Judgement

Chapter 24: Judgement

"People hasten to judge in order not to be judged themselves."

― Albert Camus, The Fall

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[Previously]

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Gikko was surprised at first but calmed down and said, "Lord apostle, this one is named Gikko of the mountain tribe. It is an honor to serve the apostle." He kneeled as he greeted Lord Lucian.

Oh yeah he was talking about our lord being some God's apostle wasn't he.

Our lord just smiled at this and told him to get up.

Then he looked at the direction they were fighting and raised his eyebrows.

He then turned to us and said, "Well it looks like I am needed somewhere. Least something unfortunate happens."

He then stood up and disappeared in an instant. Leaving all of us gaping at his exit.

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Year 1212, 19th day of the 6th month – Aerenloir Temple

[Lucian's POV]

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As I teleported towards the fighting and shouting, I saw a very mad Celine. Sigh… It has been long since I saw her in that state.

Usually she is a very carefree and sweet girl, well a bit annoying too but I suppose that's how little sisters are supposed to be like.

I chuckled at the thought.

I then saw her bringing down that god forsaken heavy blade of hers. Sigh… I teleported right next to her and moved my mana to dispel all her murderous intent and aura leakage.

Color me impressed! The girl even learned how to manifest her aura. Julian must have trained her really hard, during the time I was connected in the ethereal realm.

I don't know what happened during my absence on the corporeal realm but I do have some tidbits from Lobira's explanation.

Speaking of the black blubber he was awake after the second day of the fusion… Just been lazing in my shadow the entire time.... this little bugger…

Well moving on I gently rubbed Celine's hand with my thumb, to let her know everything was okay. Only to be met with numerous eyes of disbelief and my name being called out loud. Sigh…

"Sorry to make you all worried". I smiled at them and said, "I am back. And we can catch up in a bit."

I looked towards the old lady on her knees. My eyes lost the calmness I always try to have.

I had to use huge amount of my mana to block my intent to kill her right there and then.

I am powerful, I am peace loving and I would take the pacifist way if it works but I am no fool.

But I need to keep calm to make things right for the future. Just throwing magic left and right and killing everyone who annoys me and wronged me won't solve anything. Not to mention I cannot fight a whole country by myself anyways.

So, I started to think the best course of action, that will get me what I want and also set me up for my revenge in the future.

Yes, an eye for an eye will make the world go blind. But you will be a blind idiot rotting under the earth, if you let people who already betrayed you once to go scot free.

I thought up a plan. It's a hasty one but that will do, as I have no other choice.

I kept my stoic face and released my mana in a rhythm. It's a way to pressure the norm.

I kept staring at the old priestess and called Mavis, "Mavis, block the entrance of all sound and seal it up with counter sonar field."

"Sir Julian unarm all the men and wake up the most important one among them. Leave the rest on one side."

""As you wish your highness!""

And they soon finished their tasks and I nodded in approval.

Then I molded my magic to create a throne from the ground and took my seat.

"Mavis, report!"

"Yes your majesty! In front of you stands, one of the greatest traitors to the phoenix blood, the priestess who was given the noble duty to serve the Aerenloir Temple, Gerda Purplewing."

I heard of her but I am not totally sure of their betrayals. So I just had to ask,

"Read out their crimes."

"As you wish.

Gerda Purplewing of the Purplewing clan, Sworn Loyalty to the great dynasty of the phoenixes 54 years before their destruction.

And were given the most noble duty to guard the temple of Aerenloir as show of trust to their loyalty, by the great Vermillion Clan.

Their first offence being,

Helping the 'blood traitor' by providing him the sacred treasure of Aerenloir Temple. Found guilty. Punishment: Eradication of Clan.

Second offence,

Betraying the trust of the Vermillions and Blackhawks, by providing shelter and then murdering almost every refuge in their sleep, including babies, unarmed women, children and the elderly. Found guilty with witness present right here. Punishment: Eradication of Clan and soul torment of the head of Purplewing in Reincarnation flames.

Third offence,

Leaked the news to the Ravenbeaks to hunt the remaining members of the above mentioned clans. Found guilty. Punishment: Death.

Overall evaluation,

The above mentioned crimes are direct crimes of the Purplewing Clan and not individual and the preferred punishment to be eradication of their bloodline and tarnish their name for years to come!"

Mavis finished with all the hate in his voice. This will be a problem. Even I am having trouble keeping a calm mind. These people are traitors of my blood...

I need to fix his part first or their might be consequences.

"Mavis."

"Yes my lord?"

"For the judgement up next, I order you as your king to stop your emotions. And do not object or mistrust on me, your king. And your queries will be answered afterwards."

"But of course your highness. Your word is law to me. I will keep my emotions in check till the hearing and judgement is over."

"Very well." I nodded at him with a smile. Mavis might be a fanatic and that is also one of the reasons he is totally loyal.

I turned back to the woman kneeling and I started.

Man will be called a hypocrite or a monster in the years to come.

"Gerda Purplewing,

Your and your clan's crimes have come to light,

Do you object?"

She seemed to struggle a lot but at the end she just nodded having no strength to say anything.

"I will take that as a yes. Now for my judgement! I believe here is everyone from your clans upper echelon?"

She seemed to perk up a bit and after a bit of hesitation she nodded.

I couldn't but smirk at her to which she shuddered. She thinks I am just some average wizard by looking at my age. Sigh… But it sure will come in handy down the road.

I walked upto her and molded a wind blade to cut her finger for some blood to pour out.

I started chanting in runic,

|| De Kha ao Rok Ko to Re Kha||

<Sagacity Art: Revelation of Descendants>

Soon in my mind I could see the people around light up except for one man and I could sense a lot more outside the cave and two signs very far away, might not even be on the hold, and one even further away so far that it seemed that being wasn't in the country.

I could hear gasp from Julian, Mavis and Axel. And they should, as everyone in the known world knows the simple blood relation magic but that is only used, to identify a person's lineage. Mostly City guards use it to check if the person is who he is claiming to be.

By comparing with the bloodline signatures given to every city with the bloodline of every noble clan in allied countries. Or just any rich idiot can come and claim to be a lord.

But the sage art literally just showed me all the 'Living' relatives of the priestess.

But I need to sort out the stronger bloodlines to know which are just the main clansmen.

So I channeled my mana and made it more specified.

In the cave 3 lights lit up showing the old woman, the little girl and the man that was forced to wake. Outside the cave there were 2 woman, 1 late teen and one toddler.

Interesting. The toddler had as strong a bloodline as the little girl.

Normally one generation would never bear two such strong bloodlines. I smell bullshit.

There is one more that is almost as strong as the 2 here, and that one is the one outside the country.

Well I will deal with this the best I can.

"Well I sense two women outside the cave and a little boy not more than three and a boy in his late teen."

The priestess was horrified. She would have never in her mind think that a kid in front of her was a sage. Sigh! That is why showing off is never good and can be used to catch your enemies unprepared. I think I understand your words more Master.

I looked at Julian and sent some mana in his mind to show him their location. He nodded and left and came back with 3 people in a jiffy.

This old man really understands what to do.

The newly brought people seemed scared and they should be. They were all bound with aura chains.

They just looked at me and saw their Priestess kneeling. Which made them even more scared.

And I started my hypocrisy,

"I, Lucian Franzer the successor of the Vermillion clan, now pass my judgement to you the Purplewing Clan, for your horrific crimes!

I sentence your whole clan to servitude under my name for as long as the blood of Purplewing lives. || Rok ko to Bod dho||

I sentence the Purplewing blood unable to defy my order, unable to question my order, unable to leak my order without my knowledge and approval. || Rok ko to Ad esh||

The Purplewing Blood will not be able to communicate in anyway be it writing, speaking, signs or use of magic to reveal information about myself to outsiders intentionally or unintentionally unless I let them. || Rok ko to Hu ku Um||

And the Purplewing Clan will give their heir as an offering to their new Master as his servant to rectify the crimes of his(heir's) clan. || Bod dho||

Finally, I complete this judgement as the mentioned above as a contract and the breaker of contract shall eradicate the whole bloodline for one offence to the said contract. ||Chu uk ti Sho om pur No||

And a grand magic was cast with the last runes in place.

<Sagacity Arts: Bloodline Contract>

I could feel the magic leaving my body like a broken dam. If it was the me from before fusing with Lobira I would have died casting this but now… Even I am amazed at myself.

The old woman looked horrified. The people who were around looked indignant. And wanted to protest but remembering the last words they became pale.

As all living Purplewing could feel a tug on their bloodline. It was a shackle of runes that will not be broken unless the caster was killed.

They all got an understanding of their bloodline limitation in their mind and the old woman's eyes seemed to shine in understanding.

I smirked as I noticed. Oh seems like she found the loophole in the contract, I hope the bastard out the country has at least the same level of intelligence and shows up soon.

I could see Mavis's eyes opened wide in indignation but he controlled his emotions remembering what I asked of him earlier. I smiled.

The old woman thought a bit and then turned to me and bowed.

"Master I greet you and thank you for showing us mercy. But,"

She was trying to find proper words so it will not break the contract.

"The heir to Purplewing is only 2-and-a-half-year-old this day, I beseech our master to not take a child that young as your direct servant…

It's better if you take terry here, who is the son of the second wife of the clan head, and also of the direct bloodline."

Heh, this old lady sure knew how to play the game.

But I can't let her have her way now can I…

"Very well I will not take the two-year-old heir as he will just be a burden to me either way. As for this… Terry, yes? It's better you use him for some political marriage, that might make him useful."

I grinned after saying that and the old crone understood why I said so, she was horrified and wanted to protest, but shut her mouth with her hands.

I smiled at her.

"With the bloodline magic earlier I sense that there is one more direct blood of the Purplewing right here." As I turn my head to the young woman laying unconsciousness on the ground. "I decree, her to be my personal maid till she is no longer able to carry her duty, meaning death."

The middle aged man wanted to shout but his mouth was stitched with magic by the old priestess.

I got up from my makeshift throne. It was really tiring playing the tyrant but I can't kill them all right now. I just don't have the weight to back up after the deed. And not to mention the loose piece...

I started walking towards the exit of the cave as my party started following me, the kids and Spike has also caught up during the judgement.

While I was passing the now severely exhausted priestess, who looked she was at the brink of death. I said my last sentence with a smile.

"There are a lot of people inside the clan without Purplewing blood. Hope you will be alright, and not accidentally let the cats out the bag."

I smiled and started walking again. Leaving a horrified almost skeletal figure in my wake.

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