Warlock Ch 452. Not Stupid
"You?" a councilwoman said. "You're not even sanctioned anymore."
"I'm more than sanctioned," Aria replied. "I'm alive because of him. I've seen what he carries. And I'm still here."
"Not swayed. Not corrupted."
"And not stupid."
Another pause.
"You all saw what happened," she continued. "You watched the rune recordings. You heard Ralvek's confession. You know who pulled the strings. And yet you're still trying to make Damian the villain of this story."
She shook her head.
"I was one of you. I believed in the Tribunal. In the Order. But now… all I see are scared old men trying to hold on to a version of power that's already broken."
The judge with the glowing eyes—the Head, clearly—spoke at last.
"Then what do you suggest we do?"
Everyone turned to Damian.
He met the judge's stare, not blinking.
"Clear my name," he said. "Publicly. Officially. No 'ifs,' no 'pending trials,' no conditions."
"You want a pardon?"
