FIFTH TRIAL

[bathymetric]

Quite the spread of evidence, isn't it? You have all you need, make your way to the vault door at once.

[ Once you're all at the door, Angel lets you through and into the elevator as always. And speaking of that elevator... your space to roam inside has grown again as you head down. Four is a heavy number to lose in one week, isn't it, between Nova and the three bodies you've just found? Though the number of things to discuss might be weighing heavier on your mind, if you're one of the investigators. The elevator might seem bigger or smaller than usual, despite the increase in space.

The trial room is as it is most weeks, apart from the newly-red podiums, so at least that's not a surprise by now. The screens are lowered, the familiar spiral displayed as ever. ]

That's three down this week. Up to three parties can be found responsible, when all is said and done - so go forth and find whoever did this, won't you? And to whoever did this... as always, best of luck to you as well.

[ The screens raise.

Welcome to your fifth trial. ]

Comments

[emberserker]

He's right. Normally, a loser in GRANBELM only has their magic stone shatter.

[And what did you get out of the machine that one time, Della?]

But there's another thing that's not as known. If you don't just lose in there, if you die in action, Magiaconatus will absorb your soul as well as the power you used. And you're removed from history. Forgotten. Erased from the world.

[nothingcanstop]

[ She sucks in a breath. She regrets ever encouraging Anna in that, now. ]

But... That's so dangerous! Beyond dangerous, Anna- why would you...?

[bolderfell]

Because if you win, you get the power to do anything you ever wanted. Risk and reward, Della.

[emberserker]

I didn't even know about the danger at first. How could I? But when I learned, I knew I had to. That I could -- that I should do anything to be rid of Ernesta. To fix everything.

[nothingcanstop]

You'd erase someone else? Just like that?

[emberserker]

Everything was her fault! The perfect replacement, sitting there and shoving me out of everything I wanted "for my own good!"

[bolderfell]

[Something about this--Therion's struggling, and it's not just because of any attachment he has to Anna. Even when he was accused last time, even when Ema was gone, he didn't look this sick.]

Fixed what? If she never existed, what would that have fixed, Anna?

[emberserker]

Everyone who betrayed me. Everyone who stopped being useful or got in my way, because if I didn't throw them away, they'd betray me too!

[Anna's smile isn't right. It's focused, trembling. The kind of expression only a few of you have seen on her. Something is wrong.]

My last disciple said I was weak and ran off. My little sister wants us all to just be happy friends again. My mother called me a heretic! She thinks Magiaconatus wants Ernesta to win and -- and not just that, that its will is the will of the gods! That girl, that demon ruined everything I cared about.

[A harsh laugh.]

So I threw it away. All of it. I even threw away myself. Why should I stop at any of you?

[hardnosed]

Okay.

[ She closes her hand on the shards again. ]

Did you kill Rose Quartz?

[emberserker]

I would have if I'd seen her, but I didn't.

[hardnosed]

That's all I needed to know.

[bolderfell]

[Hands numb, Therion takes a step back from his podium. For just a moment, his eyes are wide, face drained of color--more like she struck him physically than said anything. Then his expression hardens. Then, it twists into something more like grief. He looks away.]

...I knew you reminded me of him.

[He curls his hands into fists.]

Sorry, Anna. But I won't die for something like that. And I won't let anyone else lose to you, either.

[emberserker]

They said all the power I took in when I stole my family's crystal would destroy my body and mind anyway, but I'm still living, aren't I? So I -- so I --

[But... well. Then this comes up.]

[archboxer]

What a cruel fate...