"Paladin Lord Fortin," Uther stated in a powerful voice, "you have been charged with collaborating with the Alliance, and have refused to obey the direct orders given to you by your superiors. As you know, this is a terrible accusation. These noble lords have gathered here to hear your case and then judge you accordingly in the Light. How do you defend against the charges against you? ”

Tirio stared at him for a moment, then nodded slowly.

"I plead guilty to the charges against me, my lord. I take full responsibility for my actions. ”

His straightforward attitude greatly surprised everyone. Before that, many people thought that these accusations were exaggerated, and Albert was one of them. When the observers were noisy, he couldn't help but whisper to the people around him again, "What did he do?" ”

Still refusing to look up, Dineh, who looked like he wanted to cover his ears together, twisted his head ninety degrees and looked at him in surprise from a bottom-up perspective: "You don't know what he did?" So why are you coming? ”

Albert was as surprised as he was. By this time, Uther had asked the clerk to take note of Tirio's statement and called the relevant witnesses. The young man quickly turned his attention to listen to the testimony, not even bothering to ask why his partner had put a hand on his shoulder.

It wasn't until he almost jumped straight out of his seat and was pushed back in time and hard that Albert understood why.

"You already knew?" He asked hurriedly, "Do you know that Lord Fording was arrested and tried because he tried to save an orc and attacked his superiors for it?" ”

Dineh's expression looked very subtle.

"yes." "It's the same thing we did at Hillsbrad — I thought you knew that and that's why you're here for answers." ”

“…… I do not know. Albert was distraught and said, "I just listened to them......"

He had never imagined that Tirio Fordin's experience would be similar to the two of them. The former is being judged for this. This made the young man suddenly feel a kind of fear. After all, what they did was more serious, or rather crazier, than Tirio. Does this mean that their actions are also wrongful actions that deserve to be judged?

"If you're worried about our future." Dineen suddenly poked him in the ribs, and then said, "I can tell you for sure that we can skip the trial and go straight to the gallows." ”

This should have been a harsher truth. But Albert, who was huddled in pain, did not feel any panic when he heard him say this, but felt an urge to laugh. The contradiction made his expression distorted.

Dining, who misunderstood the meaning, was slightly embarrassed: "... Are you going to cry? Then at least listen to the defendant's defense first, right? ”

Only then did Albert realize that the whisper had caused him to miss the speech of another witness and the comments of the jurors. Ignoring his excuses, he quickly sat up straight and waited for Tirio to speak.

The interrogated paladin was silent for a moment and rose from his seat. His expression was solemn and solemn, as if he were taking an oath. His voice was firm and loud, no less than that of Uther.

"My lord, I know this must sound ridiculous, but the orc saved my life. In return, I swear that as a paladin I will also protect him. The orc's name was Itrieg, and he valued honor as much as the opponents I had faced before. ”

When he mentioned the word "honor", the onlookers once again let out a noise of shock and disdain, but Tirio remained unmoved, as if he were not referring to a race that had been recognized as bloodthirsty and barbaric and had no sense of honor, but a noble and upright paladin.

"As I speak to you, you must understand that if I obey my commands, I will have betrayed my honor as a paladin. That's something I can't do. That said, I will accept whatever punishment you see fit. ”

He concluded his statement and sat down.

Albert looked at Tirio with a complicated expression. His seniors were staring at Uther, who had already walked up to the jurors and begun to argue with them, and the clenched fists made him realize that the older man was not as calm and determined as he appeared.

"You know what he's saying isn't impossible." Dineen said calmly.

“…… Yes. Albert muttered.

If there was anyone in this court who would believe what Tirio said, it was Albert and Dinein. They have also encountered an orc with a sense of honor, exchanging trust and fulfilling seemingly unthinkable oaths. As long as he remembered his feelings, he could understand Tirio's choice.

But this choice cannot be understood and recognized by more people. They are all well aware. So when Uther turned and walked back, Albert's heart beat faster.

"Paladin Ferdin," Uther said, "the Court is fully aware of your years of service to the defense of Lordaeron and its allied kingdoms. Everyone here understands your guts and courage. Nevertheless, it is a grave sin to associate with an enemy who is humane but not in common, without taking into account their speculative sense of honor. In order to grant amnesty to that orc, you took a big risk and gambled on the safety of the Fireplace Castle by your own willfulness. In consideration of your merits, the Tribunal is prepared to grant you a complete amnesty—"

"As long as you revoke your oath to that creature and reaffirm your obligations to the Alliance."

Understandably, the unexpected conditions hit Albert as hard as he was the one who was forced to face the choice. He stiffened in shock, his mouth stammered, his mind blank as he waited for Tirio's answer, unable to even think about what he wanted.

And Tirio looked hesitant. Uther repeated, urging him to make a decision as soon as possible—but the paladin on trial ended up asking questions that had nothing to do with him.

"What will happen to the orc, my lord?" He asked, looking at Uther.

"It will be terminated." Uther was a little surprised, but still firmly answered the question, "Whatever personal dealings you have with that creature, it is a murderous beast and cannot be allowed to live. ”

Tirio lowered his head and thought for a moment. Then, under everyone's gaze, he shook his head slowly.

"I will remain loyal to the Alliance until the day I die. There is no doubt about it," he said calmly and firmly, "but I cannot reverse my vows." To do so would be to betray everything about me and everything we cherish as people of honor. ”

Almost everyone was stunned by such an answer.

Uther rubbed his eyes wearily, and the jurors were dumbfounded, while the onlookers erupted in rage, and some even spat and scolded him of being a traitor. And in the midst of this chaos, Albert collapsed in his seat like a prostration, completely occupied by mixed emotions. He covered his face with his hands, feeling his eyes sour.

"—that's what he is."

The young man opened his eyes and saw through his fingers that his partner had stood up. Among the already completely boiling observers, the action was not abrupt. Dining, who didn't even want to lift his head a moment ago, stood straight, staring at Tirio with a relieved face across the crowd, without the slightest hint of surprise.

Sensing Albert's gaze, he turned his head to look at his partner, then repeated, "That's the kind of person he is." ”

- Never cowardly, never backing down, with a clear conscience, sticking to honor, making the right and not the right choice, Tirio Ferdin, is such a person.

"I guess that's the answer you want."

Albert opened his mouth, but his throat was dry. When he finally thought about what he was going to say, a scolding interrupted what he was about to say.

"Silence!"

When Uther's voice drowned out all the noise, many people remembered that the trial was not over. They quieted down, waiting for the inevitable end.

"In that case," Uther said, turning back to his duties, his mellow voice tinged with sorrow that only those who knew him well, "Tirio Fortin, from now on, you will no longer be welcome in the Order of the Silver Hand. You are no longer fit to bask in the grace of the Light. I hereby expel you from our ranks. All of our organization's armor and clothing are to be removed from you—"

Each word was like a hammer smashing into Albert's brain, slowing him for a few seconds to understand the meaning of the words. Then, long before he could stop it, an out-of-control roar erupted from his throat.

"It's not fair!"

***

The effect of this sudden roar in the silent courtroom was like the thunder that exploded in the middle of the night. There was an uproar. Uther jerked up his head to look at the bystanders' seats, his eyes more fierce than ever.

"Who is it?" "Who is challenging the Tribunal's decision?" he asked. ”

The crowd was silent for a short moment, and the people looked around suspiciously, and then someone answered him.

"It's me."

Before everyone had time to find the place of the speaker, a figure stepped forward, lightly past all the seats and the people in them, and landed smoothly in the center of the hall, attracting everyone's attention.

Those who answer are neither looking left nor right, nor are they panicking. Like a wolf jumping out of the grass and facing his hand, he stood there naturally and vigilantly, deaf to the uproar and boos of the crowd, but looked straight into Uther's eyes with golden pupils, and the emotions contained in them could not be described as friendly at all.

"Who are you?" That look made the Paladin's leader frown, but he still waved his hand to stop the guards who wanted to surround him, "You weren't the one who spoke up just now. ”

In response to his questioning, the responder sneered.

"I would also like to know who is as skeptical as I am about this contradictory verdict." He looked away and glanced at the observers, but no one dared to look at him, for fear that he would be mistaken for the one who was suspicious. He turned his head back to Stare Uther, as if he had decided that he was his only opponent, and that the others were the same as the decorations beside him.

"As for who I am." He curled his lips to reveal his sharp canine teeth, and threw utter contempt and sarcasm into every word, "I am neither a conscientious aristocratic official, nor a devout servant of the Light. But can't a commoner speak his mind, and an unbeliever can't feel the light? When did the laws of this kingdom stipulate that the ruler should decide whether a thing is right or not? ”

Uther's brow furrowed, and his face was gloomy. He had been more concerned about the previous shout, but now he had to concentrate on the sharp question. The young man called himself a commoner, a seasoned paladin who was completely unconvinced. Not to mention the fact that the commoners had no right to watch the trial, and that the other side despised the power of the officials and the status of the nobility, and was not afraid of the authority of the court and the power of the guards, this kind of composure and composure could not be shown by peers who dared to be lawless with mere enthusiasm. He pondered the other party's purpose for a while in his heart, but found nothing.

"This... Mr. ”

It was Tirio who broke the deadlock. The paladins on trial had broken free from their anguish and consternation. His face was still a little gloomy, but his body was straight. He waited for a moment, realizing that the other party didn't mean to turn around and face him, so he continued.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with the court's decision. I believe in the honor of that orc, and I will keep my oath, that is certain. But the orcs are also enemies of the Alliance, and in this regard, I have indeed failed my duties as a lord, so, I accept... Such a punishment. ”

His voice had a noticeable tremor and pause, but he still insisted on finishing the last sentence. Uther cast a look of pity and guilt at his former colleague, and Tirio wanted to gesture to him, but he had lost the strength to comfort others. In any case, depriving a paladin of the light is a more terrifying torture than death for a devout paladin. He knew it was necessary, but he couldn't expect it from the bottom of his heart.

From the moment Tirio spoke, the originally aggressive responders lowered their gaze. The sharp hostile aura of his body strangely vanished, and he listened calmly with an attitude that could be called meek. It wasn't until Tirio finished speaking that he was silent for a while before he slowly spoke, "Great Lord." ”

"I am not defending your duties as Lord of the Kingdom. I have no objection to the laws of the kingdom. ”

"But the Light...... Are these people the ones who chose you to become a paladin, or the Holy Light? ”

The atmosphere that had been slightly relaxed became solemn again. And Tirio realizes that this is a question for himself. He glanced inquiringly at Uther, who hesitated and nodded. He realized from the changes in the other party that this young man might not have malicious intentions, and that he was willing to take a risk for the fate of his old friend.

Tirio thought for a moment, and instead of correcting the other man's title, he replied cautiously, "The members of the Silver Hand have led me on this path, and their teachings have brought my mind and body up to the requirements of the Light. ”

"So," said the other slowly, "the Light chooses those who are noble and glorious in heart. If a person behaves in a way that deviates from the requirements of the Light, the Light will not choose him. ”

"Yes." Tirio affirmed.

Do you think, then, that what you are doing does not meet the requirements of the Light? Is it an act of shame to the Light to repay someone who saved you, to protect someone who also cherishes honor, and to keep your vows without involving innocent people? ”

At this point, someone couldn't help but interject for something, but Uther's stern gaze stopped them. Since the inquisitor has no objection to this, others can only reluctantly treat the conversation as a defense - although the identity and method of the defender are quite peculiar, there is no difference in essence.

“…… No. Tyrio slowly understood, "I don't think I'm doing anything wrong. ”

"So, does the Light value race more than behavior, and does she be partial to humans, elves, dwarves, or other races?"

"Of course not." Tirio said firmly, "The Light treats all beings equally, regardless of ethnic origin. ”

"In that case, please raise your hand and call upon the Light." After a pause, the young man added, "If the Light approves of your actions, it will surely respond to your call. In this way, everything you say is convincing. ”

Tirio subconsciously looked down at his hands. The other party's rhetoric was ostensibly questioning his sincerity, but in fact it was giving him a chance to prove himself—only if the Light responded to him.

So will the Light really respond to me? He asked himself. Even in normal times, he could fail when he used the power of the Light, let alone at such a critical moment. If it falls short......

But what I did was from my heart. My heart tells me it's right. Because this is the right thing to do, it is important to persevere no matter what the cost.

The power of warmth flowed through his body, and Tirio saw tiny white dots of light converge between his fingers, and then grow stronger. The brighter than sunlight allowed the silence of the hall to be shattered by the sound of unbelievable whispers and gasps, followed by a shocking dead silence.

His apologists were not surprised, as if he had known the outcome of everything. He pursed his lips and continued at his pace.

"Since the Light has not abandoned you." He closed his eyes briefly as he said this, and when he opened them again, his eyes had become extremely cold, "So, who has the power to deprive you of the link between you and the Light?" ”

Needle drops could be heard in the courtroom.

The young man reluctantly raised his gaze and looked at each paladin in turn. The people he was watching looked uncomfortable. Some people were confused, some hung their heads, some gritted their teeth and clenched their fists, but no one retorted loudly. So he tugged at the corners of his mouth and smiled mockingly.

"You may deprive a lord of his duties in accordance with the law, which is the right of the court. But the matter of the Holy Light should be left to the Holy Light to judge for himself. ”

"After all," he said abruptly back to the same sharp state of hostility that he had been in before, "who knows what the Light is thinking?" ”

No longer giving anyone a chance to refute, he dropped the sentence and simply turned away. Everyone watched in astonishment and silence as he pushed open the heavy door with one hand and walked away, and no one thought to stop him.