16.2

“Subject: John Sarvod. Origin: Parac Village. Prior crimes: None. Next of Kin: None.”

John awoken to the voice of an emotionless elderly man. His nose twitched at the familiar scents of ink and parchment paper entered his nose. Following that, his ears picked up on the echoes of hushed voices before him.

“How timely for the petrification magic used on our subject to wear off. Let us begin the ceremony, shall we?”

John shook his body as the numbing effects of the magic slowly faded away from him, catching glimpses of people dressed in full black robes seated upon the rows and rows of seats that towered above him. Though they had nothing to mask their facial features, no matter how hard John focused, he could never seem to make out any of their faces.

A barrier must be distorting their faces… These people must be here to witness…

“On May 11th of the Immortal Year 1621, the empire’s Magic Development Department detected a surge of unholy energy to the south of Dezarith Empire, in a secluded valley known as Meastes. The site was also the same venue for where Moxnet academy students were undergoing their aptitude tests.”

Casting [Heal] silently at a deliberate pace, cleansed the petrification effects without the massive audience around him noticing.

A large audience, being held captive…

Before him, eight figures stood solemnly with their faces hidden away from the hoods that they dawned. Dressed in white robes laced with golden strips for accents, John though unimpressed by the lavish attire, could not deny the felt the condensation of pressure around him as his gaze met theirs.

I am being trialed again!!! Kirksten, you fucking bastard!!!

He knew something was afoot with Kirk earlier, he should have known when Kirk handed him a bead to crush.

Why am I not surprised… Fuck.

John mentally sighed, his heart heavy. He thought that when the petrification magic was undone on him he would be imbued with rage for the sly serpent that bore his poison fangs on his back.

But all that was in his heart was…nothing.

He had grown accustomed to the volatile world that he lived, his loved ones taken away from him, his beliefs ripped from him, his reason to live rendered to nothing. A betrayal like this barely meant anything to him, if anything, it just greatly annoyed him.

Still, he wished he understood why.

Why did he deserve such a fate?

But that was a question for another time. For right now, he had to deal with the trial unfolding before him.

“Fortunately, the empire had an elite unit dispatched to Meastes during then. Said elite unit was dispatched to the source of said location of unholy magic, discovering a gathering of vampires in a secluded hideout. After deliberate cooperation with the current hero of Dezarith, Scywell Shatterstep, who is also a Moxnet Student, the elite unit and the current hero apprehended all two hundred and seven vampires and brought them back to the empire to uncover the plans of the Sovereign.”

A hideout is already secluded, you nitwit, there’s no need to deliberate with your fancy language. Just get to the fucking point!

John thought to himself as he stood idly and endured having his time wasted.

You idiots brought me here forcibly. Speak in unnecessarily long sentences doesn’t mean you fuckers are trialing me!!!

“Prior to the vampires’ apprehension, the elite unit witnessed the subject known as John Sarvod was, in fact the source of unholy magic detected by Magic Development Department. The subject last was recorded to have had his family in Parac Village completely massacred by the very same monsters known as vampires, it is according to the elite unit’s conclusion that the Massacre of Parac Village became the inciting incident for the boy’s use of unholy magic.”

John grit his teeth.

It’s you people who failed to protect Parac Village!!! You and your heroes who do nothing—

“Though the elite unit claimed John Sarvod uses unholy magic,, the hero, Scywell Shatterstep and his party however, testifies for John’s innocence. Claiming that the vampires had been masking their own use of unholy magic through the boy..”

S-Scywell testified f-for me?

John blinked in confusion.

Last he saw Scywell, John provoked the hero to the point where Scywell wanted to kill him. For the hero to defend him against the elite unit that accused him of using unholy magic…

That means...the elite unit who accused me is…

“Fester Aquilla! Come forth and give us your assessment of what transpired!”

From the shadows cast behind John, a figure approached, and sure enough, a blazing red haired figure marched forwards. Moving past John with an unwavering face, Fester bowed at the eight robed figures before speaking.

“Thank you, council members. Under the direct orders of the Immortal Emperor, I was tasked to follow the traces of the vampires that had infiltrated the empire. The very same ones responsible for the Massacre of Parac Village.”

“Leaving Pardlorn after my inconclusive investigation, the central of the Vampire Sovereign, Pardlorn, I was tasked to investigate a vampire hideout for the source of unholy magic. In there I found, with my very own eyes, this young lad, John Sarvod was drenched from head to toe with dark magic as he took part in the bloodsports of the vampires.”

“…”

“Continue…”

“Even with John Sarvod’s unholy magic, he faced immediate defeat at the hands of the vampire known as Rabugra, whom we are still trying to extract information from. The current hero, Scywell, appeared shortly to John’s rescue in the vampire hideout.

“At first, I invited Scywell and his party to observe what occurred in the arena John was in. It appears that even with his defeat by the vampire Rabugra, he far from giving up. Hence, it is my reasoning that with his family massacred by the vampires, a deep hatred had festered in his heart, prompting him to learn the forbidden ways of magic all for the sake of unleashing vengeance upon the monsters that robbed him of his family. That is all.”

“And John Sarvod, do you have anything to say for yourself?” the speaker from the eight white robed figures turned his gaze at John.

John turned to Fester, who had a sly smile on his lips. Then spoke in a loud voice.

“My defiance against the vampires was to save a friend from the them. I have no recollection of associating myself with unholy magic. Unlike a certain someone who watched my life tethering and toyed by vampires. The wolfkin, Aurelius Lupus and I had been captivated by the vampires for their entertainment, it is uncertain what they have done to us while we were unconscious and might have caused my body to react in an unusual way. Perhaps, what Fester Aquilla saw, was the work of the vampires.”

Unlike the time in A’vetheas where he was convicted as a demon before an audience, John spoke in the calmest demeanor he knew. If he wanted to leave the Empire, he might as well do it without provoking them. The last thing John needed was to have an enemy in pursuit as he take his leave from Dezarith.

“Both you and Fester’s testament both carry equal weight. Suppose we play the devil’s advocate and say that you are falsifying your statement. Why would someone like you play along with the games that the vampires had prepared for you.”

“Come again?” John scrunched his brow. “Play the games!? What are you talking about!? I was fighting for survival back there!!! Both Aurelius and me were drained of blood by the vampires!!! What games could we be playing!?”

John looked towards the other eight robed figures, all of which had the same devious smile that appeared on Fester Aquilla moments ago.

“Survival for what exactly, dear John Sarvod? Do you not understand the situation that you are in? The use or even the mere existence of unholy magic in Dezarith Empire is a crime deserving a punishment worse than death? You knowing that, have partaken yourself in the vampire’s bloodsports.”

“Are you implying I knowing did something so dire? So I should left myself to be killed by the vampires? Is my friend supposed to resign to defeat?” John tried keeping cool composure, but his voice implied otherwise. “In that case, I suppose you lot would have to reevaluate the people Moxnet Academy enrolls. Because, I, an academy student were to something that foolish, I would have never been in Moxnet. Am I wrong?”

…

The room was filled with an uncomfortable silence after John’s rebuttal. Though his words changed none of the empty expressions on the eight figures’ faces, John knew he was right. He knew that by his putting on the pretense of Moxnet Academy in front of these people, his innocence would be ‘proven’.

Then, just as John thought he was victorious, Fester Aquilla took a step forwards and faced the eight robed figures.

“Kaldor Klarizan.”

With the mention of Moxnet Academy’s vice president’s name, the eight figures came to attention, their empty eyes filled with alert and caution.

“I presume you lot know who Kaldor is,” Fester said with an amused smile. “Around two and a half months prior to this. Kaldor himself had brought in John Sarvod to the academy as a subject to be observed.”

Fester’s words caused an uneasy shifting among the audience draped in black robes as they each leaned to each other and muttered inaudible whispers.

Two and a half months? That’s when I was first recruited by Kaldor to Moxnet—

“There had been plans to cultivate John by either the Emperor or the Empress, for what purpose I no longer remember. The critical loss of sensitive archive data, of which also included the wiping of minds among my respected council members, the Immortal Emperor, the Immortal Empress’ minds, and me happened a month ago, sometime after Massacre of Parac Village. Though the source of information loss remains to be unknown, one thing is certain my fellow elders...”

“And that would be?”

In a deterministic voice, Fester Aquilla’s voice rang through the room.

“Demon or no demon, John Sarvod, is the property of Dezarith Empire!!!”

Negotiations failed.

John’s plan of talking his way out of this predicament had gone awry.

The only option to him was to fight his way out. Through violence, meaningless violence that the vampires so adored.

John moved his hands to his waist to grab the hilt of his trusty weapon, only for his fingers to grab at the empty air by his right hip, forgotten that his weapon was not with him.

Clack-clink!

In unison, the silhouette of spears came dropping to his sides.

From the shadows, imperial guards emerged, clad in full armor, all ready to strike at John.

“…”

His eyes focused in on the faces of the soldiers that were behind the steel helmet. Clenching his fists, he recalling towards the night when Raina was almost raped.

Two spells came to his mind.

[Defilement], [Execution].

There was a choice he was to make.

Am I really going to kill these people? Am I really going to lose all of myself to the dark aura to free myself from what is about to come? I have already tainted my hands with demon magic...I might as well take the final plunge.

The horrible magic that he used on the three thugs, their maddened faces, when he had first used the truly horrible magic. He remembered their spilled guts, the insanity that took them over.

Ta-thump!

His skin crawled. John remembered that was the first time he ever felt such overwhelming anger, the horrible grief of despair, of regret that far rivaled anything that he knew. He had no choice. He did not know what was in store for him when he failed Raina back then. He did not know who, or how, would the Elven Princess be saved.

Back then, he was going to be robbed of the thing most precious to him.

And now, the last thing he thought he had will be forcibly taken away from him.

His freedom.

These soldiers, the eight elders, and Fester Aquilla stood in the way of his freedom. John simply wanted no have no part in the Empire anymore, whether he would live or die.

That was all for him to decide. Whether to become a mere object that is to be used by Dezarith or whether he would plunge into the darkness…

“All in good time, Aquilla,” a voice before John declared, halting John before he decided. “All of this is mere speculation from your end, Fester. We have received no such information regarding the matters of John Sarvod. This is a court held to dictate his innocence, not to imprint your biased opinions to us about the boy!”

Fester bat the speaker an eye, “Are you daft? Like I said, all information regarding John Sarvod’s observation had been erased! The only one who noticed this was me and the Immortal Emperor! Who else but those who dealt with the wicked hag can ascertain what was truly gone?! Even you council members, all of you were supposed to be informed on—”

“As far as we are aware, this is not a matter of our concern. Your suspicions of John Sarvod will be noted.”

Then, in unison, the eight white robed figures spoke.

“The council has decided that John Sarvod is to be placed under house arrest under Moxnet Academy’s rule. Fester Aquilla is to continue with the tasks already delegated to him and cease all interaction with John Sarvod until a verdict is reached.”

Fester's face contorted into an ugly scowl.

For just a moment, what has been the jolly youthful look of the previous hero was overcast with the appearance of a horrible expression adorned with tattered flesh, where all his features were contorted and his eyes were nothing but pale milky orbs.

“By the authority of a Hero, I command you—”

“No. Fester Aquilla is no longer the hero of the Dezarith Empire. That authority is now passed to Scywell Shatterstep. You are henceforth dismissed, Aquilla.”

The eight robed figures’ immediate response had taken Fester aback, causing the previous hero to blink with his mouth agape, dispelling his haunted face back to the features of a human male.

“T-then I a-am...” the words left John’s mouth, his whisper was an innocent one. He was unsure whether his eyes were playing tricks on him again, but having seen Fester’s split change he could barely get his words out in fear of what laid beyond the previous hero’s true identity.

“No, John Sarvod. No matter how outrageous Fester Aquilla’s words were, they carry weight. The council has decided that you are to be assigned back to Moxnet and nowhere else, you not permitted the confines of the academy until a thorough investigation carried out to ascertain Fester Aquilla’s claims.”

“T-that means I-I am freely to move about in Dezarith, as long I am within the Empire’s territory, correct? In that case—”

“Pay heed to our prior statement, John Sarvod!!! You are under house arrest within the confines of Moxnet Academy, and Moxnet Academy only! You are an asset of the Empire!!! You are innocent until proven guilty!!!”

The eight figures snapped at John, causing even the surrounding imperial guards around him to shiver in their boots.

“Imperial guards will be always stationed by your side. You would not be permitted to have your weapons, use your magic, have your meals, or even proceed on with your daily activities unless given permission.”

Is that not the same as imprisoning me?!

John froze on where he stood.

His window of opportunity to leave the empire was closed before it could be opened.

Ephinelyth was right. The Empire is dangerous.

Not only did they think its denizens’ lives were disposable and to be exploited, the empire also thought of him as nothing but property. And now, with the help of Fester Aquilla, John will most definitely be convicted as a criminal.

They say I am innocent. But they are just putting on a show before they could find evidence to trial me as a demon.

He was speechless.

He suspected something was wrong when Team Rectiser arrived in Meastes. He thought the same when his team faced the blood-cullers, and now, everything was laid before him as clear as day.

The empire had declared to infringe upon John’s life. And taking away his liberty was only the first of their many steps.

John looked at the faces of the imperial soldiers standing guard around him. As much as he hated the imperial soldiers that failed the Harvests when vampires had come for his family, the veritable monster was none other than the man who arranged both the burial and cleanup for his family’s deaths.

His gaze turned towards Fester Aquilla, who only registered in his mind as an abomination akin to the vampires.

Fester Aquilla was no hero.

The man that stood before him, was…

…the Unholy Tyrant.

“This concludes the court meeting. Everyone is dismissed.”

At the speaker’s voice, all the eight robed figures and the various attendees left, leaving John and Fester with the imperial guards in the lonely room.

As John thought of his next best plan to leave the Empire for good, a large force hit his shoulder.

Fester’s familiar blazing red hair came into his eyes' view as the prior hero whispered in John's ear in a bitter tone.

“You may have done something to the Immortal Empress, but I assure you, no matter how hard you cover your tracks...I Fester Aquilla will get to the bottom of this. You will pay for your transgressions against my mind, John Sarvod.”

With that, Fester Aquilla disappeared in a crackle of lightning, leaving John with the imperial soldiers.

Memories??? Of the Immortal Empress? I’ve never met the Immortal Empress nor seen her portrait, how could I have done something? Fester himself was affected by it!!! How would I know to do something like that!? If I have abilities to erase memories, I would have...

All of a sudden, it made sense.

Fester’s acclaim to John’s importance, Fester’s statement that John was knowingly recruited to Moxnet Academy for a now forgotten reason, Kaldor who scouted him, even the Immortal Emperor himself, the memory loss all of those who was involved in planning for John’s ‘cultivation’ of his demon magic.

There was only one person John knew who could have done something as drastic as this.

Someone who, upon their first meeting, was already aware he radiated with the accursed dark aura caused for his banishment.

Ephinelyth.

Her sudden departure on the during their dance at the Ball of Paragons, her prolonged return, her sending the metal orb that pestered him to leave the empire’s premises with his family so that he would be under her protection.

She must have uncovered a plot against him, something that the empire had devised behind the scenes that he was so blind to. She must have been the one who had erased all archival data and wiped the minds of the people who wanted to use John.

Even the timing fit perfectly. It was only a month ago did John lost the Harvest, it was also then did he shouted at Evie to get out of his life. And around the time after the Massacre of Parac Village did the empire lost their sensitive data.

It was all her doing.

The Elder Dragon had his best intentions from the very day they met.

She was the only one who was capable of such impossible feats.

And she, was the one, who only saw John beyond the accursed dark aura magic that doomed his existence.

“I was a fool…”

“Quit your blabbing, it’s time to leave!” urged the soldier behind John with a spear.

“I don’t know what the council elders were talking about, but I know for sure you are a dangerous individual. If you value your life, make haste!”

The tip of a spearhead slightly dug into John’s back as one of the many soldiers urged him to the nearest exit behind him.

“Onwards! We are headed to the teleporter!”

“Fester Aquilla may be prohibited from interfering with you by the council, but we will make sure your life becomes hell if you make this difficult for all of us.”

Fester cannot interfere with my life?

The council no longer bothered themselves with him, Fester Aquilla was prohibited from interacting with John. The only thing that stood between him and his path to freedom were the six guards that pointed their spears at him.

It was then, underneath John’s dreadful expression, a defiant smile formed.