"Esteemed Helfira, this is only a hearing to ascertain the involvement of the accused former Keeper. We are not here to make verdicts." The cloaked form on the right of the Magistrate said.

"I am aware of that, your Honors. However, I am a practical woman; let us conclude this with as little time as possible. Every minute spent is a minute wasted, your Honors. I am aware that a life is in question, but it's the life of a criminal who placed the life of a student in danger.

"We know the punishment for that crime alone will at least be stripping of mana channels, probably followed by exile. If the criminal mage in question has not stepped forward and accepted the proper punishment for his deeds in the past week, then this mage has shown the intention of avoiding the crimes. Let us dispense with pleasantries then. While we deliberate, the bond my friend discovered is weakening.

“There is time for deliberations and a time for swift action. Now is the time for action." Mistress Helfira reasonably stated her case.

“I repeat, this is only a hearing, Esteemed Helfira. We can’t make those kinds of decisions during a hearing.” The Right Hand stated once more.

“So we let this opportunity slip by us, because of what? A technicality?” The Mistress asked darkly.

The cloaked form on the left of the Magistrate shrugged. “It’s out of our hands. We will make an appointment on the nearest free date to discuss further steps.”

Mistress Helfira looked at them with a sour face. “And when would that be?”

"We will need to see all the presented facts. In two days is the earliest we can make another inquiry."

“Lovela, will the bond last that long?” Mistress Helfira asked her friend who was still acting as a witness.

“As far as I was able to observe it was severed from the other end on the same day former Keeper Eiler was captured. This is the main reason why I suspected that the former Keeper was not the other end of the bond— at the time he did not have the mana to start the dissolution of the bond. The bond itself could disappear completely at any moment. So if something is to be done about it, then the sooner the better— now would be the best time.”

“Your Honors, you have heard the opinion of an expert.” the elder said with heat in her voice.

“Esteemed Helfira, we are judges— not executioners.”

“I’m not asking you, your Honors, to be the executioners. Give me the leech. I will do it.” The elderly lady's hand grasped at the empty air and the small humanoid slowly started levitating towards her.

"Stay your hand!" The Right Hand of the Magistrate roared as two hands started grasping for the screeching leech.

Under Mana Sight boosted by Precision, Tercius saw that the mana of the elder Mistress was slowly beating back the mana that held the life leech. In seconds it was clear who would win in the contest over the leech.

"Esteemed Helfira, this creature is evidence." The Magistrate hurriedly said and cast a spell that started assaulting the spell Mistress used to bring the leech towards her.

"Your Honors, the creature used to be evidence. It has served its purpose during this hearing and now you do not need it anymore. I, however, will make use of it to enact punishment on the criminal behind it." Mistress Helfira said calmly as if she was discussing prices of fish on a market day. "Don't you want to punish the perpetrator, your Honors? To let the criminal writhe in the agony of their own making? I do. So just let me do this and we can continue with the hearing."

It was a magical tug of war, Tercius saw, one in which Mistress Helfira was still winning despite the numerical superiority of the opposite side. The woman was peeling off the mana of the Magistrate and his two helpers like a knife peels off an apple. With each slice made, the struggling creature was slowly moving towards her.

The leech was screaming from pain. From two different directions, mages pulled at it. It would not last long.

Mistress Lovela and J’ro were just below the magical tug of leech and the wizened lady had erected a small shield around them, turtling them in it.

“Helfira! Cease your actions this instant!” The Magistrate yelled.

The cloaked form to the right yelled, “You can’t do this!”

“This is an outrage! The woman is playing with lives!” the one to the left yelled.

“You live in a delusion, Your Honor,” Mistress Helfira calmly stated. "If you think that your life hasn't been played with."

Tercius turned his gaze to the former Keeper and the man was sweating buckets. Pale and… hesitant, Eiler did not look afraid to Tercius— the man looked unwilling, just like the leech.

A large construct of mana swept away from Mistress Helfira and went towards the life leech. It sank into the leech and the Mistress proclaimed, “There. Now just to kill it.”

The guards were pouring into the room and those that were near the row where Tercius and the other witnesses sat were shouting at Mistress Helfira to seize her actions. A few had tried to send spells her way– not one arrived. All were dismantled as they neared the woman. In Mana Sight, Mistress Helfira was a mana monster with tentacles everywhere. They grabbed spells that came her way— slowing them down and then simply turning them into minced mana. Every carefully constructed spell thrown her way was dissolved and the mana left to dissipate.

“Lightning—” Mistress Helfira calmly stated while raising a hand towards the floating leech.

"Stop! I used it! It was me." The former Keeper shouted as he stood up, the chains dragging him down. "Stop!"

When Mistress Helfira heard those words her crackling lightning covered hand went down. “Is he telling the truth?”

“Yes.” The Magistrate stated, breathing heavily. The two forms around him also confirmed.

"Helfira Kaliamar. For making a scene in the courtroom and threatening with the destruction of evidence you will pay a fine. Another fine for disrespecting this Tribunal and attempting to take law into your own hands." The Magistrate stated darkly, the breathing coming in rasps from within the robe.

“I’ll pay gladly.” Mistress Helfira calmly stated. “Your Honors.”

“I should send you to the dungeons for this brazenness, Helfira. Your age, however, makes me hesitant—”

The woman snorted. "Please spare me of long-winded speeches, your Honor. You and I both know that the dungeons would only hold me for as long as I'm willing to stay. Not a moment more."

The Magistrate and his colleagues stood still. Speechless and stunned they seemed like statues. Tercius suspected that they did not know how to behave in a situation like this. The events devolved with a speed that left even Tercius somewhat dumbstruck. Mistress Helfira truly let all the brakes go. The Tribunal members were probably only thinking about how to get away from this with a shred of dignity left.

The Magistrate was the first to recover. Ignoring Mistress Helfira, the Magistrate focused on the former Keeper. "Is that an admission of guilt?"

"Yes! I'm guilty. I'm a criminal." The Keeper wailed. "I broke the law. Just don’t let her—"

"The words of one Eiler Seriul this Magistrate finds true." The central figure said and the two around him hurriedly agreed. "This Tribunal hearing is hereby closed. Former Keeper Eiler is hereby stripped of his rights as a civilian citizen and granted the rights permitted to a class one criminal offender. A Tribunal for further steps regarding his case will be convened in two days in this very room. That is all."

The trio of judges stood up and made haste for the same door through which they came an hour earlier.

"I'm afraid that I have another matter to bring to your concern, Magistrate." Mistress Helfira stated.

"Make a new appointment." One robed figure said. "This hearing is over."

The trio started walking once more, but the elder lady was not done. Tercius felt a strange pity for the trio, as Mistress Helfira was not one to pull her punches. Still, he was ready for the next meal.

"I see. Let us ignore the haste with which you just concluded the hearing. Let us ignore that you did not ask any questions. The statements the former Keeper gave, the ones you deemed true, might have been his confessions about candy he stole during childhood, for all we know. It might have been about some currency he embezzled. It might have been about the leech, but how are we to know?

"Is that the state of law nowadays?" The statement echoed in the courtroom, an accusing whip directed at the rapidly departing trio.

"Helfira Kaliamar, you accuse this court—"

"Not the court. You. I accuse you." Mistress Helfira boldly started moving towards the Tribunal members, one step at a time. "We need to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible and you give time to the criminals to wipe their tracks. It makes one wonder…"

A bristling reply echoed from the central figure, "You doubt us? An outrage! A scandal! Helfira Kaliamar, it will be the recommendation of this court to deduct your Repository points for your behavior."

The elder woman scoffed. "Let us put behind the question of your loyalty. I tell you one more time— I have an important and pressing issue to bring forward. Will you hear me out?"

"Like my colleague said, for other issues you have to make another appointment." The third robed figure hissed. "And considering your behavior we will see when we can find time for you."

"Is that your final answer?" Mistress Helfira asked in a way only a teacher could. Even Tercius started to doubt his answer and he didn't even give any! Tercius almost thought that he was under some spell from how his whole body was tingling. The way the elder conducted herself and made her opponents dance how she wanted from them was something Tercius wanted to learn-- badly.

After a momentary pause, the trio only resumed walking towards the door. The Magistrate said, "Age brings everyone low, it seems. A pity to see that it can happen to the best of us."

"The issue I want to bring forward is related to the safety of students of the Academy."

"Esteemed Mistress seems to be going deaf as well." One robed figure said with a chuckle.

Tercius observed the elder Mistress that was barely able to hold in her laughter. It was as if only she figured out a joke that hung in the air of the crowded courtroom. Finally, she allowed herself to howl a cackle. It was long and vindictive, a sound that foreshadowed a demise better than any fortune teller ever could.

With a glint in her eyes, the elder hissed, "Senile, am I? Deaf too? Maybe so. But as of this moment, I have one thing that you don't. A paying job."

That final sentence rooted the trio near the door. As one, they turned to the elder.

So did the whole room of people; every face marred with confusion.

"What is this woman on about?" Was the question on every mind there.

Like a puppeteer who was finally pulling down the curtains and showing to the world what was going on behind the scenes, Mistress Helfira placed her arms behind her lower back and held her head high. "You see, I did not plan for things to go this way, but sometimes things get out of hand and there's little that can be done. You need to go with the flow, as an old student of mine used to say. Head Archivist, I think that this is enough for you to take reign here?"

Glass shattered behind Tercius and he ducked his head down, using his arms to protect his neck and head. From the sound, it was right behind him and… Wait...What glass? There was no glass behind me. There was only...

It wasn't glass that shattered.

There was a barrier behind the row where the witnesses sat– one erected by the Magistrate to protect them from the shouts of the crowd. The barrier was now dissipating into hair-thin mana threads, fading from view by the instant that went by.

A gray robe was there, a giant hood completely covering the head and face. Not a single feature of the face was visible under the darkness of the hood. A giant amulet hung around the hood of this figure, a golden triangle with a red tip. The symbol of the Pyramid.

"Guards stand down." A female voice commanded from inside the folds of the gray fabric. Like a soft breeze, the robed woman glided to the thrones where the Tribunal sat just moments before and took a seat at the central chair. The dark hood turned the way of the frightened judges. "Members of the Tribunal. Return and take a seat."

Like deers caught between two lights, the trio was rooted-- speechless. A slender caramel finger pointed at where the woman wanted them. “Sit there."

The trio moved with a speed Tercius thought impossible while dressed in a robe. The sat near Tercius, leaving a few empty spots between him and them.

Tercius glanced at Eiler. The Keeper was in his chair, chained, with sweat spots on his clothes that reached colossal proportions. He was as pale as the sheets the Order of the Scribes produced. Even the crowd was silent. Not a peep nor a twitch was heard.

"Let's start from why I’m here. Helfira, are those the two students?" A finger pointed out at J’ro and Tercius, respectively.

"Yes, Mistress. These are two students I mentioned when I sent you the message." Mistress Helfira said with a smile on her face. "I am sorry for disturbing you, but I think it urgent enough."

J'ro looked confused and Tercius took a deep breath. Mistress Helfira mentioned she knew someone who might find the mind spell on J’ro, but this... He was about to go before one of the Big Four. Or Big Five, if he counted The Prime.

The Head Archivist said, “Don’t worry little one. I was free, so I came. Come here, both of you.”

“Go, don’t worry.” Mistress Helfira pushed Tercius slowly. Tercius got up from his seat slowly and with some hesitation made his way down to J’ro and Mistress Lovela.

“Approach some more.”

Both Tercius and J’ro took a few hesitant steps towards the large table. When they were some three meters away from it, the woman took an audible sniff. It was a long one that was followed by a series of a few short sniffs.

"Yes… both of you have the smell of mind mana about you. The little one is even now under a spell. You—" the woman took in a deep breath. "—had a few mind spells on you recently, but… you are free of any, now. How curious. I only feel two mana smells on you. Your own and some foreign residue. Did you free yourself of the mind spells, child?"

Tercius nodded slowly as he clumsily addressed the woman, "Yes, Mistress. I mean, Head Archivist."

“Tell me what happened.”

So Tercius did. From the moment he entered the room with that officer, where they were supposed to erase all spells and turn off all skills on him, to the moment he got out with the knowledge that they messed with his mind. He left out the part of how he did it, and no one asked. They know that its a skill...

The robe nodded slowly and turned to the rooted guards. "Bring me the offender. If she isn’t here within ten minutes, then all of you present can depart the Pyramid lands with anything you can carry in your hands. I have the scent of her mana, so make sure you get the right person.

"Oh, and any helpers are to be included. Actually, anyone who knows anything about it, is to be here in ten minutes. Rank matters not. If any of you confess, your punishment will be reduced. If you are guilty and not here to confess, I will allow warrants of capture to be made— dead or alive."

Some guards collapsed on their knees as the woman listed who to bring. The rest either stood frozen, and Tercius guessed that some truly had no idea about anything that occurred. Few guards looked eager when the woman mentioned warrants.

If the Head Archivist is issuing them, then the pay is probably in Repository points, of course they are eager, Tercius noted.

"Time's wasting." The woman said calmly. A few of the guards sprang to a sprint and left the room.

"Now, what have we here?" The robed woman asked as she looked at the three seated judges. "I know the guidelines you are supposed to adhere to. Why didn't you?"

"W-we-- we did, Head Archivist."

"When? I was here when Helfira said that she had something important to say about the safety of students."

"I—I—" the Magistrate stammered. “She disrespected— I—”

"Helfira did rile you up a bit, intentionally I might say, but that is no excuse. You are grown men. Judges. Your robes confirm it. Elected by the people and given charge by the Council of the Pyramid. Hmm...

"Starting immediately, you three are provisionally dismissed from your posts. I will inform the Council of Chameos of this and make sure that your previous rulings will be combed over, in detail, by an independent party. We will see if you had a hand in this ... whole situation, or if you really were just personally offended."

Two of the judges rose to protest, but with a wave of the robed Head Archivist their cries were dulled to a whisper.

The robe turned to Keeper Eiler. "You admitted to something that I can tell is not true… I love a good mystery… That contract you have on your heart… hmm it prohibits you from sharing your information with anyone. Tricky… tricky... but I'll think of something. Worse case, I will waste some resources grow you a new one. With the old heart goes the contract... hmm..."

The gray hood moved about the room as if searching for another target. The dark hood stopped when it swept over the crowded gallery. "All of you up there, leave now."

People poured out the four doors, as if the floodgates were open. Rushing over one another, they tried to make themselves scarce as soon as they possibly could. Head Archivists were legendary even among the teachers of the Academy, and Tercius could only imagine what they were to the common people of the city of Chameos.

The Head Archivist’s hood turned to Mistress Helfira. "How's the kid, little one?"

"...Porfira? A lot of time has passed since you and her last saw each other, Mistress. She’s just passed thirty and still has a head full of strange ideas and notions." Mistress Helfira complained. "At times I think she only says and does things some things just to contradict me, Mistress. It’s most vexing...”

"I read that most children tend to have phases like that, little Helfira. It's one of the reasons as to why I always stayed away from such… motherly pursuits." the giant gray hood nodded sagely. “They take away too much time and there is very little certainty that the child will turn out to by like you intend it to be. Now that you mention the contradictions, there is one Mistress from a few centuries ago whose articles I read that claimed that children…"

The two older women exchanged notes on their experience and knowledge about raising children. Head Archivist had a lot of knowledge, but no practical experience, while Mistress Helfira had a mix of both.

It was a strange place to be, Tercius decided after a moment.

“...I thought that my experience with educating children would be a big help with raising my own, well bigger than it actually was.” Mistress Helfira sighed.

“Interesting… What was the root of the problem, in your opinion?”

Mistress Helfira’s wrinkled face scrunched in thought. “...my occasional absence, most probably Mistress. It certainly didn't help.”

“Don't be too hard on yourself little one– oh. Let’s leave this for later. Our malefacting mind mage is here.”

A struggling middle-aged woman of long dark hair was pushed into the courtroom. The terror-stricken face showed how much she wanted to be where she was.

"Oh yes… you are the one," inhaled the Head Archivist loudly. "Will you tell us of your own free will why you broke one of the Prohibitions or do I have to use… other means?"

The woman was pale and sweating as she stammered, "I will speak."

"Ruul." The Head Archivist intoned in an ethereal voice and the mind mage's labored breathing slowed down and her closed fists opened slowly. The woman in the gray robe calmly spoke, "There. Now just take a few deep breaths and speak."

"Six days ago I was approached by a mage who claimed that he has a complete step-by-step guide of teleporting. His side of the contract was that he would give it to me in its entirety and in exchange, I would need to erase a few memories of one of the witnesses in one case. At first… well, I refused. The contract… was full of clauses that would make sure that I couldn't speak about the contract, or say anything written in it, or even repeat anything spoken during the negotiations. I wouldn't be able to write about it or, well… it was a thorough contract if I ever saw one.

"I declined because of that. Then yesterday the same mage came and offered to waive all the troublesome parts if I did it… He told me that my superior was already in on it, and so were my peers. He told me that nothing would come of this, that it would all blow over, and that the whole thing would get covered up within a week or two… So I agreed." the woman told her story slowly, with an even face.

"Who is the mage who hired you?" Asked the Head Archivist.

"I don't know. I know that he sounded male and his body shape under the cloak also suggested that. Average in height. We met in a tavern near my home both times after he left a message on my door just as I came back from work…"

"Hey, kid." The Head Archivist snapped her fingers towards Tercius and J'ro. "The scrawny one. Come here."

J'ro looked around but he was the only scrawny kid present. Slowly he crossed the last three meters and stood near the Head Archivist. She turned to the mind mage and said, "Come here and undo the spell, slowly. Is that understood?"

The Head Archivist went quiet for a few tense minutes as she watched the woman undo her spell all the while sniffing the air. Only then did she turn to Mistress Helfira and said, "Helfira, can you start placing temporary seals on all of them?"

"With pleasure, Mistress."

"You will come with me. We need to remove that contract..." The Head Archivist said to the Keeper Eiler. "Where is that little creature?"

A hand went up, holding the humanoid leech in it. The Magistrate waved it like a flag of truce.

The Head Archivist chuckled. "I almost forgot about you three. You are to report to the Repository tomorrow morning. Give me the creature."

The Magistrate handed over the humanoid creature and left without another word, the two of his helpers hot on his heels.

"Hmm…" the woman hummed as she sniffed at the small creature. "A bond... a life leech carrier… how interesting... completely novel..."

Mistress Lovela placed a hand on J'ro's shoulder and brought him to Tercius. "He should be fine in a day or two, with some sleep and rest. Take your friend and go to your Master Lazarus, I will be with you in a moment."

J'ro looked disoriented as his face twitched. Tercius placed his hands on his shoulders and slowly pushed the dazed boy towards Master Lazarus who still sat in his seat.

The giant Master stood up with a smile on his face, the wooden seat releasing a groan as it was released of his weight. "Mistress Helfira always provides the best entertainment."