are near my neck. And then it began. The end of life as I once knew it. I couldn’t look around but I felt a well-known presence on my left. It was Ciara. She had regained composure and was there. Quiet. Calm. Like the calm before a storm. And for the second time in my life, I was afraid of her.

“Yurem Truesdale, summoned soul from another world, I assume you know why you are being brought here so I intend to do this fast.” I thought the King would be the one speaking but it was another voice. A voice I have never heard before. It was soft but had power. Who is that? Then it came to light. A tall woman. Long blonde hairs, small purple eyes. She was beautiful. She was wearing a long crimson dress with equally crimson heels. She was without a doubt a charming woman. However, this charming woman was saying some obnoxious things. “Do you have anything you desire to say before we pass onto the punishment you shall get? Beware, everything you might say will be recorded and will serve either to aggravate your punishment or even worse.”

“What, am I allowed to speak now?” My nonchalant voice at this point must be a dagger somewhere because I keep hearing whispers around me. I could differ a few sentences that went from ‘Such insolence’ to ‘He should just be put down like a mutt’. “If so, I would like a clarification of why I am here. I think I’m owed that much.”

“Trying to drag this out will not have any good grace for you. The only reason you are even having a chance to explain your behavior is that blood of your blood, our holy savior, the Chosen One, kneeled for you and asked for you to be able to present your case. But very well. Your crimes are as follows. Stealing money directly from Lady’s Catherine personal savings, stealing part of her clothing, us assuming for your own pleasure and the worst one that should be more than enough reason to behead you, assaulting the princess and scarring her for life. Do you deny these claims?”

I did what? Every single word that came out of that woman was nonsense. My eyes were opened wide, my jaw dropped and, honestly, for the first time, I couldn’t think rationally about this. I’m proud for being able to come up with stuff on short notice but usually, those things don’t involve me being accused of robbing, hell, even beating someone up. No. This isn’t right, what the fuck is going on. I’m not taking this.

“Fuck yes I deny those claims. Do you even care to present evidence? What investigation did you do? What methods were used on the robbery? How was she injured?” I had to think quickly. I reminded myself of when I helped Ciara’s boss looking for some stuff while working on a trial of a serial killer. He was pretty desperate so we had to use every resource he had available. That also included me. We had to align the MO, Modus Operandi, of the killer to the way their victims were found. Okay.

Most of the vaults here only open with certain types of elemental magic plus a combination of a key. I don’t have good enough magic control, neither know how to manipulate elements yet. And I don’t have any keys with me. That’s first. Next, piece of clothing? Okay, that’s hardly evidence. Wait, they found it in my room? The princess never… wait. She went to my room once with Ciara and Jasmin. But she wasn’t wearing any dress. So she couldn’t have ripped it there. And how much is this piece of clothing? A stripe? A handful? Fuck it, scratch that one. They only wear high-quality stuff, it’s hard to rip it unless you have the stats to back you up. I’m a level 1. And the assault? What’s with that, I only saw the princess a handful of times and never on my own so they can’t place us in the same location.

Time to go on the offensive. “After all, if you have actually done an investigation, then you must have a lot of facts. Care to state the evidence one by one and testimony, of course?” Press them. Press them and break their story. Just like Ciara. Like she taught me. Think about everything. Evaluate everything. Calculate, remove what doesn’t matter, only one thing shall remain. But then one voice broke loose.

“How long are you going to waste my time, you filthy failure of a hero? Do you have the disparity to deny what you have done? Even after everything we have done for you? I should’ve thrown you out the moment I first saw and heard about your stats. A weakling, a failure, trash like you should never have been allowed to stay here more than that day. But we promised the Chosen One to give you the benefit of the doubt.”

He was screaming. His voice was trembling. He was mad. I could feel enormous pressure. If there was a hole on the floor, I would jump without a second thought. He could kill me. No. He is going to kill me. I can’t think. I can’t breathe. I can’t. I can’t. I can’t. I can’t.

“Your highness, my King. Please.” Ciara spoke for the first time. Your highness. My king? Is this your idea of a joke? “Let Miss Vana proceed with the trial. I beg of you, O my Lord.”

King Elis sat down and with an angry hand motion, this Vana lady spoke.

“2 bags of money were found in your bag. With the same amount that was missing from Lady Catherine's vault. The amount that I knew exactly since I’m the one handling her finances. 265 silver coins and 1275 gold coins. The exact same amount. I do not believe in coincidences. Next is half of the dress. Completely ripped apart from below the waist of my Lady. It was made from Anak fur so you were aware that you could make a couple more from it. And lastly? She Lady herself said it was you. You barged into her room last night demanding money and when she refused your punched her and kicked her until she gave in. Want proof of that? You can look at your own hand. Is that enough for you?”

I’ve been had. I was set up. This is a joke. I want to laugh. I want to cry. I want to get away from these eyes. I want to get away from here. All of them want my death. All of them are wishing for me to die. All of them want my head. Why? Why me? What did I do wrong? I never asked to be here. I never once asked for anything special. So why?

“So? Are you perhaps going to refute what I have just said?” Are you trying to piss me off? Very well. I’m going to take the bait then.

“The amount of gold found remounts to the same amount that I have been saving from Ciara. She isn’t the best at handling money so I’ve been doing that for her and the amount was the same. I have the amount written down in a notebook that was inside my bag. The dress was made from Anak fur, you said? Anaks are monsters only found at the edge of the borders with the High Woodland. They run in packs and the average level for one to kill them has to be at least 30 according to your books. The skin is very hard to break because of the herbs they consume. I’m only level 1. I can’t rip through that. Not even Ciara can and she is the strongest here, am I wrong?”

I look at Ciara. She is not even looking at me. Why? Why don’t you look at me? You know that it’s your money. You know you are the strongest among us. Why don’t you talk? Why don’t you help me? Why? Why? WHY?

“… and the bruise on my hands were made because of the training I have been doing lately. There is no way to prove that. But I didn’t attack her. Hell, she has a higher level than me, how would that work anyway?”

“We have found your notebooks and all of your writings. They are in a language that I can not comprehend and neither of the other heroes. Which means it’s probably a language only you know.” It’s in our regular.. language. Why? Why? Why are they setting me up? “And I do not believe in coincidences. And miss Ciara not even once said she was giving her money for you to handle. Why would she when she has a regular vault for herself? My, you are grasping for straws at this point. And Anak fur is easily shredded by your boots. They are made of titanium which has enough strength to rip a piece of clothing even if you just apply a bit of force. We did wonder how you managed to get those boots. Maybe you stole money before and bought it. And do you think any of us would believe in your so-called training? You haven’t done anything of such since you are here. You are leisurely walking around taking advantage of my Lord the King goodwill and using your relationship with the Chosen One to stay here.”

“I what?”

I try to get up. This is bullshit. I’m not having this anymore. I’m done. And as soon as I get a knee a bit higher, I get kicked and pushed down again.

“See? You are dangerous. You need to be put down. You shan’t live.”

Ah. I’m going to die. I look to my left and Ciara broke me. She was like them. Her eyes. They were filled with disgust and hate. Just like the King. Just like Vana. Just like Ben. Just like our father. Ah. I see. Fine. I accept. I lost. I let my head hang when she decided to speak.

“Can I ask you for forgiveness on his behalf? I understand that what he did was awful and monstrous. But please, he is the only family I have. Even if you only have to remove him from the premises, I make sure he will never step up near the castle. So… please. I beg of you, O my Lord.”

Crying and kneeling. Begging for mercy? For me? When I did nothing wrong? You could simply tell the truth. It was your money. It was the boots you gave me. Yet you are asking for them to forgive me? When I did nothing?

“Miss Ciara, holy Chosen One. I can not take any chances. I do respect you and all your efforts but the filth next to you deserves to pay for what happened to my poor daughter.”

So the Queen can talk. At least my guess was right. Everything about her ticked me off.

“However I will concede your request. But you will have to assure us that he will behave.”

“I will my Queen. I will.” Why are you happy? Why are you smiling at her? Why are you talking like she is the reincarnation of something good? “I promise you, O my Queen. He shall behave and he shall never even been spotted near the vicinities.

“Very well.”

And all of a sudden my bag is dropped in front of me. My clothes were there and nothing else. They put my bag straps on my neck and dragged me. Every second that took, I could feel my windpipe getting tighter and tighter. And I finally see the sun. And then I see dirt. I was tossed around like I was a ragdoll. But I was free. I could move. I struggle to get my bag out of my neck but I did it. I look behind me and I see dozens of foot soldiers. Logan, Mark, Ashley, Naomi, and Jasmin were next to them and in the front. Looking down on me, there she was. My everything. My joy. My sister. The one who broke me.

“Be glad that you were spared now make sure I never see you. Just survive until we finish this and I get you home. Okay? The trial was open so everyone in the city knows what you did.” Her voice was trembling and she wasn’t looking me in the eyes. Simply staring at the floor as I get up. “Why the fuck would you do that? Why? What the fuck is wrong with you? Are you out of your mind?” I didn’t do anything. I’m innocent. Why don’t you, of all people, believe me? “I’m disappointed in you. Just get out of here.”

She starts walking towards the others. I clean the dust off my clothing and put my bag on my back. Until she spoke again.

“I’m ashamed of you. Goodbye Yurem.”

I couldn’t find any words. Not that I didn’t have a lot to say. But I was broken. I was a mess. But I couldn’t show anyone that. No. You are on your own, Yurem.

“You’re ashamed of me? That’s a nice joke coming from you.” I chuckle. “Take care, oh big sister of mine, O Holy Chosen One.”

She turned around and found herself dumbfounded. But I didn’t care. I simply walked away and it’s time to face things by myself.