Punishment

Once all the servants had left, the rest of them began to make their way into the room that looked somewhat like a battlefield now. Farhan put out the fire that was still burning in the room. Then, Arias saw the man cast a spell that created a big dome-shaped shield over the space where everyone was standing.

“I’ve got nothing to do with this, Grandfather.”

“That’s right, Grandfather. You can’t take the words of that worthless person seriously.”

Mashelle and Danesse quickly tried to defend themselves. Apparently, Kanl had already informed them about the situation.

“Who did you just call ‘worthless’!?”

Displeased, Arias turned to glare at Danesse.

“Why? You really are worthless.”

Danesse looked at Arias with disdainful eyes, his words were nothing but an insult.

“Have you no respect even when I’m standing right here!?”

The room fell into silence once again after Farhan spoke. It seemed like no sound from the outside could enter the inside of the shield at all. So, the sound they made inside probably could not be heard by anyone outside as well. Arias found Farhan's prudence and caution quite admirable.

“Arias, the only proof you have are your own words, is that correct?”

Farhan turned to ask Arias.

“That’s right. I have got nothing but my words, and my memories.”

Arias answered evenly.

“I hope you will not find me unjust. But, in cases like this, taking your words as the truth despite the lack of proof would not be fair for the two of them. Can I ask all of you to forgive each other for this matter?”

Farhan sighed, feeling mentally exhausted. It was difficult for him as well to make this decision. But since the accused did not confess and the accuser, like Arias, was unable to come up with any other proof, all he could do was ask both sides to make a compromise.

“As for your room, I’ll have the servants fix it.”

Farhan said as if he could tell what Merson was about to say. Merson, who was about to remind Farhan about his room, could not say anything else for a moment. But then a thought occurred to him.

“Then, how will you punish the liar who caused all this chaos, Father? Or will you simply let it slide? Falsely accusing your kin is a serious offense. It wouldn’t be right for you to just let this go.”

It seemed like Merson was not yet satisfied with Farhan’s decision. He smirked a little before reminding Farhan about Arias’ guilt as the source of this chaos. Farhan looked like he was put into a difficult situation. He could only remain quiet, his eyes turned to look at Arias with pity. The young man who received such pity, however, seemed totally unfazed by the possibility of being punished.

“I agreed with Uncle. You shouldn’t let any misconduct go unpunished, Grandfather. Though I did say that the only proof I have is my words, I did not say that I have no way of verifying them. Why would you decide hastily, as if you’re ready to let this slide?”

“How will you verify them?”

Farhan stared at Arias with surprise.

“I believe you have heard of Blood Faerie Elixir? It is said that this kind of elixir carries with it the curse of the faeries who loathe deception. The elixir does not have any effect on a mage’s magical power, but if you take it and tell even a single lie, you will feel pain all over your body. The more you lie, the more you are going to suffer.”

Arias explained in an even voice and a small smile on his face. As soon as Merson heard this, he became tense once again. Meanwhile, Mashelle's and Danesse’s faces paled. The two looked at their father as if pleading with him for help. Neither of them had heard about this kind of elixir before, but they both knew that taking it would not be a good idea.

“I will not take that elixir no matter what.”

“Me too. And what would you do if it was poisoned!”

Mashelle and Danesse said frantically. They were very anxious now and cold sweat was starting to trickle down their whole backs. Even their palms were damp with sweat.

“Don’t worry. I will take it as well.”

Arias could only laugh inwardly like a victor upon seeing the look of panic on his cousins’ faces. Then, he took something out of his pocket. It was a glass vial containing three tiny red-and-black pills. This was the Blood Faerie Elixirs that Arias mentioned. Everyone looked at him in disbelief. Arias appeared to have been preparing for everything for quite some time.

“I still won’t take anything that comes from you! What if you try to poison me?”

Mashelle replied, the discontent clear in his voice. He definitely would not swallow that pill down his throat.

“If you really insist that Arias’ accusation was false, then take the elixirs. Otherwise, I am going to assume that what he said is true.”

As Farhan took a look at the elixirs that Arias was holding, he could tell that they were authentic Blood Faerie Elixirs. In this family, Farhan’s word is absolute. So, it looked like Mashelle and Danesse could no longer make any more excuses. It seemed like the tide had turned in Arias’ favor again.

There was only tension in the atmosphere. Mashelle and Danesse stood holding the Blood Faerie Elixirs. Their hands were trembling with fear, and both their palms and backs were damp with cold sweat. They both knew how it would go if they took the elixirs. Arias, on the other hand, seemed completely relaxed while holding the elixir in his hand.

Normally, this kind of elixir was used on prisoners and spies. The elixir’s ability only worked once the person who took them spoke. In some cases, people simply chose not to say anything, while in others, they chose to die rather than reveal any secrets. Mashelle and Danesse, however, did not seem to have those options.

Finally, Mashelle was the first to move. He was about to take the elixir into his mouth. All eyes were on him, waiting to see the outcome. Mashelle looked at the Blood Faerie Elixir, which was like a horrifying beast to him.

THUD!

The elixir fell to the ground.

“I can’t do it…Grandfather, I’ve made a mistake. Please, forgive me. I had no intention of pushing him into the river. Everything was just an accident.”

Fear in his heart appeared to have triumphed over his courage. Mashelle weakly let the elixir fall from his hand before he hurriedly got on his knees and asked for Farhan’s mercy. Danesse also did the same. Confessing without taking the elixirs was, of course, a better choice. At least they could still make up some excuse to lessen the severity of their crime. ‘At least they’re smarter than I thought.’ Arias watched the two of them begging Farhan on their knees. To him, it was a pathetic sight.

“Huh! Cowards. Are you really descendants of the Scarcia? How could you use such a vile method to attempt to murder your own kin.”

Farhan’s face was heated with anger. His palm slammed into a nearby table, causing it to crumble to pieces. He had a disappointed and angry look in his eyes as he glared at the two of his grandsons who were shaking in fear.

“We are truly sorry, Grandfather. Please, forgive us. What happened that day wasn’t our intention. The two of us were just playing with him and had no intention of killing him. But because he’s weak, he slipped and fell into that river.”

Danesse stumbled over his words. His voice was trembling with fear.

“Then why didn’t you help him? Why did you let my son drown!?”

Albert tightly gripped the claymore in his hand in anger.

“That…it – it was because we can’t swim.”

Danesse’s reason was not convincing at all.

“If what you said is true, then take these Blood Faerie Elixirs.”

Arias let out a small laugh and approached the two, then picked up the Blood Faerie Elixirs from the floor. He leaned down a little in front of them and offered the elixirs to his cousins one more time. They both looked at the elixirs in fear, neither of them was brave enough to take them back. Right now, it looked as if they were kneeling to Arias. Whether this was a coincidence or Arias’ intention, no one knew.

“They’ve already confessed, what more do you want from them? Could it be that those really are poison?”

Merson said from behind Arias, and though Arias did not turn his head to look at the man, he could already guess what his face looked like right now. Seemed like Merson was still determined to make Arias look like the one at fault even when it had become obvious who the real culprits were. Arias could only smirk a little. For some reason, when Danesse looked up and saw that smirk on Arias’ face, his wound seemed to sting once again.

“Kanl, lock them up in the back room of the manor. Do not let them practice any magic or take a single step outside of the room for two months! And if anything like this happens again, the two of you will be banished from the clan.”

Finally, Farhan, who had stood in silence with the fire of rage, spoke. His words of judgment echoed throughout the space inside the protective shield. The clan leader’s order was absolute and must be obeyed by all. Everyone was listening to him, and their feelings varied. For Albert and Maria, they were in a state of disbelief. The couple stared at Arias, surprised by how much their son had grown. It was unbelievable for them how Arias was able to win in this situation. Meanwhile, Mashelle and Danesse were trembling with fear. The back of the manor that Farhan mentioned was more of a prison than a room. It was a place where they would barely be able to see the outside world. And as if that was not bad enough, they were also prohibited from practicing any kind of magic. For mages like them who had lived their whole lives in comfort, being in that room would be like living in hell.

Arias stood triumphantly in front of them. This might not be the punishment he had wanted to give them, but he knew it was the most severe punishment they could’ve gotten from Farhan. Since Arias was not killed in that incident, Farhan’s punishment could not be harsher than this. That, and because the two of them were still his grandchildren regardless.

“Father, don’t you think this is a bit much? My sons will be joining the Tournament in two months. Aren’t you taking away the future of your own grandsons with this punishment?”

Merson tried to persuade Farhan to lessen the punishment. For Mashelle and Danesse, Merson’s words were like a refreshing shower. Both of them looked at Farhan and waited for his answer again. A small glimmer of hope started to shine in their hearts.

“Need I remind you of the punishment for ones who kill their own kin, Merson?”

Farhan’s answer destroyed that hope. Finally, everything came to an end. Though Mashelle and Danesse were reluctant as Kanl brought them to the back room, there was nothing they could do. They could not defy the order of a clan leader. Merson glared at Arias before he left the room with a displeased look.

“Is there anything else I should know?”

Farhan turned to the three people who remained inside the room.

“Thank you, Father, for giving justice to my son.”

Albert gave a respectful bow to Farhan with gratitude. Like Arias, he also knew that this was the most severe punishment Farhan could have given to Mashelle and Danesse.

“If there is nothing else, then the two of you are dismissed. As for you, come with me.”

Farhan said before turning to Arias.

“Me?”

Arias pointed to himself, unsure of what he just heard. Since the problem had been settled, what else did Farhan have to talk with him about?