Entering the large justice hall, Adam made his way towards the podium at the center of the circular room. He made his way there and took his place at the podium, surrounded by seven of the twelve highest-ranking members of the organisation, the shepherds of Chi Rho. To my left was the Crimson Heir of Cain, next to him the Violet Heir of Ham, and finally the Umber Heir of Elijah. Then to my Right, the Emerald Heir of Seth, next to her the Bronze Heir of Moses, and finally the Cobolt Heir of Samson, and I, the arbiter, Liam, the Yellow Heir of the Asuri. Adam stood there, he knew better than most that this wasn't just a trail, it was a Mission review as this situation was sadly common, but this one was irregular.
"Adam, you know why you are here, please inform me and the rest who will judge," I say formally and curtly, not wishing to drag this out for both our sakes.
"Die nuiwe ontwaake." Adam started, unfortunately in Afrikaans, so I intervened before he could get any further. Sadly, the language was still lost on me.
"English, please, Adam." He quickly caught himself before apologizing and starting again in English.
"The newly awakened Cainite, Joshua Prince, Who I had taken into my squad as a trainee, has, While under the effects of his Legacy Curse, The Beast of Cain, Created a marking brindge with our Third Generation Rank Trainee, Mandella Nkosi, and through that My attack, Blood ster impack, Lead to Mandella's Death." He gave a curt mission briefing, but the way he spoke was soft, trying to hide his emotions from us, but more importantly, it was self-deprecating. Showing off His failings as the leader.
"Thank you for your recount, but this isn't your trail, so please explain," I say, hopefully stopping him from what I assumed he was going to do, narrowing my eyes under my hood.
"As is common Practice, you let Cainites plead the case of their first Casualty. As this is related to Joshua, it was deemed that this is his trial. Joshua believes he is guilty, so I would like to plead for his innocence as it was my hand that dealt the final blow." Adam continued, now confirming my suspicions, but until he said it, I couldn't stop him, so I pressed in, frowning.
"You know you aren't in a position to place yourself as collateral for his, as you are already held as collateral for another." I say, turning his face sour, then dejected.
"That is true, but I only wish to show that I am not innocent in this event." Adam finishes slowly, hoping to make the words stick, and while we trust him as a low first-generation ranked Descendent and a member of the Bright Star group, his words carry as much weight as a non-advanced member could.
"Thank you, Adam, that is noted. It says there is another who wishes to speak before Joshua. Please send them in." Adam bowed before leaving in silence, his back straight and proud as he left knowing he had done all he could. After a few moments, Hannah entered, striding towards the podium before bowing and beginning.
"Asala Sulakom." She started having, sadly, not gotten any better at her pronunciation since the last time we had met.
"Greetings, Hannah, what would you like to say?" I start by allowing her to get started.
"It was my fault that this event happened, I must protect and support recruits to ensure their survival." She starts impassioned, stating both her support role as the primary healer, but also as the sub-leader, but that was something out of her control, so it could not be held against her.
"That may be true, but this was also a promotion exam for Mandela, so it is on him to." I interject that while they were responsible for him, he was still at a level where he was independent and should be held accountable for his actions in the mission.
"That is true, but my duty doesn't change, I wasn't able to heal him properly or resurrect him after his death." She spoke derisively of herself, but it was that second statement I couldn't abide.
"You cannot hold yourself accountable for resurrection failure," I start more aggressively and directly than I had been with Adam. "That is something even we can't plan for; we have no way of knowing who is eligible and who will be allowed back." I state the facts, not allowing her to interject, as resurrection was the misunderstood miracle, inconsistent, and out of all evocations available to us, it was the most elusive.
"Is that all?" I continue hoping that that was it, but knowing better, knowing them.
"I place myself as collateral for Joshua Prince for his crime and take responsibility for his actions, whatever they might be." She stated confidently, defiantly. I looked at my fellow judges, and they all approved, knowing how consistent the team was and how reliable she was. There was no reason to deny her.
"Understood, we accept this offer, but still need to meet with him before we decide," I say, putting an end to the discussion, hoping to get to Joshua to end the day's events. Thabo Thuthuka entered instead of Joshua after a minute, not even waiting to make it to the podium before staring.
"It's been a while, how are you all doing? Jared? Paul? Liam." Finishing as he reaches the podium, leaning forward on the railing with his elbows, his signature grin on his face, his eyes meeting mine even under the shadow of the hood.
"Please respect the situation, Thabo. What are you doing here? You weren't part of the Mission?" I interject, frowning at him, bearing my cainines to show my next course of action. He raises his hands in a defeated posture, showing surrender before dropping them and stating his case.
"A marking bridge loop is a high-level, high, and highly challenging technique, and a few reasons why we and I specifically don't teach it. So if it was ignorance that caused it to happen and if it was inability that made Manda unable to sever the connection, then I should be punished." Again, with this way, are they all doing this? Adam made sense; it was in his nature, rough and aggressive on the outside, but protective. Hannah was never one to reject responsibility since she joined, and now Thabo.
"That may be so, but what does that mean for now?"
"I place myself as collateral for Joshua Prince for his crime and take responsibility for his actions, whatever they might be." He didn't waste any time and got straight to his point, knowing that with both of them putting up collateral, there was no reason to reject it, and we didn't. Turning my head left and right to my fellow heirs and judges, they were all nodding with confirmation, and I agreed, so he didn't waste any more time. After getting our silent approval, he turned to leave. After a few steps, I called out to him.
"Please send Joshua Prince in," I say as ThaTho leaves, the only indication of a reply is a dismissive hand wave as he walks away. Making it to the doors they open, and we can see him pointing in towards us, and after a minute, Joshua starts entering the room. His gait was slow and deliberate, head held up right in self-respect, but his face was a sad display of self-loathing. He made his way to the stand, so we had no reason to interfere.
"Joshua Prince, do you know why you are here?" I ask as he gets to the podium. He mouthed something for a second, seeming to try to find the words.
"Because I murdered someone." He finally said, with a look of determination on his face.
"Incorrect," I reply coldly, which instantly changes his face into one of shock. "Newly awakened Cainite, like yourself, are brought to us to explain your awakening." I finish as his face shifts through a variety of expressions, trying to understand what I just said. I leave him for a minute, but just before I continue, he speaks.
"May I ask something?" His tone was soft and quivering
"Please do." I respond without hesitation.
"What is the point?" His question earned a murmur from my compatriots, but that didn't seem to dissuade him. "Haven't the others told you what happened already, while I am not sure about ThaTho, the others must have." The question held in the air for a long minute as I pondered his meaning, what he was expecting was punishment retribution, but he wasn't getting anything like that.
"Joshua Prince, you were not in control of your actions." I start "Moreover, the situation is one that was outside your scope to control." I finish, and as he tries to deny and reject my word, I hold up my hand to silence him.
"What do you want to know?" he said in a dejected voice, finally lowering his face, unable to continue with his self-crucification.
"Please tell us your rendition of events from when you first encountered." He starts into his tale giving us a little backstory to what led him to encounter them on that night of the 25th of May 2014, and how the following weeks of his rejection, his contract and possession, his training, and finally the fight and the death of Mandella Nkosi. He turned into a sobbing mess at some points and a scion of rage at others, but he made his way through his story. A murmur filled the room as he finished, an enchantment in place to allow
"Thank you, Joshua Prince, we have made a decision."
"We deem you innocent of your charge but will keep Adam van de Merve and the rest of the team Bright Star assigned to watch and guide you till they deem you stable enough to be allowed autonomy."
"What?" Shocked at our verdict, he tried to resist, but as I raised my hand, he fell silent.
"You are free to leave and return to Team Bright Star." I say, and he does with no reaction, this time fully defeated and unable to muster any resistance, only silence. When he left the room, the oppressive silence didn't go with him our breaths and sighs as if shouts filled the air. It never got easier.
"My magtag." Red said, breaking the silence, running his hands through his hair under his hood.
"That poor child." Green continues, her lips quivering.
"We should increase patrols?" Cobolt suggests looking through the report.
"Will that be enough?" Bronze interjects as he starts taking notes.
"We can hope." I say, standing up to leave.