"A trial?! That's it? You made me come all this way because you think you can put me on trial. That's just laughable."
"You will stand trial for your many unethical experiments and for the threat you alone pose to the balance of this world."
"And you all think that I will just stand here and take it? Clearly you don't know the person you're trying to convict."
Veyne turns back toward the door and tries to leave. But before reaching for the handle he stops. Hand still in the air, he clenches his fist . A purple gloomy vortex appears above his shoulder. Out from the vortex reaches a large skeletal arm. It goes for the door and as soon it touches the handle, gold runes light up the door and rippling lighting blasts out completely vaporising the arm. Veyne stands there in silence then turns to them and stares down each member with cold indifference.
Tension fills the room. The younger council members were sweating and clenching uncontrollably. In a panic one of them shouts out.
"Y-you can't leave. W-we told you, a trial has begun and you can't defy the council."
"That's enough brother Matias."
Says Theiton. Waving him off with one hand.
"As the lady Breanne said, you alone are a threat to this world and we the Divine Council have finally decided that we will deal with you. Once and for all."
Before speaking, a black pulse of magical energy expands out from Veyne, causing the white marble room to corrupt and go dark. Elaina fully brandishes her sword as he does so.
"You damn fools. If you wish to make an enemy out of me, then so be it. But even by your council law I have done nothing wrong. What could you even tell the public that they don't already know."
"Why the truth of course."
Says Breanne with a sinister confidence.
"We will convict you for the murder of a Divine Council member."
"What?! Even my desire to study your divine magics would never lead me to outright murder one of you. Even if you managed to kill me I will just come back to life and do the crime you convicted me of. But it won't just be one of you I kill."
"I suppose that would be the case normally. But as Sir Theiton mentioned before, not only did we take time to decide to deal with you, we also took the time to plan this day out… 5 years we have waited for this."
"You all really are fools if you think just 5 years of planning could take me down. My castle is a fortress of unimaginable power. Even if you send every single filthy soldier you can. I would still survive!"
Despite his threatening words, Veyne only sees solidarity on the faces of the older members and sadness on the younger members. Theiton sands and clears his throat.
"Unfortunately we know all too well about your castle's defences. Normally you would be right. But as we said we have planned for this."
With that, all but one of the council members stand up with Theiton.
"Elaina, bring forth young brother Francis from his seat. It is time."
As she walks over to the infant's chair and picks him up and walks back to the center of the room. The baby starts crying as a confused Veyne tries but fails to understand what's going on. He takes a step back towards the door and with his heightened caution he notices the one council member not standing. It's a teenage girl crying. She stands up and screams out.
"Please guys, we don't have to do it this way!"
"Hold your tongue sister Marie! We voted and have concluded that this is the only way. Carrying on like that is unacceptable for someone on this council."
She keeps sniffling but continues to stand as she whispers.
"Yes, Father Theiton."
It's in that moment that Veyne thinks he finally understands. But they wouldn't, they couldn't. Something on that magnitude could destroy countries or even…
"No, stop what you're doing. I will kill that baby if I have to."
Completely ignoring Veyne, they all chant in unison. Holding their palms out towards the infant. Spheres of divine magic materialise in front of them as the baby starts to glow. Time slows and in that moment Veyne dashes towards it, the sharp claws of his gauntlet ready to cleave it in half. He reaches back in a striking pose, but it is too late. Another tear rolls down Marie's face as her palm reluctantly follows suit causing the infant to become pure light and vaporise. The light beam shooting off through the roof in an instant.
"NO! What have you all done!"
"What needed to be done."
Veyne immediately takes a knee and covers one of his eyes. His perspective shifts to that of a skeleton horseman patrolling the outskirts of castle Duskhold. He looks around the misty snowy plains. Getting his bearings he rides off towards the castle but he is already too late.
Above Duskhold a sun like light parts the clouds. The light spans the entire length of the castle grounds. Helpless, he watches on as the divine magic ruptures the castle and completely atomises everything in its path. Eventually expanding out, even engulfing the horseman. Shocked back by the light, Veyne gets to his feet. Clenching his fists.
"Before we proceed, Lady Breanne, please confirm the destruction of castle duskhold and all traces of this vermin's presence."
Breamme breaks a crystal on her throne and her eyes disappear only to come back a moment later.
"I can confirm our plan was successful, sir Theiton."
Theiton looks down his nose at Veyne and is unable to control his facial expression as a smile creeps across his face. He regains his composure and continues to say.
"Extelent. We shall now start in earnest the trial of Veyne Moregrove. All those wishing to proceed say aye."
"Aye."
"Very well. For the murder of Divine Council member sixteen, Francis Price, and for threatening the peace of this world. We 15 delegates find you guilty and sentence you to death. Permanently. All those in favour say aye."
"Aye."
As soon as the council voted, Theiton looked over at Elaina and nodded. She nods back, and showing the same excitement as her father, she blasts towards Veyne, blade drawn, with red lighting encompassing it.