The False Judge

"Fate."

Aldric said the word lightly, but Lathel did not feel the slightest bit relieved.

He stood in front of the stairs leading down into the basement, while behind him, the red barrier had already sealed the entire chapel. Kiyome remained not far away, her two fox tails almost completely still behind her, while Aldric slowly stepped down from the final stair with a calm expression, as though everything happening right now had already been calculated.

Lathel looked at him for a moment before lowering his gaze to the board in his hand.

[How are you planning to take it?]

Aldric raised an eyebrow slightly.

"You're not going to ask whether I can actually do it?"

Lathel ignored the question and continued writing.

[You prepared all of this. I don't think you brought me here just to talk.]

The smile on Aldric's lips faded slightly.

Kiyome, meanwhile, looked at Lathel for longer than usual.