The convoy, escorting Ray towards the castle moved forward in a mild tempo, clearly wanting to show off their prisoner.
Unfortunately for them, none of the people they were parading him in front of, recognized him, and therefore did not think too much about it, until Changing Star and her entourage also came by.
While being paraded around, Ray merely relaxed, even going as far, as putting his hands comfortably behind his head.
In the group behind them, led by Changing Star, Effie managed to find Henry, their pale, white-haired friend that had needed to stay behind.
"Hey. Say, do you have a clue, why no one seems to remember Ray? I mean, we weren't gone for that long, and they all still remember us, right?"
Henry turned to her with a confused expression, lingering for a moment, before he responded, "How would they remember him? Was he ever here, before? I thought you guys just found him, while you were gone."
"What?!" Effie exclaimed, not able to keep her voice down. "What are you talking about? He was your friend, dude. How can you just forget him, like that?"
After saying these things, she turned away, and instead looked for Kai. Hopefully, he had an idea about what might've happened.
Left alone, Henry shook his head once, sighing heavily. 'Oh man, it better be worth it, man. Playing games with people had never worked out in history…'
His thoughts were only his, but two people seemed to have directed their attention towards their talk just now.
With both of them, already forming their own conclusions. If any of them had any truth in them, will need to be seen.
Soon enough, the two groups had entered the bright castle, and found themselves standing on opposite sides of the familiar throne room.
The bright lord, and his lieutenants were already present. While he currently still sat on his throne, the others either stood in front of the dais, or, in Harus' case, sat on the steps, with his back towards the golden serpent himself.
When Ray entered the room, just now, he threw each of them a somewhat mocking look, while even going as far as performing a little bow, when he was brought closer to the dais.
At some point, Changing Star had appeared next to him, without giving him an extra look, nor any words of encouragement, or the like.
Looking at the golden surface of Gunlaug's armor echo, Ray couldn't help, but muse; that having some entities living in your soul might also have its benefits, considering that he was one of the very few, who could actively look at the armor, without falling prey to the mind attack, which radiated passively from it.
Therefore, even now, as the bright lord was standing up to address the hundreds of sleepers, waiting before him, Ray was the only one, actually directly looking at him. All, while a small smile, still decorated his face.
Letting his gaze wander over everyone present, the bright lord did not lose his laid-back attitude, for even a second, before he eventually, indeed, began speaking.
"Ah, what a splendid sight, for a wonderful occasion. All of my precious wards, gathered today, to right the wrongs, and punish the guilty… magnificent. This dedication, this fervor for the rule of law… oh, this just makes my blood boil in delight. Don't you think it's marvelous?"
While saying this last part, he seemed to direct his unseen gaze directly on Changing Star, and Ray. Though, none of the two withdrew their own gazes. Changing Star, out of indignation, Ray out of disinterest.
"Don't you think, it's marvelous, Changing Star of the immortal flame clan?" he repeated himself, now targeting Changing Star, even further.
Under the strain of his look, and the armor's effect, she could only answer through gritted teeth, "...indeed."
Hearing this, Gunlaug remained silent for a moment, as if enjoying this moment, more and more, before releasing an elated sigh, one that was silent enough for no one, besides the two at trial, and a few of the lieutenants.
"How nice. Here I thought, you would surely disagree with me, Changing Star. I was told, by my most loyal aids that you were a pretty disagreeable person. I guess, you can't trust anyone these days."
When these words were said, and Gunlaug seemed to throw a side-glance at the waiting lieutenants, all of them, without fail felt a shiver run down their spines. Seconds later, he redirected his gaze on Changing Star again, or maybe, just maybe, his gaze wasn't on her, but rather the one standing next to her, with a carefree look on his face.
"Lost witness, Ray. I had invited you to my castle, for a private meeting with me, yet you had tried to kill me. I had heard great things from you, and then you disappointed me that much… what a shame.
Nevertheless, today, you will be trialed, with the aforementioned crime. For having dared to attack me."
After these words, quiet murmurs began to spread in the hall, though, only because the lord allowed this to happen.
Many were trying to remember, if anything of that magnitude had ever happened, and about what great things the king was talking about. While they discussed, one thing became apparent; no one seemed to know anything about the young man at trial, besides that he traveled with Changing Star.
Nothing more, nothing less.
'Guess, I need to start lighting the kindles soon…'
These whispers were eventually stopped, though, the moment two words were spoken.
"I object."
The man in gold tilted his head slightly, and with a lightly amused tone asked, "Object? His guilt is proven, due to a firsthand witness. Myself. Or… are you saying my word is not the truth?"
Changing Star countered his apparently mocking gaze, with cold and dark resolve, "It doesn't matter, if your word is the truth or not."
"And, why is that?"
"That is, because I want to invoke the right of challenge."
Next to her, Ray couldn't help, but lightly shake his head, 'She truly is predictable…'
After her words, another wave of deafening silence settled over the hundreds of sleepers, gathered here today.
Even Gunlaug remained silent for a few moments, before a light chuckle could be heard from him.
"Ah yes, the right of challenge. That old thing, huh. You seem surprisingly fond of that, seeing that this is the second time, in under a year's time that I had the pleasure of hearing these words from you."
Then, he paused, only for something no one had expected to happen, a moment later.
The golden, featureless mask of his full-bodied armor seemed to melt, before it revealed his face. Something that hadn't been seen in years, for most of them, though, something that had never been seen.
And the expression on his face; his brows were furrowed deeply, and a look of hatred was firmly plastered on his surprisingly handsome face.
Without the golden mask, his long blond hair fell behind his shoulders, while his short beard only served to accentuate his handsome face, and the authority he wielded with it.
As everyone was still taking in the scene before their eyes, he finally spoke again.
"That's enough. I am slowly tired of your insolence, Changing Star."
He didn't give her any time to respond, and continued merely a second later.
"Your little games may have been fun, in the beginning. Those lousy, and clumsy attempts in playing the hero… with each one, I began to hate you more and more. No, not even really hate. It was nothing more than disgust.
You have disappointed me gravely… daughter of the immortal flame clan. How someone from that clan could ever grow up to be such a naive, self-righteous, and stupid, little girl is beyond even me. You have reawakened instincts in me that I had wanted to bury for good…
But, oh well… all of it will stop today, anyway. While your efforts may have been worth applauding for, they don't change what you truly are; a hopeless fool that is destined to die a dog's death."
The blonde man of about 27 years, ended his monologue with a heavy sigh, before directing his gaze at Ray, "The right of challenge is for the accused… but, since I don't see him refusing your intervention, so be it. This way, I won't have to look at you for any longer… I accept your challenge."
If her declaration of wanting to invoke the right of challenge had been silencing, then the reaction of the bright lord must've been as if a sudden vacuum had formed, taking everyone's breath away, as the golden mask of the Bright lord, began forming anew.
All the previously interested people, in the first row of spectators collectively took several steps back, not wanting to get caught in any crossfire, these two would surely unleash.
"Say, you're bravery to challenge me… it doesn't only stem from the little memory that you got from the first lord, is it? Because, if that is so, then you will be in for a rude awakening, little girl. One powerful memory won't make to difference against absolute might!"
Changing Star seemed to be amused by his words, "Absolute might, you say… You are nothing more than a big fish in a small pond. You have no idea what absolute might really means. As for this memory, it is merely to make what comes quicker. For a worm like you; my bare fist would be enough."
The tension between the two was extremely high, only to get suddenly interrupted, when the other person next to them suddenly spoke.
"Well, you two can do your thing, then. I'll just go, and stand over there." Ray spoke, while gesturing to the crowd of sleepers, while twirling the cuffs on his other hand's index finger.
In the crowd of sleepers that he was walking towards, three people facepalmed simultaneously; Effie, Kai, and Henry.
'Way to go, buddy, way to go…'
When the attention shifted back to the two people in the center of the hall, he suddenly disappeared, only to reappear a few seconds later, standing in the very first row, while a red-haired person was slowly pressing himself through the crowd of sleepers.
'Finally, the show will begin shortly…'
-x-
The scene would've become too long, i will continue with it, and either upload it later today, or tomorrow, since i really want this part to go with how i envision it, right now ;)