I asked Jack what was the purpose of this hearing. He explained that Lissette had meddled with destiny. She had manipulated certain events and fled to the underverse. Verspera snarled, "The underverse is the guardian's personal quarters. If she has been living there. She better have permission or she will be beheaded. If she has invoked the sanctuary clause then this trial is a waste of time. Which means unless you can give us a valid reason. If you can't present one then we have the right to hurt you anyway we see fit" Desdemon asked silkily, "My dearest. Did you ask for sanctuary from the guardian?" Lissette answered as though she was gasping for air, "I requested for sanctuary and the guardian granted it." Ariel whined, "Then this court hearing is pointless. I asked the judge to cancel this hearing and send her back to the underverse" the ladies on the right concurred. The ones on the left were curious. Jetta asked him what ulterior motives convinced him to enter restricted space. He flustered as he tried to come up with a plausible answer. He only managed a splutter. I banged the gavel a few times, "Answer her or I will find someone who will turn you inside out." the ones on the left cackle loudly. When I raised a finger the laughter died down immediately he answered, "She had betrayed the code of honor. She had the ability to stop a great terror which was unleashed to destroy all the realms. It didn't care about the light or the dark. She made some sort of deal. To seal the deal she cast a spell by sacrificing both of her eyes and nails. She disappeared into underverse. I didn't see her make any deals with the guardian"
I asked him if this terror was still roaming around destroying anything. He didn't answer. The ones on the right prodded. He didn't say anything. The ones on the left asked with a hint of rage. I took a deep breath and asked which one of these ladies can turn his insides into liquid. I heard people talking in a hushed tone then Desdemon volunteered and he responded, "The threat has renounced its campaign. He is helping to maintain the peace and stability of the realms." Everyone yelled at him. Lissette was officially recognized as the architect of the peace. The ladies ordered released Lissette from the trial without pressing charges. I asked the Verspera to take Jack to inflict some serious punishment for wasting people's precious time. I heard complaints from the others. I slammed the gavel, "After she is done. You each take him in turn and the last to get him can kill him." A round of applause later I removed the sash and watched as everyone left. Jack reminded everyone that I haven't ended the hearing. He waved a hand and a black velvet box floated from the floor. It dissolved to show a crystal goblet. He explained that the chalice is filled with proof. He made it clear once I saw what was conspired. She will be punished and consequences be damned.
I extended my hand to grab the chalice but Verspera beat me to it. She stared at it. I asked her to hand it over since any information discovered can't be used as leverage. She gave me the crystal goblet and explained the rules. I was the judge because I was the innocent that she had wronged somehow. The law dictates I am the one who judges in the matters. I was flabbergasted. She explained that this goblet could contain evidence of misconduct or nonsense. But regardless of the consequences it is imperative that we all know the truth. I was curious. How I wronged. What did she do. I need answers. I raised the goblet to my lips and Lissette cried out. She begged me not to drink it. If I do then there is no going back. She did what she did because it is the only way. I raised the glass to her health and drank it as quickly as possible. I fell to the floor and had seizures as I watched as the room spun like a top. A black dot appeared and started sucking the room from the middle. I was able to get up when I was completely surrounded by darkness.
A silver door opened and I saw people of every realm fighting a man wearing dragon armor. He was leading an army that left destruction at its wake. Reality was being unmade. The guardian was summoned to fix it. The seer walked forward and challenged him to single combat. He took off his helmet. The helmet came off and Tiberius came into view. He explained that his code forbade him from fighting women. The woman retorted, "Don't you impale women. Are you scared you are going to lose." He snarled before accepting. He raised his thick sword. She struck and he blocked. He strikes and she has to take a step back. She got bored and used magic to flip him on his back. She grabbed his head and flinched. What she saw had convinced her to arrest him. The army stopped fighting and started to retreat. She took him to a tent and started talking. They spent an hour talking before she showed him something. This convinced him to stop renouncing the assault. The army began to dissolve into mist. The queens all applauded as he surrendered to the service of the guardian. The queen asked if this was the condition of the ceasefire. He explained that it was one of the conditions. While Tiberius was talking to the queens the guardian walked into one of the tents. She heard crying. She fearlessly walked into a tent and snatched a baby from the cradle. She sent her to a different realm. Then she wrote something on a piece of parchment which had her own signature and the signature of the queens light and dark. She removed her eyes and nails then wrapped them in the parchment. She bound it with a single blonde before setting it on fire. The portal opened and she went inside. As Tiberius explained what she had promised him an elderly aid cried out loud, "Someone stole Queen Jetta's daughter." The memory ended.
I asked Lissette where Jetta's daughter was. Lissette hesitated and I asked her to right the wrong. Taking a child from a parent is wrong no matter what the result. She will reveal the whereabouts immediately or face punishment. She stole a baby. That is injustice by itself. Vespera stared blankly before she answered, "You" I asked, "I beg your pardon?" She answered, "This trial was about an injustice inflicted on you. The memory showed a baby stolen. The child is you." Jetta stared with surprise. She stared at me from head to toe. She retorted, "She looks nothing like my baby." Tristessa rubbed her hands together and blew. Flies came out like an angry cloud. It surrounded me and I felt my skin get hot. Once the pain disappeared I was on the floor. Ariel screamed, "You assaulted the judge." Tristessa countered, "I removed the glamour spell. So what I did was justified." I got up and Jetta screamed with longing and passion, "My baby" I noticed my body felt different but familiar. Marina and Priscilla had to concur that the injustice was reversed. Tristessa snarled and Ariel apologized with respect. She gave her a satisfactory smile before facing me. I explained that I am confused. I was sure this was a mistrial. She is the architect of the peace. Punishing her would have terrible consequences. But what she did afterwards is unforgivable. Thus must be dealt with.
I gave her one chance to redeem herself. She explained, "Morgana sent her familiar to destroy the realms. I had sent her to a prison where she couldn't escape. Morgana decided to retaliate by possessing Tiberius and conjured a magical army. He stopped the fight once I proved to him that he will be reunited with his beloved. He promised servitude in exchange. I was going to the medical tent when I heard you. Your voice triggered a vision. You are the one who resembles his beloved and you are the next guardian. If you were with him then it is possible to make you fall in love with him. Erebus joined the house and she started undoing everything. She was the one who toyed with everyone to begin with. He wants to find peace. The complication is that the ranger is your actual true love. I was interfering in the hopes that you would consider Tiberius instead. I sacrificed my eyes and nails to place a tangible glamour spell just so Morgana la Fey can't find you. The spell will dissipate once the threat is eliminated." I explained that Erebus has nothing to hurt me. The only mishap was that resin pendant which is supposed to stop a switching body spell. It backfired miserably. She owes me a blood debt for saving her from a possession. She turned to face me, "She is Morgana la Fey. I assure you she has an arsenal of spells that can easily block switching bodies. She chose not to use it. I promise you that she has nefarious intentions." I explained the blood debt she owes me so I will be careful. She promised me that it is temporary. Once the debt is paid in full she will make things worse. I explained that if she betrays me then I will find a way to unmake her. She wasn't happy. I explained that I am not evicting someone from Tenebrae mansion just because she has problems with her. Unless I see any proof I am keeping her. Jetta applauded.
Jack asked if I could rule that the title of guardian was transferred to him or someone in his line. I smiled, "I am the guardian. I have no authority to transfer the title to anyone. Destiny chooses. You have united me with my mother but that doesn't excuse the fact that you went into the restricted zone without permission. You trespassed into my personal property. While Lissette will be reprimanded. You will be punished too." I waved my hands and Lissette got her eyes and nails back and she was sent back to Tenebrae mansion. I mentioned that I almost sent her to Helios Zenith. She explained that Morgan's familiar was trapped there. Her name is Elowan Yew. She can't get out unless someone else takes her place. I told her that I am going to send Erebus to prison if she is what Lissette says she is. Verspera raised a hand, "which prison? You have to be specific." I explained the Grimoire mentioning an iron maiden which siphoned energy from witches. They can be used like a battery to charge wards. If Erebus betrays me in any way then I will stuff her in the iron maiden. She will live there till the end of time. Desdemon asked me with delight, "You have seen the Grimoire of Tigres." I nod my head. She grinned, "May I see it please?" I explained that I don't have permission to hand it over. She countered, "I could come with you to Tenebrae mansion and skim through the pages." Jetta snarled, "That book is off limits for a reason. Don't push your luck." Desdemon stared before reminding her, "I am this because of an injustice. That book will restore my peace." The other ladies inclined their heads to agree. I promised she can look at as long she searches for the answer to her plight. She is not allowed to search beyond that. She raised her left hand and made a fist. She said casually, "Witch's honor" I made it clear that she had better honor her promise or I will have a friend turn her to stone. She smiled, "She is your daughter. Through and through."Jetta smiled nicely as she took off the veil, "I don't need this veil to mourn my loss."