The courtroom fell into murmurs and whispers, a storm of uncertain voices stirring beneath a veil of silence. The Judge sat frozen. The only thing she could do now—after what she had just lost—was swing her hammer.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
All eyes snapped to her. Except Solas. His gaze never left her. And Vargra—she was still watching him. Not the Judge. Him.
The Judge raised a hand over her mouth, coughing quietly before lowering it, steeling herself to speak. She dared not acknowledge Solas' words. To do so would invite another blow—one she knew she could not match. So, she did the only thing she could: push the trial forward.
"Eirianwen," she said, turning her attention to the white-haired elf and gesturing lightly with her hand, "please proceed with the case."
Eirianwen gave a subtle nod and looked down at the documents in her hands. Her voice was clear and calm, though firm: "He did not resist arrest, but he did speak against Commanding Knight Vaelira."
A soft murmur of disapproval echoed among the council and the Judge.
Eirianwen lifted her gaze to the Judge, awaiting direction.
The Judge gave a curt nod. "Proceed."
She continued: "As they departed the village and made their way toward the capital, they were ambushed by goblins. Knight Vaelira reacted swiftly and established formation to counter the attack." She paused, then gestured toward a knight seated beside Vaelira.
"Knight Selin was injured in the battle."
The Judge brought down her hammer with a single, sharp strike. She turned her gaze to Selin. "Is this true?"
Selin gave a respectful nod. "Yes."
The Judge then turned back to Eirianwen, her tone sharp but steady. "Continue."
And so she did.
"While she was injured, Vaelira and the uninjured knights were being overrun by goblins." Her voice grew heavier, the tone more solemn. "As they were overwhelmed, Selin stood at death's very door… until she was saved."
She paused—then said clearly:
"By the man who stands before you."
A ripple of shock swept through the chamber. A man saving the life of a knight? Here? Unheard of. Unbelievable.
The council members broke into hushed whispers, their expressions twisted with disbelief. The knights and wardens stirred—conflicted. Some frowned, others looked toward Solas, their suspicion beginning to blur into something else. Respect. Curiosity.
The Judge's fingers clenched around the hammer. She slammed it down to silence the room.
Bang!
Her voice rasped with irritation as she turned to Selin, "Is what she speaketh true?"
Selin nodded. "Yes. What she speaks is true. That man saved my life."
Vaelira gave her own nod, firm and unapologetic. "He helped us push the goblins back."
Her voice carried weight. And just like that, the tide turned.
The council fell into stunned silence, some gasping, others visibly recoiling. The knights leaned in, now genuinely intrigued. Some even looked as if they wished to speak with Solas themselves.
The Judge snarled under her breath, her jaw tightening as her fingers curled tightly around the hammer. She let out a bitter laugh, laced with sarcasm.
"You must be joking."
Selin shook her head calmly. "No. We speak the truth," she said, gesturing toward Vaelira. "And so does she."
The Judge's grip trembled. She wanted nothing more than to slam the hammer down and sentence the man to death on the spot. But she couldn't—not yet. Not while truth stood against her.
Her only remaining hope was that the rest of the document might tip the scales back in her favor.
With a tense and irritated tone, she said, "Please. Finish the report."
Eirianwen gave a respectful nod, lowering her eyes back to the parchment.
"While Solas aided the knights in repelling the goblins," she read, "an orc emerged amidst the chaos and claimed a civilian life."
The Judge's lips curled faintly, pleased—finally something to use against him.
But her satisfaction was short-lived.
"But," Eirianwen continued, unfazed, "Solas acted swiftly, helping Commanding Knight Vaelira bring the creature down. In her words: 'If it weren't for him, we would have lost that day.'"
She lowered the document and let out a soft sigh, visibly tired—worn from everything that had unraveled around her.
The judge leaned forward, her voice unsteady, almost anxious. "I-Is that all…?"
Eirianwen nodded. "Yes. That is all that was recorded. The rest details his compliance and the journey back to the capital."
The judge began to sweat, her plans unraveling right before her. Her gaze darted around the chamber, desperate for support. Then her eyes locked onto Revek.
Her tone sharpened with urgency. "Head Revek. Surely… there must've been problems when dealing with him?"
Revek's reply was flat, unmoved.
"No. He caused no trouble. He took punishment from me without resistance."
The judge's fingers trembled, unsure how to regain control. Some council members shifted uncomfortably, their disgust plain. To them, Solas' deeds didn't matter—he was still a man, a lowkin. The very fact he stood in this chamber was insult enough.
When court began, the entire room was poised against him. The snakes had circled, ready to strike. But something had changed—like an eagle flaring its wings, scattering the serpents in confusion and fear.
The judge could take no more. Humiliated. Undermined. Cornered.
She slammed her hammer down.
Bang!
"Enough!" she roared. "This will be heard no more! He is of lowkin! The lowest one can be!" Her voice cracked with rage. "He is not to be defended. He is not to be praised!"
Her eyes shot toward Rowena.
"You… you are a disgrace to this kingdom. For siding with him—you shall be hanged!"
Then, she turned her fury toward Solas.
"You stand here like a smear on marble—a blemish among nobles. You are not to be praised. You are to be erased."
She pointed at him, her hand trembling.
But Solas—he merely smiled. A faint, knowing curve of his lips.
In a calm, weighty voice, he spoke: "You really shouldn't show your emotions like that. It makes you look… unworthy of your position."
The judge's face twisted. She bit down in rage and slammed her hammer down again, the crack echoing like a thunderclap.
"You shall be—!"
But her words were sliced short.
Vargra's voice cut through the tension like a blade of ice.
Everyone turned. Her presence alone silenced the room.
She spoke softly, but her tone held a chilling edge: "You speak of him as if he committed a crime. Yet I see none that he has."
The judge flinched. "V-Vargra, you—"
Vargra raised her hand, silencing her without a word. She turned her eyes to Solas, studying him.
"He seems of great use," she said, more to herself than anyone else. "Perhaps not to you… but to me."
Her expression remained unreadable. "I like him. And I want him under my care."
She turned back to the judge, her pale grey eyes narrowing like a tightening noose.
"As for the bed incident," she added, "I'll deal with him… personally."
The judge shook, her voice laced with disbelief. "This is against the law—he is of lowkin. He hath already broken the law simply by being present!"
Vargra's voice turned colder, more deliberate. "And what of it? He has proven his worth to me. I see potential in him. Should he act out of line, I will deal with him thoroughly."
The judge trembled. She couldn't stand against Vargra—not now. Not after what had unfolded. Solas had not only won the case, but had planted seeds of doubt and unrest within the courtroom itself. Within the kingdom's very foundation.
It was as if he had awakened something in them all—and those who rejected it wanted nothing more than to see that change silenced.
With a sigh of defeat, the judge nodded. "Then… so be it."
She slammed her hammer onto the stand.
"You, Solas, are hereby freed of all charges, and will be placed under the watchful eye and care of Commander Vargra."
A soft smile crept onto Solas' lips. "You will not regret this. I intend to bring great change to this kingdom."
He paused—then offered the final piece.
"I am aware of your goblin troubles. I can assist you. Thoroughly."
The court fell silent.
Vaelira's eyes widened—how did he know? The goblin issue wasn't classified, but neither was it public knowledge. Not something a mere man, especially of lowkin, should have known.
But Vargra only smiled, her fascination deepening.
She wanted to see just how much Solas could truly offer.