Legal System, Trial By Ordeal

Inside the girl's room, they were talking. Celine was staring at Vahenna bulging chest, which made her envious for a bit. Celine wondered why most women in this world were big-chested.

Shira was an exception, she seemed young, thus her chest wasn't developed well.

They all sat down on their bed.

Vahenna was actually staring at her crest. She had a worried look. "Hey, how can we remove our slave crest?"

Shira shrugged. "I have no idea. As long as the crest is still imprinted on our skin, we are still slaves."

Shira explained that they may be freed but technically, they were ownerless slaves who work for Melvin. The Red Shackles Company could still hold them into submission if they wanted.

Celine consoled them. "Anyway, you guys, believe in our president, in one way or another he will abolish the system."

For Shira that was impossible. "Abolish slavery? That's impossible. I have studied that our economy is dependent on slavery. The only way how nobles can spend more is due to the fact slaves are cheap."

After buying the slaves, they don't even need a salary. Providing them their shelter and food was enough. Some slaves would even eat anything as long as it was edible. They were trained to do so. Thus, it allowed the nobles to spend their money or focus on something else, like improving infrastructures, farms, purchasing livestock, or strengthening their defenses against magical beasts.

Vahenna stroked her chin. "I don't fully understand it but I agree with Shira. If slavery was taken down, most nobles will go bankrupt. Besides, my previous Lord owned the slaver's company and he's making tons of money. It's a good business in the land of Rezgareth."

Celine hoped Melvin was here to fill them in. But she was from the modern world so she spoke her mind. "I see we both live in a different world, huh? I'm sorry to tell you but in my world, the freedom of everyone is what determines our economy. If we turn to slavery overnight our economy will go down."

It piqued Shira's interest. She moved her face closer. "I have been trying to ask you, but where did you people come from? We met at the town of Rephus remember."

Celine gave a nod. "We came from a world called earth. Our way of living is vastly different. If we can return to our country safe, then you might experience it yourself."

Shira became giddy. She was excited. "Yes, I wanna go there."

Vahenna pondered upon it. "Another world, huh?"

***

Inside the men's room. Melvin was writing in his diary. He was using a quill and ink. It was a pain in the ass since he had to dip it down on the bottle of ink constantly. "I'm having regrets selling my ballpen."

His progress wasn't smooth. He sighed.

Rederick went close to observe his activity. "Anyway Mr. President, what are you working on?"

Melvin beamed a confident smile. "Something that will shock the next high council meeting."

"Don't tell me you're planning to join?"

"Yeah. I have something to discuss with the important officials, the aristocrats, and the King. I heard it's where they will discuss the concerning matters about the kingdom." Melvin also heard that nobles were given the liberty to speak their mind in the meeting. Thus, it would be the perfect opportunity for him to talk with the noblemen. If possible, he would like to introduce himself as the ruler of a certain country. Then he would negotiate with the King so he could use the beacon and go back to his country.

Thus, he had to investigate the city himself and make his report before the meeting.

During the afternoon, Melvin fell asleep on his table. He woke up in a dark room. He got surprised for a second but then realized he was inside his rented room. "Sheesh." He grabbed his phone and turned on the flashlight.

The battery was around 10%. He was worried. Since Celine and Rederick also had one, he told them to turn it off for now. Only one phone was allowed to operate at a time. Regardless, he walked across the room like a blind man.

"Where the hell are the switch?" To his blunder, he realized he was in the medieval world where electricity doesn't exist. Melvin could even hear some screams from the streets.

"Rederick where are you?"

"I'm here."

"Follow my voice. I forgot to take some candle." Melvin was touching the door handle. Then when he opened it, he came across Shira who was holding a brazier filled with candles.

Vahenna and Celine were running across the hallway.

But now, their environment was illuminated. "Shira, what happened?"

"Sir, we heard a scream from outside," Shira said.

Melvin and Rederick nodded to each other. They ran as well to check it out. Leaving the inn and into the streets, they came across a bloodied corpse that belonged to a woman. Her gut was opened, her innards seemed to be taken out.

The stone-paved road was overflowing with blood. Right now, the body was being surrounded by guards with armors. They were holding torches.

Melvin went close to ask some questions. He saw the guards were restraining a man who was holding a bloodied knife.

"Sir, what happened here?" Melvin said.

"This fool did it." The guard said as he kicked the man's back

The man was around his forties. He was then pinned on the ground after he fell. "I didn't do it. It was from two men riding on a dragon." He was struggling to break loose.

"Shut your ass, there are no dragons in Rezgareth."

"A dragon?" Melvin gazed up at the night sky. He was starting to believe this man's statement. It wasn't odd for a dragon to exist in this world after all.

Melvin went close to the man and crouched. "Then, why is there a knife on your blood?"

"That woman is my coworker, I tried to defend her. We were just walking on the street and two men with robes attacked us out of nowhere. I managed to scratch his arm but while I was fighting my wife got snatched by the bird. Before I knew it, her body just fell from the sky. And..." He gritted his teeth. "When she landed, I just saw that her innards were taken from her body."

To check his statement, Melvin went to the corpse. The skull of the woman was damaged, some of her limbs were broken. She just might have fallen from a great height. Melvin believed him. "Hey, that guy could be telling the truth."

The guards burst out laughing. One of the guards said. "You're an idiot if you do. Who believes in that ridiculous story about a dragon? Surely, this guy must have hated her coworker."

Melvin clicked his tongue with their stupidity. "Then explain why would he bother to take out her innards? That would be messy and time-consuming." Seeing the man's clothes, it didn't even have any bloodstains only the knife. There were many reasons he had to believe the man.

"Huh? Who cares? This guy is probably a nut-job. We will be taking him in and he will have to answer by a trial by ordeal." The guards grabbed him up and then they went away.

Melvin stood up. "Trial by ordeal?"

Shira answered his question. "There are three stages for the trial to determine one's innocence. One is the fire ordeal, where the accused should walk on a wooden platform being set on flames. Next is the beast ordeal where the accused should survive in the presence of strong magical beasts and finally the pain ordeal, where the accused have to endure a day of torture."

Celine was surprised. "Isn't that's too much!"

Rederick nodded. "I agree."

"If the man is innocent, the twin gods will surely aid him. Since there was no witness, only the Gods will decide. That is according to the doctrines of the church." Shira added.

Seeing the man was being dragged away to the dungeon, Melvin sighed. Right now, he could do nothing since the guards were stubborn and thick-headed. There were many clues that he wasn't the killer.

The team returned to their rooms with some disappointment. They were feeling bad for the man.

Melvin sat on his seat. He lit up the candle and thought about it. If he was telling the truth, then who the hell did it? And what was their motive?

Regardless, he began jotting down for his reports.

One was the legal system, he thought of presenting how a true judicial system should work. He wrote it down in full detail. Also, he was starting to get annoyed with the policies of the church.

Next was he complained about the lack of lighting in the city. The streets were very dim during this time. Only a few torches were lit. It was hard to see. Thus, it was reported crimes like robberies and murder were common. Worse, most of the culprits weren't caught. Most of those accused were judged by the ordeal.

If street lights were present it could have lessened the tragedies. Worse, most of them were probably innocents. It made Melvin rest his head on his arm. "This looks problematic."

***

On the night sky, thousands of feet from the ground, a violet dragon flew smoothly with the wind. It was wrapped with plated scales, its wings were wide. Riding on it were two men with hood and robe. Their faces were hidden.

One robed man's arm was bleeding purplish blood. His voice was deep and monstrous. "Ouch, ouch, that guy was skilled than I thought for an old man."

The other robed man who stood behind the long neck of the dragon spoke. His voice was that of a human. "It's natural. That man is the leader of the anti-church brigade."

"Really? Who cares. But he was crazy powerful. Damn, I hate Silians who can perform that technique."

"You mean the fierce deep blade? It was indeed annoying."

"Forget it, focus on your mission."