Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd, both inside and outside the courtroom, as Amanu stood frozen, struggling to comprehend the accusation against him. The revelation hung heavily in the air, sinking in slowly.
"What is this nonsense?" a man shouted, standing up in the crowd. Another voice quickly followed, "What game are you playing here?" The protests echoed through the building, even spilling outside to those watching the broadcast.
"Silence!" Judge Luzo's voice cut through the uproar. His steely gaze landed on the man who had spoken. The man faltered, gulping as he locked eyes with Luzo's piercing stare, as if looking into an endless abyss. He sat down, the tension in the room palpable.
Luzo turned his gaze to Amanu, his voice cold and precise. "Mr. Amanu Savada, explain why you claimed not to have a Mave."
Amanu was at a loss. His mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation. He glanced over at Fleora, her face a mirror of his confusion and fear. "I… I don't know," he managed to stammer. "I swear, I've never had a Mave before. This must be an error with your equipment."
Before Amanu could finish, a loud, mocking voice rang out from the back of the court. "HUUUUUUUHHHHH! You dare question the integrity of my work, boy?" The voice's owner stood, revealing a man with a wild shock of silver hair and a stained lab coat. His appearance was that of a mad scientist, and he glared at Amanu with fiery indignation.
As he tried to push his way out of his seat, a young man beside him pulled him back. "Master Nuta, please—calm down!" he pleaded, his grip firm on Nuta's arm.
"Let go of me, boy! I can't have him disrespecting my work!" Iac Nuta shouted, wriggling to free himself.
A guard stationed by the entrance stepped forward, towering over the eccentric scientist. "Sir, I'll have to escort you out if you don't sit down quietly," the guard warned.
Iac shot him a glare, seething. "You dare threaten me, you oversized sack of muscles!" he shouted. But before he could continue, the guard picked him up effortlessly, slinging him over his shoulder as Iac kicked and raged, shouting, "I'll get you all for this!" His assistant rushed after them, offering apologies as they disappeared beyond the courtroom doors.
Silence gradually returned to the court, though the tension remained thick. Judge Luzo cleared his throat and continued, unfazed by the outburst. "Our equipment is calibrated before every session. It is in perfect condition, meaning, Mr. Amanu Savada, you have indeed lied under oath."
Amanu opened his mouth to protest, but another voice spoke up from the raised platform where the high-ranking officials of Danvis sat. It was a woman, seated to Luzo's left. Her long, silky black hair fell over her shoulders, framing her intense gaze. "I believe he's telling the truth," she said calmly, and the crowd fell into a shocked hush.
"As you all know," she continued, her voice firm, "I possess the Metaphysical Mave: Truth, and one of its Mave abilities allows me to detect lies with absolute accuracy." She looked directly at Amanu, her expression unreadable. "And I can confirm this man is telling the truth, without a doubt."
Judge Luzo nodded slowly. "If Lady Aliyah has verified it, we will accept her judgment." He turned to Amanu, his expression shifting to one of cautious interest. "Amanu Savada, you are indeed an interesting case. The court would like to observe and study you further, but your actions—trespassing upon the sacred land of Danvis and defiling the River of Alamo—are grave offenses, punishable by execution."
Fleora's quiet sobs reached Amanu's ears, and his heart clenched. Her pain was as unbearable as the sentence that awaited him. He fought back tears, determined not to break down in front of her.
Judge Luzo continued, "The court has reached its final verdict. Amanu Savada, you have been found guilty of trespassing and desecrating the River of Alamo." His voice echoed through the hall, and a loud cheer erupted from the crowd outside.
The weight of the sentence settled heavily on Amanu. His heart sank.
"However," Luzo continued, his voice now laced with an unexpected tone, "considering your newfound Mave and your skill as a Cleaver, I have arrived at an alternative punishment."
Silence fell once again. Amanu could feel the confusion and curiosity around him, mirrored in his own heart.
"You shall serve as a Cleaver within the Kingdom of Danvis," Luzo declared, his words reverberating in the stunned courtroom.
"What?" someone muttered, sparking another wave of murmurs. Inside and outside, the crowd erupted again, their confusion and anger thickening the air.
"Is this some sick joke!" one man shouted. "Luzo, what kind of punishment is this? Are we not to take this trial seriously?"
A high-ranking man seated on the platform stepped forward to clarify. "The Cleaver is a hazardous occupation, one that few in our kingdom are willing to undertake due to its dangerous missions and notoriously low pay." He glanced at Amanu, smirking. "With a Mave at level 1, a single star at that, this man, Amanu—Amanu Savada, if I recall—won't last beyond a mission or two. It's as good as a death sentence. This also allows us to observe him further, and find the real truth behind this "Mave" of his. A win-win, you might say."
The crowd's anger gradually quieted as the reasoning sank in. Some continued to grumble, but others were now nodding, accepting the logic.
Judge Luzo addressed Amanu again, his voice cold and unwavering. "With your Mave exposed, you are no longer permitted to reside in the village of Ziwa. During your punishment, you will remain under our watchful eye here in the Kingdom of Danvis."
Amanu's heart sank further, and he found his voice breaking as he spoke. "What about my family?"
Luzo's expression did not soften. "Your wife is a non-Maver and, as such, will not be permitted within the Kingdom's walls."
Amanu's fists clenched at his sides. He opened his mouth to protest further, but Luzo's command cut him off. "Silence! Do not mistake this for mercy. You are a criminal, and you will be treated as one. Court dismissed!"
The guards who had accompanied Amanu stepped forward, ready to escort him out. His eyes searched the crowd, finding Fleora. Her face was a mask of despair, tears streaming freely. His heart shattered at the sight. He tried to hold her gaze, knowing this might be the last time they'd see each other.
"Please," he choked, his voice hoarse. "Take care of our son. Take care of yourself. I love you both… more than anything."
As the guards pulled him toward the doors, Fleora's knees buckled, and she sobbed into her hands. His final words reached her faintly as he disappeared from her sight.
"How do you know it's a boy, you fool?" she whispered tearfully to herself.
The courtroom doors closed with a heavy thud, sealing Amanu's fate and marking the beginning of a dark new chapter.