Chapter 10 Part 7
The Great Hall of the Grand Temple was tense, filled with high-ranking priests, the Holy King, and the Saintess. A priest who had witnessed everything from the observatory stood up.
“We must detain the heir of Mahart!”
“Indeed. He is undoubtedly a monster disguised as a human.”
Everyone was insisting on imprisoning Aksion. The Holy King remained silent, listening to their opinions.
“The Emperor of Mahart is here.”
A priest announced the guest from beyond the door. Soon, the Emperor entered the hall.
“It’s been a long time, Holy King.”
“May the blessings of the gods be upon you. Please, take a seat here.”
With a formal greeting, the Emperor took an empty seat. The current heir of Mahart was subject to trial by the Grand Temple. Originally, evil matters were under the temple’s jurisdiction. If innocence wasn’t proven there, Mahart would have to pay a fitting penalty.
“The heir of Mahart has transformed into a monster.”
“Yes. I swear before the gods, it is true without any falsehood.”
The Emperor, although previously informed, needed to reconfirm this grave matter. It was significant enough for him to participate in a trial at the temple he usually avoided. After a long pause in thought, the silent Saintess spoke.
“If handling this is difficult, why not let them defend themselves?”
“What do you mean?” the Holy King asked. As all eyes turned to her, Sharon smiled.
“Bring them in.”
She commanded her attendant priests. Soon, Elia and Aksion entered, followed by Duke Tartan. The Holy King, flustered, reprimanded the Saintess.
“Bringing the accused into the hall?”
“They are not yet proven guilty, are they?”
“Still…”
The Holy King hesitated. Among the accused was the princess of Mahart, and speaking too freely in front of the Emperor was unwise. The Saintess stood up and looked down at Elia.
“Princess Elia, this priest testified that the heir of Mahart has turned into a monster. Is that true?”
“He did change, but he is not a monster.”
Elia immediately countered. Sharon narrowed her eyes and smiled.
“Then what is he? His form looked monstrous to everyone.”
Everyone in the square had witnessed the black dog-like shape with their own eyes. Amid unprecedented monster attacks on the capital, Aksion could only appear monstrous. However…
“Aksion is not a monster. Monsters vanish upon contact with holy power. He harbors holy power, the ability to control darkness.”
It was true Aksion possessed black magic. However, Elia’s power and his holy power could suppress the darkness.
‘He retained consciousness when he transformed.’
That consciousness was undoubtedly Aksion’s. He had reverted to his original form at Elia’s command. Any power, if controlled, posed no threat. Elia’s argument stirred the hall. It was true the heir’s body contained holy power.
“Hmm.”
Sharon tilted her head, then clapped as if struck by a good idea.
“How about this? Let the heir of Mahart be consigned to the temple, under my guardianship.”
“That’s…!”
Several were shocked. Consignment meant a leash, a life of humiliation. Those marked for consignment lived in perpetual subservience, suffering immense pain if they disobeyed orders. The heir of the northern empire’s greatest family consigned to the temple was unprecedented.
The Holy King deliberated. The Imperial family might not find the Saintess’s suggestion unfavorable.
‘The princess was a bigger issue than the heir.’
The Emperor’s presence was actually because of the imperial descendants, not just Mahart. If the heir was consigned to the temple, he would bear all the guilt. Consequently, the princess would be absolved. The discussion took a peculiar turn, and the onlookers’ eyes shifted to Duke Tartan.
“Duke of Mahart, what do you think?”
“I agree with the Saintess.”
His answer caused a stir. Despite the lack of clear guilt, this confirmed rumors of discord between the duke and the heir. The heir remained silent, leaving Elia to step forward.
“Your Majesty, give me a chance. I will prove my husband’s innocence.”
She couldn’t let Aksion be taken without doing anything. The Emperor pondered, then decided.
“I give you a fortnight. Provide proof that the heir of Mahart can control the darkness.”
It was a short period, less than a month. Within that time, Elia had to find undeniable evidence that Aksion was not a monster. Before she could respond, the Emperor added.
“Furthermore, if you fail, the Imperial family will also hold you accountable.”
The observers were surprised. They had expected the Emperor to protect Elia. However, she understood his intention.
‘He plans to completely bind me through this opportunity.’
To make her a more manageable asset.
“I will comply.”
Elia accepted the Emperor’s decree. Thus, the Grand Temple trial was postponed for about two weeks. Elia glanced around, her violet eyes shining. She saw lines of black thread, like spider webs, connecting the priests and Sharon. The priests were being manipulated along those lines.
‘I feel like I’ve entered a spider’s lair.’
The great queen spider waited for Elia to step into the cave with her mouth open. Sharon, smiling as if she knew what Elia was seeing, asked.
“So, how will you find the evidence, Princess?”
Elia recalled the voice of the goddess, not of light or the empire, but the holy guidance of the desert goddess her tribe worshiped.
‘I must tame the black dog.’
She began to understand the goddess’s intent. People saw Aksion as a threat because he was suspected to be a monster. Monsters were inherently evil, harmful to humans. Therefore…
‘I will make the black dog a sacred being.’
A great protector of the empire, a divine beast.
Elia requested of the Emperor.
“Send us to the boundary of the monsters. There, I will prove Aksion’s worth.”
To show he was not a threat but an indispensable asset to the empire.
* * *
Looking down from the Great Wall, the ground was speckled with tiny black dots.
‘Those are all monsters.’
Elia, standing on the wall, clicked her tongue. The empire’s capital lay to the west. This wall, protecting the capital, had once fallen to a sudden monster attack. Afterward, knights and various houses had driven out the monsters from occupied villages and reclaimed the boundary.
‘But the villages beyond this wall…’
There was no trace left. As Elia swallowed dryly, Fioni and Ibarena approached.
“By nightfall, their numbers will increase.”
“It’s hard to believe, but there used to be even more.”
Fioni and Ibarena had been the first to respond when the capital was invaded by monsters. They had been able to act swiftly thanks to prior notice from Elia. She had shared information with them through correspondence.
Reclaiming the wall had been their doing. Without them, the capital’s boundary would have suffered more.
“You both did well.”
“It’s what we had to do. Thanks to your warning, we were able to prepare quickly.”
Elia expressed her gratitude. Ibarena then showed concern.
“Are you really sure about this?”
Her gaze fell on Aksion behind Elia. Fioni, aware of the plan, also looked worried. Elia shared their concern, but she had to proceed.
‘I have to.’
She steeled herself, reminding herself to trust in him and in herself. In an hour, Aksion would have to fight the monsters alone.
