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]

I wanted to kill Ernesta. I was seconds away from it. If I got rid of her, everything she did, everyhting I did because of her, all of it would be right again! But then -- then that Professor went and said --

[philoxenia]

... That you would lose. And you didn't see any other way.

[emberserker]

Not just that I'd lose. That she kills me. That I'm erased. And that all of it was...

[Something in her snaps there.]

I can't believe him. But I can't let it come true, can I?

[mouflon]

And, what? You don't think the foreknowledge is enough? You needed someone to hold your hand through how to do it?

[ Rin can't help herself. Her tone is laced with disdain. ]

[emberserker]

Tell me, Rin. Do you think I'd let him walk over me too, once this is over with? I want that man to suffer and die as much as any of you do. I wouldn't risk becoming one of his puppets on top of everything else.

[mouflon]

And do you think you're the only one who got bad news, Fugo? That you're the only one who is going to die? The rest of us just decided to take responsibility for ourselves, instead of taking some psychopath at his word.

Tell yourself whatever you want. You're still dancing to his tune, on his stage, right now.

[emberserker]

I'm not his tool or Magiaconatus'. Don't you think I am taking responsibility instead of just ignoring it all and hoping someone else will kill to fix it?

[mouflon]

Someone else killing wouldn't fix your problem. You doing what you've done doesn't fix mine. Face it, Fugo — you took the bait he laid out, and now he's having a grand time laughing at you behind the scenes.

1/2

[emberserker]

It's not going to matter.

[Anna's head is turned down towards her podium, and she stops addressing the crowd.]

You'll get your suffering, Professor. Because your seal on our abilities has holes in it, doesn't it? Alice still had to drink blood, Rose and Jasper weren't reduced to rocks, a party game could summon the dead, and you had to call in your backup toy last week! With what I'd taken on before alone, I was already twice, no, a hundred times as powerful as I was before, and with Rhea's blood too...

[She grabs the sides of her podium with both hands and begins to shake.]

Call forth the mages to this land.

Call forth the crystal of human wisdom.

Call forth all the magic that has been lost.

[As Anna speaks, she twitches and shakes, struggling against something. Her head rises up, eyes bloodshot, blood starting to trickle from her eyes and mouth.]

2/2

[emberserker]

Call... call all of us... who possess that power... ngh!

[Anna flinches and collapses to the podium again.]

No... no, I thought for sure! Why? Why can't I do it even now?

[hardnosed]

[ Oh, this is just... ]

Pathetic.

[ It doesn't even sound disparaging or contemptuous, just like she's stating a fact. ]

[mouflon]

[ ...

mmmm ]

Enough, Fugo. Leave the spectacle to him — he doesn't need your help.

[ But. Rin steps away from her podium, and approaches Anna's. She'll guide her upright if, she lets her. ]

[nothingcanstop]

[ Okay, thank goodness Rin's got her because, like, this is painful to watch. ]

[bogwife]

Anna, stop. [Watching her start to bleed, the magic she's trying to summon- it makes her stomach lurch in fear but she stares at her with no small amount of pity.] All you're doing now is hurting yourself.

[philoxenia]

[ And just like that-- ]

We could have helped you! I don't know how, but-- [ It's the first time she's raised her voice here. ] I would have helped you! I told you all those weeks ago that you weren't alone, and I meant that, Anna!

[emberserker]

Do you really think that? Nobody else does! Even the people who supposedly care about me wouldn't think twice at standing in my way!

[philoxenia]

Of course I believe it! Letting something like that happen-- you losing, being erased, there has to be a way to end that completely!

[emberserker]

If I don't throw away people who hurt me or can't help me, then they'll do the same to me! That's how this world is!

[nothingcanstop]

...It's sad, Anna. It's incredibly sad, that you would think no one could help you. That no one would want to.

[fivestagegod]

...Some worlds are like that, Della.

[He sounds a little terse? This has been Going Places that he both finds familiar and isn't sure he likes.]

It's not sad when your survival depends on it.

[nothingcanstop]

[ Ah. Well. ]

...It doesn't have to be that way everywhere, though.

[philoxenia]

[ Oh, don't like that! ]

Not everyone would do that! Not everyone who wants to get close to you is willing to hurt you--I know it's hard to believe that, but I've seen it here more than once!

[emberserker]

How can you still believe that, of all people?

[philoxenia]

Because it's--

[ She sighs and looks away from Anna. ]

It's something I have to believe in, or I won't be able to keep moving forward.

[bolderfell]

Because she's stronger than you.