Raoul always wanted to live a simple life without conflict. But she was born in conflict and a dire need to create powerful offspring. His father bred countless for the sake of creating children powerful enough to endure the strain of the powers of multiple Rivers.

For once, Raoul looked at peace as she took a deep breath of smoke and brought a knee to her chest.

"But dreams die as soon as you try to realize them. If abstaining means I get to live this lie a little longer, then so be it. Nothing good will come in the end. Heh. I remember asking Ara a stupid question. He asked me it back. What I would give just to be an everyman, even if it was to live in a body that isn't mine."

"It's too late to want to be normal." Res said.

"I'm well aware." Raoul pulled her knee closer and leaned her chin atop it.

"Still, that doesn't mean there can't be moments of respite."

"For you. Not for me. The Amalgam isn't here. But look at that. You end up taking after her."

"I'm glad you noticed."

"I still don't understand why Mother seeks to save you. Perhaps she pities you. You two suffer from the same condition, after all."

"Nihility?" Raoul asked.

Acedia was about to speak, but Res shot her a glare to shut her up. She wanted to say 'gender change', but that was clearly not what Raoul was brooding about. It was a welcome change. And even if it wasn't, it would not be the worst thing she had experienced. It was a mercy if anything.

No one spoke for a while after their exchange. They let Raoul have her peace as she smoked through bundles of a fibrous plant called Phylax. It was a common herb used for smoking. Safe, reliable, though its hallucinogenic effects did not work on Stars and Moons.

Though there was once a time when it worked on Raoul, far better than any liquid could. Raoul did not remember when she began smoking from the pipe. Before she knew it, it had become a habit and a comfort, solely because it was one of the few constants in her life.

"… Have the twins arrived?" Raoul broke the silence after one last drag. "I don't sense them anywhere."

"Not yet." Res answered. "Neither has Frost and Jury. Where are they?"

No one had the slightest clue. They were obviously trapped in a dream, but why were they taking so long? Raoul only took this long because she decided to ride it out till the very end.

Joy tugged on Res' sleeve, hoping she had an answer despite knowing Res was just as lost.

"Soon, Joy. Very soon. We just have to wait a little longer."

"Malgam…"

"Are you worried about her? Don't be. Frost won't lose to a dream."

They were certain of this fact.

However, this was not why Joy was worried.

"… Juwy…"

"… Yeah… But don't worry. Jury… she'll be ok too."

They could not help but remain uncertain because of a certain Beholder.

* * *

A pair of pale ornate doors depicting the five Corrupted birds of the Judgement Affinity opened with a deafening mechanical click. Afterwards, all was silent, including the soft footsteps of a certain white-haired, tiny Amalgam who was painted by the light bleeding through the doors.

A church bell rang within the pale chamber behind the door. It rang at every ten second interval, causing Frost's pale garbs to ripple. The great hall was none other than the Floor of Judgement.

Columns depicting beautiful, holy figures held an arched ceiling. Pale, reflective tiles captured the chamber's majesty in all of its color and glory. It appeared like the surface of a still lake, and Frost half expected ripples to form with each step she took.

Stationed in the center of the room was a throne made purely of white and golden feathers. A staircase led from the bottom to the seat, easily over ten meters tall. It dwarfed Frost, requiring her to tilt her head up to stare into the eyes of the figure perched in its seat.

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"Jury. Mind explaining what you're doing in my dream? And the 'Head'? What's the deal with that?"

The figure draped in a brilliant mantle of white feathers, and wearing a cloak similar to Frost's Coat of Prejudice – only white – smiled innocently as she clasped her hands together.

"So many questions at once. Aren't you tired from walking? Sit, my dear. Come. There is plenty of space atop this throne–"

"–Tell me what you're after. I don't believe it's intended for two people to be put into the same dream."

"Oh? Why do you believe that?"

"Intuition. Purpose is based on the individual. My dream didn't end. I was pointed to come here. To you. The 'Head'."

It was a wild guess, but Frost had a hunch that Jury was not supposed to be here. The dream should have ended when she refused the string. The mention of another 'Head' was already a major red flag.

If there was anyone who could replace her, then it would be Jury.

"Intuition… you placed your faith in intuition. I don't whether I should applaud or act angry on your behalf. Ah! I know~ Come here, and we'll figure it out together! Or, why not just let me figure it out for you. Let me take reign. Be your hands, your feet, your mind…"

"… my fucking soul." Frost spat.

Jury eagerly smiled and nodded.

"Mhm~ Because you'd get hurt. You always get hurt. Wouldn't it be nice to let someone you love take over?"

"So you can get hurt on my behalf?"

Jury cackled. It quickly turned into a maniacal laugh. She let out a long, loose sigh.

"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Noooo. It's impossible for me with the way I am. Picture this, Frost. A version of the Head, with its Angel (me) as the sole harbinger of justice? To trials to wait. No justice to lag. Pure, instinctual judgement based on what we agree with, and what we despise."

"… What the hell are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb. You did it once. The Crowned! Bruning the city down was the foreplay. I plan to bring it to life. Because we both can agree that no cost is too great for the sake of peace. Angels can't do wrong. Are we not of higher origin? New World Angels are so – ooooh so vulnerable – so pure for this world. They should be hidden. You should be too. That way, you can let me take the brunt of it all. I will never have to worry about weighing rights and wrongs either. Is it not a win-win for us both?"

Jury recited as though Frost was already on board. She stepped down from the throne, a hand already reaching towards Frost with utter certainty.

"Is it not ideal? No pain. No thoughts to burden us. You will never have to kill again. And I will never have to lose sleep over a botched operation~"

Frost couldn't believe what she was hearing.

She was right.

This was absolutely not the Jury she knew.

Jury was close enough to touch Frost now. She held out her hand for her to take. Slowly, Frost brought hers close, and readied to take it.

"… Botched operation…?"

"Hmhm~ The War in Grandis, of course! The silly me cried because a few Moons died. Waaah. Waaah… Hehehe… Ah, Frost…? You're looking at me with such dangerous eyes~"

Frost's heart broke upon hearing Jury utter these words. Once again, she had confirmed this was not Jury. But the worst part was that this creature had used Jury's fears and refitted them to fit this twisted role it wished to enact.

Once she had finally come to terms with this, she could now accept that she did not need to hold back anymore. The suppression that held her back buckled as the pressure rose exponentially.

Then, in an instant, it all came out at once.

"Jury… This part of you… I'll kill it on your behalf!"

//////// < WARNING > ////////

< The Will of the Amalgam is resisting the Condition of a Star's Zone of Arbitration >

< CONDITION: Role Application >

< A role which it lives through another >

< EFFECT: Apply a binding role upon those within the 'Audition' of the ??? >

< You are rapidly approaching the First State >

Frost slapped Jury's hand lightly.

There should not have been enough force to move her at all. In fact, Frost herself should have suffered damage.

Instead, Jury's hand moved, and she threw herself back with widened eyes. She had Warped herself away and then glanced down at her hand where a black blemish had formed on where Frost had made contact.

"Ah… Ahaha…. Ahahahahaha! Frost… Frost. Do you truly think you can win? Against me? Against…"

The air changed. Jury's expression remained confident. Her smile never faded. A burst of air rose from beneath her. Her hair rose to the air as its tips became coated in a faint sliver of black.

"Ahhh. Frost. Coaxing me… seducing me. Wanting me to stay safe. Have you not realized? My potential has never been unleashed. The Gift I possess is one of my own. I, Jury, am in one part born from the Light–!"

//////// < EXISTENTIAL WARNING > ////////

< You are in the presence of the closest equivalent to a Star >

< Receiving the name of Jury's title though an unknown channel… >

Jury, the Glimmer, the White Jury

< Condensed Namesake >

White Glimmer Jury

< STATS PENDING >

< Or… Its lesser equivalent, rather >

"–And of the blood of an Angel, the Pale Star Arbiter!"

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