The world of Argos operated under the guise of perfection—a world where a standing judicial system held criminals accountable for their actions, delivering what was deemed "justice." The Argos Supreme Court, a body created with the cooperation of all empires, was supposedly a beacon of fairness, ensuring peace and protecting the weak.
It was a system praised by the masses, a symbol of unity, and for decades, it had kept the fragile peace from shattering.
But those in power knew better.
Behind the court's facade of righteousness, the elites understood it for what it truly was—a weapon of control wielded by the empire's rulers to maintain dominance. The system wasn't created to protect the weak but to keep the rich and powerful, such as Emberly Obsidian, in check.
The real purpose was far more sinister: to ensure the ruling class could flourish unchallenged, their interests shielded under the pretense of law.
On the surface, criminals were brought to justice, but behind closed doors, hideous deals ran rampant.
"Justice for the Obsidians!"
"Justice for the weak!"
"Justice against the criminal Silas!"
The crowd outside the Supreme Court chanted furiously, holding posters and banners high in the air, their anger directed at one man: Silas Count Dracula, a vampire who had tried to annihilate House Obsidian.
Today, they believed, they would finally witness justice served. It was the final day of the hearing, and the masses had gathered in anticipation of the ruling, expecting to see Silas sentenced to execution. In Argos, major crimes like his warranted death, should the accused be found guilty.
The tension grew as the judicial vehicle carrying Silas came to a halt before the imposing glass structure of the Supreme Court.
"There he is! Let's kill him ourselves!" the crowd erupted in fury, hurling magical attacks toward the vampire as he was escorted out of the vehicle by a team of guards clad in black armor.
The air buzzed with the energy of spells racing toward their target.
But before any attack could land, a dome of grey energy materialized around the group, effortlessly negating the incoming barrage. The crowd recoiled in surprise—the same void energy used by the Student Council President during the academy battle had been employed here.
This was Void Matter, an energy harnessed in the armor of the guards protecting Silas.
"Interesting," Silas sneered, glancing at the shimmering dome around him. "The Obsidians... they've found a way to weaponize Void Matter into armor? Impressive." He chuckled, his crimson eyes flashing with amusement. "That mother-son duo never ceases to amaze me."
The vampire was a towering figure, well-built and handsome despite the baldness and unkempt beard. His vamparic horns protruded menacingly from either side of his head, and his glowing red eyes flickered with malevolence as he took in the enraged crowd.
They could scream all they wanted, but it mattered little to him. He would have his day in court.
With the angry masses left to chant their hatred, Silas was escorted into the Supreme Court, the glass walls glinting ominously in the light.
___
Inside the Courtroom
Once inside, Silas was led to the defendant's cubicle, flanked by his guards. The courtroom was packed—powerful figures from all across Argos had gathered to witness the ruling. Among them were Emberly, Anastasia, and Emilia Obsidian.
Emberly sat with a cold, emotionless expression, her face betraying nothing of the emotions swirling beneath. Anastasia and Emilia, however, were visibly tense, their eyes burning with fury at the sight of Silas.
Silas, noticing Emberly in the crowd, gave her a wicked grin, mouthing the words, "I'm coming back, and I'll bring a force that will tear you down." He expected her to be rattled by the threat, but instead, she responded with a soft, knowing smile, unnerving him.
Before Silas could dwell on her reaction, the Supreme Judge entered the room. The gallery fell silent as the judge, a striking elf with flowing white hair and golden eyes, took her seat.
She was a beauty that rivaled Emberly, her voluptuous figure barely concealed by her judge's robe. Despite her appearance, there was no aura of power radiating from her, though everyone in the room knew who she was—one of the few Rank 20 awakened beings in the mortal realm, and the sister of the Elven Emperor.
Some believed she was beyond Rank 20!
The judge skimmed through the documents before her, then fixed her piercing gaze on Silas.
"Silas Count Dracula, are you representing yourself?" she asked, her voice devoid of emotion.
"That's right," Silas replied with a smug grin, stepping out of the cubicle, his hands free of any restraints.
The judge then turned her attention to the plaintiff's side, where Obsidian Tech's legal team, representing the family and company, sat ready. They had prepared an overwhelming amount of evidence against Silas—evidence of embezzlement, theft, attempted murder, and more, all of which stemmed from Silas's deep-rooted hatred for House Obsidian.
His obsessive actions were driven by his belief that the Obsidians had robbed him of his rightful power, preventing him from awakening the full potential of his elements.
The legal team began by laying out the evidence piece by piece—documents showing how Silas, in his position as head technician at Obsidian Tech, had stolen valuable assets and technology, all while funneling resources to further his personal vendetta.
They were meticulous in their presentation, each accusation building on the last.
But as the court session dragged on, Silas's cunning shone through. He masterfully countered each accusation with ease, using his intellect and deep understanding of legal loopholes to undermine the arguments presented by the prosecution. With every rebuttal, he tore down their case, piece by piece, leaving the plaintiffs deflated.
The court grew tense as it seemed Silas might walk free.
"I would like to present new evidence against Silas Count Dracula!" a voice called from the back, the doors of the courtroom swinging open as a woman marched forward, a red dagger encased in a containment bag clutched tightly in her hand.
"Esmeralda?" Silas hissed in surprise, his confidence momentarily shaken.