Chapter 12: Sol Clain

Side:Sol

–Wait a second! What about Schrodinger, didn't they even bother visiting him? Oliver and Cirael could have enter his world! Moreover, Sean... did he just stay alive? What happened to his conversation with the Gehessikait? Yes, even my friend, Ktul, he would never stop trying to find a strong opponent... and you say that this is the end of their story?!

–Firstly, Shabby, or whatever your name is, I completely agree. It is a terrible book. How does anyone even read this?... oh yes, nobody reads this. Well, that's good. Secondly, if you shut up for a minute or two, I can tell you what happened next. Agreed? Agreed. Then I'll start a little later than where I left off. So, kh-khm... It was about noon. On the busy streets of the capital...

It was about noon. The bustling streets of the capital were in full swing with hundreds of people and carts moving back and forth between the two-story buildings. No wonder, Arai – the main city of the kingdom of the same name – has always been full of humans... and non-humans too. If it wasn't enough, there was a big fair right now, in the height of summer, so the streets were very crowded. A stream of people, like a tsunami, walked into the center of the capital. More and more merchants arrived from the sea, to which more than half of the streets faced. White brick houses with red roofs surrounded people scurrying here and there.

However, none of this bothered a man of about 19, who was in his room with an area of more than 20 meters on the 4th floor of the royal palace. He was straightening his long white hair, looking in the mirror. His heterochromatic eyes, the right one was green and the left was blue, looked at him from the reflection. Light from the street illuminated the room through a large window. This man looked at himself without enthusiasm and took a ruler from the table near the mirror, brought it to a strand of his hair hanging from his right temple, after which he began to move the index finger of his left hand, drawing light blue symbols in the air, which formed in "16 centimeters." Now he brought the same ruler to the symmetrically located strand at the left temple, after which he wrote in the air, now with his right hand: "18 centimeters." Taking a deep breath, the young man put the ruler aside, took the scissors from the same table... and cut the strand on the left, removing exactly 2 centimeters. The words in the air instantly disappeared.

Now looking in the mirror, he looked more satisfied. Having once again made sure that his clothes, including strict black shirt with a white jacket, which continued to the back of his knees, and black trousers, sat perfectly on him, the man took the sheath standing near the mirror with a sword in it. The weapon clearly looked ceremonial, considering how heavily the sword's hilt and scabbard were decorated with gold and jewels. The man secured this sheath on his belt to the left of his torso. Just as he was about to leave, taking a step away from the mirror, he abruptly ran back and widened his eyes. Pulling out a sword from its sheath, the blade of which was not at all ceremonial, but quite ordinary, he brought it to his face... and cut off the facial hairs with it, now completely removing even the hint of a beard on his face. Exhaling in relief, the man sheathed his sword. Just in time, because he heard from behind the double wooden doors:

–Prince Sol, the table is set. Please proceed to the dining room; your parents are waiting for you to have breakfast.

Nodding towards the door, the young man, who was named Sol, already completely confident that he looked neat and symmetrical, without changing his calm, perhaps even emotionless expression, left his room. In the corridor, the palace servants, whose help Sol rejected out of habit, raising his hand and shaking his head, greeted him. Walking through long chains of corridors, the man, although he maintained a perfectly calm appearance, was agitated inside. Finally, he can leave this place and wander around the world for quite some time...

After 5 minutes, he reached a vast dining room with white walls decorated with paintings, where only two people were sitting at a long table – a woman with long white hair and blue eyes, and a man with short black hair and green eyes. They were dressed in ceremonial clothes worthy of people of the upper classes. These were Sol's parents – Oliver Clain and Cirael Clain... Sol's adoptive parents, as he himself did not forget to remind everyone who called him their child. Even though Sol was their son, as they assured everyone, they didn't look much older than him. However, no one was surprised at this – everyone knew that the king and queen, despite their appearance, in which they resembled people of 25 years old, do not age. They have ruled Arai continuously for seven thousand years. Nodding to the servants and his parents, Sol sat down at the table. Cirael looked at her son and said:

–Good morning, Sol. So... it is finally that day. You're leaving today, right?

–Yes. Finally, I can be far from you, – Sol replied.

Sol did not consider Oliver and Cirael his parents. Quite the contrary, he strongly disliked them. Only a few people knew why... mostly because not many had cared to find out. Who knows just what kind of weird thoughts the prince had in his mind? When asked about it, Sol states that he came here from the world from which Oliver and Cirael of that universe threw him out. Therefore, he considers Oliver and Cirael Clain as traitors who were never his direct ancestors. The Oliver and Cirael of this world, however, at some point lost their child, who was also named Sol Clain. He simply went missing. Miraculously, they soon found him... But it was after this incident that Sol became hostile towards them and started saying that he was not from this world. Was he stating the truth, or was it simply that he had already entered his rebellious phase? Who knows.

–Sigh, Sol... okay, maybe you really should take a break from us... although, you already constantly sit in your room, or are having a walk outside the walls of the palace. I hope that after this journey, you will finally outgrow your phase, – Oliver said, smiling slightly and spreading his arms. – In the meantime, let's have breakfast. You meet with the rest of the volunteers at two o'clock in the afternoon, don't you?

–It is correct, indeed, – Sol replied and nodded. – Well, bon appetite.

No one else said a single word throughout the entire breakfast. The atmosphere was very gloomy. Oliver and Сirael were saddened that Sol would soon be leaving on a rather dangerous journey to another kingdom. Sol was just gloomy almost all the time when he was around Oliver and Cirael. After finishing his bacon and tomato omelet, waiting for everyone else to finish and the servants to collect their dishes, Sol rose from the table at the same time as his parents. There was no clock in the room, but this did not prevent them from knowing the time perfectly: 9:34 am. Sol had more than 4 hours before the meeting the Clains were talking about.

–It is not the time yet, but I would rather go for a walk until it is two o'clock. See you not soon. Goodbye, Oliver and Cirael Clain, – said Sol.

–Y-yes... – answer Cirael in a slightly trembling tone, – Sol, call us... from time to time.

With a sigh and a nod, their son left the room. Queen of Arai walked up to her husband and, lowering her head, hugged him. Sol is not exactly pleased to be in their company, but it would be hard for Oliver and Cirael to live without a contact with him for a long time. Sol himself, looking around and making sure that the servants were not following him – Oliver and Cirael ordered them to leave their heir alone whenever he wanted to be alone – put his hands in his pockets and left through the front door. Turning around, he looked at the palace in which he lived – a five-story European-style palace built of white brick. Immediately, the image of the old mansion in which he lived in his home world came to his mind. Shaking his head, Sol turned away and shrugged.

The heir to the throne imposingly walked along the streets of the capital, holding his hands in his pockets and not looking around. The locals knew him by sight and joyfully waved to their prince, who didn't even look back. It was as if he hadn't even heard them... because he hadn't. A magic circle glowed near his right ear and played music for him. It was with the help of this advanced magotechnical invention, developed and massively purchased from the Northern Empire. It was exactly the device that he could "call" Oliver and Cirael with. Sol, without opening he eyes, turned off his path every now and then, listening to music. Sol already knew all the roads in the capital by heart, although he lived here for only 8 years.

Finally, walking along a long empty alley, he stopped. Touching the magic circle near his ear, he turned off the headset. He did this not on his own whim – six people, who looked unfriendly, which Sol concluded judging by the weapons in their hands, blocked his path, in front and behind. Judging by the ragged and scuffed clothes and unprofessional holding of the weaponry, these were not sent killers, but, most likely, some petty bandits. Sol took a deep breath and opened his eyes.

–Just look who ended up on our territory! Noble birdie escaped from its golden cage, huh? – said one of them and laughed.

–Give us your money if you wanna save your life, little princess! – said another and laughed.

–I supposed, sitting at home, you have no idea about ways of the world outside of your pathetic aristocracy! Well, time to teach the offspring of this stupid royalty the true meaning of the world, heh! – said the third.

–I give to you... – Sol answered, – 30 seconds. If you go away in these 30 seconds, you will live.

The thugs laughed. With all honesty, what could a prince who had never even fought do to them? The fact that he was a child of ever-living beings, greatly superior to humans, must not have bothered these bandits. While they laughed and clutched their weapons even tighter, Sol started to count. 30. 29. 28. 27. 26... "Huh?", said some of the bandits surrounding him. It must have infuriated them greatly that what they thought was an easy prey would treat them so disdainfully. However, Clain showed disrespect with his entire being – he did not even draw his sword.

Finally, one of the bandits could not stand it. Tightening his grip on the knife, he ran at Sol, who didn't move an inch. The street robber was a bit frightened by the calmness of their "next victim," but this did not shake his actions – he still sharply thrust the knife forward, intending to pierce the heir to the throne in the stomach, when suddenly... everything froze. Time was not stopped – it stopped moving, as an effect, and not as a cause. The Narrative itself and its writing stopped for everything that existed and everything that did not... except Sol. Sighing, he took a step to the side and pulled out a sword, which, due to the fact that the light itself was stopped, did not sparkle in the sun. Sol swung his sword and the blade went straight through the attacker's body. Thug was not cut, and not even a scratch remained, although the sword clearly passed through his body horizontally. Immediately after the blade fully emerged from the back of the torso, everything began to move again. The bandit who attacked was no longer there. He wasn't cut down, he didn't fall, he didn't even die. He just disappeared. There were no clothes or weapons left.

-Anyone else want to try their luck? - Sol asked, turning his head and looking at the others, who, seeing this, immediately huddled together, although before they had been on both sides.

-What... what did you do to Jack?! – one of them shouted.

-Excellent question. I'm not sure myself. But I would say that it no longer exists. The very fact of his existence was erased. Of course, I only erase objects from the present and future so as not to disturb the past and avoid creating paradoxes," Sol answered calmly. - So, do you want to continue, or will you run away? I would take advantage of this opportunity - not everyone will give you such a choice, but I believe that everyone deserves a second chance... it's just sometimes too late to give it, like your friend, for example.

–Anyone else wants to try? – Sol asked, turning his head towards the other thugs, who, seeing their ally just disappear, immediately huddled together, despite they were on two different sides of the alley previously.

–What... what did you do to Jack?! – one of them shouted.

–Excellent question. I am not sure myself. But I would say that he no longer exists. The very fact of his existence was erased forevermore. Of course, I only erase objects from present and future, so as not to disturb the past and avoid time paradoxes, – Sol answered calmly. – So, do you want to continue, or will you run away? I would not miss that opportunity – not everyone will give you such a choice. I believe that everyone deserves a second chance... although sometimes it is too late to give it to someone, just like to your friend who is not here anymore.

Sol spoke incredibly calmly for someone who had just erased a man from existence, especially considering that he supposedly had never fought anyone before, so this was probably his first time. Five bandits, who had just seen their ally cease to exist, suddenly made their feet, and only one shouted something like "he's some kind of monster!" Sol ignored their words and sheathed his sword.

–It's a good thing they retreated. It would be inconvenient if they would cut my clothes, – Sol said.

What he just did was called (by him) "Perfection." Perfection can only be used if Sol has not yet attacked himself and is attacked. The very fact of the enemy's attack ceases to matter, because the consequences are erased from the Narrative, and the Narrative itself freezes. After this, Sol can strike exactly one time with his sword. Once used, he could not use it again while he was in what the Narrative considered to be a "battle".

After his words and a sigh of relief, Sol drew a circle around his right ear with his finger, which made magical headset appear there again, playing heavy epic music. He looked at the wrist of his left hand, lifting his sleeve. There was no clock there, however, it didn't matter – he already knew the time. During his walk, 3,5 hours had already passed, which means that in just 40 minutes it was time to meet with those with whom he was supposed to. With a sigh, Sol left the alley and walked towards the city square, skirting two-story stone buildings and completely ignoring the words of passers-by.

After half an hour of measured steps, Sol found himself in the square, where ordinary residents of the capital were not allowed that day. It was natural – today is a very special day, because right now the heroes, who every 500 years must restore balance, gather and go far to the north in order to plant the fallen Sphere of the Sun in the Temple of Origin. "Well, or something like that. To be honest, it doesn't really matter to me what the task is, if it would be a reason to travel. To be honest, it all sounds like some kind of MacGuffin..." Sol thought to himself, standing alone in a huge square. About 5-10 minutes later, 3 people approached, whom the prince saw for the first time. Usually, a hundred or two brave warriors gather for this task... but, apparently, not this time. Everything that all the inhabitants of the world could hope for were four unheroic-looking people who, overall, did not look trust-worthy.

Three people approached Sol. One was short, wore completely black clothes – a robe, hiking pants and an undershirt with gloves – so much so that no part of the skin was visible. He had a plague doctor mask on his face. The second is a man between 27 and 30 years old, with a small beard, brown eyes and short brown hair. He wore leather armor, with regular underarmor. When he first approached, he looked very pleased, but when he saw Sol, his expression changed and now he looked very disgusted. Walking next to this man was a girl wearing clothes exactly opposite to Sol – a white dress on the bottom and a black open cloak with sleeves on top. Her gray eyes, looking out from under the same gray long hair, sparkled with joy, and her expression on her face was just as joyful. She spoke first:

–Hi, hi everyone! I didn't think that there will be just so few people... but that's good, this way we can form bonds and become friends at the end of the journey!

Tall man snorted and laughed, after which he covered his eyes and forehead with his palm.

–Nah, I don't even wanna sleep by the same campfire with this "hero in shining armor", do not even try to talk about friendship here.

–Hey, do not speak to your to-be comrades like that! – the girls said, after which she was interrupted by a short person in plague doctor mask.

–Um... I think we should start by introducing ourselves to everyone, so... I am Marren von Byanerion... do not pay attention to prefix "von", I am not from a noble family... not anymore, at least.

The mask greatly distorted the voice, so it was impossible to determine Marren's gender and age. Marren, having said his name, lowered his head while saying the rest. Sol glanced a bit at Marren. The prince must have heard this name before, or even met Marren before. The gray-haired girl introduced herself next:

–Nice to meet you, Marren! My name is Martha Narion! And this gloomy friend of mine is Ludwig. Ludwig d...

–Just Ludwig, Martha. I am just Ludwig, – the man standing next to her interrupted.

Sol tilted his head slightly to the left and raised his right eyebrow. He knew these names very well. These names were told to him by Oliver and Cirael of his world, when they told him their story.

-Martha and Ludwig, you say? Do you happen to know someone named "Kai"? – he asked the girl, she looked more sociable than Ludwig.

-Mmm... Kai? No, it doesn't remind me of anything. What is it? – Martha answered.

-There is nothing. It had to be a coincidence, Saul said, even if what he really thought was, They're not lying, but coincidences don't happen. – My name is Saul Klein. It will be a pleasure to cooperate with you...

-Yeah of course. Thank you very much for deigning to descend from your heavenly chambers, O Your Royal Majesty," Ludwig said with a ton of irony and sarcasm. – Seriously, why don't you sit at home? Surely the son of Oliver and Cirael themselves can always have fun at home, so why bother your royal hands?

–Martha and Ludwig, you say? Do you happen to know someone named "Kai"? – he asked the girl, since she looked more sociable than Ludwig.

–Hmm... Kai? Doesn't ring a bell, sorry. Why do you ask? – Martha answered.

–Nothing special. It just a coincidence, then, – Sol said, even though in reality, he though that, despite they are not lying, such coincidences just don't happen. – My name is Sol Clain. It will be a pleasure to cooperate with you...

–Yeah, pleasure, my ass. Thank you very much for deigning to descend from your heavily chambers, O Your Royal Magesty, – Ludwig said with a ton of irony and sarcasm. – Seriously, why can't you just sit home? Surely, the son of Oliver and Cirael themselves can always have fun at home, so why bother getting dirt on your royal hands?

Marren looked sharply at Ludwig – at least the mask turned in Ludwig's direction – and Martha lowered her head, taking a deep breath. Sol, at whom this hostility was directed, has taken it not harsh it all. He calmly replied:

–First of all, your sarcasm is unnecessary. Secondly, they are not my parents.

–Oh, just look, the prince is at his rebellious phase. Dead Inside at that age of 19. Pfft, pathetic.

–Who?... – Sol asked.

–You? – Ludwig replied raising his eyebrow.

–Who asked? Surely not me.

–Whatever you say... better tell me, why do you think those people who actually care for you so much are not your family? This only makes you even more unbearable to talk to.

Martha stood between them and, turning first to one, then to the other, waved her hands. "There's no need to quarrel, let's just forget all this conflict, okay?!", she said, but Sol answered Ludwig:

–It's quite simple. Oliver and Cirael from the "original universe" threw me into this alternative universe when I was 11 years old. I appeared somewhere in the forest, and survived alone for several weeks. Can I consider these Oliver and Cirael my parents if they tried to get rid of me? Moreover, Oliver and Cirael who rule Arai in this alternative universe are alternative versions of Oliver and Cirael who existed in my home world. So, the king and queen of this version of Arai are even less my parents compared to those who got threw me out.

–Oh... uh... – Ludwig stuttered when heard it. – Sorry. Now I even feel sorry for you, man. But I wonder, if they're not your parents... who do you think your ancestors are?

–Some kind of divine beings, obviously. I am the Savior, – Sol answered in completely serious tone.

While Martha and Marren glanced at Sol in bewilderment, Ludwig burst out laughing even harder.

–Okay, I take back all my words about feeling pity for you! You're such a freak! – he said. – Jeez, just what kind of weirdos you get to travel alongside sometimes, eh? Okay, it would be the time to move out. Let's go, team of freaks.

–As long as you consider yourself as one of these, sure... – Martha said with a sigh.

She was at least glad that Saul and Ludwig didn't kill each other right there. The first meeting of the new team of heroes was, so to speak, not very successful. People who were looking at this from outside the square began to look at each other awkwardly. Words such as "And these people are supposed to save our world?", "It would be better just to send the kingdom's army", "Can we really trust them?", were heard from the crowd. And if Marren began to tremble slightly from this, and Martha and Ludwig lowered their heads, then Sol did not care about the opinion of the townspeople of the capital Arai. These four walked to the borders of the square, and people parted, making a way for volunteers to save the world. Although the crowd had great doubts about their abilities and teamwork, Sol, Ludwig, Martha and Marren were still given a standing ovation as they made their way towards the city gates. On the way, they faced the famed Statue of Unity – a huge stone sculpture depicting 2 wings, one white and the other one black. Having walked around the statue, the four finally appeared in front of the gate. The huge metal gates, on which the permanent rulers of the kingdom were depicted, reaching out to each other, opened, letting the heroes through. Slowly, to the joyful cries of the crowd closing behind them, they left the city. A carriage was already waiting for them outside. When there are, as usual, over a hundred volunteers, they go on foot, but if there are only four of them, and especially since among them is the prince of the country, it seems that royalty decided to help them.

–You will be taken to the border. And then helping you is no longer within the jurisdiction of our kingdom. We have sent a letter to the Northern Emperor asking him to provide you with any assistance, but we cannot be sure, given the complex relationship between Arai and the Northern Empire.

This is exactly what the chief of the city guard said, then he opened the door to the carriage for the heroes. Ludwig, hearing about the letter to the ruler of the Northern Empire, grinned, which Sol and Marren noticed. Marta didn't even turn around at this – she knew the reason. The four heroes, taking another look at the high walls of the capital, got into the carriage; Sol and Marren sat on one side, and Ludwig and Martha sat on the other. The harnessed horses began their movement, carrying the venerable heroes along a high road surrounded by forest. Without waiting, Sol asked directly:

–Ludwig... no, Ludwig and Martha, what binds you to with the Northern Empire?

–Nothing special, why? – Ludwig answered.

–I see that his is a lie, Ludwig. My eyes allow me to distinguish lies from truth. Also, they see everything that is hidden from normal sight and allow me to find out all the characteristics and properties of any object in just one lance. So, don't try to lie to me, – Sol replied calmly.

–Pf. You're boring, – Ludwig said, throwing his head back.

-I'm a perfectionist. For some it may seem boring, I don't argue," Sol said, with no less irony than Ludwig himself had earlier.

-Um, Sol... you know that not so long ago there was a coup in the Northern Empire? There was a big civil war," Martha began.

"I know," Sol said, starting to draw something in the air in front of him with lines of magical energy, tracing them with his index finger.

-Ludwig and I are refugees from the war. We fled to Arai and now we live here, making ends meet," Marta said, taking a deep breath.

–I am a perfectionist. For some it may seem boring, I agree, – Sol said, with no less irony than Ludwig himself had earlier.

–Um, Sol... you know that there was a coup d'état in the Northern Empire not so long ago, right? There was a huge civil war, – Martha began.

–I know, – Sol said, starting to draw something in the air in front of himself with lines of blue magical energy, which formed itself after the moves of his index finger.

–Ludwig and I are refugees from that war. We fled to Arai and now we live here, making ends meet, – Martha answered, taking a deep breath.

Ludwig muttered: "she just revealed all the cards, huh," after which he pulled out a flask from the bag on his belt and drank from it. Sol, looking intently at Martha, concluded that she had told the truth... incomplete, but the truth. He decided not to dig into it – maybe it was something personal, none of his business. He had just finished drawing. It turned out to be a map of the continent of Illiot, where Arai, the Northern Empire, and 15 other kingdoms were located. The Northern Empire literally occupied the entire northern half of the continent and had a direct border with Arai. Scratching his chin, the prince waved his hand at this pattern of magical energy hanging in the air, and it dissipated.

​–Okay, anyways, – Ludwig suddenly said, – does anyone here even knows what the Sphere of the Sun and the Temple of Origin are?

–Well, I am not an expert, but once upon a time my big brother told me that the Temple of Origin is located in the northernmost part of the Empire... but I have no idea what the sphere is. Many people nowadays think that these are just legends and the departure of heroes is actually a secret diplomatic mission... I thought so too, to be honest, but here we are, without a diplomatic mission at all, – Martha answered, smiling a little.

​–I... – Marren began to speak, stuttering at first; it was clear that he was very socially awkward, – I read that the Orb of the Sun maintains the balance of the universe, whatever it means, and if it is not on the pedestal for too long, the whole world will sink into the eternal night... but I'm not saying that this is true, it is just what I once read...

–Oh, come on, Marren, don't be so shy, everyone's here is a comrade... well, except this teenager with god complex, – Ludwig said pointing at Sol; Sol ignored him.

–No, no! Sol is a good person! He saved me! – Marren said, waving is hands in front of his mask.

–Eh? Did this snob save you? Ha! Now that's interesting. Go on, Sol, tell us how does "the Savior" saves.

Sol, taking a deep breath, looked first at Marren, then at Ludwig. The heir to the throne said:

–So, in the end, it is you, Marren... well, okay, I think there won't be anything bad if I tell how it happened. This happened about a year ago, at the Arai's highest court. Marren was accused of murder. I had... nothing to do at all and was bored, so I took his case. Moreover, everyone else refused to. It all unfolded like this...

~*~

Courtroom. The judge looks at a short man wearing a plague doctor mask. They were already desperate to force him to take off his mask – especially since Marren had direct permission from the supreme judge of the kingdom, and such this particular person could be fully clothed and with his face covered. It was said that he is dangerous when the mask is off. In the desk of prosecutor was Francesco, one of the many representatives of the prosecution in the world of Arai law, who did not stand out in any way. And on the lawyer's side... there was no one. No one could refute the prosecutor's words – the autopsy report clearly indicated that someone Michael was killed with a poisoned knife. Marren, who usually uses a knife and is an alchemist salesman, was nearby. Moreover, Michael and Marren had a duel scheduled. Everything is obvious.

–Well, if no one has anything to add, I will announce the verdict, – old Judge said, – Court finds Marren von Byanerion gui...

–Objection!

The voice came from the entrance of the courtroom. The prince of the Arai kingdom stood there with several sheets of paper in his hands. A moment later he was already at the lawyer's desk. It was an open court, so anyone could watch it, and such, his appearance caused loud exclamations from the citizens of the capital, to which the judge, hitting his table with his gavel, said: "Order! Order in the courtroom!"

–Mr. Sol... – Francesco began, – we all understand that you are the heir to the throne... but this is not a reason to be late for the trial when you already appointed yourself as an attorney and...

–Please, wait, Miss Francesco. Sol objected to me declaring a verdict. What's the matter, Mr. Sol? – said the judge, scratching his long beard.

–Thank you, Your Honor. Miss Francesco, am I correct to assume that your entire case hinges on how Mr. Michael was killed? – Sol asked.

–Yeah, why not? Marren is the only one who could do it that day. I have the autopsy report right here.

–And when exactly did you get that report?

–Uh, right after the autopsy, a day ago, on the day of the incident.

–This explains a lot. Because this autopsy report... is outdated, Your Honor. A second autopsy was performed today, at my request. It turned out that Mr. Michael was morbing too much. – Sol said, reading the papers in his hand, but after he realized that nobody understood the joke, he explained. – He was a vampire, Your Honor.

–A... a vampire? But vampires... – the judge began to speak, but Sol continued in his place.

–Exactly. They are immortal, and won't die even if their vital organs are damaged by conventional weaponry, and they are also immune to poisons. In other words, if someone could kill Michael... it certainly isn't my client!

Suddenly, in the courtroom, from seemingly nowhere, epic music started playing.

–Why do I hear the boss music?... anyways! Objection! This is a forged evidence! There was no reason for you to request a second autopsy! – Francesco said, hitting the desk with her hands.

–Oh, but there was a reason. I can see through lies, and I knew Mr. Marren wasn't lying when he said he didn't kill Mr. Michael. So, the autopsy results seemed... a bit strange to me, – Sol replied.

–Objection! You can't just show an evidence that was not presented in advance in the Court!

–Miss Francesco, have you read the constitution of Arai, specifically part where it is written about the trial proceedings, at least once?... – Sol asked, lowering his voice, but then he said, quite loudly, – Exactly, me neither. But it is not important. The important thing is that this new evidence helped us to not convict and innocent man.

–Objection! If it is not Marren, then who killed Michael!

–This is not my job to find the killer, Miss Francesco. I do believe that prosecuting is your job.

–Nghh... Objection! Mr. Sol Clain just stated that he has not even read the constitution! He was also late to the trial! We cannot allow him to participate in the trial!

–Objection overruled. We can allow him to. As you can see yourself, he provided the court with important evidence, – the judge aid, shaking his head.

–And... and he will just get away with that?! There won't be even penalty?! What is he, some kind of "ace attorney"?! – Francesco asked desperately.

–Seems so. Well, if there are no objections, I will announce a new verdict. Mr. Marren really could not kill Mr. Michael, so, the Court finds Marren von Byanerion... not guilty!

~*~

–"Not guilty!" So yeah, it went something like that, – Sol finished explaining this story to Ludwig and Martha.

Martha and Ludwig sat still, exchanging glances and then staring at Sol and Marren. For a perfectionist, Sol did this too much of "at the last moment", and even more so did not study the law before going to the Court... With a sigh, Ludwig shook his head and said:

–I do not want to even think what will happen to Arai once you will become the king...

–I sure hope we won't have to think about it, – Sol replied.

They continued talking about this and that as the carriage rolled along the roads. According to Martha's forecast, which Sol confirmed from his calculations, they should reach the border, to which the capital was quite close, by evening. There they will spend the night in a border military camp, and the next day they will go to foreign lands. At least that was the plan, because the carriage suddenly stopped...