Verdict

"Answer—why did you decide that saving former Esquire Devi was more important than taking down a demon of B rank?"

Mordechai's eyes bore into Zemin like two shining suns—too blinding to look at, they put every shadow on Zemin's soul into a stark contrast. The Exemplar Commander could not be lied to.

The very idea of it made something inside Zemin twinge—shame?

But there were many ways to say the truth. Zemin understood—if he didn't want to be punished like Adia, or worse, he had to present the truth in a way that Mordechai approved.

His logical mind immediately brought possibilities to him—but another thought followed.

'Rearranging the truth feels like lying, too…'

Zemin sensed growing impatience in the Exemplar Commander. He took a deep breath.

"Commander, I will answer this question, but may I speak in place of Adia's defendant first?"

Adia gasped. Narcisa sighed and shook her head. Jagger tensed, but showed no other reaction.

Mordechai frowned. "You haven't been a witness to her transgression. What you might have to say, Esquire Gatti?"

"I know her well—we are friends, Commander. I also know from her words what happened on Adia's mission, and I can interpret her thoughts better than she can," Zemin said with a Soldier's curtness. The words were true—Adia shared with his squad things that happened on her mission.

Angor—it was he and his dogs who attacked the settlement—killed Gane, who was a part of Adia's squad. Then they kidnapped Adia's sergeant, sending the rest of the squad into despair and panic. When they followed Angor, he was free to pick them one by one, until only two people were left—and then he played with them, doubtlessly waiting for more Psionics to arrive into his trap.

"Hm… Very well. If you can speak properly, I will listen, Esquire Gatti. Why did Adia's squad abandon their post to chase demons?"

"Her squad decided that without their sergeant, their capabilities won't be enough to finish the mission. Because the demon who attacked was cunning and expertly hid his power until the last moment, they were deceived into a false sense that they could save the man."

Zemin opened his mouth to add that Angor was a B-rank demon, much more strong and cunning than Esquires like Adia and her squad, but it was in the report, so he decided to not repeat it.

Mordechai mused over these words for a moment.

"The squad 7, like squad 4, are fully made of Esquires, except for the sergeant in command. Hm… Yes, cutting off the head of the squad would render them helpless. Maybe the individuals are not as hopeless as I thought—merely incapable of proper speech. I will reconsider my verdict about Adia Devi—but first, I will judge your actions, Esquire Gatti."

Adia's eyes widened. Hope appeared there for a moment. Mordechai glanced at her, and his wings fluttered—he must've noticed the positive energy she emanated. As soon as that happened, Adia's face grew stony, and she stood to attention.

Mordechai refocused on Zemin.

"Why did you decide that saving former Esquire Devi was more important than taking down a demon of B rank?" he asked. "Was that because of your friendship?"

Zemin wondered himself. Would he have chosen the same if someone like Gane were the hostage?

Yes, he would. A human was a human—a demon was a demon. The value of their lives was clear. So was Zemin's reply.

"No, Commander. I realized that demon Angor wanted me to attack him. Although he offered me a deal to save his skin, his vile being wanted nothing more than to create more suffering—in me, in sergeant Jagger, and in Adia. I let him go, because this would protect them from it, and deprive the demon of his desires."

In hindsight, it was not impossible that the demon had some other plan to save his skin—maybe another body to hide inside, one that was beyond Zemin's reach? But Zemin didn't say that, because it was not what he thought about back then.

Judging by Mordechai's frown, he didn't like Zemin's answer.

"Protect people from suffering? This wasn't a part of your mission. It isn't even a part of a Codex Exemplar."

He reached into a desk drawer and pulled out a small book in leather binding. Codex Exemplar—a bed table book of every Exemplar, containing battle prayers and rules of virtuous life. Mordechai didn't open it, simply put it on the table and quoted from memory:

"'When a demon is in front of you, open for an attack, strike without hesitation.' If Angor had the time to speak with you, you already disobeyed this rule. Besides that, you also disobeyed a direct order to report to your leader, Esquire Gatti."

Jagger looked slightly pained. Zemin tried to give him a reassuring look. Jagger's hand wrote the report, but it's not like he could have lied in it. That was simply inconceivable, a sin ten times worse than anything they were guilty of.

Mordechai fell ominously silent.

"It seems like I have not been paying close enough attention to my Exemplar Division lately. There have been too many unfit recruits, and not enough discipline. Your special talents, Esquire Gatti, may be useful on a battlefield, but you have too much youthful rebelliousness."

Zemin bated his breath. Could that mean—?

"You will be sent to Dammanburg to serve for a year. Adia Deli will take your place in squad 4—she even has the same specialization. Squad 7 is temporarily disbanded, since its every member is unfit for duty—the only other able-bodied Esquire, Imran, lost all his fighting spirit. The changes in your rating points will appear on the general rating table tomorrow."

Mordechai lowered his eyes to the desk, leaving Zemin weak in the knees and light-headed. A year in Dammanburg—he would survive, he must, but what would that mean for his sister?

'Levana… Master Makhos will take care of you. He must! But I will miss you.'

"You are all dis—"

The doors opened dramatically, letting in a beam of light—and a person.

"My haloed brother! Forgive me for being late."

'Master Makhos?!'