The Academy: Detective Stories - Part I

Chapter 21. The Eyes of Justice

The main hall of the courthouse was almost empty. Jackie sat on the bench near the small fountain with her diary on her lap. The crystals of time on it shone with a yellow hue, making the moving water look like bubbling lemonade. Open windows let the spring air in, filling the space with the aroma of blossoming trees.

Jackie bit a pencil as she re-read the notes she had prepared for the hearing. This past winter, she had almost drowned. Kathy, a woman abused by her husband, had pushed her into the lake that night. Today, Jackie was the only one who had volunteered to become her attorney at law. This decision came to her after learning that the guardians usually punished such females by taking away their magic in cases like this, rendering them Incapables. After that, Incapable women were forced to live the rest of their lives in special isolated communities. Jackie couldn't let this happen. Not this time.

She turned several pages, searching for the spell of self-confidence that she had recently written for herself. Instead, the diary opened to the spell she had written for Elisa.

"Sometimes we choose the path..." she read, her heart racing. Since the day they kissed, Jackie couldn't find a better solution than focusing on her studies and spending all her free time preparing for the court hearing.

Placing her free hand on her chest, she hoped to discover that the love she carried there had finally disappeared. Alas, it was still there, and it had only grown stronger over the past several months. She missed Elisa badly. Even knowing that Elisa would never love her back, Jackie craved her. Every evening, all she wanted was to hold her tight and keep kissing her again and again, without caring where it would lead them. Instead, she stayed late in the library, reading law books. Jackie usually returned to their room close to midnight because not talking to her helped a lot.

The shadow of a man's hat fell on the diary page, and Jackie raised her eyes. It was Don.

"What are you doing here?" Jackie asked.

He sat on the bench and took his hat off. His hair was neatly brushed as if he were prepared for an important social event. "Just came to check on my loyal student."

Jackie closed her diary and sighed. "I don't think I'm that loyal."

His brown eyes smiled. "You studied night and day. I'm intrigued to see how this case will end."

"Really, how much can a rookie like me change?" She stared at the fountain, now with a light-green shade to the water. They only had several minutes left before the hearing started.

"Lack of confidence is normal for a beginner." His voice lacked its usual sarcastic tone. "Jackie, I don't often tell my students this, but you have a real talent for putting words together. If you keep practicing, you can become a good lawyer."

"Really?"

Don's face was serious. "Why not?"

"Well, I'm not a good liar."

"You won't need to lie. In fact, there is no such thing as absolute truth. All you need to do is to show the judge your version of the truth."

"But which version is right to show?"

He gave her a sly look. "It depends on what you want for this woman. Why did you take part in it in the first place?"

"I just wanted to prevent cases like this from happening. When Kathy experienced domestic violence, she couldn't even find where to complain!" Jackie paused, remembering all the events that led her to become a guardian cadet. "She was vulnerable and unprotected. She was... like me."

"Exactly." Don stood up. "I'm sure your vibe will help persuade the judge and people in the courtroom. Now, let's go."