[EN] Baten Kaitos : Wraith of the Wings and the Deliquescent Fountain

The Story

En 2013, j'ai écrit une vieille fanfiction en ANGLAIS (quelle audace) sur ma série de jeux vidéo préférée, Baten Kaitos. Je dis "vieille" parce qu'elle est flinguée avec plus de lore que d'action mais heh, c'était il y a 20 ans, j'avais lu genre 3 livres à l'époque. Evidemment si vous n'avez pas joué aux jeux ça va être... bon, c'est pas ouf quoi. Sinon, j'espère que les noms propres vous rappeleront de bons souvenirs ! Si c'est pas encore le cas, on va bientôt streamer du Baten Kaitos sur Twitch et vous allez adorer ça je vous pro-mets.

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The Child of the Fountain had betrayed and killed.

Rigel and Sedna entered the High Court of Sheliak. He who was formerly known for his benevolence turned out to be a menace, and so did his lover. Seven days after the massacre, Governor Lesath summoned the Brethren to judge the legitimacy of Rigel as the exclusive Bearer of Aura. The time had come for the Nation to ponder about the life of a man who could bring life and death to all things with less effort than he pulled to breath. A simple man with so much power, in a world endangered by an unbalanced Magnus harmony, was a serious threat.

The Brethren welcomed the defendants. The valet closed the door. The audience stood still. Rigel, Sedna, a representative named Palolo, the Brethren, judges of the Nation, the Governor and the Chancellor Cephei, former Princess of Nunki, current headmaster of the Academic City of Cebalrai, were the only ones expected to speak. Once everyone was quiet and ready, the Brethren enticed the Governor to start.

- Brethren, Chancellor Cephei, representative Palolo, defendants, he stated. This is a day of sorrow, as we are now to judge the acts of the man who murdered our former and beloved Governor. Acubens was my superior and yet also my friend. As regular human beings, we used to disagree and discuss on many subjects for hours, if not days, but we shared the same views about law and justice. We both had the conviction that, with the adequate tools in the right hand, people can live in peace and harmony. This is a new, perpetually changing world, and I believe that avoiding elementary shared rules would be a serious wrongdoing. Today, though I mourn Governor Acubens, I want to honour his struggle to make the Nation a better place. Today, I want the Nashira's Massacre to be written down in History forever, so that our heirs remember how hard it is to be human and how easily one can be corrupted by power and personal anger. Today, I want Rigel and Sedna to be the last milestone of a now finished era. Today, I want this world to start anew. For the future times to come, I want the Gods to be part of the Nation. I want them to serve the will of the people. I don't want to serve them, I don't want to enslave them, I want them to work with us for the greater good and the sake of the Nation.

The audience was thrilled, but wasn't allowed to cheer. The Brethren required Rigel to appear before them and answer the questions of Governor Lesath.

- You have several names, defendant Rigel. Some call you the Child of the Fountain. Others name you the Bearer of Aura. In the future, many will know you as the Slaughterer of Diadem. Seven days ago, Governor Acubens lead an assault against the rioters of Nashira. He arrived on the morning with less than two hundred soldiers, and so did you. Knowing the city better than anyone – but then again, who would have doubted that? – you took advantage of this opportunity to climb on top of the Temple and blow the army up. All alone, you mercilessly killed hundreds of people, showing the world you had rejoined the outlaws, and therefore betrayed the very government you helped building. It is known that defendant Sedna stood by your sides and did nothing to stop you, which makes her as guilty as you are. Do you confirm the here described facts?

Rigel stood quiet for a moment which seemed to last quite longer than it actually did. He slowly raised his head up, and only stopped when his sad, deep purple eyes glazed into the Governor's.