kingdom falling | gyuricky

fifty one.

There was a banquet held on the last night before everyone set off on their journeys back home. A short speech had been made in Hanbin's memory, as well as the eleven other cultivators who had lost their lives during the siege, and a toast shortly after to celebrate the successful ending of the joint training camp and strengthening of the Coalition's internal alliances.

Ricky assumed that Yookyung's silence meant there was no news from Hyunjae. He wasn't habitually the type of person to pester people anyway, so he didn't bring up the topic again until two weeks later, when he received a letter addressed to him from Gunwook who'd returned home to Lunar Valley, shortly after they'd settled back into the routine of being home at the Palace.

The letter had been a short one, nothing comprehensive, just a quick word to inform Ricky that Gyuvin had been found safe and well, but he was currently being held prisoner at the Lost Fortress, with no idea as to what he'd done to land him there. Gunwook's own appeals to his father and the other members of the Lunar Valley higher court had failed to yield him any useful information. Even Gunwook himself wasn't sure if they knew something and refused to tell him, or if they knew nothing at all.

Ricky appeared at the entryway of Yookyung's quarters with the letter in hand, knocking furiously, uncaring that it was past midnight. "Sunbae!" he called through the closed door. "Please, it's important!"

The door slid open. Yookyung was not asleep, as could be seen from his clothing, but he looked tired. "What is it? Making a ruckus so late at night..."

"Sunbae, Gunwook found him," Ricky said, his words spilling out of his mouth faster than he could think. "He's being imprisoned at the Lost Fortress. They never took him home like they said, sunbae, why would they do that? He doesn't even know why he's being kept there-"

Yookyung turned away from the doorway and Ricky trailed off, hesitating. He returned, half a minute later, with a scroll stamped with the official seal marking it as a Coalition report. "Read it," he said.

Ricky took the scroll from him, glancing over the title.

Investigation Report on Kim Gyuvin of Meteor Court
Current Status: Awaiting Trial

He looked back up from the piece of paper. "You knew where he was all this time?"

"I talked to Hyunjae like I said," Yookyung answered. "He wasn't too willing to tell me much, but I reminded him he's not allowed to conceal information from a member of the upper council."

"If you knew about this all this time, then why didn't you tell me?" Ricky countered, indignation coloring his tone.

"Because I knew you would have done something stupid," Yookyung said, glaring at him. "Since you know where he is now, you might as well know why he's in there. Go on, read the report and see if you still feel the way you do."

Ricky continued reading.

This report is not to be circulated outside of the Upper Council, particularly the current Upper Council members belonging to the Meteor Court Sect. Upon the advice of the senior panel in charge of the Spirit Beast Hunting Festival Training Camp held at Sky-Ascending Peak, Kim Gyuvin has been conducted to the Lost Fortress for temporary detention until the investigation can be thoroughly completed. The reasons for his detention are to be elaborated on below:

1. Kwan Hyunjae, Head Weaponsmaster of the Moonrise Palace Sect, examined Sung Hanbin's body shortly after its discovery by Kim Gyuvin. It was confirmed that there was clear indication that the weapon which dealt him the fatal injuries was a holy weapon with a large blade. Upon closer examination, it was found that traces of spiritual aura remained on the body. The spiritual aura was decisively confirmed to be a match with Kim Gyuvin's holy weapon Yuexi. The three members of the Meteor Court Sect which were attendees of the Training Camp had been detained, at the projected time of the murder, in a separate courtyard due to ongoing investigations for another issue, with tracking sigils installed onto them. According to Han Seungho of the Seven Star Manor Sect, an overseeing member of the senior panel at the Training camp, who had ordered the installation of the tracking sigils, Kim Gyuvin's was deactivated during the night. It is also unknown for what reason Sung Hanbin's body was discovered outside the Peak. It cannot be confirmed if he was murdered and then subsequently moved outside, or if he had broken the terms of his detention and left the Peak grounds. Nonetheless, the evidence above maintains that Kim Gyuvin is guilty of the murder of Sung Hanbin.

2. During the events of the siege itself, it was observed that Kim Gyuvin was the only resident at the Peak who was not affected by the suppression brought about by the Willows of Resentment Array. All other cultivators present were devoid of their spiritual powers until the array was lifted by Kim Gyuvin's machinations. The senior panel cannot say for certain what exactly he did to destroy the array. Any testimony from Kim Gyuvin himself is to be regarded with caution. Research provided by members of the Seven Star Manor Sect's high council has confirmed that arrays are generally either protective or harmful in nature. Protective arrays always protect the user, whereas harmful arrays always exclude the user. Although the true nature and workings of the Willows of Resentment Array are unknown because it has previously not been encountered, it stands to reason that this proves Kim Gyuvin was, if not the sole controller, at least one of the controllers of the array.

3. This information, because of its dubious source, is not to be heavily relied on, but should only be considered circumstantially. Two anonymous communication spells were received by Han Seungho and Kwan Hyunjae respectively. The first one was received on the night after the murders had been discovered, with a message telling Han Seungho to enter Kim Gyuvin's assigned quarters. There, a pot of water was found containing blood, which was concluded to be a possible link between Kim Gyuvin and the murders that had occurred the night prior. The second was received on the night after the siege of Sky-Ascending Peak had concluded, informing Kwan Hyunjae that the wards which were installed to protect the Peak had been broken by Kim Gyuvin. The anonymous source reiterated that this information was reliable because the act had been physically witnessed by their informant. We are not inclined to take this evidence as crucial evidence unless there is more which supports that this information is indeed true.

This report is not to be shared with non-members of the Upper Council. Investigations are still ongoing as of the date this report is circulated. The Upper Council will reconvene before the date of Kim Gyuvin's trial, which is to be decided, to vote anonymously on his punishment. More information will be provided then, if necessary.

The Coalition.