Arcana Series - Strength

Audience with the Ruler II

The events happened so quickly and, so unexpectedly that, Damian wasn’t able to respond to it immediately. There was no bloodlust coming from Astarte after all and, the mood of the Head Juror seemed to be fine. That’s why Damian really expected that he would be able to leave the place without any injury.

But reality provided him a with something different. When he came to it, a dagger was already buried deeply into the door of Astarte. Right next to Damian’s face at that. With its blade grazing his cheek. Cutting it open and, revealing the boy’s blood which began flowing down.

Any normal acolyte would’ve run away due to fright at that point. They would’ve fallen to their knees and, potentially even wet themselves from the ordeal. But Damian was different. He held all these emotions back and, took the blade out of the door. He then returned it to the Head Juror who still had a gleeful expression on his face.

“I believe this belongs to you, your eminence.”

“Indeed it does.” Astarte said in reply as he pressed the dagger down on Damian’s palm. Slowly. Making the boy anticipate the pain and the blood even before they’ve come out.

An eternity of waiting seemed to have passed but, there was no blood coming out. Damian could feel the pain which his brain was imagining but, other than this, his eyes could see no change.

Meanwhile, Astarte was simply waiting for the change on Damian’s expression. Hoping for a wince, even if it would just be a slight one. But the boy offered none of this – finally making the Head Juror surrender as, he took back his blade.

“You still lack preparation. Remember that an opponent can strike you at any time and, from any angle. No situation nor place is ever completely safe. Remember that.” Astarte mentioned; pointing his dagger at the boy.

“Understood your eminence. Thank you for your words of wisdom.” Damian took a bow.

He didn’t really like the reminder. He was already done with what he needed to do at the Head Juror’s office. He solved the puzzle and, did so flawlessly. That’s why he thought that, he didn’t deserve what came next.

In his head, he knew that Astarte wasn’t really teaching him. There is a proper time and place for a lesson and, doing so at night when he was supposed to sleep was not it. The Head Juror simply wanted someone to punish and, unfortunately, he was the one targeted.

“You’ve grown into a fine acolyte Damian.” Astarte added, praising the boy even more.

“Thank you your eminence.”

“Yes, in fact, I’m thinking of arranging some things just for you.” The boy looked at the Head Juror with wondering eyes.

Astarte isn’t fond of acolytes. To him, they are merely expendable pawns. Meat shields, vanguards, and fighters for the war. But if there was a single exception to this rule, it is none other than Damian.

Astarte thought that the boy was special – and he is! At such a young age and, without having attended any formal lessons, the boy could think up of excellent strategies in the midst of war. So brilliant in fact that, Astarte himself knew that he couldn’t match the boy.

Of course he was still a better strategist at that time. With all of his firsthand experience of wars. Especially the sudden changes of the tides brought about by external and internal factors. Betrayal. Cowardice of troops which run away. A sudden downpour. A thick mist.

Damian didn’t know how to navigate through all of these yet. The only thing which Astarte gave him was a fixed example. With variables that couldn’t be changed or altered. That’s why he was still the better tactician. Yet, he knew that, after a couple more years, Damian would surpass even this.

“Keep on doing well and, I may just turn you into a juror.”

The words of the Head Juror took Damian by surprise. So much so that he wasn’t able to help himself. He looked directly at Astarte. With eyes filled by amazement. But then, he realized just as quick that he lowered his defenses.

Damian immediately looked back down. He didn’t see what kind of expression the Head Juror had on his face anymore but, he knew that there was a high chance for him to get punished for looking hopeful.

“You should’ve seen the look on your face boy. That’s something I haven’t seen you hold for a long time.” The Head Juror mused, with Damian still unsure if this was a good thing or not. All he knew is that, his heart was paced at that point. Nervous of what was to come.

“But what I said is true though. I am really thinking of turning you into a juror.” Astarte said.

“I am not worthy of such a position your eminence.”

“That is true. But it is not for you to decide whether this comes into fruition or not. Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal your eminence.”

“Good. Now run along. I won’t be throwing the dagger a second time.” Astarte added, knowing that the same trick won’t work twice with the boy.

“Thank you your eminence.” Damian said, taking a bow as he finally left the room.

The night was still young when he finished the ordeal. To him, the Head Juror was still a large enigma. An entity which he couldn’t completely comprehend. All because of the weird behaviors which the man did whenever Damian was alone with him.

Suddenly bursting out in laughter. Deciding to hurt Damian at unexpected circumstances. Telling the boy to go back just as soon as he arrived. It was like he was a different person each and every time. But, Damian didn’t probe too much into this thought because his mind was already preoccupied with other matters.

He walked as slowly as he could through the corridors of the jurors. Memorizing the numbers on the rooms which signified who owned it. He knew which belonged to certain jurors as, he would sometimes catch them entering or leaving their rooms at night. All of them giving a disgusted look to the boy of course.

“Francis. Carl. Robert. June. Lander.”

Aside from the names, Damian also placed the task of each juror into account. All while looking at the layout of the whole area. As if it was another map where he was immersing himself in. And, because his head was too lost in this train of thought – he accidentally bumped into someone. A person which he didn’t want to see for that night – Juror Gerard.

“Look what the trash brought in.”

“Good evening juror.” Damian’s body was still sore from the beating he received from this person. And just by hearing Gerard’s voice, the wounds began acting up. Burning his body as if they were freshly made.

“Did you realize what you did to me? You dirtied my clothes you filthy acolyte!”

Under normal circumstances, Damian would’ve already tightened his muscles. Knowing that Gerard wouldn’t even hesitate to beat him up for any petty reason. Even breathing the same air as this juror would cause a world of pain. But, that is only under normal circumstances.

They were still within the corridor where the rooms of the jurors are. This is the place where they rest and, where silence is golden. With many of them hearing Gerard, they went outside their rooms. Gazing at their fellow juror in disapproval.

But Damian also knew that this wouldn’t be enough to stop the juror. That’s why he added another blow to secure his escape from that situation.

“Pardon me for speaking juror but, I have just come back from the Head Juror’s room. He asked not to be disturbed anymore since he is about to sleep.”

It was a lie. Astarte never said anything of the sort. Damian was simply bluffing because, he knew that Gerard wouldn’t be stupid enough to call on this bluff. He wouldn’t risk calling it wrong. Not against the Head Juror who wouldn’t hesitate to torture one of his own.

“Is that so?”

“Yes juror.”

Gerard was trying to detect any lie from Damian’s body language. Eyes that can’t stare directly. Fidgety fingers. Sweat forming on the forehead. He looked for any sign which could call this bluff. But, he didn’t find any.

That’s why he finally withdrew. He was still annoyed of course. But with the other jurors watching him, he knew that he couldn’t draw the encounter out any longer.

“This won’t happen again. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes juror.”

“Good. Now get off my sight before I change my mind.”

“Understood juror. Thank you.” Damian said, bowing down and leaving immediately.

With this encounter, Damian finally decided to speed up his exit. He didn’t want to meet another juror along the way after all. But, there was a higher reason than this of course. That is, that Damian needed to get enough sleep before the operation began.

“I don’t need to be a juror, Astarte...” He thought to himself as his lips slowly curved to a smile.

“...I’m going to escape this place.”