"You're right."
The guard's voice dripped with a glee that needed no visual confirmation. "I heard surviving IMFA is a fate worse than death. For a bastard like him, it's perfect."
Fuck off, Aren thought, rolling his eyes as the man's grating laughter echoed. Until the platform stopped, he was a captive audience to a stream of insults.
The guard's jagged voice scraped against his nerves, sparking a brief, dark urge to rip the man's tongue out.
When the platform finally halted, a massive white bridge stretched into the void.
A rough shove forced Aren forward. The bridge glowed faintly, suspended in an endless darkness that swallowed all sound except the rhythm of their footsteps. It felt like walking through a vacuum.
At the bridge's end, two figures rose from the gloom to block their path. Their lower bodies remained submerged in shadow, while their upper halves loomed beside a massive gate.
Their skin was parched, chalky white—deathly and ghostlike. They had no faces; the smooth, featureless surfaces made them look more alien than human.
"Prisoner 257. Aren Donovan. Age sixteen," the creature on the left intoned, its voice echoing through the void.
"Charged with parricide—the murder of Redian Donovan. Additional charges: the slayings of Hugo Craik, Melissa Odel, and Ryan Fewer at the Donovan estate. Classified as a Grade-I crime against humanity."
Aren watched them with indifferent eyes.
"Defendant. You will now face judgment."
White marble steps materialized between the bridge and the gate, forming a floating staircase. The guards halted; their job was done. Aren climbed alone.
At the summit, two silent sentinels in white helmets and rigid uniforms guarded the entrance. One swiped a card against a panel; with a hiss of hydraulics, the gate groaned open.
Aren stepped inside, his expression a mask of calm.
The courtroom was a cathedral of light. Stained-glass windows overhead fractured the sun into shards of color, illuminating ancient symbols carved into the high marble walls.
Across the hall, seven elevated thrones loomed above the judge's dais. The central seat belonged to the King, flanked by six others reserved for the heads of the elite families.
All of them were empty.
So, I'm not even worth their afternoon, Aren mocked himself inwardly.
Below the royal seats stood the judge's dais. As Aren took his place, the bailiff's voice shattered the silence.
The bailiff's voice cut through the silence.
"All rise. The court is now in session, presided over by the Honorable Judge Serena Winter."
A heavy silence followed as Serena Winter entered with her assistants. Her blonde hair was tied back tightly, and a white robe resembling a high cleric's vestments draped over her shoulders.
Gold embroidery traced the sleeves and collar, lending her an air of sacred authority. As she sat, her pale gray eyes swept the room—cold, sharp, and capable of pinning anyone under their weight.
"You may be seated."
At the signal, the room shifted back into place.
"Case number 2025-CR-456," the Judge began, her melodic voice echoing. "The public prosecution versus Aren Donovan on charges of intentional homicide is now in session. Parties, identify yourselves for the record."
"Prosecutor Chloe Smith."
"Ryan Eckart, for the defense."
A wave of anticipation rippled through the gallery. Reporters balanced laptops on their knees, fingers poised to transmit the scandal to the world.
"The investigation is clear," Chloe Smith stepped forward, her voice steady. "The defendant, Aren Donovan, brutally murdered four people at the Donovan estate: his father, Redian Donovan, alongside Hugo Craik, Melissa Odel, and Ryan Fewer."
She paused, drawing a deliberate breath to let the weight of the names sink in, then turned her gaze to the bench and the audience.
"Furthermore, the testimony of Madam Eli Bryne—who was present at the scene and rescued by the Avalon Wardens—confirms the defendant's guilt beyond doubt."
A faint, mocking chuckle escaped Aren. The courtroom murmur died instantly.
Chloe Smith tucked a strand of short brown hair behind her ear, meeting his gaze with unmasked disgust. Aren merely curled his lip and tilted his head, his expression a silent, biting question: How much longer will you perform this farce?
Breaking eye contact, Chloe spoke again. "I request that the witness be called to the stand."
At the judge's nod, the doors opened. A woman entered, her attire strikingly extravagant for a court of law. Draped in a black fur coat, she moved with slow, calculated steps, the rhythmic click of her heels the only sound in the hall.
She reached the stand, adjusted the large fedora over her voluminous orange hair, and began idly toying with a string of white pearls at her throat.
"Witness, Eli Bryne."
At Judge Serena Winter's call, Eli flinched and looked toward the bench.
"Swear your oath before the Holy Court."
Visibly trembling, Eli nodded and raised her right hand. "I swear to the Mohen Holy Kingdom, chosen by God, that I shall speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
"Tell the court exactly what you saw that night," Serena Winter commanded. Her face remained a mask, but her voice held a steady, encouraging warmth. "What was your relationship with Redian Donovan?"
"I have known Redian since our academy days. We were close friends for years. However, we grew apart after his third child was born. The boy was ill and required constant care."
"What kind of illness?" Serena's eyes sharpened.
"Redian always tried to stay strong; he never specified the condition. Aren attended social gatherings occasionally, so we assumed he was recovering. But over the past year, Aren vanished from public life entirely. We suspected something was wrong."
"Go on."
"That's why my friends and I decided to visit him. We hadn't seen him in so long... we wanted to help. But then... then—" Her voice broke, tears welling in her eyes.
Chloe handed her a handkerchief. Eli whispered her thanks and wiped her eyes while Aren watched the entire performance in silence.
A murmur rippled through the gallery. Spectators glared at Aren with unbridled disgust, while waves of sympathy poured toward the witness. Reporters, eager to capture the moment, hammered on their keyboards.
"As you can see, Your Honor," Chloe said, turning briefly to sneer at Aren before facing the judge. "The witness's testimony, coupled with the physical evidence, proves his guilt beyond a doubt. There is no need for further argument."
A sudden laugh shattered the somber atmosphere.
Aren's shoulders shook. As he burst into a full, resonant laugh, the room fell into a jagged silence. Every eye in the court fixed on him.
"Defendant, remain silent," Serena Winter said, her voice dropping to a sub-zero temperature.
Still chuckling, Aren wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. "Ah... this is truly ridiculous."