Once I returned to my spirit form, the shape of a small yellow humanoid, I felt a strange pull.
("This sensation is…?") [Solace]
It was familiar. Something that hasn't happened since my earlier days of entering this world.
("...Fina's calling me.") [Solace]
I turned invisible using the inherent ability spirits were born with before heading towards Fina's direction.
("She's far, but not too far.") [Solace]
I felt the pull continue past the classrooms, past the hall of heroes, past dorms, all the way to a secluded building still on campus.
("I've never seen this place before.") [Solace]
It was a small, but sturdy looking building. It looked kind of like a large pillbox, or just a rather large square building reinforced with a special type of brick. There were many four people standing guard on each side of the building, plus the others patrolling. There were small gaps in the walls to peer into the building, or to be able to peer outwards. Dunno which it was for.
("For some, it's just a peephole. For me, it's ease of access.") [Solace]
With my small size as a spirit, I slipped in through the holes to find the building to actually be some kind of jail. There were around four cells, in which only one was occupied. Namely, it was Fina.
("...This is how they're treating her?") [Solace]
The interior design of the building was incredibly basic. It was just a hallway with two cells on each side. Just like the design of the layout, the cells were also basic. A bed, a stone desk embedded into the wall, a chair, and a curtain in the corner. I can only assume that it hides the toilet. In any case, at least the place was clean.
("There are guards here too, huh.") [Solace]
Two guards stood in front of Fina's cell, which is a little odd since there were several guards patrolling the building for no reason whatsoever.
("They only have one to watch for. Why are they even patrolling?") [Solace]
Well, not my place to judge. I just slipped through the bars before floating towards Fina, who was laying in bed staring at the ceiling.
("She looks understandably bored.") [Solace]
The only good thing about this was that Fina seemed unharmed. She didn't seem to be in any mental distress, but that could be because she's used to more stressful situations.
("This must be mild compared to our journey.") [Solace]
Fighting monsters, fending off bounty hunters, facing Jukhan, a demon necromancer, a demon who can stop time, meeting the first hero, infiltrating Lithik, and fighting a feerae. Between those and being locked in a cell, it isn't even a comparison.
("I can sense her calling for me, but is it even a good time to appear?") [Solace]
Tempting as it was, there was a pretty good chance that the guards would see me appear. Would it be unnatural for Fina's spirit to pop up? Would the guards take action or something? As I pondered my options, I could hear a commotion outside.
"What do you mean by that?! Visitors have always been allowed!" [???]
It was a familiar voice. One that was familiar specifically when loud. I ignored Fina's call to summons and left the jail to see what was going on.
"Isn't that…?" [Solace]
To my surprise, I found Leynha, Fina's best friend, arguing with the guards stationed out front. One of the guards was clearly struggling to converse with her, while the other one didn't really care.
"Please, ma'am. Our orders are to not allow anyone inside. Even visitors." [Distressed Guard]
"Bull. Shit. What did Fina even do to receive this kind of treatment?!" [Leynha]
"She caused the murder of the hero Edwill and death of a |Divine Beast|. This punishment is already light considering her crimes." [Distressed Guard]
Leynha scoffed.
"You're just pulling shit out of your ass. She wasn't even the one who did it. If anything, blame Alt since he's the one who actually killed them." [Leyhna]
Way to throw me under the bus.
"Look, lady. Nothing will change even if you yelled your heart out at us. Just go home." [Nonchalant Guard]
That seemed to piss Leynha off even more.
"Do you even know who I am? Do you know who my parents are? I will RUIN you." [Leyhna]
The guards seemed to straighten up after hearing that.
("Right, her mom's one of the knight captains.") [Solace]
After threatening the two, Leynha let out an annoyed grunt before taking her leave.
"...She's just going to leave like that?" [Nonchalant Guard]
"Shh…! Don't provoke her…!" [Distressed Guard]
I decided to follow Leynha, planning to reveal myself when there were no witnesses. It took a hot minute though because she had to walk through crowded areas before reaching her dorm room. Once inside, Leynha quietly closed her door prior to punching her wall in frustration.
"Fuck!" [Leynha]
The wall cracked, but seemed to mend itself within seconds. As expected of a noble's dorm room. In any case, I stepped out of my invisibility and took on my human appearance. …Clothed this time. I never forgot to use |Wardrobe| after the last time I was left naked after transforming.
"Hey." [Solace]
"Ah!" [Leynha]
Eyes widening with shock, Leynha threw a punch out of reflex. Though something of this level might've hit me back then, I now ended up catching it easily.
"Calm down, Leynha. It's me." [Solace]
Her expression turned from shock, to realization, to rage.
"You…!" [Leynha]
She retracted her fist and attempted a spin kick on me. Like her punch, I caught it.
"Leynha, listen." [Solace]
"You caused this!" [Leynha]
Pulling back her foot, she set her body ablaze. I can see that in the time I haven't seen her, Leynha's proficiency with |Flame Enchant| has grown.
"Leynha, please." [Solace]
She ignored my words.
"|Blazing Fist|!" [Leynha]
This time I just let it hit. She struck me at my solar plexus with all her might, causing my feet to dig into the floorboards. Even so, I didn't flinch. I just met her eyes and waited.
"...What, too good for me now? Is that it?!" [Leynha]
She continued to strike at me, each blow becoming weaker as her form slowly began to break. I could see tears start to form in her eyes as she lashed out, allowing me to feel that my actions reached beyond just the hero's party.
"Why?! Just why?! Answer me!" [Leynha]
Leynha exhausted herself to the point the flames that wrapped her sputtered into embers. Eventually, she was just hitting me weakly without any |Skills| at all.
"...I have no excuses." [Solace]
She grabbed me by the collar, tears in her eyes. Her legs buckled as if she couldn't bear the weight of her own sorrow, yet her eyes burned with some kind of emotion.
"Why did you do it…?! Just… why…?!" [Leynha]
"The |Divine| beast was nothing more than a wild dog that needed to be put down. And Edwill…" [Solace]
Memories of my time with Lemin and Belrick flashed in my mind.
"Edwill killed a friend of mine. …I'm sorry." [Solace]
Leynha placed her face into my chest and sobbed.
"Is-Is Fina not your friend?! Sh-She's the one s-suffering right now be-because of you…!" [Leynha]
Her voice cracked and was interrupted by constant hiccups. However, that didn't stop her from voicing her feelings.
"She is. I'm trying to figure out a way to help her." [Solace]
"I-It's impossible…" [Leynha]
She continued to empty her tears into my shirt, not once speaking after uttering that sentence.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
It took around fifteen to maybe thirty minutes to get her to calm down. Once we were able to have a civil conversation, I took the chair while Leynha sat on her bed. I also had to change my shirt since it was… soaked in tears and snot.
"...You better not mention any of this to anyone." [Leynha]
Is what Leynha said while blowing her nose into a tissue.
"I don't want to think about this moment any more than you do." [Solace]
Who would I even tell this to?
"So? What's your plan? You said you're trying to figure something out for Fina." [Leynha]
"You know about the contents of the trial, right?" [Solace]
"If you're talking about there being two trials, then yes." [Leynha]
"Do you know what the first trial will be about? I get the general idea, but it'd be better to have the specifics." [Solace]
I was thinking along the lines of helping Fina pass the trials without my direct interference. If I were to do that, the specifics were absolutely necessary.
"I heard it would be the Lord of Metus, one of the gods' apostles, and a few others would act as judges. They'll ask a series of questions to Fina and debate what punishment to give her." [Leynha]
Hearing that, it seemed that punishment was unavoidable.
("Guilty until proven innocent, huh.") [Solace]
"Is there a calling to witnesses for this?" [Solace]
"Usually the defendant can call on witnesses, but I'm not sure about this one. Besides, people almost never call on witnesses in general." [Leynha]
Connecting the dots wasn't hard. That must mean the judges tend to assume things without any evidence. This is going to be hard.
("I'm going to need some backing.") [Solace]
That settled it. For the first trial, I'm going to need to find Raon and Wilharrow. Other than Leon, these two could testify for Fina's innocence. Plus, I think Raon came from a ducal household. With a hero and duke's heir, their word should have some sway.
("The problem is how to find them.") [Solace]
"Leynha, do you know where Wilharrow and Raon are?" [Solace]
"...Are you talking about the hero?" [Leynha]
"Yes, the hero and Raon." [Solace]
Leynha scratched her chin.
"...Is Raon someone I know?" [Leynha]
Right. I don't think they've met.
"Nevermind, just tell me where I can find the hero." [Solace]
If anything, I'll just ask Wilharrow where Raon is.
"If I remember correctly… He should be staying in the local church." [Leynha]
Here's my cue.
"Thanks Leynha." [Solace]
Knowing that, I took my leave.