Framed With Dignity
The crowd clamored around, forcing the armored man out of his tent.
"What's going on here?!" [Armored Man]
He pushed his way through the crowd and glanced around.
"He used magic!" [Ambrose]
Raising a pointed finger, he accused Askyros.
"What?! No, It was Nikal!" [Ryse]
"No, it was clearly Askyros!" [Ulmand]
Appearing from the crowd, he joined Ambrose in his accusations. Though he had already sustained an injury, he had returned after applying first aid.
"No, it was Nikal! Everyone saw it! Who here saw Nikal do it?!" [Ryse]
He looked at the faces around him, but the mass of trainees remained silent.
"Enough!" [Armored Man]
He waved at one of the nearby vetern soldiers and whispered to them. After nodding their head, the soldier entered a tent and came back with a parchment in hand.
"Your names." [Armored Man]
"Nikal." [Nikal]
"Askyros." [Askyros]
The armored man traced his finger across the parchment and took a peek at the two.
("Nikal, the son of Count Goldart. This could be troublesome...") [Armored Man]
He handed the parchment back to the nearby soldier and dismissed him.
"Askyros! Stand in formation!" [Armored Man]
Askyros dropped his wooden sword and straightened his back.
"Yes sir!" [Askyros]
"You will be punished for use of magic during training! Your punishment is 10 lashes!" [Armored Man]
"What?!" [Ryse]
("He's framing him!") [Adam]
"...Sir, I don't know how to use magic." [Askyros]
"You dare lie to your superior?!" [Armored Man]
Reaching to his side, he brought out a crystal. A strange luminescent circle appeared on the crystal and the armored man brought it to his lips.
"Someone bring a whip to Field B." [Armored Man]
Not too long after he gave out his command, a voice replied from the crystal.
"Uh… Sitros, we don't have any whips." [Crystal Voice]
"...For fucks sake." [Sitros]
He looked over his back and pointed to three men on standby.
"You, you, and you. Bring me some sticks. Make sure they're sturdy, I don't want them to break easily." [Sitros]
Without question, his men got to work. Taking only seconds, they each returned with a stave in hand.
"Askyros, step forward to receive your punishment." [Sitros]
Though he was called upon, Askyros did not move.
"Are you disobeying me?" [Sitros]
"I refuse to accept punishment for something I did not do." [Askyros]
Sitros felt a pang of guilt, but forced an order out of his mouth.
"Men, beat him until he begs for forgiveness." [Sitros]
The three soldiers converged on Askyros, brandishing their wooden staves.
"W-wait!" [Ryse]
He ran in front of Askyros with his arms spread out.
"He really didn't do it! I swear!" [Ryse]
"Halt!" [Sitros]
The soldiers stopped in their tracks and waited.
"Ryse Lionheart, I am giving you the count of ten to move. If you do not comply, you will also share Askyros' punishment." [Sitros]
"Lionheart?" [Ulmand]
"Did he just say Lionheart?" [Ambrose]
Trainees began to whisper among the crowd, increasing the tension in the air.
"SILENCE!!!" [Sitros]
His voice rang throughout the field, silencing the trainees.
"I will be starting the countdown." [Sitros]
"Ten."
"Nine."
"Eight."
Ryse stood there with determination in his eyes, unyielding to the oppression before him.
"Seven."
"Six."
"Five."
("He's going to get himself killed!") [Adam]
"Four."
"Three."
"Two."
The soldiers approached him, raising their sticks in preparation.
"One."
Ryse shut his eyes as the soldiers swung down at him, letting out a loud thwack as the sticks made contact.
("It… doesn't hurt?") [Ryse]
Upon opening his eyes, realization crossed his face.
"A… Askyros?") [Ryse]
Askyros was no longer behind him, but instead in front. He took the blows of all three soldiers with his back turned to Ryse.
"…Ryse, step back. I would have just taken the beating if I knew you were going to be dragged into it." [Askyros]
With a small nudge, he pushed Ryse back into the crowd.
"Continue!" [Sitros]
The soldiers continued to hammer away at Askyros, allowing bruises and blood to surface.
("This… HURTS!! WHY DO I HAVE TO FEEL THIS TOO?!?!") [Adam]
Blood stained the soldiers staves and clothes, a gruesome sight that made them want to stop.
"No… Askyros…" [Ryse]
"Stop!" [Sitros]
His men halted their onslaught, taking heavy breaths as the blood dripped from their weapons.
"Have you understood what you have done wrong now?" [Sitros]
There was no reply.
"...Continue." [Sitros]
"W-wait!" [Soldier]
Suddenly, the soldier held out his hand to stop his peers from advancing.
"...Are you disobeying me too?" [Sitros]
An air of intimidation leaked out from within, sending chills down his subordinate's spine.
"N-no sir! It's just…" [Soldier]
"Just what? Spit it out." [Sitros]
"The trainee… He's… already unconscious…" [Soldier]