~Amias's Point Of View~
Amias hates the court.
He hates the smell of old stone and dust masquerading as authority. He hates the way elders pretend to be impartial while already knowing their verdicts. He hates the echo—how every word spoken inside that chamber feels louder than it should, like the walls themselves are listening just to judge you later.
But most of all, he hates the silence afterward.
The kind that rings in his ears once the shouting stops. Once Darien's voice goes hoarse with rage. Once Heidi's fate is decided by people who have never bled for her, loved her, or watched her smile like the sun has personally chosen her as a favorite.
Amias stands at the edge of the room when it ends. He always does. He is practiced at being peripheral—important enough to be noticed, disposable enough to be ignored.
