Wishes: From the Past - Book 2 - Chapters 1-3

Chapter 2: Dogma

Deep beneath the courthouse, after navigating what felt like endless hallways, the paladin and I now stand before a set of large, wooden double doors. They're dark in color and have thin silver trim laced along their wooden engravings.

Words are etched into a steel plate to my right: "military hearing room," it reads.

"Are you ready?"

I glance at the paladin as she rests her hand on one of the doors.

My grip on Llami tightens softly, the furball grumbling.

From the tidbits I squeezed from Paladin Silvershine, we're attending a military hearing involving a captured Ainsal Lieutenant. Apparently, the lieutenant in question is responsible for the attack on the Skyward Sword, which I suppose explains my attendance being of "personal importance."

Knowing justice is being served, I should be relieved, yet I feel...antsy.

Letting out a breath, I lift my head and nod.

Quietly, the paladin pushes the door open slowly, and we step through.

The room beyond the threshold is extravagant, to say the least: a courtroom lined with velvet-cushioned pews, dark wood furnishings, a deep red carpet down the center aisle, and luxurious tapestries that dangle from the walls. Light fixtures along said walls illuminate the otherwise dark room, bathing it in soft, orange light.

Seated in the pews, uniformed military men and women sit, speaking idly amongst themselves. My eyes wander, drifting towards the center of the courtroom with anticipation. Overlooking it, at the far end of the room, stands a tall judge's bench, three older, uniformed men seated atop it, side by side.

Following behind the paladin, I pull Llami close to my chest, her ears flicking.

"Jonathan!" a warm, familiar voice exclaims to my right.

I jump, turning to it; rising from his seat, I spot Captain Cortez!

He wears his usual uniform, no longer sporting his wooden cane. A warm smile is pressed to his face, and his eyes gleam with elation.

"C-Captain?" I mutter, quickening my pace.

Stepping out, he clasps his fingers around my palm in a firm handshake.

"Grand to see you once again!" he exclaims, patting my shoulder.

"Graaaooo," Llami growls, the captain being taken aback.

I quickly cover Llami's snout, giving the captain a smile.

"S-sorry, she's just a little antsy meeting new people," I mutter.

"My, what is this little creature, Jonathan?" he asks, raising his hand and flexing his finger at Llami. Her face scrunches, and she slaps softly at the captain's hand, to which he chuckles. "Can't say I've seen one like it."

"It's a llama, captain," the paladin interjects behind me, making me jump.

"Huh," he replies, standing upright. "I take it this is some kind of domesticated beast?"

"Yes, sir."

"Fascinating. Color me impressed, Jonathan. You seemed to have taken my words to heart. And look at you!" he exclaims, grabbing my shoulders and squeezing them. "You've also built yourself up nicely since last we met. However, I understand you've been in trouble recently. R-regarding your city service work."

"Yeah, you could certainly say that."

"Mm. Heard it was quite a nasty altercation, that business with the centaul," the captain notes, glancing at the row of pews behind him. "O-oh, I forget myself. Come, Jonathan. I'd like you to meet my colleagues."