Attorney of Noir

Chapter 2: The Most Normal Trial In Iroga

Here we are. The courthouse. Tristan, Elizabeth, Inna and I are sitting in the defendant's room, waiting for the judge to call us into the courtroom. As such, we have no evidence that Tristan Webber did not kill Tim Vick, but this "witness" for the prosecution is sure to be a weak link in the chain. Finally, the doors open and one of the bailiffs says: "Defense, please proceed to the courtroom!"

–Tristan, Lisa, let's go. Inna, you can watch the trial from the public gallery.

Elizabeth, Mr. Webber and I stand up and walk to the back of the court. The bailiffs close the doors behind us... no matter how many times I've been there, it's always hard to breathe for the first few seconds. It doesn't help that I took three months off. I take a deep breath and shake my head as I stand behind the defense counter. Mr. Webber sits down next to the counter, seemingly unfazed. Elizabeth, as my assistant, stands next to me. Across the table from me stands the prosecutor... Clara Veil. My... good friend, to put it mildly. However, despite our good relations, in court she remains objective and strives to find the truth.

–The court is now in session. All rise.

The old judge, whose bald head reflects the sun's rays better than a mirror, bangs his gavel on his desk. Of course, no one rises, and those who are already standing do not sit down to rise. These words have long since become just a formality. He continues:

–The trial of Tim Vick is now underway. Mr. Setson, are you ready?

–I am ready.

–Ms. Veil?

–The prosecution is ready.

–Very well, then, Prosecutor Veil, please proceed with your opening statement.

Veil nods and, taking a paper from her desk, begins to read. Her voice rings out in the courtroom:

–Two days ago, at 11 a.m., Tristan Webber and Tim Vick met behind the latter's workshop. Mr. Vick was later found dead, with Mr. Webber's knife lodged in his solar plexus. The prosecution believes that Tristan Webber is Tim Vick's murderer, and is charging him accordingly. I would like to present the autopsy report and the murder weapon to the court.

She whispered something, and a blue tablet appeared in front of her, like a screen in the air. It expanded, revealing that it was the text of the autopsy report. Let's see... "Time of death: Approximately 11:35 a.m. Cause of death: Shock pain from a single through-and-through wound to the solar plexus. Death occurred almost instantly. There are traces of the knife being stabbed twice, in the same place. There are traces of Transformation magic on the wound." All this gave me an idea that, for some reason, I only realized now:

–Miss Veil, let me clarify: are you sure that the murder weapon was Mr. Webber's knife? After all, what kind of knife can pierce a person and come out the other side, splattering the wall behind with blood?

She grinned and narrowed her eyes. The blue panel with the cause of death information disappeared.

–Don't be so hasty, Mr. Setson. I told you that I wanted to show the murder weapon as well.

From under her desk, she took... what is that?! It's not a knife! It's more like a machete! This so-called knife is probably a meter long! The handle was decorated with various precious stones. But still... a "knife" of this size... why not just call it a saber or a machete?

–Such a "knife" can easily pierce a person through and through... and using the Sharpening spell, any blade will cut bones. There are traces of Transformation-type magic on the blade, – said Clara and with a grin put the "knife" on her table, for everyone to see; when everyone had examined it, she put it under the table.