How to Properly Send a Sibling to Prison
An ethereal door opened in the abyss near the new abyss continent of Ash Well. This continent featured purple and red ground cover and thick trees with dense gray bark. Trannisans were efficient builders; several government buildings and clusters of homes already stood. The door materialized in a broad public square, as if Rachel had been here many times before.
The cohort stepped out. Rachel turned to her Antrunie. "The realm wants to talk with you all." Only Cramnal looked shocked. Struns and Rebecca had experienced these meetings with Rachel many times. Smral was intrigued, and Ambruce was indifferent.
"The realm is most likely doing this because of Ambruce." Rachel shrugged. "She is, technically, the realm's daughter."
"We can go now. Let's set up a time to meet with the others."
They sat in a secluded, shaded area of the square. They all opened their connection to Rachel, allowing her to pull them into a collective conversation with the other Azalstin and the commanders of the Azmin Guard.
'Everyone, we are back in Trannisa. We need to meet with the realm first, but I want to quickly handle our concerns with Shain, Althius, and Sublyme.'
'Welcome back, Milana,' several voices spoke in unison.
'We were just awaiting your return. We decided a tribunal would be best, and it can begin in two days.'
Rachel nodded. 'Two days is good, Bre. Will you and the guard please set everything up and tell us the location?'
'Of course, Milana. Will all Azalstin and government officials be permitted to attend?'
'Should we deny anyone attendance? There is nothing to hide,' replied Yanira. 'We still have to address our goal of eliminating corruption. Let them send who they want. Do not exempt anyone.'
'I agree with the Milana,' Anis added. 'Also, we should have the tribunal in the abyss so we can show support for the new continents.'
'Good idea, Anis. If possible, let's have it on Deep Hollow since it is below Sibba.'
The meeting continued far longer than Rachel thought it would. When it was done, they were all tired.
As soon as the meeting ended, a large rainbow tunnel, lit by dazzling starlight, opened before them. They took one step in and were instantly transported to a white plain where rainbows arched and knotted all around them. Magic moved in great, spontaneous waves, currents, and swells.
'Milana, you have done as asked.' The realm spoke in a distracted manner. Rachel barely suppressed a sigh. Was the realm nervous?
'Thank you. I have brought my three new Antrunie. Please welcome them, Trannisa.'
'They are all welcome. You have chosen well. You only need two more to finally have the minimum number.'
Was that sarcasm, or nerves? Rachel found the realm's demeanor strange.
'Thank you, Trannisa,' Rachel nodded in respect. 'Are there any other tasks you have for us?'
'I would like to speak with Ambruce.' A sudden, sharp focus was placed on Ambruce. 'You have grown well, little one. What made you decide to walk this path?'
Ambruce bowed low. 'Thank you. I decided to walk with Rachel because there is so much I do not understand. I thought I could learn what I needed on my own, but after five hundred years, I stagnated and even made mistakes. She has already taught me so much, so I know I can learn from her.'
The group stayed within Trannisa's pocket dimension for a day. They ate spirit-feeding food, meditated, and trained together to develop the fighting rapport of a successful cohort. When it was time to leave, even Rachel wished for one more day.
Deep Hollow was a small, rocky continent resembling an island created after a volcanic eruption. The buildings were mostly made of thick, black, volcanic-like glass. The tribunal would meet in the new dome-shaped senate building at the continent's center, surrounded by other glass structures.
The tribunal was composed of fourteen Azmin guard members and the elected tribunal president, Main Justice Angelica. The tribunal sat in the middle of the circular room with seats arcing outward and upward in four groups. Rachel, the other Azalstin, and the Antrunie sat in a closed-off section high in the front arc of seats.
Main Justice Angelica sat at the right end. She was a tall, comely woman with auburn hair and vibrant green eyes. She would be the speaker, though all members could ask questions. As she raised her hand, the loud thwack of wood on wood silenced the room.
Angelica surveyed the room before speaking, her voice crisp and carrying. "This will be the two hundred sixty-eighth session of the Azmin Tribunal, this year of thirty seventy-two. The recorder for this session will be Helena Sans. We shall begin now, at 8:30 in the morning. The main business of this tribunal is hearing facts concerning Azalstin Shain, and Azmin guard commanders Althius and Sublyme, concerning their involvement in the abduction and attempted forceful change of The Milana of Trannisa."
Angelica paused, her gaze flicking briefly upward to Rachel's section—a shared, knowing glance. "During this tribunal, we will attempt to decide if there was any wrongdoing and if there should be any punishment for the aforementioned acts."
A murmur went through the room at the implication of possible innocence. Angelica silenced the room with a gavel strike.
"This will be interesting," Rebecca whispered in Rachel's ear. Rachel merely nodded, her face emotionless.
Rachel knew better than the murmuring crowd: Shain, Althius, and Sublyme were all working as sleeper agents for the Azmin espionage group, the Lanstra. The entire trial was a precise, high-stakes political maneuver. The goal, orchestrated by Rachel and Angelica, was to ensure Shain was convicted and sent to the penal continent Small Color, while Althius and Sublyme were acquitted to resume their work deep inside the Conglomerate.
Rachel watched the proceedings with cold calculation. Shain, a fate manipulator, had created layer upon layer of confusion, yet witness after witness spoke clearly against him. The narrative was simple and effective: Shain, driven by hubris, had used his skills to trick others.
Angelica's gavel boomed once again. "We have decided that Azalstin Shain is guilty of kidnapping Azalstin Anis, our realm's current fate master, attempting to forcefully change the Milana, and for manipulating to achieve objectives that endanger both the Azmin and Trannisa realm. We will deliberate on punishment and give our decision tomorrow. Next, we will discuss..."
And just like that, Shain was found guilty after mere hours. Rachel allowed her eyes to narrow, not in surprise, but to maintain the facade. Angelica is efficient, she thought, mentally tracking the progress against the clock.
Rachel only half-listened to Althius and Sublyme's segment. Both Azmin commanders were found innocent, the verdict citing that they were "manipulated" by Shain's fate weaving.
They accepted the verdict without protest. This lack of objection—from commanders who would normally demand an alternate hearing before a general or the Milana to clear their honor—was the final, crucial confirmation for Rachel. Their mission was successful. Shain was locked into the Small Color trajectory, and the Lanstra agents were free to return to their posts.
Rachel began talking to Trannisa and creating a fate map within the realm of her third eye. She needed to talk to Shain to finalize the next phase of his deep cover assignment.