[TEMPLE COURTROOM - DAY 3 OF DETENTION - 9:47 AM]
Alex had spent two days in private interrogations. Repetitive questions, magical lie detectors, calculated sleep deprivation. Techniques designed to break will.
But Day 3 was different.
Today was the public trial.
They escorted him from his cell (magical cuffs still suppressing his MP) through ancient stone hallways into a massive chamber that felt more like a cathedral than a courtroom.
The ceiling arched twenty meters high. Stained glass windows depicted the Seven Ancient Gods in heroic poses—sealing the Reaper, saving humanity, punishing heretics. Sunlight filtering through colored glass created rainbow patterns on the marble floor.
But there was nothing beautiful about the atmosphere.
The room was packed.
