Darien turns towards the audience. "Valentina Cruz, if you would step forward, please…"
Heidi holds her breath. Val stands from the crowd, smoothing her skirt with hands that tremble just a little. She walks forward with her chin up, eyes determined under those glasses. When she reaches the witness box, she places her hand on the stone ledge and looks directly at the elders.
"State your name," Elder Rowen says.
"Valentina Cruz," she replies. "First-year student at the Duskwind Academy."
"And your relationship to the accused?"
Val doesn't hesitate. "She's my friend and I'm proud of it."
Sierra scoffs loudly. "Of course you are."
"Proceed," Elder Rowen says.
Val takes a breath. "The first time I ever saw Heidi was on her first day at school. She was on the floor."
The room stills.
"She was being kicked by Sierra Castell and her friends. They surrounded her. They laughed at her and enjoyed her misery. I wasn't a friend of Heidi's back then, so I minded my business."
