THAT DAY I BECAME A STAR

"Make sure that all the chains are tight enough." 

"Yes, sir." 

Three days. It has been three days since I have stabbed Farner and there is no news of her waking up. I really killed her. After everything I said about showing a better tomorrow. How pathetic do I look right now, I wonder. 

After Roxcia found me, she beat me up with scripts to the point I don't remember why I am still alive. I was in no position to resist and I didn't even want to. In any case, I was healed and chained with Gedrids all around my body. My eyes are blindfolded and my mouth is restricted as well. I don't even know where they were keeping me. But today seems to be different. People came in the early morning, and by people, I mean my father and some soldiers. 

Now, they are dragging me to wherever they want us to go. After a few minutes, I hear a door opening. That sound, I think I remember it. 

The blindfold around my eyes is removed and the light in this place is so intense I can barely see for about a minute. Then when I finally accommodate to the ambient light, I see the same place as that day: the council. But to my surprise, there are way fewer priests than last time. There are only two of them in fact. What happened to the others? Where is the arrogant pope?

William advances to a door in front of me then after about a minute, he reappears upstairs with the other two priests. Then the sound of another door being opened rings in the gigantic room and Roxcia appears, followed by Excia. Both of them sit at the center of the chairs while William is to their right. They have put so many chains on me I can barely turn my head to see who else is in the room. But there are other people here. I can hear a lot of voices and whispers. And what is worse is that there is a Longinus man in here. I can feel a crystal to my right. 

***

After a few minutes of an awkward atmosphere and whispers that about me, William stands up. Roxcia's stare is fixed on me with profound anger. Also, I suddenly feel the presence of a Longinus man getting close. One with four crystals. Who is it?

"Silence." William starts speaking and his voice sounds more solemn than ever. "This council will be directed by the heroes themselves, Miss Roxcia Saint Axelandria and Miss Excia Saint Axelandria. I as the high commander will be the judge and render the final verdict. This session is to judge a betrayer and enemy of humanity. A man who has sold his soul to the Longinus and not only killed the Saintess but the hero Farner saint Axelandria as well." 

"Kill him!" 

"There is no need for a trial here!! This man deserves death!! The goddess herself said it!" 

"Silence!" So, William is the new high-commander. I guess Dilt really died with his father since their souls were linked. But for you to become the new high-commander when you are this weak…Well, it is better to be weak than to be stupid like me.

"Sigh…There is really no need for a trial. He must die, right now. His head will be displayed in front of the coliseum for the next few days." Roxcia doesn't waste any time and immediately gives her judgment. I don't mind if you do this but I want to find her before. I cannot die without killing her.

Obeying Roxcia's command, I feel a sudden pain below my jaw. Though it is not too intense. 

"Calm down, Roxcia." Weird enough, Excia seems to be calmer than her sister. Though I can feel the rage from her face just as much. "We must find out what he knows first. If he has any comrades here, it could help us find them." 

"Haven't we wiped out every one of those with the pope already?" 

"Even so, we can't be too sure. Plus, he might know where Veronica is." 

"I don't see how he could when it is Mother herself that told us to look for him." 

"Be reasonable." 

"…" 

Excia and her sister seem to disagree on what to do with me. I thought that maybe for once, they would be on the same track but I guess Excia really knows how to remain calm. 

"I want to avenge her as much as you do. But we can't just let our anger guide us or else we will make mistakes."

"The only mistake I ever made was to let her fall in…To let her…" Roxcia suddenly stops speaking and grabs her head as if she has a headache. 

At the same time, somebody enters the room. Or at least somebody has entered because of the loud noise of the door. Loud footsteps resound as someone runs closer and closer to me. Like I thought, somebody entered. 

"Sir!! We have a problem!! Somebody killed the guards and stole the dagger that was stuck in the hero's chest!!!" 

"What?!" 

Shit!! She got me!! And you guys just had to leave her alone. Now, everything is really over, once she will reach Ioll, Farner's soul will be devoured and there won't be any hopes of saving her ever. 

"Somebody killed more than twenty guards unnoticed?!!" William and the heroes jump down to our level and all pounce forward. But while William and Excia go past me, Roxcia stops right at my level and brings out her staff. 

Then she places it on my shoulder and her eyes shine with rage.

"Who took it and where is he?" How could I know that? Even if I knew, my mouth is gagged, I can't speak. "Fireball." 

Roxcia uses a script and the pain coming from my shoulder almost makes me faint. Still, I can't find myself to scream. I don't have the strength to do so anymore.

"I was really stupid to believe her, Cissa." 

"…You have made your choice. Now, you can only move forward." That's easier said than done. 

"Roxcia!! Let's go!" Excia seems to have come back. 

"I am not going." 

"What?!"

"I am going to torture this guy until he spills it out." 

"No, we must find whoever stole it first!!" 

"I said that I will torture him." 

"Just do what you want then!!" 

Excia leaves and whispers start going around in the room as if the people here were waiting for it. Roxcia looks at me with even more anger now and while she places her staff on my stomach, the Longinus man I felt earlier moves closer to us. Then a woman appears before my eyes and whispers in Roxcia's ear. Though it is loud enough for me to hear. 

"Miss hero, I believe I can help you to make him talk but we should go elsewhere."

"And who are you?" She is one of their own, Roxcia. But sadly, you wouldn't know about it. 

"I am Nicky. The informant master of the eternal church."

"Informant master?"

"It is not a job well known by your grace, but I am in charge of getting information from people like him. Just like I did with the pope." 

"Ah, you are the one who dealt with that case." 

"Yes, your grace." 

"I see." Roxcia grins without suppressing her anger, creating a weird contrast on her face, and places her hand on the woman's shoulder. "Let us hurry then." 

***

After the commotion, I was brought into a dungeon by the soldiers. I didn't know there was such a dungeon in the church basement. There are so many cells and things here. While they are pushing the table which I am chained to, I see Demether in a cell, wearing ragged clothes and with a pitiful and dirty face. So, they found him already? Time really did flew while I wasn't here. 

"What is he doing here?" 

"I was given orders by the high-priests to conduct an investigation on his case." More like you will give him a chance to escape.

"I see. Well, now you have this one as well. Make sure he is ready to tell us everything by tomorrow morning." 

"Your grace, this will be a bit…" 

"Can you do it or not?"

"Sadly, I must admit that tomorrow would be difficult for me. But if I was given three days, I can assure that he will speak." 

"That's too long. I will give you two days."

"Thank you." 

While the woman bows with a fake face full of respect, two soldiers lift me up and hang me up on a hook in one of the cells. 

Roxcia launches one last look full of hatred and rage at me then leaves. I was used to your look but I just never thought you were right to look at me that way. 

"And now. Let us talk, shall we, Dragonroad?"