21 Working On A Way

Lyzbeth Heredis

They lead me away as if I am to be sent to a slaughterhouse. The halls are as white as the halls of Scire National High School. Each pillar has the Crest of the House of Filia. I am getting sick of seeing that cursed crest of snakes. Though this is supposed to be a hall of prison cells, it appears to be nothing more but a silent bedroom hallway. There's no one here except me. I do not know if I should fear. Is the justice system of Scire too fast to sentence a practitioner to death or is it because all of them have run out and I'm the only one left?

There are tens of hundreds of persecutors surrounding me. Ten of them are in front as if to prevent anyone from aiding my escape. Ten of them are behind my back as if to prevent any kidnapping that may occur. Ten of them are at each of my sides as to prevent my chance of breaking free. Honestly, I'm not even plotting an escape. I don't even know what to do. They couldn't be any more effective at what they do.

Scire, a good kingdom. If only you could bring yourself to believe in The Arts, maybe we could come at a resolution.

After taking a turn at the hallway, I find a hall of various rooms. Each room has a wide viewing window from the hallway. I suppose this is the visitation rooms. Suddenly, we stop at a room. There are two doors – one for the visitor and one for the prisoner. I enter the door for the prisoner. I look inside, and it is nothing more but an empty room with a mirror right in front of me. A chair is set at the middle of the room.

"Take a seat," the persecutor says.

Hesitantly, I follow his orders. Before I could ask, he closes the door on me. I hear a switch turn on. And lo, I can see my mother and Jensine through the mirror. Sweet goodness. It is a two-way mirror! I could cry as I see the two of them here for me. I pull the chair closer towards the mirror so that I could feel them near me. This is the only way in which I could feel that we are not divided by a wall and only a mirror that allows us to see each other.

Through the mirror, I can see her crying through her beautiful smile. Jensine, who has always been cold to me, manages to give a nod.

"Lizzie, don't think that you did wrong," mother says in her native tongue of Gonin. "We will get you out of here. An enchanter is not meant to be imprisoned and die whilst doing their jobs."

I look at Jen. I know what she thinks. The woman that kept me away from The Arts for much of my life now thinks that I did right. If it hadn't been for Jen, I wouldn't have been able to pursue an education at Lucerna. She gives a wry smile as if she agrees with my mother.

"Lyzbeth, we are already working on a way to get you out," Jensine says blankly. "Let's hope that we are making progress."

"How are you going to get me out?" I ask. "They already caught me in the act. All I'm waiting for is a sentence. I'm bound to die soon enough."

I look at my mother. Strangely, she knows something. I just can't figure out what. "Mistress Socius and I are working in agreement with an acquaintance to help you rest your case with the House of Filia," mother says scornfully. "Though it is against my will to act in accordance with said acquaintance, I believe he is the only one that can rest your case."