Chapter 87: Ch87 – Trial Of Twelve

“We need to talk,” Marcus said, his hand grasped Ryan’s arm as he tried to drag him away.

“You couldn’t be more right,” Ryan said, as he ripped Marcus’ hand off of his arm. “Give me my bracelet back.”

“I will, if you follow me, Brother Ryan.” Marcus said, walking away from the cluster of students that surrounded the notice board.

Ryan grumbled, but followed along anyway.

Their surroundings gradually turned less and less populated, until they found themselves in a secluded part of the academy grounds, that Ryan had not explored yet.

Marcus walked into a small shack, that sat below a great tree.

I hope I’m not about to get jumped by a few of Marcus’ fanatics…

Marcus opened the door of the shack, and stepped in.

Ryan cautiously followed.

The shack was small. Cramped even. A single table sat in the center, covered in papers and trinkets. Candles flickered on the shelves that contained rusted gardening tools.

Ryan’s eyes adjusted to the dim light.

No ambush yet.

The self-proclaimed prophet closed the door behind them, and turned to face Ryan.

“Your friend, the roommate who fought Navius beside the fountain.”

“James?” Ryan questioned.

“Yes, are you, like him, one of the accusers of Navius?” Marcus asked.

Ryan was taken aback, how does this psycho know about the accusations? Did Helena make it public?

“How did you know any of this?” Ryan raised an eyebrow.

“I overheard Navius and his father, Arcturus, discussing it. They mentioned three accusers. I deduced that one of them must be ’James’ considering how he and Navius had a very public fight only a couple hours before, and well I figured you had a part as your are one of his roommates.”

He took a pause, to examine the black iron bracelet. “I was wrong about this, it’s not cursed.” He chucked the bracelet over to Ryan who caught it with one hand. “Your bracelet is a beacon, a beacon from the Gods that brought me to you. I will fight alongside you in the trial.”

Ryan shook his head, disappointed. “What trial… ’fight alongside me’? Here I was, naively thinking you weren’t being crazy anymore.”

“Of course. You don’t know yet.” Marcus hit his head, as if he was punishing himself for doing something plainly stupid.

Marcus continued, “Navius and his father are going to demand a Trial of Twelve. They are planning to pay, strong, high tier 1 students to fight alongside Navius. As you must know, this is completely against the rules of a Trial of Twelve.”

Ryan stared at him. “I don’t know what a Trial of Twelve is.”

Marcus blinked. “You… don’t know… what a trial of twelve is?”

“No clue.”

Marcus looked disturbed hearing this. It was as if Ryan had just admitted to committing some very degenerate activities.

“Interesting. A trial of twelve is a trial by combat. It’s where six combatants face six other combatants in order to determine which side speaks the truth. Whichever side wins the combat, is deemed the truthful one by the Gods.”

“I see… So Navius plans to bully us with his big shot money to get better fighters… Can we refuse this trial?”

“Impossible,” Marcus crossed his arms. “Unless you wish to retract the claims.”

“Are there rules to this trial? Like could I ask, for example, a tier 6 friend to assist me?”

Marcus shook his head. “Trials are restricted to the tier of the accused and the defendant.”

Ryan sat down on the desk for a moment, contemplating.

“How do you know that Navius is going to demand a trial by combat?”

“I was outside the next-dorm-over’s window… and heard them talking. Anyway. You must tell your fellow accusers and prepare for the trial.”

“Wait.” Ryan held up his hand. “What were you doing outside Navius’ window?”

Marcus shifted uncomfortably, “I was… going to retrieve certain items.”

“Retrieve.” Ryan smirked.

“In the dorm next to Navius’ there is a man practicing heretical rituals! I had to prevent it.”

“You have a problem.”

“I was preventing HERESY!”

“You were planning a burglary.” Ryan said flatly.

Marcus’ eyes lit up in revelation. “The Gods guided me there! If I hadn’t been beneath that window, I would’ve never overheard the two corrupted heretics! Everything happens for a reason, Brother Ryan.”

“Not your brother.”

Ryan looked down at the bracelet in his hand. He slipped it back onto his wrist. It felt right. Familiar. It belonged there.

“Why do you care?” Ryan asked. “About any of this. About fighting beside me.”

Marcus straightened. “Because the Trial of Twelve is sacred. Divine judgment cannot be corrupted by gold and influence. If no one stands against this blasphemy…” His voice dropped. “Then the gods’ voices will be silent. And we’ll have nothing left but the lies heretics tell each other.”

Silence consumed the shack.

Ryan studied Marcus. Wild-eyed. Disheveled. Very much insane, but more coherent then previous days.

“If this Trial happens,” Ryan said carefully, “and we need six fighters… you’re volunteering?”

“Yes.”

“You can fight?”

“The gods guide my blade and my hand.” Marcus smiled slightly. “And I’m motivated. Nothing fights harder than zealotry, Brother Ryan.”

Ryan didn’t correct him this time.

“Alright you can fight with us…”

Ryan shook his head. Probably a mistake trusting this lunatic. But they would need six fighters, and Marcus had spirit.

“When do you think Navius will demand this Trial?” Ryan asked.

“Today,” Marcus moved to the window, and peered out. “His father was insistent. ’Demand it publicly,’ he said. ’Force Helena’s hand before the investigation finds anything.’”

Ryan’s chest felt tight. “You think they’re worried the investigation will actually prove their guilt?”

“I think Arcturus Rellick knows what his son did. Or didn’t do.” Marcus turned back. “And he wants this settled quickly. Before truth has time to surface.”

If Navius was innocent, why rush to Trial? Why not let the investigation clear his name?

Unless he wasn’t innocent.

Or unless his father had something to hide that an investigation into his son could reveal.

“So Arcturus plans to pay for all five fighters?”

“I assume some will be genuine supporters. Noble families allied with House Rellick. But yes, I heard him say ’I’ll ensure the right people volunteer.’ That means bribes or favours or political pressure.”

Ryan paced the small shack. Six fighters. He obviously had James and Jared, if he recovered soon enough. Marcus now, apparently.

Eleanor was Tier 2. Her tier’s too high, can’t fight.

Jeremy was Tier 1, but is he a good fighter? And would he even fight with us?

Just need one more. Who else was Tier 1 and competent enough to—

“You’re thinking about your fighters,” Marcus observed.

“Obviously.”

“The academy has skilled students. Many first-years who’ve trained their whole lives. Noble children with private tutors. Commoners who clawed their way here through talent.” Marcus’s eyes gleamed. “But most won’t volunteer. Not against a Rellick.”

“Why not?”

“Fear. Politics. Self-preservation.” Marcus smiled without humor. “House Rellick has influence. Students know that fighting against Navius means making an enemy of his father. The leader of an extremely powerful great house. A war hero.”

“So people will be too scared to help.”

“Most, yes.” Marcus paused. “But not all. There are always those who value truth over safety. Honor over politics. You just need to find them.”

Ryan rubbed his face. Two weeks at this academy and now he was recruiting fighters for a trial of divine judgement through combat, against a noble.

How did my life get this insane?

He began pacing again.

Maybe we should just retract the claim… and let Navius get away scot-free? No.

“Alright, I need to go tell the others about this.” Ryan opens the door of the shack and stepped out. “If you need to find me, you know where my dorm is.”

Ryan walked across the courtyard, his mind racing.

The morning sun felt too bright.

Students passed by, heading to breakfast or lingering near the notice board. Some still looked shaken from yesterday’s events. Others seemed to be moving on already.

Ryan envied them.

He reached Dormitory Six and climbed the stairs.

How do I even explain this?

He opened the door to their room.

James was awake, sitting on his bed. Jared lay propped against the wall, bandaged arm resting on a pillow. Eleanor’s curtain was still drawn.

The brothers turned as Ryan entered.

“Where’ve you been?” James asked. “I checked the dining hall—”

“Navius is going to demand a Trial of Twelve,” Ryan said.

Eleanor pulled her curtain back.

Silence.

Then—

“WHAT?!” All three of them shouted in unison.

James shot to his feet. “A Trial of—are you serious?!”

“He can’t do that!” Jared’s face went red with rage. “That’s for—that—People die in those!”

“It’s happening,” Ryan said quietly. “Marcus overheard Navius’s father. He’s demanding it today. Maybe already has.”

“Marcus?” Eleanor’s voice rose. “That Marcus? The insane, ’ill omen,’ Marcus?”

“The same.”

“And you’re trusting him?!”

“He returned my bracelet. He is crazy but I don’t think he’s a liar.” Ryan closed the door behind him. “Navius’s father plans to pay fighters and stack his team with strong Nobles. We need six fighters of our own.”

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