Imperatrix Fallen: Alith's Cradle

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Miguel looked upon his children in the Empyrean and knew the seed was good, and the soil had been fertile. It was time to harvest.

Apoptosis, Chapter II, Verse IV of the Ancient Bible.

Three Cardinals surrounded Makia. Quinta observed from the far end of the room, flanked by three heavily armed guards, and sitted on an improvised throne. Makia, seated on a backless chair with his arms and legs shackled, searched for familiar details in a room he had never been in before. The Cardinals whispered among themselves, their expressions twisted in disgust each time their gaze fell upon Makia's foreign arm. Quinta was restless; it was her first time presiding over an inquisitorial committee. The preamble had dragged on for more than an hour.

Suddenly, one of the Cardinals, a bald man of middle age, broke away from his companions, started the voice recorder placed on a table beside Makia, and asked in a solemn voice:
"Tell me, Makia, how does a man come to be touched by the Eternal Light?"

Makia spun around abruptly in his chair, startling everyone. Quinta's guards broke formation for a moment, but Makia was merely adjusting his position so he could see Quinta more clearly.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Makia replied flatly.

"Do you not know, at your age, how to save your soul?" The Cardinal wasn't sure if Makia genuinely didn't know or was just playing dumb. He was a little nervous; it was his first time being watched by a member of the Sacred Family during an inquisition. "The insolent brat is trying to make me look bad. Of course, he knows the way at his age!"

"What do we need saving from?"

"Blasphemer! Eight thousand years of mourning for the death of She Who Brought the Light! Miguel, whose name was used in vain by the Rue pestilence in the battle where you dared to lay hands on our Sacred Apostle. Your arm! What dark arts did you commit to obtain it? Forbidden!" The Cardinal put all his effort into maintaining his composure, though he was overwhelmed with deep revulsion; he knew it, and Quinta had noticed.

"The truth is," Makia said, looking at his arm, somewhat puzzled, "I don't understand or remember how I got this arm. I just know it works, and I'm keeping it." His tone turned more serious. "If it bothers you so much, you can come and take it from me. And as for the story of Miguel? I heard a different version..."

His last comment caused a brief, awkward silence. The three Cardinals exchanged glances, satisfied; Makia could undoubtedly be condemned for Manifest Hatred and Sacrilege. They had never found it so easy to condemn an accused.

"I thought this was supposed to be a proper interrogation. I really don't mind answering the same things those guys in black uniforms asked me. Hell, they feed me for free, so I can't complain. But between all the silence and nonsense, I'm getting bored. I'm leaving. I have... things to do in the morning."

Makia stood up. The guards raised their weapons. The Cardinals began to chant: "The Hatred that drives nations to war is present in those who have the power to start one. They must be purified." The sentence was declared.

"Fools!" Quinta exclaimed, rising from her altar. "He's spoken only three sentences, and you condemn him? What about empirical methods? Where is the Trial of the Relics?"

"Ma'am," the Cardinal who had questioned Makia replied, looking at the floor, "the fault is clear, the impurity..."

"Trials are important for obvious reasons... they prevent false positives," Quinta calmed herself. "Everyone out; I'm taking over this inquisition. Guards, escort the Cardinals out."

The Cardinals bowed as they departed. They did not agree in the slightest, but the order was royal, and there was no purer purification than that performed by Quinta. The guards were also discontented: "Ma'am, we'll be nearby," they said as they closed the chamber doors.

Quinta approached the shackled man. He was motionless. Nervous, she found herself vulnerable before one who was a living sin, a murderer filled with Hatred, and denied the Light. And yet, in a twisted way, this attracted her; she wanted to fix him, to save the soul that had saved her body, but at the same time, she wanted his approval. She looked at him: wounded, fierce, so filled with an overwhelming authority unlike any other man she had ever seen. "What is he thinking? What am I thinking!" she scolded herself. She walked slowly, then suddenly found the courage: "Quinta, it's the least you can do!" She quickly approached him and hugged him from behind.

"Thank you for saving me," she whispered nervously.

The hug lasted only a few seconds. Makia did not whisper back. Quinta blushed with nerves. She let go and took a few steps back. "Stupid girl. I look like a first-grader..." She composed herself.

"Makia, may I ask you something?"

"What?" he replied flatly.

"I have to determine if you're a threat to the Sacred Inquisition, to the people of this town... For that, you need to undergo a series of trials. Are you willing to take them?"

"What do you want?"

"I want you to be saved. I won't take no for an answer...". "Why did I say that? He could thing wrong" Quinta thought immediately.

"I'll do it," Makia responded before Quinta could confirm her fears.

Quinta smiled, delighted.
"Let's begin!" Quinta moved closer to the recorder. "Tell me, Makia. How..."

"The abstinence from Hatred and embracing the reason for all things. Only then will we be saved," Makia interrupted before Quinta could finish her question.

"Very good!" Quinta exclaimed, oblivious to the fact that Makia had answered without knowing the question. "I mustn't praise him, he's an accused! I need to be more careful.", she thinks.

"Let's continue..."

The interrogation went on.

For two hours, Makia answered all of Quinta's questions with the utmost religious devotion.

"To conclude, Makia, do you swear, by the sanctity of Miguel, that your weapons will only rise against the unjust?" This question was reserved for soldiers or mercenaries, but Quinta felt it appropriate to ask.

"I swear." Makia raised his hand and placed it on Quinta's cheek. "I swear, Quinta Uldrich. I'll do everything to protect you."

Quinta was stunned; it was the first time she had seen Makia smile. She quickly got up, flustered. She went to get the necessary paperwork for the accused's absolution. She signed and sealed the sentence.

"Makia, by decree 20.89, section eleven A, you are cleared of suspicion. You may go."

Makia was already at the door, laughing. His laughter echoed until he was completely gone.

"Happiness, a good feeling..." Quinta thought as she finished stamping the release papers.