Men in Black Robes pt 1

Larkin's brows moved up for a split-second as if doubting the child's capability to cause the fire. However, he had known his knights, and they knew their archduke's impeccable skills to determine the truth. These knights wouldn't suspect a child if they had no enough reasons.

However, the people in the area were already tired. He only regarded the terrified populace with his eyes. "Feed him and bring him to the Audience Hall."

"Erm, we… we can't touch the child. A dog is gnarling at us. If we force it, we might end making it more violent." Barda made some kind of annoyed face, but it was easy to miss. As if remembering something, he looked further down and saw the rat hidden beside Larkin.

"Then take the dog with him." Larkin frowned a little before leaving, making sure that the rat remained hidden from Miel's sight.

He then walked through the gathered crowd, but he told them no words of comfort. Moreover, the people were also very silent. It was because some of them were in the plaza watching and agreeing with the demonstrators while some were even participating in it.

They had been protesting against this archduke, and yet he still came in time to save the district from being completely eaten. If it was another duke, he would have let the situation be as a lesson to the people. Moreover, it was after Larkin said that he had the right to 'decide on the people's fate'.

"Miel, stay and attend to the concerns of the people about livelihood and shelter. Report to me as soon as you have accomplished your task." Larkin spoke to Miel who had walked him all the way to where the Black Kodiak waited. Even if Miel had words to say, Larkin left as soon as he finished talking.

It was because he had to speak with Artie, and that would mean bringing the rat into his sight… Miel's sight for sure.

Larkin placed the rat back on his shoulder as he rode Kodiak back to the castle, this time through the drawbridge. He then spoke softly as to not invite attention, "Head to the Audience Hall for the inquisition. I will be waiting for you."

Artie was about to speak, but something made her stop her words.

[You have gained a sliver of trust! Active task completion: 15%. Veneration + 20. Total meter points: 41; Veneration 34, Apostasy 7.]

The rat only nodded and kept her words to herself. She had a lot of time to ask him later. For now, she should focus on completing her first task so she could open her parameters. Somehow, she had a feeling that there was a reason for this preparatory stage.

…

The Audience Hall was filled with people again. The archduke directed the chancellor to conduct the morning graces in the plaza to pray for the people who had been harmed. The demonstrators didn't make themselves be known as they partook in the mass.

After that, those who had the energy to see the inquisition went to the Audience Hall. They were to stand witness in the inquisition of a child, seven years of age. As the crowd thickened, they all saw that poor child in the middle of the defendant's floor, scared and holding onto his protective dog.

The child's sickly father couldn't even begin to fear for his son. He knew that he was supposed to step in, but parental protection was waived. However, as it was an inquisition, the child would not be harmed and would only be thrown into the dungeon if the archduke said so.

It's just that… no matter how much he comforted himself, he couldn't find the mood to relax.

Miel, Artie, and Barda stood at one side while Reinfred stood with his priests at the other. On the throne sat Larkin, looking over the child in the middle of the defendant's floor. Soon, the assistant seneschal saw that they had enough witnesses and led the inquisition.

"Here before us stood the child named Jutio and his dog Kali."

The assistant seneschal felt strange for introducing a dog during their inquisition. However, as stated in the laws of the plains, all animals had the same rights to life as humans did. Strangely, that would include their right to a formal inquisition… as if they could speak in court.

"Ten people from the marketplace had attested to seeing them outside the time the fire started in multiple areas of the marketplace, seemingly running around to spread it." The assistant seneschal continued to speak. "As the laws stated, all wide-scale crimes would waive parental protection…

"The child shall answer for himself… and so the inquisition shall begin."

Murmurs echoed, and Jutio didn't know what to say or what to do even. He had never seen an inquisition before, and now that his parental protection was waived, he must answer for himself. He could only hold onto Kali while keeping himself from crying.

At this point, Miel took over the questioning. He stood in the middle to introduce himself to the child. "Jutio, I'm Miel Ellis, the ducal seneschal of the castle. Pray tell, were you outside when the fire started? No need to be afraid, just tell me what you were doing."

Jutio stared at the kind smile Miel was giving him and then at the impassive look on Larkin's face. Before he could muster the courage to speak, Kali stood up and started angrily barking at Miel. The seneschal steeled himself, not wanting to run away in fear.

Larkin's eyes frowned as he took a look at the dog. Jutio then began calming the dog down, but she wouldn't listen. She kept on barking and barking, not caring if Miel was beginning to step back.

As for Artie… she was stunned. Her eyes were wide, and her breath wouldn't leave her lips. It was because… she could hear the voice of a lady screaming along with the barking of the dog. 'Is this… Kali speaking? I can hear animals?'

["You can't blame Jutio for this! It's those men in black robes! They are the ones who started the fire! I saw them, and I chased them! Jutio didn't do it! He didn't do it!"]

The voice echoed again and again as if Kali thought someone would understand if she barked louder. However, she was a dog, and no one else would probably understand her words. Then again, Artie felt that it was wrong… that thought was wrong…

"Kali, silence." Larkin finally spoke.

As if he had the power to even command animals, Kali cowered a little and sat down. Her ears folded, and she stared in the direction of the archduke.

"Jutio, speak." Larkin regarded the child, and Jutio froze.

The child then caressed his dog and gulped down his fear, body cowering as well as Kali's did. "I… I was feeding Kali. K-Kali doesn't belong to me. Her owner died months ago, and she's all alone now. Father wishes for me to stay away from a feral dog so I… feed her when Father is asleep."

Larkin only hummed. "…and the men in black robes?"