After a few hours, Ayumu finally stirred.
Her fingers twitched slightly before her eyes slowly opened. Everything felt numb. Heavy. Yet beneath that numbness lingered waves of dull pain that pulsed through her body whenever she moved.
The room around her was softly lit by daylight filtering through the curtains. She let out a weak groan as she shifted slightly.
A blurry figure seated nearby slowly came into focus.
Rhea.
Rhea, being highly experienced in the medical field, knew better than to overwhelm a patient the moment they awoke—especially someone who had gone through severe trauma. So she remained seated calmly, watching silently until Ayumu properly recognized her.
"…Rhea?" Ayumu's voice came out hoarse and weak.
Rhea's expression immediately softened.
Unable to hold herself back any longer, she leaned forward and hugged Ayumu carefully, mindful of her injuries.
Ayumu blinked in confusion, her mind still hazy as she slowly looked around the room.
A hospital room that looks familiar.
She had visited this place many times before—sometimes to share medical knowledge she had gathered from distant lands, and mostly to visit Rhea during her work.
Once Rhea pulled away, her professional concern quickly returned.
"How are you feeling?" she asked gently. "Any dizziness? Nausea? Do you feel like vomiting?"
"No… no. I am—urkh…"
Ayumu stopped midway, a sharp ache running through her head and chest.
So much for saying she was fine.
"…What happened?"
Rhea hesitated.
"You… don't remember?"
Ayumu stared blankly at the wall for several moments.
Then slowly—
Fragments resurfaced.
The forest.
Atlas.
Maverick.
Hands grabbing her.
Fear.
Suddenly, her body trembled violently.
"It's okay," Rhea quickly reassured her, gently holding her shoulders. "You're safe now. Lord Kaiser and Sir Drobar saved you."
"…Lord Kaiser?"
A faint memory surfaced through the haze. She remembered a calm voice speaking to her while darkness clouded her vision.
A steady voice that was comforting her.
Telling her not to be afraid.
"Those bastards who did this to you will be shown no mercy," Rhea said firmly as she poured water into a glass and handed it to Ayumu. "They're being publicly tried right now. Honestly, they'll probably be executed."
Ayumu's eyes widened slightly.
"…What? No… that can't happen."
Rhea froze.
"What do you mean that can't happen? Ayumu, do you even realize what they did to you?!"
Her voice rose with anger.
"You could have died! And if Lord Kaiser and Sir Drobar hadn't arrived in time—who knows what would've happened to you?! Why are you against them being executed? They deserve it!"
Ayumu lowered her gaze weakly.
"That man… Maverick. He's the son of a noble family."
"So what?!" Rhea snapped. "Are you seriously thinking about politics right now?"
"Rhea…" Ayumu said softly, struggling to sit properly. "If His Majesty executes him solely because of me, that noble family will lose favor with the emperor. It could destabilize the current political standing of the crown."
Her fingers tightened around the blanket.
"Not now… not during such sensitive times."
Rhea stared at her in disbelief.
"Please," Ayumu continued quietly. "Help me get to where the trial is."
"I will not."
Rhea stood immediately.
"Do you hear yourself right now?! Let them riot if they want to. Their son attempted to murder the Empire's Royal Advisor. Let him die for all I care."
Her frustration trembled through every word.
"I'm not helping you go anywhere in the state you're in," Rhea said firmly, her frustration finally spilling over. "You can't even heal yourself right now because you've completely drained your energy. Your body is weak, Ayumu. Weak." She shook her head stubbornly. "No. Absolutely not. I am not helping you."
Ayumu slowly reached out and grabbed onto Rhea's robes weakly.
Her golden eyes looked up at her pleadingly.
"…Please, Rhea."
Rhea clenched her jaw tightly.
She was angry.
But looking at Ayumu now who was bruised, injured, trembling. Yet still thinking about protecting others before herself—
Rhea suddenly felt her anger sink into helplessness.
There was little she could say that would change Ayumu's mind.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, in the empire's largest courtroom, sunlight poured through towering windows, bathing the grand chamber in a heavy golden glow.
It was already past noon.
And the courtroom was overflowing.
Murmurs spread endlessly throughout the hall despite repeated attempts at maintaining order. Nobles, council members, educators, officers, and even ordinary citizens had gathered after hearing the shocking announcement made so abruptly that morning.
Four individuals had been arrested for a heinous crime.
Rumors spread rapidly through the empire—that they had attempted to murder the only surviving White Mage.
Worse still—The Royal Advisor herself.
Outrage simmered through the crowd.
Then—
Clank!
The sound of the judge's paddle echoed sharply through the courtroom.
"Order! Order!"
Three judges sat elevated upon the grand platform overlooking the court.
At the center sat the most senior among them was — Lord Elbus.
All three judges wore formal black-and-white judicial robes, though beneath them thin gray armor could still be seen, a reminder that judges within the empire were not merely lawmakers—but warriors entrusted with justice.
Judges were not born into their title.
They were chosen.
Many began as common soldiers, knights, commanders, and generals before being selected by the Magis Sword itself. Only two or three individuals each year were deemed worthy enough to become Judges—those believed to possess hearts capable of carrying justice without corruption.
"Bring forth the accused," one of the judges commanded.
The courtroom doors opened.
The four men were dragged in under heavy guard.
Some were bloodied badly from Drobar's beating.
But among them—Maverick stood out immediately.
Even restrained, there was not an ounce of remorse on his face.
Only anger.
Maverick stood there with his head raised high despite the restraints around him. Because in his mind, this was all absurd.
He was a Cainhurst.
A descendant of one of the most prestigious Black Magis families within the empire.
Why should someone like him be subjected to such humiliation before the public?
His father would resolve this as he always had.
"The Emperor enters."
The announcement echoed through the courtroom.
Instantly, every remaining sound ceased.
All present rose to their feet in respect as Emperor Visil entered the grand courtroom.
But today, something was different about the emperor. The emperor carried with him an overwhelming murderous aura. It pressed heavily upon the room, suffocating and cold. Even the nobles lowered their heads uneasily.
The people could feel it instinctively — these four men would not leave this courtroom alive.
Visil took his seat slowly Then spoke — "Start the trial."
His voice was low and menacing. Utterly devoid of mercy.
The judges who had risen earlier bowed respectfully before sitting once more.
An interpreter stepped forward and began reading the charges aloud.
The four accused were charged with inflicting severe bodily harm upon the Royal Advisor and with attempted murder against the empire's sole surviving White Mage.
Then—An additional charge was read specifically for Maverick.
Attempted rape of the Royal Advisor.
The courtroom erupted into horrified gasps.
Clank!
The judge's paddle struck sharply.
"Silence in the courtroom!"
Lord Elbus adjusted himself before speaking solemnly.
"The charges have been read," he declared. "How do the accused plead?"
Silence lingered. The other three remained pale and speechless.
But Maverick suddenly shouted—
"Not guilty!"
The outburst echoed loudly.
"I only did what I did because that woman ruined everything!"
Shock spread throughout the courtroom.
Murmurs immediately followed.
"I am from the Cainhurst family!" Maverick continued arrogantly. "I shouldn't even be here. I only did what should have been done. She deserved it!"
Lord Elbus felt disbelief at the sheer stupidity of the boy.
But what worried him more was the emperor.
He glanced toward Visil and immediately felt a chill. The emperor was radiating pure bloodlust.
"Deserved it?" Visil repeated softly but with a menacing tone, far more terrifying than shouting.
Then—
"Where is Lord Morveth Cainhurst?"
At the emperor's command, a figure stepped forward from among the nobles.
Lord Morveth Cainhurst.
A Dark Magis with deep glowing skin and stern brown eyes, dressed in elegant dark robes befitting his noble status.
He bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty."
Visil's gaze remained cold.
"I have no intention of sparing these criminals," he said. "They are to be executed for what they have done."
"I understand, Your Majesty."
The courtroom stiffened. Then the emperor continued.
"I ask you directly, Lord Morveth… is your family involved in this matter?"
The implication was clear. Would the Cainhurst family attempt political interference to save their son?
Lord Morveth answered immediately.
"The Cainhurst family has no involvement whatsoever." His voice did not waver. "This was entirely his own doing."
Then came the words that stunned the courtroom.
"From this day forth, Maverick Cainhurst is expelled from our family and stripped of all familial ties."
"…What?"
Maverick's eyes widened in horror.
"Father?!"
"DO NOT CALL ME THAT, YOU WORTHLESS SCUM!"
Lord Morveth's furious roar silenced the entire courtroom.
Even Maverick himself froze. Never in his life had he seen his father this enraged. Though cold and distant, Lord Morveth had always protected him from consequences before.
But not today.
"You have brought disgrace upon this family," Lord Morveth said coldly, his expression filled with disgust. "And worse—you have disgraced the Magis community itself."
His gaze sharpened.
"For years, I tolerated your arrogance and misconduct."
A pause.
"But no longer."
Without another word, Lord Morveth bowed respectfully toward the emperor silently requesting to be excused.
Visil gave a slight nod and the noble slowly retreated back into the crowd.
The courtroom remained deathly silent.
Then Visil turned toward the judges. "Lord Elbus," he ordered. "Heed my command."
Lord Elbus straightened himself immediately.
"With the overwhelming evidence presented before this court," he began solemnly, "I hereby sentence—"
"An objection… please."
The voice was soft and gentle. Yet it carried clearly across the entire courtroom.
The sentencing halted immediately and everyone turned toward the source of the voice.
At the large doorway stood a figure clothed in white. A White Magis was standing.
Ayumu.
A collective wave of shock spread through the courtroom as she slowly entered, supported carefully by Rhea at her side.
She wore fresh white robes, though her movements were weak and unsteady. A thin veil covered part of her head and face, unable to fully conceal the bandages wrapped beneath it.
Even from afar and under the veil, the bruises visible upon her pale skin could still be seen.
The entire courtroom fell silent. No one had expected her to appear. Especially not in such a condition.
Rhea looked deeply displeased, almost angry to even be there, but Ayumu continued forward despite her weakened state.
Each step looked painful. Yet she kept walking.
Visil immediately stood from his seat.
"Ayumu?!" His composure cracked instantly. "What are you doing here? You should be resting!"
His voice carried both anger and worry.
But Ayumu simply lowered her gaze politely.
"My apologies… Your Majesty," she said softly, her voice strained from exhaustion. "But I ask for permission… to speak before sentencing is carried out."
The courtroom erupted into murmurs once more.
Lord Elbus himself looked conflicted seeing her condition.
Even Kaiser, standing nearby, frowned deeply. She should not have been here.
Visil clenched his jaw tightly. Seeing her injured body standing there in front of everyone only reignited the fury within him.
Yet despite trembling slightly, Ayumu still stood with dignity.
"…Approach," Visil finally ordered, though his tone was much softer than before.
Rhea carefully guided Ayumu forward and she stepped into the light of the courtroom.