Silence hung in the court like a shroud.My eyes met the Judge's—cold, mocking, full of disdain.
"Do you have any objections, Sammail?" he asked, his voice slicing the air.
Something inside me snapped. The chains binding me bit deeper into my flesh and soul, but my laughter erupted anyway—bitter, uncontrollable, mocking.The court froze. Confusion painted every face.
"What's funny?" the Judge snapped.
I laughed harder. "What isn't a joke in this mockery?"I gestured at him, at the slaves hanging limbless, at the so-called justice around me. "Is saving an angel torture a crime? Is killing a tyrant vile? And you dare say I stole my mother's sin?"
The Judge's eyes flared like wildfire. His presence pressed down on me."You are not to disrespect me, child. Even if you are hers."
The chains tightened, digging into my very being. I tried to curse, but blood spilled from my lips. Every bone screamed. My own moans barely escaped.
"Since you will not cooperate," the Judge continued, "I will list your sins and judge you as I see fit."
Breathing became impossible. My gaze fell on Sylphia. Disgust, pity, disappointment—her eyes stabbed me harder than any chains. Anger bubbled, dark and corrosive.
"Corrupting your family with your presence. Killing them brutally as soon as you gained power," he said, chuckling. "Not only stealing your mother's sin, but devouring her soul, altering a half-angel in forbidden ways."
He pointed at the fallen child at my feet. "Attempting to twist him, leading him to death… any of those lives yours to command?"
I looked down. Rage and hatred twisted inward—I hated myself, too.
"Causing an upcoming war against Heaven…" he continued. "…which we should be glad for. But are you?"
The chains loosened slightly. My lips parted, but I refused to speak.
I raised my head. Expressionless. Eyes fading into nothing."Do you think I care about any of you? About anyone?"
The Judge chuckled."Man's thoughts do not matter. Laws of corruption do."
I spat on the floor. "Isn't it ironic? I am corruption incarnate—and yet, you dare judge me?"
"True, you are the sin of corruption… yet not entirely."
Dark laughter left my lips. "You enjoy this, don't you? Bullying the weak while letting the rest suffer."
He stood, approaching slowly."Every fallen must be judged when the laws demand it. Even your mother, whom you drove mad."
"By the laws of corruption… you mean the Dark God?" I asked.
A hush fell. Chains tightened. Coughing blood. Sylphia trembled.
"How dare you name Him casually?" the Judge roared, his face inches from mine. Blue flames mixed with black, burning, soulless.
Barely breathing, I muttered, "Are you done?"
The Judge raised his arms theatrically."A question, Sammail, to determine your punishment: why did you attempt to turn the child instead of saving him?"
Pain and rage rolled through me. The chains dug deeper, forcing the truth to surface."Is it because of your father? That dark room?" the Judge pressed.
I screamed, instinctively. The chains tightened further, piercing my soul. Truth threatened to spill, but I couldn't bring it out.
"Stop this!" I begged.He laughed."Only you can stop it. Look at yourself, child. You call yourself fallen, yet you are pathetic. Weak. A little boy who cannot grow."
I howled, "I will kill you!"
He yanked my hair. "And how? You cannot free yourself. I am here, waiting."
Voices echoed in my head—familiar, alien, mocking. The Dark God's whisper:Peg for my help… or speak the truth.
"Both of you—shut up!" I screamed.
"Look around," the Judge and the voices said in unison.
The slaves sneered. My father's voice taunted me. Sylphia's trembling eyes… all condemning. Adam's words pierced me: You are a failure.
I couldn't escape. I couldn't breathe. My soul wrenched.
Finally, I whispered, broken:"Because my father… raped me."
Tears fell—normal, pure, shattering.