Clearing Someone's Name

[Third POV, earlier]

After the knights caught Reine, the situation got increasingly frustrating for Cedric, Eugeo, and Leafa. They remained there, helpless and perplexed, watching as their newfound friend was dragged away.

"This is just absurd," Cedric remarked, his voice tinted with annoyance. "How can everyone overlook what really happened?"

Eugeo nodded in agreement, his skepticism visible. "It's like they can't see that Reine wasn't in control of her actions."

Leafa, the youngest of the group, chosen to console them. She realized that expressing their anger would not help their companion, who was now in the hands of the knights.

"Guys, I understand that this isn't fair," Leafa interrupted, her voice reassuring. "But getting upset won't solve anything. We need a plan to help miss Reine."

The two boys exchanged glances as they realized the small elf was correct. Losing their cool would have no effect on the issue. They understood a plan was needed to prove Reine's innocence.

"Leafa's right," Cedric conceded, taking a deep breath to calm down. "Let's try talking to the villagers. We need to show that Reine wasn't responsible."

Eugeo agreed with the plan and nodded. "We should find anyone who saw her with those red eyes and convince them she wasn't in control of herself."

With resolution in their hearts, the trio decided to take matters into their own hands. They were adamant about learning the truth about Reine's condition and clear her name.

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Just as the three children were about to leave, someone blocked their path. They looked up to see the imposing figure of the elf noble, Oberon, accompanied by his bodyguard, Barghest.

"Where do you think you're going, you little troublemakers?" Oberon sneered, his contempt for the children evident.

Cedric sneered and offered no excuses. "Our plans are none of your concern, noble."

"He's right," Eugeo said while holding Oberon responsible. "You're the reason Reine was taken by the knights in the first place."

Leafa, despite her stature, stood her stand as well. "Just leave us alone, you big meanie."

Upon hearing the three children's defiant shouts, Oberon responded with a contemptuous smirk. "Ah, you must be upset about that feisty young troublemaker the knights apprehended earlier? My condolences for your loss," he said sarcastically, dismissing their worry for Reine.

Cedric clenched his fists in frustration, but he knew that arguing with Oberon now wouldn't help their cause.

Instead, he tried to disregard the elf noble's mockery, saying, "You can mock us all you want, noble, but this time we'll clear our friend's name."

Oberon, unfazed by the child's determination, dredged up a bitter memory from the past, which pushed Cedric's buttons. "Speaking of clearing names, do you remember the time you failed to clear the name of a dear friend of yours?"

"Don't you dare bring that up!" Cedric exclaimed, his face stiffening in rage. Eugeo grimaced in frustration when he heard the elf noble retold a terrible memory.

Oberon, however, ignored the warning and continued, "What was her name again? Ah, yes, it was Alice, wasn't it?"

"You bastard!" Eugeo, upon hearing his friend's name, yelled fiercely and charged towards the elf noble in a fit of wrath.

Barghest, however, steps forward and blocked his way before he could reach Oberon. The swordswoman then flicked her palm and knocked Eugeo back, preventing the hostility.

When Cedric and Leafa notice this, they sprint towards their friend to check on him. "Are you okay, Eugeo?" Cedric inquired worriedly.

Oberon chuckled haughtily when he saw the child's failed attempt to harm him. "Ah, how pathetic you pests are. I'm very certain that a feisty criminal will have the same fate as your friend."

Cedric scowled in frustration, trying to hold back his anger. Meanwhile, Eugeo had recovered from the swordswoman's attack and attempted to rush again, but Leafa stopped him.

"Let me go, Leafa!" Eugeo shouted, intending to assault the elf noble.

However, the small elf refused to comply and continued to hold him back. "No, mister Eugeo, this is exactly what he wants. The noble is trying to provoke us."

Leafa looked at her brother, silently asking him to keep his calm. She understood that challenging Oberon wouldn't improve Reine's circumstance.

Despite his anger, Cedric drew a deep breath and approached Oberon with composed resolution. "You enjoy toying with us, don't you? Well, we won't be influenced by your provocations. We're going to find the truth about Reine, and nothing you say will stop us."

Eugeo, still clearly infuriated, nodded in agreement. He recognized the need of being focused on their purpose.

Oberon smirked sinisterly, clearly amused by their resolve. "How amusing. Very well, let's see how far your little investigation gets you."

The elf noble turned and walked away, closely followed by his bodyguard, Barghest. The children stood there, undeterred as they watched them leave.

Once the two adversaries were gone from their view, Cedric turned to face his companions. "Alright, let's get to work. We need to split up and find anyone who saw Reine before she lost control."

Eugeo and Leafa both agreed with a nod. To speak with locals and look for any leads, they divided up and went in separate directions.

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[Cedric POV]

It had been a long time since Eugeo and I had had a companion named Alice Zuberg. She used to be our group's big sister and a role model for the entirety of the village.

But everything changed when we took the dangerous decision of exploring a forbidden cave. Our objective was to uncover an artifact said to produce limitless ice.

Looking back, I realize it was a horrible mistake to venture into such a treacherous area, but we were naive and driven by youthful curiosity at that time.

I recall venturing farther into the cave. The air became cooler, and a sensation of dread settled over us. It felt as if the cave's own walls were urging us to turn back. 

Our determination, on the other hand, propelled us onward. We were young and thought we could do anything. Our childish enthusiasm also blinded us to the dangers that awaited us.

After what seemed like hours of walking, we finally arrived at the heart of the dark, damp cave. We discovered something that would change our lives forever there, illuminated by the dim glow of our torches.

It was the shattered carcass of a colossal dragon, lying on a pile of sparkling gold and exquisite gems. We were both awed and terrified by the sight. The beast's massive size and the huge wealth it guarded were beyond our wildest dreams.

On top of the heap was a mysterious sword. Its blade and hilt were as pristine as crystallized ice. We believed that this weapon had to be the rumored object we were looking for. It seemed to exude a peculiar, otherworldly force.

At that moment, when we had just taken the sword and were getting ready to go, we forgot the way out and chose the wrong path. This led us to arrive at a restricted area that, according to village laws, we children shouldn't pass.

Because of this, we went back and tried to go another way. That is, until we heard two knights fighting on the forbidden land.

I remembered the fight being intense and chaotic. So much so that Alice inadvertently stepped over the border, which the two knights spotted.

When they noticed us, we tried to get out of the cave as soon as possible and managed to return in one piece. Unfortunately, it was too late at the moment.

Alice was accused with the crime of crossing the border, and the knights took her away. Eugeo and I even tried to rescue her, but the knights stopped us from doing so.

For years, that memory of that day continued to haunt us and I couldn't forget the feeling of helplessness as we watched her disappear, accused of a crime she doesn't deserve.

It was a painful reminder that the world was harsh and unforgiving. Since that day, we have made a promise we never let another innocent person to suffer a similar fate.

Now, as we faced the challenge of clearing Reine's name, those memories resurfaced, fueling our resolve to gather evidences and prove her innocence.

I wouldn't allow history to repeat itself.

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Back in the present, Eugeo, Leafa, and I split up to interview the villagers and gather opinions about Reine's situation. Our goal was to find witnesses who could vouch for her innocence and help clear her name.

As I walked through the village, I couldn't help but reflect on our past and the injustice that had befallen our friend Alice. It was a wound that had never fully healed, a reminder of the cruelty of the world we lived in.

My first stop was at the village square, where I approached a group of villagers who had witnessed Reine's incident earlier. Among them was Gasupht Zuberg, Alice's father.

I had seen him once face the unjust accusation against his daughter, and now I hoped he might understand our mission to clear Reine's name.

As I approached the man, I could see the weariness in his eyes, as if he were reliving the painful memories of the past. He noticed me and greeted me with a calm yet guarded demeanor.

"Hello there, young Cedric, how can I help you?"

I took a deep breath, carefully choosing my words as I replied, "Greetings, Mister Zuberg. I wanted to know your opinion about the recent incident."

He sighed, his expression filled with a mix of sadness and frustration. "Oh, that... I'd rather not comment on that situation."

"Why is that?" I asked curiously, sensing that something had troubled him deeply.

His gaze shifted away from mine, and he spoke with a heavy heart. "Because it reminds me too much of what happened back then. It is too painful to remember, you see."

"I understand your pain, Mister Zuberg," I offered sympathetically, acknowledging his reluctance to delve into such memories. "But I'm here to clear the name of our new friend, Reine."

His eyes widened in surprise upon hearing my resolve, and then he narrowed them with suspicion. "Why would you go to such lengths to defend that savage girl, young Cedric?"

"Because I've made a promise to myself," I declared resolutely, my voice unwavering. "I won't let another innocent person suffer as Alice did."

The man's eyes softened a little, and he seemed to comprehend the significance of my words. The memory of his daughter's unfair fate had left a deep scar, and he couldn't ignore the parallels with Reine's situation.

However, his eyes then narrowed again as he responded, "As much as I wanted to help you, young Cedric, I couldn't bring myself to do it."

"But why?" I asked anxiously, wondering why he refused.

Mister Zuberg then looked behind him and said, "That girl almost hurt my daughter."

Behind the man stood a small girl who resembled Alice. Her name was Selka, and she was Alice's younger sister.

I understand now why he was reluctant to help. It was due to the rampage that the red-eyed Reine had caused during her fight with the swordswoman, Barghest. Selka might have been accidentally hit by one of her magic attacks.

Nevertheless, I would try to explain what had actually happened. Returning my attention to the man, I replied, "Mister Zuberg, I understand your concern for Selka, but there's a misunderstanding about what occurred."

Hearing my reasoning, the man raised his eyebrow and said, "How so?"

With a calm tone, I told them that Reine wasn't in control of her actions and that someone else was controlling her body. I even gave evidence regarding the color of her eyes during the rampage.

Mister Zuberg, as well as some of the bystanders, listened to my explanation and tried to understand the certainty of the incident.

"So, you're saying that girl is somewhat possessed?" one of the villagers asked skeptically.

"Perhaps," I replied solemnly in response. "It's one of the theories I'm working with. It's as surprising to everyone as it is to me, but I believe Reine wasn't acting of her own will."

The villagers exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of what to make of this revelation. It was a lot to take in, and they seemed to be torn between their own experiences and the new information I presented.

While everyone was comprehending, Mister Zuberg finally spoke, his voice filled with both doubt and a glimmer of hope. "If what you say is true, then perhaps we could try reconsidering our stance on this matter."

I nodded gratefully, appreciating his willingness to entertain the idea. "Thank you, Mister Zuberg. Your understanding means a lot to me, and it could make a significant difference in Reine's case."

As I left the group, I couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of confidence. I was making progress in our objective of clearing Reine's name, and with each person I convinced, our chances of success grew stronger.

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My search for witnesses and information continued as I traversed the streets of the village, my thoughts consumed by the need to clear Reine's name.

Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream ripped through the air, tearing me from my contemplations.

"Gyaaaaaaaaaa!"

Startled and alarmed, I immediately turned in the direction of the terrifying scream.

What I witnessed next sent a chill down my spine - a group of hooded figures, their faces obscured, had invaded the village through its entrance. They brandished sinister weapons and were viciously attacking unsuspecting villagers.

The scene unfolded in a nightmarish fashion, with innocent lives being mercilessly cut short by this sudden onslaught.

Despite my initial shock, I knew I had to flee the immediate danger. I turned to make my escape, my heart pounding with terror.

However, my attempts to distance myself from the horrifying scene were thwarted as strong hands suddenly clamped around my neck, choking the air from my lungs, and pulled me backward with irresistible force.

"Please... Don't... Kill... Me..." I gasped, my voice strained and desperate as I fought for each precious breath.

The mysterious person who had captured me, concealed beneath their ominous hood, released a chilling, malevolent laughter. Their grip on my throat tightened, responding to my plea with sadistic delight, as if relishing my agony.

After a tense moment, the hooded figure leaned in closer, their hidden face mere inches from mine. With an unsettling calmness, they spoke in a low, menacing tone.

"I have something to ask you before you meet your end, boy."

Fear surged through me, but I mustered the courage to respond, albeit hesitantly. "What do you want from me?"

Their next words rattled me, catching me off guard and leaving me uncertain of how to react.

"Do you know of a girl named Reine Greyrat?"