The moment the Colonel finished speaking there was an uproar in the stands. Several factions began murmuring amongst one another and sending questioning gazes at all three parties. The sound of a wooden gavel going off did nothing to quiet people.

Mark searched the crowds for their people and found Ethel and Karter sitting on the far right side of the chamber.

They were as close as they could get to Lisa's group without stepping into the main area.

Jonathan saw them too and cut a path through the spectators to get to them.

Karter was staring daggers at Liam Grantwood when Ethel saw them arrive. She smiled her usual reassuring smirk and drew Jonathan into a hug.

Mark was surprised to see Shelby sitting behind them quietly. He nodded to them all in turn and smiled at Mark when their eyes met.

Mark responded to the greeting and turned back to Ethel, but Sam got there first.

"We're back, we're here. What can we do?"

Ethel's face was a mix of fondness and shame.

"I'm afraid our options are limited. They've already presented all their evidence. Now everyone just has to weigh in. But at this stage, I don't know how much good it'll do."

Karter looked away from the front and rubbed Sam's hair.

"It's all up to Major General Faustus in the end. He's a fair man, I just hope he hasn't changed too much from when I knew him."

Mark frowned as he remembered the conversation he'd had with Jason. This was the man who'd lost his daughters to the fall. The fact that he was still standing was a testament to his strength. But that was no guarantee that he'd rule in their favor

The gavel came down again, but this time an emotionless voice accompanied it.

"Silence." The general's voice cut through the chamber, final and unyielding.

"We will proceed. Each side may nominate one final witness to speak on their behalf. After that, the vote will be held. I will then issue my final ruling, but as it currently stands I see no need to exile anyone. Colonel Rachel Brown, who will be representing the religious district? The Colonel nodded and extended an open hand toward Yasha.

"General, Yasha Reinhardt will represent the religious district."

The man in question stepped forward, his long white robes flowing as he lowered his head in deference. His expression was solemn, yet his voice carried effortlessly through the chamber.

"It is an honor to speak before you once more, though I regret that it is under such grievous circumstances. General, you must understand— the destruction wrought by their desperate attempt to usurp my position did not end at the doors of my church."

He let the words settle, scanning the room as though the weight of the revelation pained him.

"In their reckless bid to escape judgment, they injured and killed countless innocents—devout men and women from churches across the city, people who had placed their faith in peace and order."

Yasha lifted a hand to his lips as if suppressing a tremor, his voice tightening. Still, he pressed on.

"This was not merely an attack on me. It was an attack on the heart of our city. As you well know, we of the religious district provide most of the healing services within these walls. But now, with so many of our faithful lost, our hands are too few… and our grief too great."

He took a measured breath, letting his next words carry the full weight of his implication.

"Until Patricia Williams is returned to us, the healing process—both spiritual and physical—cannot begin. Only then will we be able to mend what has been broken."

Fresh murmurs spread throughout the room as the implication of what he said sunk in.

The whole display felt rehearsed and Mark's nostrils flared as he gripped his seat.

Were they suggesting what he thought they were?

Did they plan to hold the city hostage?

The religious district had already been coercing people into signing agreements, and with the healer's house severely understaffed, many were already going without care. If they cut off public healing entirely, the city would be in a difficult situation.

Mark was glaring daggers at the man, but it wasn't until Sam's hand dropped onto his knee and her Mana moved to suppress his that he realized his emotions had gotten the better of him.

He swallowed hard, forcing himself to rein it in, but the moment hadn't gone unnoticed.

From the stand, Lisa's eyes flicked toward them. For an instant, her usual cocky glare surfaced—only to be replaced by a solemn expression Mark had never seen on her before. Others in the crowd had taken notice as well, murmurs stirring through the chamber.

Jonathan, however, straightened his spine and met their gazes head-on.

Major General Faustus had not looked happy when Yasha had finished speaking, but he looked over to their side now with equal measure of disapproval.

"What is going on? Should I have you lot removed from the proceedings?"

Nathan glanced at them and in his usual monotone voice addressed the General.

"Not at all you honor. Our side just couldn't wait to speak. We nominate Ethel Wilson as our representative."

Mark slumped at Nathan's quick thinking and Ethel stood promptly. Moving to stand beside NAS.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

She looked around the room as they gave her their full attention and just when it looked like the general was about to speak she began.

"Your Honor, the first time I encountered the leaders of NAS, it was not under the best of circumstances. But time and again, they have proven themselves to have the people's best interests at heart. When my grandson and I faced hardship, Lisa Howl offered us protection, without any obligation to do so.

She paused to look back at Jonathan and then up at the general.

"I do not speak to you today as one saved and grateful. I speak to you as a leader of one of the city's fastest-growing factions, a leader who understands the stakes. Exiling these two individuals would be a grave disservice to this city. You may impose other punishments, but removing them as protectors would condemn us all to ruin.

Yes, their methods may seem unconventional, even strange, but their presence is essential. The stability of this city depends on them. To cast them out would not only be a blow to those they protect but to the very future of this city itself."

The room was silent as Ethel finished and Mark had to say he was impressed with the woman again. Her ability to take a situation and break it down into bite-sized pieces may have just saved them. If the General's face was anything to go by. He showed nothing more than a frown as he rubbed his chin, but that was more than he had done since they'd arrived.

The chamber was a lull of conversation, but Yasha rose above the rest.

"Of that I'm sure, Their achievements are many, therefor perhaps some leniency is in order. Our Ideals teach us to forgive, however, Mrs. Partrica must come back with us to right her wrongs within the church."

Colonel Rachel Brown shot the man a betrayed scowl but before she could say anything the General spoke now with a frigid tone.

"I have heard what you had to say, Mr. Reinhardt. If there is another outburst from anyone, I will have them removed! However, I must take the city's laws into account, and both witnesses had fair points. Seeing as Miss Lisa Howl and Mr. Nathan Moore do hold prominent positions, I'm inclined to let them off with a warning. However the same cannot be said for Miss Patrica Williams, she is part of their religious…"

Mark could see the guillotine falling. If Patrica were forced to go back there, then her Ideal would be subsumed by the other religions, possibly even Yasha himself.

Lisa and Nathan's demeanors shifted dangerously as they glanced around the room.

The ruling wasn't made yet but it seemed inevitable until Ethel turned by to look at them. Mark shot her a questioning look but her eyes were not on him, they had fallen behind him to Shelby, who nodded.

The quiet man stood up in the middle of the courtroom causing Major General Faustus pause.

He looked towards them with a scowl.

"Sit down young man. I won't have my ruling questioned or these proceedings interrupted any further."

"Your honor if I may-" Shelby began.

"You may not! That is enough out of all of you. Colonel, have that entire section removed!"

Colonel Rachel Brown nodded and turned to Jason.

"With pleasure general, Captain Price escort The Order of the Sage out!"

Soldiers streamed into the room from all around them as though waiting for the signal. No sooner had this happened than all of them were standing ready for a fight. Jonathan's Aura rushed out to meet the numerous competitors. His power dwarfed every one of them, but they were outnumbered here.

Jason was standing but he hadn't moved to follow his order even as his backup arrived.

There was a frown on his face and he glared at Mark who held his gaze as he got ready to lower a construct over them all.

Jason's eyes flicked to the general and back to them before his fists clenched.

"...I'm sorry Colonel, I cannot follow this order."

The room froze, as did all the soldiers he was spearheading.

The Colonel finally seemed to find herself.

"You what?"

"Colonel, excuse me, general, you're not looking at the big picture. Do you fully understand what these people are capable of?"

The general's voice cut through the whispers that had started in the corners.

"Captain, you are disobeying a direct order. You surely know what the repercussions will be."

Jason swallowed but turned to look at the man

"General, I ask again, are you aware of just how powerful these two individuals you have on the stand are? Not read in a report. Have you actually seen what they can do? If they were to decide they didn't like your ruling, how many men do you think here would die?"

This caused the general to stand up.

"Order needs to be maintained, as a soldier you should know this!!"

Jason faced the man head-on.

"That's what I'm trying to do General! I am trying to keep everyone here safe, from you! Laws should serve people, not the other way around! I have fought with these people, I know what they are capable of. I don't want to have to watch more of my brothers and sisters die on that wall because you are operating with old information. As I've seen there are far more dangerous threats outside these walls, and fighting each other won't help. Now if they are offering a solution, I am begging you, hear them out…Sir…"

As Jason spoke, the whispers had gradually faded, and for a few brief seconds, the room was as silent and still as a morgue.

Major General Faustus held Captain Price's gaze for a log while, the air cracking with something more than Aura.

With a sigh, the general sat back in his chair and turned to look at Shelby.

"Captain, you and I will have a conversion later, but for now I will hear this man out."

Shelby nodded nervously to the general as Shelby spoke.

"Thank you, Your Honor. I can see you're in a difficult position, so I won't take up much of your time. With the recent failure of the religious districts to provide healing to the masses, one of my Pillars, Mark Young, took it upon himself to establish a clinic large and secure enough to shelter half the city's injured. I am pleased to announce that this clinic has officially opened today and will be staffed by my entire faction, should he permit it. Suffice it to say, we will be able to treat twice the number of patients in a day that the entire religious district could handle in a week."

Mark's eyes narrowed at this news, the clinic still had over a week of construction when he had left, but if that was the case then the religious district's demands held no weight anymore.

But the air still hung heavy as the General leaned forward.

"And who are you exactly?"

"Me? My name is Shelby Miller, your honor"

The General's eyes narrowed as he scrunched his nose.

You're the leader of that fringe religion that worships the unknown structure in our midst. Your faction's name was not in the dossier "

Shelby nodded.

"We previously preferred to remain nameless, but recently we threw our lot in with the Order of the Sage

"Why would you do that? From what I've heard your numbers are already in the thousands" The general frowned.

Shelby smiled and shrugged.

"Simple, from what I've gathered they helped to bring the spire to our city. If I'm to throw my lot in with anyone it has to be them. As one of its tenders and chosen, I must follow by their example…"

The whole room erupted into chaos as people began launching questions at the man.

Mark shot Shelbey a foul look, but then he heard a ding from the system, as though it were waiting for the perfect time to announce itself. The prompt opened of its own accord and glowed gold in front of Mark's eyes, causing him to frown.

All it took was a glance around to see that everyone had gotten the same message.

Caretaker's authority: World conduits have been revealed.

Information from the First Rite has been released to the public and is available on the World Map.

Open: Yes/No

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