A Knight's Lilies

"A peoplesmeet or tribesmeet of the Land Of Many Tribes located in karsts of Kesmourn have been called in response to emergency missives received from the Land of Three Kings past the blightlands. A Lucurian representative also at the meetings told us that the city of Rynwald has been placed under siege by what are purported to be beasts of the Dark Tide. I fear there might be a containment breach soon. Requesting guidance on how to proceed. Blessed by the stars. "

- Templar Kaya Linave, Kesmourn Monitoring Detachment Force (KMDF), Urgent Missive To Saintsrest

Sophie recounted the beginning of her travels to the court. She started directly in Eichafen and the adventuring group she had originally paired with, Runebound. The same from which Annalise hailed from, though she tried her best to obfuscate the connection in that regard, and certainly kept that Annalise was now some strange possessed half being with what was supposedly her centuries old sister. She then broached the topic of the barrows outside of the ruins beyond Eichafen, the research expedition that was lost to the undead and monstrosities, the then timely arrival of the church and its templars who quelled an occult ritual and saved some of the victims.

She then detailed how her travels with the church had led her north with the remnants of Runebound and Sir Taurox. Their subsequent encounter with a fleeing Meltonian prince during an unfortunate moment that had led to her association with their royalty. She made sure to emphasize how she had stood against the Lionhunters and that unlike now King Edward Meltius, Prince Alvin had been staunchly in support of peace and to maintain the status quo that their father held with Carrador. Also noting that the missing citizens along the borders of both nations likely stemmed from the resurgent undead and whatever occult activities that were festering under the shadow of the Mistveil. How all of that culminated in the battle of Melisgrad where her intervention, alongside that of her allies, helped hold back an even darker ritual and saving the nation. An act that earned her that same Meltonian praise and gratitude that now caused her trouble.

The court was mostly silent for a few moments. A few lords clearly even more annoyed with her than before, and most maintain a facade of indifference as they considered her words. Yet there were a few that seemed somewhat more intrigued than the others. Like during the council meeting, Grand Duke Walden paid more attention than some of his peers. Possibly because the area of the Mistveils that stretched throughout the northern reaches of Carrador also touched upon his domain. Even Lord Vinberg seemed a hair bit more amenable, though the old man still maintained a foul scowl, there was an inkling of a warrior's respect. Particularly when she confessed that she had at some point tried to run, only to be unwittingly drawn back in to the events that surrounded Melisgrad.

When she finished her recounting, she almost breathed a sigh of relief just for herself. Everytime that she had to piece the puzzles of the past together and recall them, was another moment that she felt she had gained just a little more understanding about events back then. Even more so as she continued to learn more about the world, though understanding weaved a dangerous tightrope for her alongside the fear that there would only be worse to come.

"Thank you, Madam Kastiane. Please return to your seat. The court now asks that a representative of the Church of Astralis present their supporting opinion for these events as well as their character assessment of the individual Sophie Kastiane." Lord Vinberg called out.

As Sophie turned to walk back to the gallery, she caught Mila's eye. The girl momentarily losing her ever present scowl to offer her a gentle smile. Sophie smiled back and Mila just as quickly wore her masque of indifference once more.

Eva grinned approvingly at her, a quiet but welcome gesture now that Sophie's had begun processing the room around her once more. Only now did she notice that having to speak upon the dais had left her hands shaking a little, though she could only hope she hid it well when she was talking. Once she was certain that the nobility were focused on Mila's presence and her coming testimony. She let herself sink into her seat a little, happy that it was over for now, and that the court did not skimp on the budget for seating. Taking great care to appreciate the comfort offered by the velvety cushioning and solid armrests.

Suddenly feeling tired and exhausted from having to speak for so long, she lazily rested her head on the chair and allowed her mind to wander at last. Joy at having taken the stand, doubts at the potential reaction from the nobility, worry at having not presented enough or too much. A plethora of emotions hit her at once and she had to use everything within her power to not sigh out loud. How vexing, to have the decision now be completely out of my hands. Annoyed, she gave herself a moment to simply relax a little before starting to care about the events at court.

"Thank you, adjudicator, in the interest of representing the church's opinion, as approved with a joint decision with my colleague…" Mila began.

The nobles now focused solely on the Inquisitor, their reactions far more amiable than when she had stepped up onto the stage. It was perhaps only now that she started to notice certain things. Things that spending so much time at the Academy and Arteria had almost dulled her to. Not only were they uncomfortable with the fact that she had aided Melton, though that was the greatest factor contributing to their disdain. She was also a half-elf. Unlike in Arteria, she had forgotten how uncomfortable the people here could be about the fact, and the reason why Eva had usually kept her cloaked or hidden during their visits outside of the Rosengart duchy. In that regard, she supposed that she lucked out, for everything and everyone that could've found her, it was Eva.

Sophie pursed her lips and then wondered what would have happened if things had turned out differently. Fate had seen that meet that day, yet if they didn't she wasn't sure if she would've survived. While she still remembered the way that animals had and still do find an aversion to her, she had none of the skills that she had now. Though I suppose I can't really die, huh? Hah. Goddess, then I'd just be starving for a long damned time. She dwelled on the thought for a few more moments before shaking her head to clear it, only to find her mind wandering back to them.

She supposed that she would've wandered the Mistveil until she either stumbled upon Volksgrad or Eichafen or been torn apart by the undead. She shuddered. It didn't take much to imagine the nightmare that navigating the world without Eva's support would be. She doubted that she'd end up where she was today and even if Carrador stood against her, it was because she had managed to survive within it now, imbued by the strength she cultivated alongside Eva. She supposed that she would've experienced the fall of Eichafen first hand if that was the case. A chill ran down her spine. That's right, the city defenders were betrayed from within. Stars above, wait, I've been so wrapped up in everything that it skipped my mind. Hells… she sat up a little straighter, her eyes wandering across the court. There might still be infiltrators, and who knows how deep it goes.

Trying to calm herself, she dug her fingers into the armrest. It offered little solace but the effort expended was at least enough to draw her mind back into the court's proceedings. Now that her mind was operating at hyper efficiency due to her adrenaline and mild self caused panic, she saw a few more little details she had missed earlier.

Most of the nobles attending the court would pass little messages or notes to the adjudicator using their staffers or lower ranked nobility under them, as was the case with the Grand Dukes. After all, for those under them, it was a sign of trust and potentially an attempt to curry what little favor could be gained during such an affair. It was also the reason why she hadn't really heard from much of the other lords and ladies in the room. With the majority of questions being posed only by the adjudicator, who she presumed would also sort out which questions or comments he would pose based on a yet unknown to her criterion. The only ones who somewhat broke the trend being the Grand Dukes and Grand Duchess who more or less had free reign to do or say what they wanted to.

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In a way, this was very much like the ball. An official and still useful but nonetheless intricate bit of theatre. After all, Eva's meeting had clearly just been a mere formality with the lack of debate. But she supposed that the odder cases like her own are the reason why the lords might be interested at all beyond personal goals for others who might have to stand upon the dais today.

"... It is why the we, of the Church of Astralis would recommend that even if her status as a member of the Carradorian nation remains unchanged. That she be allowed to operate as any other adventurer belonging to the guild would. That she is to be but a transient part of Carrador, and also free from sanction. If not because of goodwill or forgiveness, then out of pragmatism for the fact that her current efforts remain a net boon for the peasantry and overall safety of the land." Mila paused, the Inquisitor's dry tone conveying the importance of her words. After a moment of looking around and sensing no oncoming questions, the inquisitor dropped a polite bow and faced the center mass of lords, "I offer my thanks for your patience in hearing my testimony and for acknowledging the importance of the Church Of Astralis at this occasion. Would there be anything else?"

Lord Vinberg turned to one of his colleagues, the other noble looking down at a piece of paper before whispering something into the adjudicator's ears. The older man seemed bemused but then shook his head, the younger noble just replying with an annoyed if still half hearted shrug.

"There will be nothing else. The court thanks you for your cooperation, and thanks the Church for its assistance as well. You may return to your seat." He instructed.

Mila performed one more curtsy and stepped off the dais. Even when walking back, she showed none of the fatigue that Sophie had shown or Eva's momentary expression of joy. Only a stoic, calm, and practiced scowl of neutrality hinted at any emotional expression at all.

"The court now calls upon members of the household known as Kastiane to take to the stand. Please come one at a time and introduce your name, profession, and relation to the individual Sophie Kastiane if you could." Lord Vinberg called out.

Sophie traded glances with Sophia and Elaria, the three of them looking between each other before Sophia reluctantly lowered her head in surrender.

It'll only for a bit, Sophie reassured her.

Any bit is a bit too long in a situation like this, Sophia growled in her head.

All Sophie could do was offer her own supportive little nod as her twin and counterpart passed by.

A round of mutterings could be heard from the tables of the nobility. The presence of one so strikingly similar to Sophie herself was more than noticeable and caused a bit of a stir. More than one set of eyes traveled from Sophia down to her before returning once more. As if to confirm that she hadn't just set loose a specter upon them.

Still, Sophia stood firm, uncaring of the mutterings surrounding her, though Sophie could sense the unease which had now infiltrated her counterpart's mind. Unlike Sophie however, her nature as a being born purely by the grace of the lady of shadows meant that even in moments of extreme tension, she was able to at least appear unfazed by the world. And though she was loath to admit it, there was a part of Sophie that felt oddly smug in knowing that she was perhaps the one other person who could steal a few glimpses into Sophia's emotions without Sophia revealing it to the others.

I wonder how do shadows actually come up with thoughts? She mused.

Thinking out loud, don't distract me. Sophia snapped back.

Sorry.

Practice controlling your thoughts. You remember that Lionhunter? He was unpleasant. Sophia chided her.

The mention of the Lionhunter though, did make her shudder. She still remembered that unpleasant day. When she found herself at the farmhouse with the prince of Melton taken prisoner. The day she had officially begun the strange partnership that she now shared with Mila through her own disastrous attempt at hostage rescue and the subsequent assistance that Sir Taurox had brought with him.

Then there were the Lionhunters. Melton's own version of state security apparatus similar to the church's inquisition. Though unlike the inquisition's mandate, at least according to Mila, being one that focused on not just heresy, but on all evils. The Lionhunters only served the state of Melton and whomever controlled the throne to hunt down their enemies, noble or common. And they had with them the power of druidic magics that allowed them to peer into Sophie's mind, dragging out of her words that she would not have shared. Although in that case, she had managed to resist it. Whether it was because of the void violently counteracting the sudden intrusion or otherwise, it had been an unpleasant moment to say the least.

Sophia was right, in that respect. She needed more practice, now more than ever considering that they would be venturing back into Melton in the near future. While the current Meltonian administration seemed vaguely friendly with her, or at least the concept of her. King Edward was the very same one who usurped the throne and allowed the disaster at Melisgrad to have taken place, whether willingly or not.

She paled a little at that thought too. For only now did she realize that the usurper king had done little to nothing in saving the city. Members of the Lionsguard were also there that night, a sign of the king's involvement or lack of control. Neither of which bode well for the Meltonian people. More than that, she had also only now come up with the grim conclusion about why things had even gotten that far. Though she doubted that the king himself had any desire to simply ruin his capital, his delayed response said something else. For not only did the Meltonian army not arrive to save the city. It also meant that hundreds of the nobility also perished with it, allowing King Edward to essentially raise his own crop of loyalists alongside those who were already with him. A ruthless, almost costly gamble if only Sophie and the others hadn't intervened. Maybe… maybe that's why he made such a fuss about honoring me… stars above… if that's really why everything got that far with Arantos… am I…?

She still remembered all the death that she had seen that night. The monsters and darkness which crept from every angle. The utterly brutal massacre that had claimed the lives of the last of the city's survivors when she unwittingly but knowingly destroyed one of the city's Myndiri crystals. All to allow the Lemurach and its followers into the castle. The monster that chilled her to her bone but had also once been Lady Lillian of House Rutley Last of her house and the one who had unintentionally kicked Sophie's desire for justice and her conviction in her journey into motion. The same lady that had only shown her the briefest glimpse of a monster's humanity, and the one that had dubbed her The Lily Knight of House Rutley. Hah, what a sorry state of affairs that all was.

Her shoulders sagged as she suppressed an oncoming sigh. And we're going right back in there, to Melton. Hells, we might even pass through places that we knew. Goddess only knows why that place ate away at all of us. Annalise, Mila, and herself. The three errant companions that had clawed their way across the nation before taking Ary along. Three who were then broken and changed by that very place. All of them had their convictions tested, and all three were found wanting.

Annalise had embraced some darker powers. One's that if Sophie didn't know any better resembled far too much like Arantos's domain. Mila was betrayed by Anna, and her own journey across the realm in pursuit only for it to have ended in failure. Sophie herself held onto the guilt of being the one who caused such death and destruction to finish off the already stricken, but barely surviving city. Hastening its end by her own hand. Ary had fled her home with them, a lost soul searching for her way in the world. But I am glad I met her, heh.

Sophie turned over to look at her. The girl intently focused her attention to Sophia and the court, not yet noticing Sophie's gaze. Sophie then turned her gaze to the ceiling, past the fantastical murals that decorated the throne room, past even the roof of the castle. She momentarily closed her eyes and prayed. If everything goes to shit, if it all goes wrong, then please, o'mighty Astralis and the stars that you command. At least give me the strength to protect her, if no one else. For I have already failed her once, I simply wish to not fail again.