As the sun rose up high into the sky, high noon is here.
The trial is about to begin.
As this was quite a public scandal, many from the public wanted to see what was going on.
It was to be held in the throne room, with the King presiding over this.
Outside the Palace gates, there were book keepers collecting bets, on the fate of the accused.
“Step right up, right up.
Place your bets here!” “Will son judge father for his sins?
Or will he be granted clemency?” “One dark mage punished, what about the fate of the other three?” Lines formed among these bookies, until the Royal Guard came out to disperse them.
However, they quickly reformed when the royal guards left.
This was both entertainment and a way to make money.
More importantly, the citizens were looking at the King and what his stance and rule will be like?
As the public stroll in through the palace gates, most are not able to get a good spot due to the sheer number of turnouts.
The throne room, the floors above were all filled.
Beings squeezing to get a good vantage view.
Some with their own racial traits like the Airfolk were able to fly and perch on the chandeliers and lamps to get a spot.
Friends were calling each other to their spot, saying that they can see the whole session there.
As we approach the hour, the royal guards and shadow guards came in, blocking off the commonfolk from approaching too near.
The royal guard raised their signature halberds to block off the crowd, while drapped in their armor, made of obsidian.
The shadow guards stood behind the royal guards, aiming to drag any interlopers into the shadows should one tried to do something funny.
The announcer, an abyssal devil dressed in fine clothes, then began his announcement.
“Please give your attention as the 9 Princes of the Dark Council makes their entrance.” It then introduced them in order: Humans: Prince Mensarius the Grand Vizier Shadows: Prince One-who-walks-in-shadows Werebeasts: Prince Ryggatigris Undead: Prince Count Vicken von Struck the Vampire Lord Corrupted Beings: Prince Hollow Sovereign the Archfey Abyssal: Prince Thalassos the Drowned, the Merfolk Dark Dwarves: Prince Clock-Gear-Grind the Dark Dwarf Airfolk : Prince Orihalcum Wing the Gargoyle Madness: Prince Slithergore the Ooze 8 of the Princes took their seats, while Prince Mensarius walked over to sit in his regent’s seat.
The announcer continues: Please rise for the 3 members of the King’s Inner Council.
1.
Lord Styx 2.
Lord Cocytus 3.
Lord Acheron The three of them entered and took their seats as well.
“Finally,” The announcer spoke with pride and gusto.
“Our King, Kenius!
All hail his majesty!” The crowd cheered and clapped as their king entered and climb up the dias and steps, then sat on his throne.
The announcer then turns to the crowd.
“The trial will be broken into 2 parts.
The first will be the trial of the 3 mages.
The second will be the ex-human prince, John.
I ask that you observe and mind your behavior as the proceedings continue.
Thank you.” The announcer then took a breath.
“The first trial will begin now, bring forth the Prisoners.” Three beings were brought forward from the side gate, chained and shackled and escorted by Royal Guards.
The first to enter was a female catfolk, the second was an insectoid.
Lastly, a serpentfolk, who we know as Sslisstith, was brought in.
The announcer then say the last words before the trial began: “Umbrin, the catfolk.
Zilant, the insectoid.
Sslisstith, the snakefolk.
You three are now in the presence of his majesty.
You stand accused of High Treason, Manipulation, Sedition and basically, insulting the King in general.
Let the trial begin!” The shackles and chains were tied to the floor, holding the prisoners in place.
The crowd cheered as the trial begin, like it was finally time to start their weekend soap opera drama.
King Kenius sat up.
“You three, does anyone want to present a defense?” Umbrin looked up and started.
“Your Majesty, I wish to enter a plea of not guilty!
I was merely ordered by your father, I had no general wish to take over the throne.
We were acting under orders.
It was that, or we refuse and hand over our lives.” She was very expressive as she spoke, her chains rattling with each hand gestures she make to describe the situation.
“Were you not capable of resisting or bringing it up to the dark council?
Is your mind not of your own?
Controlling a mere teen, I seen it all through my own eyes, as I lost control of my body.” King Kenius angrily recounted the horrors that were done to his body.
Seals, Input of magic, he was their experiment that they had to control.
Umbrin was taken completely aback, her fur stood on its ends and goosebumps began to form.
She did not expect the King to know what exactly was done to him.
They had taken steps to fully brainwash him, to be in a blank state.
However, the great phantasm protected Kenius’s spirit, resulting in a worse experience as he saw all the atrociousity that was dealt to him and others around him.
“But…
how did you…” replied Umbrin in a shock state.
“I was aware of everything that had been done.” King Kenius looked straight at Umbrin’s eyes with such intensity, fear started to form on her face.
“If this is your defense, I suggest you enter a guilty plea and shut up.” Feeling utterly defeated, Umbrin slumped down, waiting for her fate to be decided.
Kenius turned towards the insectoid.
“What about you, insect?
Do you wish to enter a guilty plea?
Or attempt to argue your way out of this?” Zilant was actually taking every chance it could get.
It deployed numerous bugs on the chains, aiming to unlock it so it can run.
“Your Mmmaaaajjjjeeessstttyyyy, I willlllll beeeeeee freeeeeeeee” At this moment, its minions unlocked the chain.
Wings sprouted out of its thorax and began vibrating at high speeds.
A small draft permeated the throne room as the insectoid attempt to fly out.
The royal guards aimed their halberds and began firing off projectiles at the escaping insect.
“Youuuu willll neverrrrrr catcccccchhhhhh meeeeee” as Zilant flew off as it fast approached the oculus on the roof.
Light shone from the hole.
To Zilant, it was like the light at the end of the tunnel, its freedom is just beyond.
As projectiles were fired upon the insect, it dodge it all gracefully and minimal movement.
Just as it was about to escape, a bolt of lightning flashed on the roof dome.
A hand then reached out, and grab the insect’s chains.
Lightning magic – Shock Streams of electrical current were released out and shock Zilant.
As a huge load of electrical energy hit Zilant, it screamed in pain, and its body caught fire and started smoking.
As the onlookers look up, wondering who managed to stop the insect.
“Look, its Lord Styx!
He caught the insect!” It was Leo standing on the roof, after rushing over with his electrical talent.
The same one he had awakened during the ceremony in school.
Lord Styx looked back down at the King, who was looking at him now.
However, the king could only pay attention to the burned section of Leo’s face, reminding him again of that day’s tragedy.
As Leo held the limp insectoid, he sent a few more shocks for good measure.
Then, he brought the body of the insect down to the throne room and threw it on the floor.
“Your Majesty, this insectoid is not dead.
I did sent a large shock to override its nervous system and it should be in a paralytic state, but give it a while and it will awaken again.” Lord Styx reported.
The crowd erupted in cheers for Lord Styx, after seeing his display of power.
The King nodded and ask the trial to proceed.
Suddenly, Mensarius teleported over to the insectoid’s body.
A shadow demon appeared and slash open the carapace.
There it was, a new zilant, preparing to molt out and escape.
Mensarius opened his hand and unleashed numerous magical seals to seal the insectoid once again.
“My Lord Styx, Insectoids love to use the molting capabilities to escape.
You need to pay attention to it or this thing could have run to the crowds and caused some damage.
And to be less soft.” Lord Styx looked at the sealed insectoid and bowed to Mensarius.
“Thank you, Grand Vizier for you advise.
I will be more mindful in the future.
I did not want to deliver judgement when it was the King’s perogative.” “Enough, you both did well.” King Kenius interjected.
“Another crime, trying to break free, will be added to this insect’s charges.” He then finally turned to Slisstith.
The snakefolk looked up and raised its hood out.
Defiant, even in wrongdoing, that this snakefolk intends to show.
Kenius understood that it will not try to weasel its way out or present a defense.
Its basically telling the King ‘give me what you got, I am not afraid’ vibes.
Kenius, without saying anything, nodded.
“I proclaim these three guilty as charged.
The sentence shall not be a light one.” At this moment, the Shadow Prince stood up and slid over to the center of the dias.
“Your Majesty, as discussed, and based on precedent, could you subject these 3 to shadowfication?” The crowd gasped.
This punishment is even worse than death.
What was done to Xiltharina was done behind closed doors, in the assembly room with the 9 dark princes.
Now, it is in front of the general public.
“Shadowfication!?
I know they did some bad things, but do they really deserve that?” “They said there was a precedent, I heard it was done to the mage who was convicted first.” “Are they even going to show us that?” “To have your shadow pulled out, thats a fate worse than death!” As the crowd begin whispering and murmurs flood the hall, King Kenius looked at the three convicts.
A catfolk, drowning in tears and crying out loud.
An insectoid, sealed and resting on its own burned carapace.
His heart soften, should he really subject them to such a fate.
Then, he locked eyes with Slisstith.
The proud eyes of this dark mage made King Kenius recalled the events once again.
Anger boiled within him.
“They must be punished, and for such a heinous crime, Prince One-who-walks-in-shadow has proposed shadowfication.
The 3 convicted here will not be granted the mercy of death, but will be turned to Shadows.
Shadow Prince, you have my agreement.” The shadow prince bowed in agreement, you could even sense the elation emitting out of the shadow being.
“However, I want you to perform it now here.
The shadowfication of these three.
It will be a lesson and reminder to the denizens of our glorious Dark Faction, of what their fates are should they commit such high treason.” The Shadow Prince looked up, its robes crinkling, showing signs of disbelief.
The crowd all exclaimed in shock.
Mensarius whispered to his nephew hurriedly.
“You might want to consider this.
It is gut wrenching and morbid, possibly psychologically scarring.” Kenius looked back at his Uncle.
“This is my burden, as King, to bear, in order to teach the Dark Faction that actions come at a cost.
If they hate me, fear me, so be it.
I will find stability in my Kingdom.” Seeing his nephew is resolved, Mensarius stepped back, feeling sad that it has come to this.
The Shadow Prince stood up.
“Very well, we shall begin at once, Your Majesty.” The scenes in the throne room are broadcasted all over the Dark Faction.
Outside the gates, the book keepers stopped the punters as they reel in from the shock of what they just heard.
For a while, the dark faction went quiet.
As silent as a grave, that you can even hear a pin dropped.
The three convicts were placed in front of the Shadow Prince.
“In the name of his Majesty, King Kenius, who has sentenced all three of you to shadowfication.
Do you have any last words?” The Shadow Prince read them their last rites and plunged his hand to the ground.
Shadow tendrils immediately rushed forward towards the three of them and insert themselves into their shadow.
Then, they felt it, a slight tug, a pull, then they can feel their shadow being ripped out.
The excruciating pain resulted in all three screaming.
The scenes being shown in front of them left the crowd in silence.
Some were shedding tears, while others cannot even contemplate the horrors of what is going on.
Through it all, King Kenius sat on his throne, watching it all happen.
The final steps of the shadowfication led to the Shadow Prince to grab the shadowy beings and let it assimilate with their main host.
The shadows started to take over their main bodies, like a parasite finally growing out of its host.
In the place of three convicts, three shadowy figures now stand.
Robes were conjured and secured with a rope sash on the waist.
The Shadow Prince then turned around and bowed to the King.
“It is done, Your Majesty.” “Very good, the court will take a recess and be back in an hour for the 2nd trial.” King Kenius announced.
With that, he stood up and left, accompanied by his new inner council and the grand vizier.
The Princes also left to rest in another room.
The whole trial lasted 10 minutes, resulting in 3 beings turned to shadow.
The crowd just could not bring themselves to cheer.
Even living in the Dark Faction, this is considered too dark and morbid an act.
The mood was solemn as well, back in the King’s resting room.
The King sat on his chair and drank some water.
His three lords each take a section of the room.
Some looking outside, some resting, some awaiting the King’s next orders.
Mensarius was pacing up and down, thinking of how to contain the fallout.
“Uncle, you have got to relax.” King Kenius quipped, seeing at how panic stricken his uncle was.
Menarius, seeing like his nephew thinks he did nothing wrong, went into an outrage of words.
“You don’t know what you just did, do you?
The image, the reputation, now everyone is going to think you are a heartless king, and that dark days are ahead.
You are going to rule with an iron fist, and that scares the citizens.
Over the duration from when you ascended the throne till now, the people benefited, seeing you as a benevolent ruler.
Ending the fire nation war, opening up commerce and trade, getting the royal guard up and security in the kingdom more assured, even controlling the influence of the dark council, now wiped off the face of this world.
Beings will begin fearing you.” King Kenius’s face turned serious.
“I do not need to be known as a benevolent King, not even a good King.
I need to be THE king.
The one remembered for ages, for his legacy, for the peace and stability that I brought to the Dark Faction.
Let my population hate me, fear me for all I care.
The burden of Kingship is only mine and mine alone.
They will not understand it.” Mensarius, shocked by the maturity yet suddenly shift in his nephew, said: “You need not bear the burden alone, we are here to help you.
As your advisors, as your appointed members, we also want what is best for your kingdom.
If only your mother were-” Suddenly, a dark aura begin to pulse out.
“Do not speak of my mother.
She has died and resting in peace.
Do not even try to bring her into this.” “But-” Mensarius replied, wanting to continue explaining.
“Grand Vizier, you have done much, but the next trial is key.
Ensure that the grounds have been properly set up.
We almost had an escape convict just now.
Our next guest is much more dangerous than that.” Mensarius stopped himself and bowed.
“I will do as you asked, Your Majesty.” and left the room.
King Kenius’s sighed as he thinks on how to tackle the next trial.
Leo, aka Lord Styx, spoke to Kenius.
“He is your uncle after all, he has the right to show concern for you.
I believe he wants what is best for you as well.” “Leo, I know.
However, I got a vision of how I want to run my Kingdom and will do whatever it takes.
The future disasters that are coming will make whatever has happened so far a child’s play.
Believe in me, Believe in your King.” Leo looked and then bowed.
“Yes, your Majesty.”