THIRD TRIAL

[despairection]

[Ashley Blair, the SHSL Witch-in-Training, is dead. She's had her life snuffed out, but how and why? It's a murder both mysterious and menacing.

Portraits of Betrayus and Ashley, depicted in monochrome coloring, stand at their podiums. But more importantly, the courtroom this time is an exact and functional replica of the Eggman Factory. If only for the evidence they'll never be able to move...

Will they be able to use this evidence to find the truth? Or will the culprit's confusing conundrum get the best of them?

10 students remain.]



[Let the class trial in the murder of Ashley Blair...begin.]

 

Comments

[lavenza]

[There's not a lot of things that can shake Elizabeth.

Not a lot at all.

But damn if this is not trying now]

Clair...?

Y...You cannot be serious right now...

[tsungeonsanddragons]

Have I ever been one to make a joke like this?

[Despite how difficult this is, she's making sure to maintain eye contact with every single person who chimes in. It makes it harder, but...she deserves to hurt. Deep down, she knows this choice was foolish, but the alternative was too much to bear. She doesn't want to see anyone else die.]

[lavenza]

N-No... you're certainly not one to jest but...

[she looks down. WHAT ARE THESE FEELINGS]

Please... I implore you not to do this...

[tsungeonsanddragons]

...I'm sorry, Elizabeth. But you all have hope. I don't. Even if I reversed my decision, I'd just be in the way. A nuisance. I'd bring the whole group down and probably wind up dead anyway.

[lavenza]

[she doesn't get it. what is this. why is her chest tightening. Death is something that comes to all. She knew that. Her master had said that enough times for her to feel more than comfortable with the nature of living and dying.

"Though life is merely a journey to the grave, it must not be undertaken without hope."

Maybe that's the reason.]

...I understand.

[she's as calm as ever, renewing her resolve]

Then please... meet your end with this knowledge in mind:

You will be avenged. Each of you, for what he has done to you.

I will absolutely not allow him to get away with any of this without being thoroughly and utterly beaten to a fluffy pulp.

The only true murderer all along has been him, and he will be punished accordingly. I swear it.

[tsungeonsanddragons]

[It takes a few seconds for Clair to respond. She's unsure what to say to that. In all honesty, the speech surprises her. After Alastor... After Wiitney... She really couldn't take having to listen to another round of all this. But when Elizabeth speaks, her heart manages to pump a little slower. More evenly, like it should be. And then, slowly, a smile creeps up her features. It's not a strong smile, nor is it big. Really, it's little more than a shadow of what she'd normally be feeling, but...it's genuine.

For once after the reveal, she feels truly at peace.]

Elizabeth... Thank you. Despite what everyone may think, especially Alastor, this decision wasn't easy for me. Maybe I did make it out of emotion. Maybe it is foolish. But at the end of the day, the choice was mine to make. I can't force myself to keep going. I couldn't live with the knowledge that I might bring the whole group down.

But you? And the others? You're truly strong. Your words aren't empty; they have resolve in them. I may not be confident in myself, but I am confident in you. I know in my heart that you'll stop him. You've given me that peace of mind.

[lavenza]

[Eventually Elizabeth smiles back as well.]

Your words are quite kind. Thank you for your faith.

Though it was but for a short time, it has been a pleasure to know you and think of you as a friend.

Farewell, Clair.

[tsungeonsanddragons]

[She lowers her head slowly, smiling ever so slightly as she closes her eyes and waits for the end. Having seen this twice before, she knows how it'll go.]

Farewell, Elizabeth. I don't know what awaits after this, but...I'd like for us to meet again some day, if I can be so blessed.