Chapter 12: Chapter 11 – End of a Dream

Ugh……..

Why is everything suddenly so dark?

What am I doing on the floor?

What happened……to me?

A strange scent enters my nostrils. It smelled of something metallic, like that of rusted iron. I try to plant my hand on the floor to push myself upwards, only to feel a certain wetness spreading through my palm. I looked into my hand, only to realize that it had been stained completely red.

Is this….blood…..?

W-What is going on?

“L-Lars…..”

A faint, yet familiar voice enters my ears. I adjusted my head to the sound and widened my eyes.

"T-This can't be real….."

It was a horrible sight, something that could only come from my worst nightmares. Sir Alvarro, a kind gentleman who offered me a place to stay. Miss Felicia, a sweet lady who treated me like her own son. Both their corpses laid on the floor, with eyes devoid of any spirit. In front of them was Alessia's body, like a white dove covered in a pool of blood.

"Alessia!"

I crawled my way over in desperation and held her shoulders. Her skin had turned into a ghastly pale, her hand cold to the touch.

"How did this happen?! Who did this?!"

"Assassins…AHK!" Alessia coughed up blood. "Smell….made us…..weak…"

"Don't worry! I'll cover up your wounds and call the Enforcers!"

"I-It hurts…..I don't think I can make it…….."

Inspecting her body, it had been riddled with cuts, stabs and slash wounds everywhere, like a deranged psychopath had attacked her. I came to the conclusion that the killer used blades….but how did they pull it off so easily?!

Could such a thing even be possible….?

"Stay with me, Alessia, please!" I held her cheeks.

Alessia lifted her hand unto my own and started to form tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry…..I'm going to have to break our pinky promise…"

"Don't say that Alessia! You're going to be okay!" I gripped her hand tightly.

"Never give up on our dream. Become a Hero for me, Lars. I believe in……you….” She stared at me with a firm look in her eyes, before closing them completely.

"No………"

I bit my nails, banged my fist on the floor and let out a scream.

THUD!

The sound of the entrance door slamming open echoed across the room, along with rapid footsteps running across the hallway.

“The killer’s over there!” a boy screamed from behind me.

I turned around and saw a couple of men dressed up in white military cloaks rushing over with guns pointed to my face.

How did the Enforcers get here so quickly….?

Alongside them was a boy who was wearing casual clothes watching in the background. It was my former teammate, Marko.

What is he doing here?!

“Lars Lyons, you are under arrest for the murder of the Crosswell Family,” an Enforcer spoke up. “We are authorized to take you into custody. Please comply immediately,”

What…did he just say…?

“M-Murder?! What are you talking about? I didn’t kill any of them! I was unconscious the whole time!”

“Save it for the court, criminal. Seize him immediately!”

Two men approach me, but I move back and flail my arms around.

“W-Wait! This isn't right! I would never do such a horrible thing!”

“Silence, fool. Do not resist or we’ll shoot you down.”

I froze on the spot with my teeth chattering against each other. The men grabbed hold of my arms and pinned me to the ground.

I don’t understand……..Why am I being blamed for this?

“Monster…how could you do such a thing?!” Marko said. “And they accepted you as an Enforcer over me?! A damn shame, that’s what it is!”

“I didn’t do it! Why won’t anyone believe me?!”

I didn’t……

Looking up at Marko, I noticed a strange look on his face. His eyes thinned and his mouth morphed into an unnaturally wide grin, showing off his teeth to form a sinister smile.

Don’t tell me….

“YOU!”

I tried to run after him, but something hard hit the back of my head, causing me to crash to the floor.

—------------------------

The slamming of a wooden hammer echoed throughout the dark confines of the courtroom, trying to silence the whispers of the people seated around me. They all wore masquerade masks over their faces, but I could sense their judgeful eyes piercing right through me, all brimming with anger, disgust and fear.

“The Council will begin the trial of Mr. Lars Lyons! Please remain silent.”

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A long gray haired elder in white robes stood in front of me, placing his hammer on the table and clearing his throat.

“Last night, 3 people, namely the Crosswell Family, were found dead inside the dining room of their own home. The victims’ names were Alessia Crosswell, a prodigious ice mage enrolled in the Enforcer Academy, Alvarro Crosswell, a 1st Rank Enforcer on duty, and Felicia Crosswell, a housewife. Their bodies were reported to have multiple stab and slash wounds, which ultimately lead to their cause of death. The only person left alive was Lars Lyons, who was caught at the center of the crime scene, with blood soaked in his hands. According to the Enforcers’ investigation, the murder weapon used was a sword. To be specific, a sword owned by none other than Lars Lyons himself. This led to the conclusion that Lars Lyons used his sword to kill all 3 victims in cold-blood, which was witnessed by a boy named Marko Mirrito who reported to the Enforcers.”

This is too perfect of a setup…..it’s like I truly did kill them.

The judge slammed his hammer. “Lars, please state your defense.”

The truth always prevails in the end! I just need to figure out how to convince the judge that it wasn’t me! I have to think of something! Come on! Think! Think! There has to be a way!

“I take it that you have nothing to defend yourself. If that is the case, then I-”

“P-Please wait! I have some arguments!”

The judge massaged his chin. “Very well, then. Proceed.”

“Do you really think someone like me could kill all 3 of them? Alessia is a powerful mage who can freeze anyone if she so desires. She inherited it from her mother, Miss Felicia, who could also use ice magic and used to work as an Enforcer! And lastly, her father is a 1st Rank Enforcer! To think that I could kill them so easily with a sword is outrageous!”

“But it was done, nevertheless. There are plenty of ways to kill someone stronger than themselves. In fact, you just so happen to be an expert of the sword. A coincidence? I think not. The fact that you were the only one left in the crime scene suggests that you found a way to kill all three of them with a blade. Your own blade.”

“Y-You don’t understand! I was mostly unconscious the entire time, there was some sort of scent that made me pass out! When I woke up, Miss Felicia and Sir Alvarro were already dead. Alessia was still breathing at the time and she told me there were assassins who killed them before she died!”

“And do you have any proof of this scent? Or the assassins?” the judge raised his eyebrow.

“I-I……..”

As much as I hated to admit it, I had no proof to back up my claims. My voice had become speechless. Is there really nothing else I can do at this point?! The odds are too stacked against me, this isn’t fair!

“He killed them!”

I turned my head to see Marko pointing at me, with his face seemingly in tears.

“I saw it with my own eyes! It was terrible! I was just simply walking around outside when I heard a scream coming from their house. The door was open, so I took the chance to take a look at what was going on. When I went to investigate, Lars slashed the mother’s throat and stabbed the father repeatedly! I wanted to save them, b-but I was too scared to save them and ran away! I’m ashamed of myself!” Marko banged his fist on the wooden surface.

“You liar! I bet you had something to do with this!” I scowled at him. “Your Honor, he was the only witness! How can you be sure he isn’t lying?!”

“His testimony lines up with the evidence and circumstances of the crime scene. Besides, there were actually multiple witnesses. They all said the exact same thing.”

I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists.

It must be his gang!

“They’re all liars! I’ve been framed for murder! If there were so many of them, how could they be afraid to beat down one guy?! They set me up because they hate me! You have to believe me!”

“Bold accusations, boy. Even if there were many witnesses, they wouldn’t have the guts to take down a murderer.”

“B-But they have guns-”

“They aren’t authorized to use weapons to enact justice. It’s not like they could fight back with their fists, right?”

Tsk, he’s right. It’s a law in the General Enforcer Procedures series….damn it!

“Do you have anything else to say?” the judge asked.

“I……I didn’t do it.............can’t you ask King Cier to judge me?”

The judge slammed his hammer on the table hard enough for it to break into two pieces.

“If you’re talking about that magical AI, then you are disrespecting our judgment! That thing cannot ever replace what the Council can do by ourselves! You dare mock our authority?!”

“N-No…I didn’t mean to…”

“This trial is over! Lars Lyons, for the murder of the Crosswell Family, you are guilty!” the judge banged his fist on the wood. “For your punishment, you are banished……to the Under Sectors!”

No way……not the Under Sectors……that’s where all the evil criminals live…….

“You monster!” a person from the stands screamed out.

“How could you do that to such a wonderful family?!”

“Shame on you, bastard!”

“Go die in a hole somewhere!”

“You’re a disgrace to the Enforcers!

“You deserve to live with those Under demons!”

B-But I didn’t do anything wrong…..I don’t deserve this. Why is this happening to me?!

I looked towards Marko and he stared at me with a sly grin. I clenched my teeth and rushed over to him with my fists.

“You’ll pay for this, you bastard!”

Just when I was mere inches away from smacking his face, some Enforcers pinned me down to the ground. I struggled with all my strength, but they began kicking me in different places. Pain surged throughout my stomach, chest, head and thighs, but I didn’t care. All I wanted to do was get justice for the people I considered as my family.

“AHK!”

“Stop resisting!”

Eventually, I had gotten too weak to move. A person grabbed my hand and started slicing through the dorsum of my hand, crossing out the Enforcer Mark to signify that I was kicked out.

“No….please!…. Stop!…..I’m begging you! I made a promise to become a Hero!” I screamed out in pain.

“Hero? Are you joking? Screw you, freak. You’ve already lost the right to become a Hero,” an Enforcer said. “You’re no longer one of us.”

Lost the right….to become a Hero? What about our dream?! What about my promise to Alessia?! I swore to become a Hero, damn it! This can’t be happening to me! This is too cruel….What did I do to deserve such treatment?!

I’m sorry….Alessia. I’m sorry…..Master. I’ve failed you all. What am I going to do now?

Is there any hope left for me…..?

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